Outlook Magazine - Fall 2025

Breaking Gridiron Ground

UW-Stout triumphs in first-ever women’s flag football league sponsored by Minnesota Vikings

Upper Midwest. UW-Stout was the sole competitor from Wisconsin, putting the school at the vanguard of a rapidly growing sport as the first four-year university in the state to field an officially sponsored team. “It’s been a wonderful experience to be a part of,” reflected flag football coach, Athletics Director Emeritus Duey Naatz , who retired in September after a 35-year career at UW-Stout. “I’m glad I was a part of history.”

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ust a handful of months after being recruited for a brand-new team in a brand-new league, the members of UW-Stout’s flag football team hoisted a championship trophy April 26 on the field at the Minnesota Vikings’ TCO Perfor mance Center.

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The history-making nature of their victory in the Midwest College Women’s Flag Football League Championship was not lost on the players or coaches, who grabbed the oppor tunity to join the Vikings-sponsored league and ran it right into the end zone. “I think it’s something that we’re going to look back on and be in awe that we were part of the first flag football season,” said student assistant coach Rosella Wille . “We’re going to look back and tell our daughters and granddaughters, ‘That was us.’” The 46-31 championship final victory over Augustana Uni versity was an exhilarating ending to the team’s 8-3 season in the new league, which includes six universities from the

In Memoriam

Smith was in an athletics class of her own

Aprahamian inducted to Wrestling Hall of Fame

Greg Aprahamian (’85) , a multisport high school coach in the Muskego, Kettle Moraine and Mukwonago districts, was inducted posthumously into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Wisconsin chapter in May. Aprahamian, a technology education alum, began as wres tling head coach at Muskego in 1992. Under his guidance through 1998, the program compiled a 116-29 dual meet record, including 48-1 in conference duals and three state appearances. In 1994, the team won the WIAA state title, and Aprahamian received the Wisconsin Wrestling Coaches Association dis trict coach of the year. He passed away on Jan. 18, 2023.

Bonnie Ann Smith (’81) was a Paralym pic champion, who competed in swim ming, slalom and wheelchair races. She broke records and received 17 gold, 5 silver, and 18 bronze medals. Some major events Smith competed in were in 1981, Seat tle; 1982, Halifax, Nova Scotia; 1983, Hawaii; and 1984, the United Kingdom. She was the 1982 Handicap Athlete of the Year. Smith, a hotel and restaurant management alum, was a licensed elementary teacher in the Twin Cities suburbs. She passed away on March 16, 2025.

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Outlook 2025