Honorees will be recognized at fundraising event open to the public on Feb. 15

The 2019-20 school year marks the 50th anniversary of New Berlin Eisenhower. To celebrate Eisenhower’s storied history, the School District of New Berlin has created the New Berlin Eisenhower Hall of Fame.

The New Berlin Eisenhower Hall of Fame will honor the incredible careers and impact of select students, faculty, coaches, teams, and friends of Eisenhower. There will be three main categories within the Eisenhower Hall of Fame: athletics, fine arts, and distinguished alumni.  

New Berlin Eisenhower is excited to announce its inaugural class to the Athletics Hall of Fame.  

• Pam Bartnik (Washburn) | Basketball, Softball, Volleyball | Eisenhower Class of 1989

Pam Bartnik (Washburn) was named team MVP eight times, all-conference 11 times, and Conference Player of the Year twice. She was also named all-state six times, a WIAA Scholar-Athlete, and was named the Wisconsin State Athlete of the Year in 1989. 

• Mike Hart | Baseball, Basketball, Football  | Eisenhower Class of 1976

Mike Hart starred for the Eisenhower varsity football, basketball, and baseball teams. After an all-state campaign as a senior, Hart became Eisenhower’s first professional athlete when he was drafted by the Seattle Mariners. Hart made his Major League debut with the Minnesota Twins debut on May 8, 1984. After one season with the Twins, Hart was traded to the Baltimore Orioles and reached the Major League level again in 1987.

• Jeff Setz  | Football & Softball Coach  | 1973 to 2016

Coach Jeff Setz led the Eisenhower softball program to more than 400 victories, 14 conference titles, six sectional crowns and the 2008 WIAA Softball State Championship. In football, his teams compiled a 134-71 overall record, qualified for the WIAA state playoffs 17 times, and won the school’s first ever WIAA State Championship, winning back-to-back state championships in 1995 and 1996. Coach Setz was was inducted into the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2007 and posthumously into the Wisconsin Softball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2017.    

• Mike Wilson  | Eisenhower Athletic Director  | 1981 to 2005

Mike Wilson was named athletic director in 1981, and changed the landscape of Eisenhower athletics through his passion for excellence and genuine passion for the job. In 2004, Wilson was honored as the state’s District 7 Athletic Director of the Year.

• 1995 Football Team  | WIAA Division 3 State Champions

The 1995 Eisenhower football team captured the first team state championship in school history, and did so with a roster of only 37 varsity student-athletes and only one returning starter from the previous season.  After losing the season-opener, Eisenhower won 11 straight games, including a playoff gauntlet against many of the state’s best programs. In the state championship game, the Lions defeated a previously unbeaten Ashland, 7-6, on a cold and snowy late afternoon at Camp Randall Stadium.  

“For the past five decades, New Berlin Eisenhower has been finely represented by many outstanding student-athletes, coaches, and supporters,” said Kevin Fitzgerald, Director of Athletics & Activities. “This class of inductees is among the best of the best in terms of representing Eisenhwower Athletics.”  

This year’s inaugural class was selected after nominations were collected over the past year. More information related to this year's class, selection committee, and criteria are located at www.ikelions.org/hof.

JOIN US TO CELEBRATE THIS YEARS HALL OF FAME CLASS & 50 YEARS 

All are welcomed to celebrate this year’s Hall of Fame class and 50 years of Eisenhower Athletics on Saturday, Feb. 15, from 5:30-11 p.m. at Whirlyball in Brookfield. This special event is being hosted by the Education Foundation of New Berlin and is open to any any all. Tickets to this special event are $40, and includes dinner, drinks, bowling and Whirlyball. Please visit ikelions.org or efnb.org for more information and to purchase tickets.