Athletic Hall of Fame
The Gustavus Adolphus College Hall of Fame was established in 1978 at which time 19 "Charter Members" were inducted either as coaches or as athletes. As of the fall of 2022, 348 individuals (321 athletes, 16 coaches and 11 benefactors) have been elected to the Hall of Fame.
The former Hall of Fame room on the second floor of the Lund Center was originally partially endowed by the families of both Dwight Holcombe's (the only father/son combination holding membership in the Hall). The hardwood plaque upon which the individual plates are permanently displayed, now in the Hall of Champions, was donated by the family of former football coach and Hall of Fame member Jocko Nelson, who passed away in 1978.
Dennis Wentworth
Basketball
Inducted: 1996
Considered to be one of the finest forwards in Gustavus basketball history, Dennis Wentworth, was a gifted shooter and an aggressive rebounder. After missing the first half of his freshman season with a thigh injury, Wentworth played in the final 13 games of his initial season averaging 9.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.
He went on to start 76 of the Gusties 77 games in his final three seasons and finished his career as the Gusties fifth all-time leading scorer with 1,555 points and third all-time leading rebounder with 819 rebounds.
Wentworth received honorable mention Little All-America honors twice, as well as All-District and All-Conference honors three times. In his senior season, Wentworth helped direct the Gusties to a 16-11 record and a berth in the NAIA District Tournament.
After graduating with a major in physical education and health, Wentworth was drafted in the fourth round of the NBA draft by the Indiana Pacers and advanced to the final cut before being released. He then attended Southern Illinois University at Carbondale where he received a master's in higher education.
Wentworth went on to serve as the director of financial aid and placement at McHenry County College in Illinois for seven years and then joined American College Testing Corporation (ACT) as the regional director of financial aid services for four years. He is currently the vice president for marketing with the USA Group, Incorporated. Dennis and his wife, Connie, reside in Indianapolis, Indiana with their children, Jessica and Jason.