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.
Brian Brekke
Football
Inducted: 2012
The first Gustavus football player to surpass 2,000 all-purpose yards in a season, Brian Brekke did it all for the Gustavus football team from 1991 to 1994. Whether it was taking handoffs, returning kicks, fielding punts, catching passes, or on one occasion, throwing a touchdown pass, Brekke's presence was felt in nearly every facet of the game. A two-time all-conference performer (1992 and 1994), Brekke's punishing running style and ability to always fall forward helped him to gain 2,556 rushing yards on 532 carries over his four-year career — ranking him sixth on the all-time rushing leaders list at Gustavus. A sincere leader and fierce competitor with a complete skill set, Brian led the MIAC in rushing with 1,054 yards on 208 carries (5.1 ypc) in 1994. He also caught 20 passes for 239 yards, returned 34 kicks for 637 yards, brought back 10 punts for 134 yards, and threw one pass for 52 yards his senior year, bringing his single-season school record to 2,116 all-purpose yards.
In a game that best displayed the drive and persistence of the six-foot one-inch 220-pounder, Brekke led the Gusties to a 38-31 victory over St. Thomas in the final game of his college football career. The senior ran the ball a school-record 37 times for a total of 229 yards, which ranks sixth on the all-time single-game list. Brekke finished his career with 21 career touchdowns and a 4.8-yards per carry average.
After graduating with a degree in business management, Brekke worked briefly as a fitness professional in Chicago before accepting a contract to play professional football in Finland. Following one season overseas, Brian returned to Minnesota and resumed his career in the fitness industry. For the past seven years, Brekke has served in the medical device industry, working in various sales and marketing roles. Brian and his wife Jennifer live in Apple Valley. They have four children, Tayler, Tamika, Ahna and Max.