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.
Brett Gross
Track & Field
Inducted: 2012
Recruited to Gustavus by head track and field coach Tom Thorkelson in the early 1990s, Brett Gross would go on to become one of the most decorated shot putters in the history of the men's track and field team. Known for his sunny disposition, dry sense of humor, and crisp technique, the Windom, Minn., native was the first Gustavus track and field athlete to earn All-America honors a third - and fourth - time. A true student of the game who worked tirelessly to perfect his craft, Gross was the first in a line of Gustavus throwers who dominated their era in the 1990s. Making appearances at both the NCAA indoor and outdoor championships his junior and senior seasons, Brett's consistency on the national stage helped him to earn four All-America honors after four sixth-place finishes. At the NCAA indoor championships, he recorded a throw of 51-6 in 1995 (which set a new school record) and 51-5.5 in 1996. At the outdoor championships, Gross tossed the shot 51-10.5 in 1995 and 51-7.5 in 1996.
Brett completed his career at Gustavus an eight-time all-conference performer in both indoor and outdoor track and field. He tallied three-consecutive second place finishes in the shot put (1994, 1995, 1996) at the MIAC indoor championships, and was a five-time All-MIAC performer during the outdoor season with three runner-up finishes (1993, 1994, 1995) and one third-place finish (1996) in the shot, while also placing third in the discus in 1994. Gross completed his career ranked first in the program's history in indoor shot put (51-6) and second in outdoor shot put (51-10.5). He currently ranks third indoors and fourth outdoors.
After graduating in 1996 with a degree in history, Gross accepted a position as a ninth-grade social studies teacher in the Brainerd School District where he has worked for the past 15 years. During his tenure at Brainerd, Gross attended graduate school at Southwest Minnesota State University, where he obtained a master's degree in education in 2001. Brett currently resides in Baxter with his wife, Lynda, and their two sons, Bruce and Dylan.