Grand Rapids, Mich. – When Aquinas College Athletics launched the Summer of the Saints: Journey to Fall and the Hall series, I thought I knew exactly what I was about to discover.

The assignment was one I couldn't wait to begin.

Over the course of the summer, I would have the privilege of telling the stories of the coaches, student-athletes and teams selected for induction into the 2026 AQ Athletics "Coach Bo" Hall of Fame. As a storyteller and someone who has always believed history deserves to be preserved, it felt like the perfect opportunity to learn more about the people whose names had become synonymous with excellence at Aquinas College.

Like many readers, I expected to uncover remarkable performances, championship moments, unforgettable victories and the defining accomplishments that earned Patti Tibaldi (Class of 2002) and the Class of 2026; Sean Fischbach, Katie Dahnke (Vander Meer), Dave Wood, Linda Nash and the 1999 and 2000 men's soccer teams their place in Aquinas Athletics history.

Every Hall of Famer had a remarkable story. Every conversation uncovered memories that deserved to be preserved. Every article became a celebration of extraordinary people who helped shape Aquinas Athletics.

But somewhere along the way, something unexpected happened.

The stories slowly stopped being about Hall of Fame plaques.

Instead, they became stories about teammates and coaches. Professors and mentors. Families, friendships and faith. About doing the right thing when no one was watching. About serving something bigger than yourself.

At first, I didn't notice the pattern.

Then I couldn't stop seeing it.

Long before I ever wrote my first Hall of Fame article, during my interview for the position of Director of Athletic Communications, I was asked a question that seemed simple at the time.

"What draws you to Aquinas?"

I answered the question as honestly as I could. I talked about my passion for telling stories, preserving history and celebrating the people who make college athletics special. Looking back now, I realize my answer wasn't wrong.

It just wasn't complete.

Because while I thought I was spending the summer learning who the Hall of Fame Class of 2026 was, I was really beginning a journey I never expected.

A journey that would ultimately answer a question I didn't realize I had been asking all along.

The Unexpected Discovery

The first interview unfolded almost exactly the way I expected.

We talked about championships.

About defining moments.

About the accomplishments that had earned a place in the AQ Athletics "Coach Bo" Hall of Fame.

Then, somewhere along the conversation, something unexpected happened.

The discussion drifted.

Not because I changed the questions.

Because the Hall of Famer changed the answers.

I'd ask about a championship.

They'd tell me about a teammate.

I'd ask about a record.

They'd tell me about a coach.

I'd ask about a defining moment.

They'd tell me about the professor, mentor, family member or friend who believed in them long before anyone else did.

When the second interview ended, I noticed it again.

So did the third.

By the fourth interview, I found myself wondering if it was simply a coincidence.

By the sixth, I knew it wasn't.

It happened so consistently that I eventually stopped trying to steer the conversation back toward athletics.

Instead, I listened.

And that's when the real story began to emerge.

Patti Tibaldi wasn't interested in talking about Patti. She wanted to talk about opening doors for generations of women who would follow.

Linda Nash never seemed comfortable making herself the focal point of any answer. Time after time, she redirected the conversation toward her players, assistant coaches and mentors, measuring success not by victories but by the lives she had the privilege to influence.

Sean Fischbach's story became less about one of the greatest goalkeeping careers in program history and more about the friendships and brotherhood that still exist decades later.

Katie Dahnke's journey wasn't simply about becoming Aquinas Volleyball's only three-time All-American. It became a story about finding a place that felt like home, a community she would eventually return to lead.

Dave Wood's legacy stretched far beyond conference championships and All-Americans. Again and again, people spoke about his integrity, humility and the countless student-athletes whose lives he shaped.

Even the story of the 1999 and 2000 men's soccer teams—two of the greatest teams in Aquinas history—ultimately became less about wins and championships than about relationships that continue to endure more than two decades later.

That's when it finally hit me.

Hall of Famers are often remembered because of what they accomplished.

The Hall of Famers I was interviewing wanted to be remembered because of the people who helped them accomplish it.

Without realizing it, I had stopped writing about Hall of Fame plaques.

I had started discovering the people who made those plaques possible.

The Evidence

As the interviews continued, I started noticing something else.

The people I spoke with weren't just sharing memories.

Without realizing it, they were all answering the same question.

What makes Aquinas... Aquinas?

One of the first clues came from someone who wasn't a Hall of Famer, wasn't a coach and wasn't a former student-athlete. Kathy Van Hoeven has close ties to Aquinas, but she also brought the perspective of someone looking in from the outside. As we talked about the Hall of Fame series, Kathy smiled and said something that I didn't fully appreciate at the time.

"When everyone trusted one another and worked together, they became something much greater than themselves. That's what made Aquinas different."

I highlighted the quote in my notes.

At the time, I thought it was simply an insightful observation.

A few interviews later, AQ Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Terry Keller offered a different perspective that somehow landed in the very same place. Reflecting on the significance of the Hall of Fame, he described it as both an inspiration and a responsibility—a reminder that the legacy of those who came before us isn't simply meant to be celebrated, but carried forward by those who follow.

I remember pausing.

Not because the two comments were identical.

They weren't.

But because they somehow pointed to the same truth.

Then it happened again.

And again.

Different interviews, different decades, different sports and different life experiences.

Yet the message never changed.

Whether I was speaking with Hall of Famers, coaches, administrators, alumni or members of today's Aquinas community, the conversation kept circling back to the same ideas.

Community.

Humility.

Faith.

Leadership.

Service.

Belonging.

Family.

Those weren't themes I chose before the first interview.

They were themes that found me.

The Voices

If there was one thing that surprised me most throughout this journey, it wasn't how often people spoke about Aquinas.

It was how consistently they described it.

The interviews spanned different generations, different sports, different careers and different roles within the college. Some people had graduated decades ago. Others are helping shape today's student-athletes. Some built championship programs. Others competed in them. A few had never worn an Aquinas uniform at all.

Yet, somewhere within every conversation, the same ideas quietly emerged.

Not because anyone had rehearsed them.

Because they had lived them.

For Patti Tibaldi, the conversation was never really about Patti. It was about creating opportunities for the women who would follow and ensuring future generations had chances she once dreamed of herself.

Linda Nash reflected on nearly four decades of coaching, yet measured her greatest successes not by banners hanging in the Sturrus Sports & Fitness Center, but by the people who walked out of the gym better prepared for life.

Sean Fischbach could have spent hours reliving championships, shutouts and one of the most accomplished goalkeeping careers in program history. Instead, he talked about trust, accountability and friendships that remain just as meaningful today as they were more than two decades ago.

Katie Dahnke came to Aquinas looking for a volleyball program. What she ultimately found was a place that became home—a community she would later return to help lead.

When people reflected on Dave Wood's career, conference championships and All-Americans certainly mattered, but they were rarely mentioned first. Instead, they spoke about his integrity, his quiet example and the countless student-athletes whose lives he shaped along the way.

Even members of the 1999 and 2000 men's soccer teams—one of the most accomplished groups in Aquinas history—consistently redirected the conversation away from individual accomplishments and toward teammates who challenged, sacrificed and celebrated together.

One voice, however, offered a unique perspective, not because it reflected on Aquinas' past, but because it continues to help shape its future.

Kennadie Minerich has experienced Aquinas as an undergraduate and graduate student, as a student-athlete in both lacrosse and rugby, and now as a member of the athletic communications staff. Few people have seen the college through so many different lenses.

What struck me most was that her conclusion echoed those who came before her.

"The series has changed the way I view Aquinas by helping me realize even more deeply that I am not just working at a place I once attended. I am part of a community that has shaped me in countless ways and that I am now fortunate enough to help tell the story of."

Later, she shared another thought that stayed with me.

"Aquinas has been a place I have called home through multiple chapters of my life, and the more I learn about the people and teams who came before me, the more proud I am to be a Saint."

Different generations. Different experiences. Different decades.

Yet the conversations always seemed to arrive at the same place.

By then, I wasn't looking for those themes anymore.

I had simply come to expect them.

Once a Saint...

There was another pattern I hadn't expected to find.

It wasn't something people said.

It was something they lived.

As the interviews continued, I found myself writing the same note over and over again.

They came back.

Some returned to coach.

Others came back to teach.

Some chose to serve as administrators, mentors, trustees or volunteers.

Others never really left at all.

At first, I treated those stories as individual decisions.

Katie Dahnke returned to help lead the volleyball program that had changed her life.

Damon Bouwkamp came back to serve the institution that had shaped him as both a student, Saint supporter, and a leader.

Mary Takas has devoted decades to helping student-athletes discover the same opportunities she once experienced herself.

Kennadie Minerich now helps preserve and tell the stories of a community she first came to know as a student-athlete.

Rick Heuvelman's investment in Aquinas didn't end with graduation. He has continued giving back because his connection to the college never really ended.

And while Dave Wood's coaching career eventually took him elsewhere, Aquinas was never far away. Whether quietly supporting Coach Mike Wojciakowski whenever he was needed or now preparing to watch his grandson begin his own journey as a Saint, Dave's connection to Aquinas has never been measured by where he worked, but by where his heart remained.

Some returned.

Some stayed.

Some simply never stopped investing.

The more I listened, the more I realized something.

People weren't returning because Aquinas had given them a degree.

They were returning because Aquinas had given them a place to belong.

There's a difference.

A diploma marks the end of an education.

Belonging has no graduation date.

Maybe that's why former teammates still gather decades later.

Maybe that's why coaches become lifelong mentors.

Maybe that's why alumni continue investing long after they've crossed the commencement stage.

Maybe that's why generation after generation keeps finding its way back.

Or perhaps...

they were never really gone.

As I reflected on those conversations, one thought kept finding its way back into my notebook.

Places educate people.

Communities call them home.

For the Hall of Fame Class of 2026, and for so many others whose stories have shaped Aquinas Athletics, being a Saint was never confined to four years on a campus.

It became part of who they were.

And perhaps that's one of the greatest measures of Aquinas.

Not simply the number of championships its teams have won...

But the number of people who spend the rest of their lives making sure the next generation experiences what they once found here.

The Culture

By the end of the summer, I realized I had stopped asking questions about Hall of Fame careers.

Instead, I found myself trying to answer a much different question.

Why did so many people, from so many different generations, keep telling the same story?

Not the same accomplishments.

Not the same memories.

But the same values.

The more interviews I conducted, the harder it became to dismiss it as coincidence.

Patti Tibaldi described it.

Linda Nash lived it.

Sean Fischbach experienced it.

Katie Dahnke returned to invest in it.

Dave Wood continues to strengthen it.

The 1999 and 2000 men's soccer teams demonstrated it.

Damon Bouwkamp and Kennadie Minerich are helping preserve it for the future.

Different decades.

Different sports.

Different roles.

Different generations.

Yet every conversation somehow arrived at the same place.

No one was trying to convince me that Aquinas was special.

They simply shared their stories.

Those stories did the convincing.

I never heard anyone describe Aquinas as a place where winning was the most important thing.

Instead, I heard about relationships.

About servant leadership.

About faith.

About accountability.

About belonging.

About investing in people.

Championships mattered.

Hall of Fame plaques mattered.

Records mattered.

But they were never the destination.

They were often the byproduct of a culture that had been quietly shaping people long before they ever stood on a championship podium.

Maybe that's why this series became something more than six Hall of Fame stories.

It became an opportunity to witness a culture that has been passed from one generation of Saints to the next.

Not through speeches.

Not through slogans.

Through people.

People who were coached here.

People who learned here.

People who returned here.

People who never really left.

And perhaps that's what impressed me most.

Cultures don't survive for generations because they're written in strategic plans.

They survive because each generation chooses to live them.

As I looked back through every interview, every notebook page and every conversation from this summer, I finally understood what all of these remarkable men and women had been showing me from the very beginning.

The Hall of Fame celebrates excellence.

But the culture of Aquinas is what makes that excellence possible.

The Legacy Lives On

One question lingered as I reached the final pages of this journey.

The Hall of Famers had shared their stories.

The coaches had reflected on the people they mentored.

The alumni had spoken about a place that helped shape their lives.

But I couldn't help wondering...

What do all of these stories mean to the students who now call Aquinas home?

If these stories truly mattered, their influence shouldn't be confined to photographs, record books or plaques hanging on a wall.

Their legacy should still be alive.

Few people embody that connection between generations quite like Ryan Wendt.

A former Aquinas student-athlete who played for Coach Bo, Wendt has remained a constant presence on campus ever since. Today, he serves Aquinas in the Safety Department while also preserving its history as the College's historian. Having experienced Aquinas as a student-athlete, employee and historian, he has witnessed firsthand how one generation of Saints inspires the next.

For Wendt, the common thread connecting every Hall of Famer extends far beyond statistics or championships.

"The common connection shared by Aquinas Hall of Famers is that their accomplishments transcend statistics. They represented the very best of Aquinas College athletics, inspiring future generations while setting standards of excellence that have endured for decades. Although records may eventually be broken, their impact on Aquinas Athletics becomes woven into the fabric of its history and identity. Long after their playing days are over, future Hall of Famers will continue to be measured against the legacy they created."

His words naturally led to the people now writing the next chapter of Aquinas Athletics.

Current student-athlete Charles "Chuckles" Anderson admitted that reading the Hall of Fame stories changed the way he viewed the names displayed throughout the Athletic Department.

"Reading these Hall of Fame stories made me realize there's so much more to the names on the wall. Every person has a unique story—not just about how they got there, but about how they helped shape the Aquinas we all know and love today. It's a reminder that being part of Aquinas Athletics is about more than competing. It's about leaving a positive impact on your teammates, your program and the people who come after you."

Women's volleyball student-athlete Audrey Gil reached a remarkably similar conclusion.

For her, the Hall of Fame stories weren't simply lessons about the past. They became a reminder that today's student-athletes are now responsible for continuing the foundation built by those who came before them.

"After reading these Hall of Fame stories, I realized that the values of hard work and dedication are nothing new on campus. The members of the Hall of Fame have created a story and foundation for present and future athletes who come to Aquinas. In every article, you learn more than just about the game or leadership role; you learn about dedication, relationships and opportunities. Beyond the hours of school and practice, it is about the experience you create for yourself and the legacy you want to leave for your program. You might remember a certain game or certain point in a match, but you will never forget the memories and impact you made with those around you."

Perhaps the greatest measure of Aquinas isn't how many people graduate.

It's how many choose to come back.

Today, Aquinas is led by countless alumni who once walked these same sidewalks as students and now dedicate themselves to helping future Saints discover what they once found here. Head Coaches Mike Wojciakowski, Ryan Bertoia, Chris LaManage and Brandon Rozema all returned to coach at their alma mater, while Athletic Director Damon Bouwkamp, Mary Takas and Kennadie Minerich continue that tradition through their leadership and service.

Together, they represent yet another generation of Saints who chose not simply to remember Aquinas—but to invest in its future.

As I reflected on each of their perspectives, something quietly became clear.

The Hall of Fame isn't simply preserving Aquinas history.

It is preparing Aquinas' future.

Every generation inherits something from the one before it.

Not just records.

Not just championships.

Not just banners hanging from the rafters.

They inherit a responsibility.

To care for one another.

To compete with integrity.

To lead with humility.

To leave Aquinas stronger than they found it.

And someday, without even realizing it, today's student-athletes will become the stories that inspire the next generation of Saints.

Aquinas 2076: The Journey Continues - The Culture Remains

As I reached the end of this journey, one thought kept returning to me.

Perhaps fifty years from now, someone else will be given the opportunity to write a Hall of Fame series for Aquinas College.

The names will be different.

The sports will be different.

The championships will be different.

The Hall of Fame Class will be different.

I imagine that writer beginning much the way I did.

Looking through statistics.

Records.

Championships.

All-Americans.

Hall of Fame plaques.

Believing that's where the story begins.

Those accomplishments deserve to be celebrated.

They always will.

But somewhere along the way, I have a feeling the assignment will quietly change.

Just as mine did.

The conversations will become less about accomplishments and more about people.

Former student-athletes will talk about teammates before they talk about themselves.

Coaches will credit mentors before discussing championships.

Hall of Famers will remember professors, classmates, athletic trainers, campus ministers, families and lifelong friends before they remember the trophies.

And somewhere in those conversations, I hope that writer discovers what so many remarkable people shared with me.

That the greatest story at Aquinas has never been found in the record books.

It has always been found in the people who faithfully live the values that define this community and then pass them on to those who follow.

Hall of Fame classes will continue to grow.

Records will eventually fall.

Championship banners will continue to be raised.

But if Aquinas remains true to its mission and to the culture so many people described throughout this journey, I believe the heart of the story will remain the same.

Because the greatest legacy Aquinas leaves isn't measured by championships.

It's measured by the lives that continue to shape other lives.

Perhaps that's why this never really became a Hall of Fame series.

It became a story about a community that continues to shape lives long after people leave campus.

And for many of them...

Long after they've come home again.

Because the journey continues.

And if each generation chooses to carry it forward...

The culture remains.

The View from Above

As this journey drew to a close, one final question remained.

Not for another Hall of Famer.

Not for another coach.

Not even for another student-athlete.

Instead, I wanted to hear from the people whose perspectives extended beyond any single team, season or championship.

After reading these stories, what do they reveal about Aquinas College?

The first response came from the man whose name has become synonymous with the Aquinas College Hall of Fame.

For Coach Terry "Coach Bo" Bocian, the answer wasn't found in banners hanging from the rafters or names engraved on plaques.

It was found in the people.

"The AQ experience has always been about the people. Coaches, student-athletes, support staff and the teams. They overcame facility shortcomings, budget challenges and a stringent academic curriculum to forge success. I cannot tell you the number of alums who have told me, 'I'd give anything to go back and relive my AQ years—they were the best.'"

From there, the perspective widened beyond athletics.

Dr. Terry Keller, Aquinas Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, viewed the Hall of Fame stories through the lens of education. While every inductee achieved remarkable athletic success, he saw something even more enduring. The perseverance, humility, servant leadership and commitment woven throughout every story reflect exactly what an Aquinas education seeks to cultivate. To him, the Hall of Fame celebrates not only exceptional competitors, but graduates whose lives continue to reflect the mission of the College long after they leave campus.

That lifelong impact resonated deeply with Rick Heuvelman, Aquinas alumnus, former student-athlete and long time member of the Board of Trustees.

Having experienced Aquinas both as a student and as one of its most dedicated supporters, Rick recognized that the College's greatest victories aren't always measured on scoreboards. Instead, they are reflected in graduates who strengthen their communities, lead with integrity and continue carrying the values of Aquinas wherever life leads them. Reading these Hall of Fame stories reminded him that the institution's greatest legacy has never been found in championships alone, but in the lives forever shaped by the Aquinas experience.  His quote is quite powerful.
"Aquinas develops well-rounded students who think critically, care genuinely, are prepared for both career and life, and strive to follow the example of Jesus by serving others and making a positive impact in their communities."

Finally, I asked Sister Maureen Geary, O.P., President of Aquinas College, what this collection of stories revealed about the institution she now leads.

Her answer felt less like a reflection on the Hall of Fame and more like a reflection on Aquinas itself.

"The engaging series Journey to Fall and the Hall reflects so well the Aquinas College I know—a place that thrives on heart, relationship, excellence and personal growth. At Aquinas College we win: we win games and matches and championships, but more importantly we win in forming leaders and people of heart, people who know a good life is directed to the common good of all and never only personal accomplishments. The team spirit, humility and gratitude expressed by our honorees captures the best of coaches and student-athletes at Aquinas College, past, present and future."

As I reflected on their perspectives together, something became impossible to ignore.

Coach Bo spoke about people.

Dr. Keller spoke about education.

Rick spoke about lifelong impact.

Sister Maureen spoke about mission.

Different perspectives.

Different responsibilities.

Different generations.

One unmistakable conclusion.

Yet every one of them described the same Aquinas.

A place where championships are celebrated, but character is remembered.

Where excellence is expected, but humility is admired.

Where faith is lived.

Where service is celebrated.

And where success is ultimately measured not only by what you accomplish—but by the lives you help shape along the way.

By the end of this journey, I realized I had spent the summer asking the wrong question.

I thought I was trying to discover what made someone worthy of the Aquinas College Hall of Fame.

Instead...

I discovered what makes Aquinas worthy of its Hall of Fame.

Yesterday's Saints built it. Today's Saints continue it. Tomorrow's Saints will write the next chapter. And because of that... it will always be a great day to be a Saint.

 

Author's Note

When I mapped out the series to tell the stories of Aquinas College's 2026 Hall of Fame class, I thought I knew exactly what I was about to write.

I couldn't have been more wrong.

I believed I would spend the summer documenting championships, All-Americans, Hall of Fame careers and unforgettable moments in Aquinas Athletics history.

Instead, I found myself learning about something much bigger.

People.

Over the past several months, I have had the privilege of sitting across from Hall of Famers, coaches, teammates, administrators, family members and lifelong friends. Every conversation began with accomplishments, but very few ended there.

They talked about mentors before medals.

Teammates before trophies.

Faith before fame.

Service before success.

Somewhere along the way, something inside me began to change.

I started this journey believing that greatness was measured by what people achieved.

I finished it realizing greatness is measured by what people leave behind in others.

That's a lesson I'll carry with me for the rest of my life.

I've worked in athletics for more than three decades.

I've been fortunate to witness championship moments, unforgettable games and incredible individual performances.

Yet this journey reminded me that, while banners eventually fade and records are eventually broken, the way we impact another person's life has the power to last for generations.

Perhaps that's the true legacy of Aquinas.

This experience has also changed how I see myself.

For years, I've been blessed to tell the stories of student-athletes, coaches and teams.

I've always believed that was important work.

Today, I believe it's something even greater.

Stories preserve people.

They preserve values.

They preserve culture.

If these stories allow someone, years from now, to better understand what Aquinas has always stood for, then every hour spent researching, writing and listening will have been worth it.

As I look back on this journey, I don't feel like I completed a Hall of Fame project.

I feel like I was invited into something much bigger than myself.

I'm simply one grain of sand in the AQ hourglass.

One small part of a story that began long before I arrived and will continue long after I'm gone.

And honestly...

I couldn't be more grateful for that.

To every person who trusted me with your memories, your laughter, your tears and your stories...

Thank you.

You didn't just help me write about Aquinas.

You reminded me why Aquinas matters.

And for that, I will be forever grateful.

And to the Dominican Sisters, especially my aunts, the entire AQ community and Coach Bo...

Thank you for showing me what it truly means to be a Saint. I can only hope my small part in sharing the Aquinas story is worthy of the example you've given me throughout my life.

- Joey Sutherlin