WAVERLY, Iowa -- Wartburg College Athletics has announced its 2026 Hall of Fame Class, honoring nine individuals whose exceptional achievements as student-athletes, coaches, and administrators helped define of the nation's premier NCAA Division III athletic programs.
This year's inductees represent decades of competitive excellence, championship success, and lasting contributions that continue to shape the legacy of Wartburg Athletics.
The 2026 Wartburg Hall of Fame Class will be recognized during Homecoming Weekend festivities on Saturday, October 10. Honorees will be celebrated prior to the Wartburg football game against Buena Vista University, scheduled for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff, and will be formally inducted later that evening at the annual Hall of Fame Dinner.
LOGAN SCHRADER '16 | Football
One of the most prolific quarterbacks in program history, Logan Schrader rewrote the Wartburg record book during his career from 2012-15.
A two-time Iowa Conference Offensive MVP and two-time All-Conference first-team selection, Schrader also earned national honors as a D3football.com First-Team All-American in 2015 and AFCA Third-Team All-American in 2014. He was a two-time Gagliardi Trophy semifinalist.
Schrader finished his career as the program's all-time leader in passing attempts (1,074), passing yards (9,160), and total offense (10,667), while also ranking second in completions and passing touchdowns.
He led Wartburg to back-to-back conference championships in 2013 and 2014 and an NCAA Elite Eight appearance in 2014.
He currently serves as District Manager for Komatsu America in Austin, Texas.
RACHEL (OSWALD) HOEKSEMA '09 | Women's Soccer
A 2009 graduate, Rachel Hoeksema is one of the most decorated student-athletes in Wartburg women's soccer history.
A four-year standout, Hoeksema concluded her career as the program's all-time leader in points (146), points per game (1.85), goals (57), goals per game (.72), and game-winning goals (18). She also holds single-season records for points (51) and points per game (2.43), set during the 2008 season.
Hoeksema was a four-time All-Conference selection, earning first-team honors in 2005, second-team recognition in 2006, and conference MVP honors in both 2007 and 2008. She was also a three-time All-Region selection.
In addition to her athletic success, she earned CSC Academic All-District honors twice and Academic All-Conference recognition three times.
She helped lead Wartburg to a conference championship in 2008, a conference tournament title in 2007, and an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2007.
KAILEY (KLADIVO) HOBBS '16 | Women's Basketball / Track & Field
A premier multi-sport athlete, Kailey Kladivo excelled in both women's basketball and track & field during her Wartburg career.
In basketball, she was a four-time All-Conference selection, earning second-team honors in 2013 and 2014 and first-team honors in 2015 and 2016. She was twice named IIAC Female Athlete of the Week and earned 2015-16 All-Region Third Team recognition. Kladivo played a key role in Wartburg's 2016 NCAA Division III Final Four run.
She finished her career ranked among program leaders in multiple categories, including 1,260 career points, 628 rebounds, 506 field goals, and 63 blocked shots.
In track & field, Kladivo became one of the program's top high jumpers, earning All-America honors with a fourth-place finish at the 2016 NCAA Championships. She was a four-time conference champion and a 2016 Indoor Conference MVP in field events.
She currently owns some of the top marks in program history in the high jump, including 1.70m indoors and 1.73m outdoors.
Kladivo is the owner of 3 Season Lawn Service in Forest City, Iowa.
BRADLEY WATSON '11 | Baseball
A dominant pitcher for the Knights from 2008-11, Bradley Watson remains one of the most accomplished arms in program history.
Watson holds the school record for innings pitched (287.2) and ranks among the program's all-time leaders in strikeouts (244), starts (42), and wins (22). He was a three-time All-Conference selection and 2011 Conference Pitcher of the Year.
He earned ABCA All-Region honors twice and was named a D3baseball.com All-American Honorable Mention in 2011.
Watson was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals following his collegiate career.
He helped lead Wartburg to a conference championship in 2008, tournament titles in 2008 and 2009, and two NCAA Tournament appearances.
RICK WILLIS | Coach/AD
Special Category
One of the most accomplished coaches and administrators in Wartburg College athletics history, Rick Willis established a legacy of sustained excellence over 21 seasons as head football coach and longtime athletic administrator.
Willis, the program's all-time wins leader and longest-tenured head coach, compiled a 185-46 record while guiding the Knights to 11 Iowa Conference championships and 11 NCAA Division III playoff appearances, including Elite Eight runs in 2008, 2014, and 2017. His .801 career winning percentage ranks among the best nationally among Division III coaches, and in 2010 he became the fastest coach in Iowa Conference history to reach 100 career victories.
Under Willis' leadership, Wartburg developed into one of the premier Division III football programs in the nation. He coached 44 All-Americans, 14 Academic All-Americans, six conference MVPs, and multiple national award finalists, including Matt Sacia and Logan Schrader. Willis earned five Iowa Conference Coach of the Year honors, two AFCA GTE West Regional Coach of the Year awards, and was named D3football.com Regional Coach of the Year in 2014.
Beyond football, Willis led Wartburg softball to a 38-10 record and an NCAA Division III College World Series appearance in 2003 in just the program's fourth NCAA Tournament berth - only coached softball for one season.
As an administrator, Willis served as executive director of athletics and wellness for 16 years before being named Wartburg's inaugural vice president for strategic recruitment in 2021. In that role, he oversees admissions, financial aid, marketing and communications, athletics, and the Wartburg-Waverly Sports & Wellness Center.
During his administrative tenure, he supervised 23 varsity sports, more than 60 coaches and staff, and over 600 student-athletes. He helped lead Wartburg to 17 consecutive Iowa Conference All-Sports Trophies and oversaw 20 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipients. He also played a key role in major facility projects, including The W and multiple stadium and facility renovations, helping elevate Wartburg into a nationally recognized Division III athletics program.
SPENCER CAPITANI '15 | Football
A standout defensive back, Spencer Capitani anchored one of Wartburg's most successful defensive eras from 2011-14.
He was a two-time First-Team All-Conference selection and earned 2014 Iowa Conference Defensive MVP honors. Capitani was also a D3football.com Second-Team All-American and a two-time All-Region selection.
He ranks among program leaders in pass breakups with 28 career deflections.
He helped lead Wartburg to consecutive conference championships in 2013 and 2014, as well as NCAA playoff runs to the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight.
Capitani currently serves as defensive coordinator at the University of Sioux Falls.
CHELSEY (JACOBS) WEINMEISTER '10 | Women's Track & Field
One of the most decorated athletes in program history, Chelsey Jacobs was a cornerstone of Wartburg's national championship era in women's track & field.
Jacobs won six NCAA Division III national championships, including two indoor and four outdoor titles as part of the 4x400 relay team. She earned nine All-America honors across relay and individual events.
She helped lead Wartburg to multiple national championships and top-five finishes indoors and outdoors, as well as eight conference championships across her career.
Jacobs was a three-time USTFCCCA All-Academic honoree.
BAILEY WILSON '15 | Volleyball
A standout middle hitter, Bailey Wilson finished her career among the most efficient attackers in program history.
She totaled 1,251 kills with a .348 career attack percentage while ranking among the program's all-time leaders in blocks, kills, and matches played. Her .386 hitting percentage in 2013 remains one of the best single-season marks in school history.
Wilson was a two-time All-American Honorable Mention and a three-time All-Conference selection, earning conference MVP honors in 2014.
She helped lead Wartburg to back-to-back conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances in 2012 and 2013.
KODIE SILVESTRI '15 | Men's Wrestling
One of the most dominant wrestlers in program history, Kodie Silvestri compiled a 45-4 career record in just two seasons.
He won the 2012 NCAA Division III national championship at 141 pounds and was named NCAA Championships Outstanding Wrestler—the only Knight in program history to earn the honor. He followed with a national runner-up finish in 2013.
Silvestri was a two-time All-American, a conference champion, and a regional champion while competing for two NCAA team national championships.
