Five athletes and the 1978 field hockey team will be inducted into the NIU Athletic Hall of Fame during this year’s Homecoming festivities.

Ray Guzak (1958-61, wrestling), Frank Lewandoski (1976-79, football), Jim McKinzie (1950-53, football), Tim Tyrell (1982-84, football) and Lori Wetzel (1982-85, 1986-87, golf) join the 1978 field hockey team as the 1992 induction class.

These athletes represent the best NIU has had to offer its sports fans.

Guzak wrestled for NIU between 1958-67. During that time, he posted a 41-8-3 record, winning several major tournaments en route. His most notable accomplishment was winning the NAIA 167-pound title in the 1960-61 season.

Lewandoski played linebacker for the Huskies from 1976-79. He holds school records for most career tackles, best hit-per-game career average, most single-season solo tackles and single game tackles. After receiving several awards and recognitions for his college career, Lewandoski spent time playing for the Seattle Seahawks and the New York Jets in the NFL and the Chicago Blitz in the USFL.

McKinzie was a notable three-sport athlete at NIU from 1950-53. While here, he lettered in football, basketball and baseball. As a senior, McKinzie won the NCAA College Division receiving title. In basketball, he was recognized as an Honorable Mention All-IIAC guard.

Tyrell is being honored as the quarterback who led the 1983 football team to 10-2 record, and a victory over Cal State Fullerton in the California Bowl. After graduating from NIU, he went on to play with the Atlanta Falcons, Los Angeles Rams, Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL between 1984 and 1990. In 1985, he was named the NFC’s No. 2 special teams performer in the NFL_USA Today player’s survey.

Wetzel played golf at NIU from 1982-85 and 1986-87. As a senior, she was ranked No. 1 among Illinois intercollegiate golfers. As a student, she won the Ferris State Invitational (1984) and placed second in the Purdue Classic (1984) and the NIU Invitational (1986). In her home state of Wisconsin, she was named the Wisconsin Golfer of the Year (1983) and won the Wisconsin Women’s State Stroke-Play crown (1983) and the Match-Play title (1984).

The 1978 women’s field hockey team also is being inducted into the Hall of Fame. The ‘78 team posted an 11-0-3 record and had four members selected to the national all-star team.

Former NIU athletes, coaches and athletic administrators are eligible for Hall of Fame induction following a five-year departure from NIU. Outstanding teams must pass a 10-year waiting period, Korcek said.

He said teams must wait longer to “make it tougher on them because there are a lot of good teams.”

Huskie fans are encouraged to write a letter of recommendation to the athletic department if they know an NIU graduate who qualifies for induction.

This is “the highest honor that a former athlete, coach, administrator (or team) can get,” Groth said.

Korcek said inductees are selected on the basis of their “outstanding contribution to intercollegiate athletics at NIU.”

The selection committee, consisting of previous Hall of Fame inductees, NIU graduates, Sports Information Director Mike Korcek and Senior Associate Athletic Director Cary Groth, meets every spring to select the new inductees for the following fall.

This year’s inductees will be honored Homecoming weekend with a special banquet Oct. 9 in the Duke Ellington Ballroom. Tickets are $25 per person and can be obtained by calling Karola Smith, 753-1494. They will be recognized again during half-time at the Homecoming game.