Calumet Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees Announced

10 new members will be inducted into the Calumet High School Athletic Hall of Fame. The new class will be recognized at the football game against West Iron County on September 20th. The induction ceremony will take place September 21st at 11:00 at the High School Commons.

Here are the biographies of the new members, as provided by Calumet High School:

Jasen Rintala earned 7 letters in football, hockey, and track while attending Calumet High School from 1988-1992. In track, he competed in the 400 meter, 800 meter, 1600 meter relay, and 3200 meter relay, and was a member of the conference and regional championship track team in 1989. In football, Jasen earned All-Conference Honorable Mention as a senior in 1991. He was named to the All-Conference Elite Team, and was named league MVP in hockey as a junior in 1991. Jason served as team captain, while being named to the All-Conference 1st team, and All-State 1st team as a senior in 1992. He won three league championships and two regional championships in hockey (1990-1992). Jasen participated on the 1990-1991 hockey team that finished as State Runner-Up, and was a member of the 1991-1992 hockey team that won Calumet’s first State Championship. He compiled career hockey scoring totals of 72 goals and 74 assists for a total of 146 points in 79 games. Jasen was selected to participate in the 1992 Chicago Showcase as a member of Team Michigan, finishing as the tournament runner-up. He played two seasons with the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the United States Hockey League, scoring 24 goals and 24 assists for a total of 48 points. Jasen was a member of the Junior “A” National Championship team in 1993. He went on to play four years at Minnesota State-Mankato, playing in a total of 137 games, scoring 29 goals and 47 assists for a total of 76 points, while serving as a team captain for three seasons (1994-1998). Jasen was awarded the Team Hustle/Hardest Worker Award all four years at Minnesota State-Mankato. During the 1997-98 season, Jasen had the most 3 star performances on the team. He would go on to play in 252 professional games from 1997-2006 with the Nashville Ice Flyers, Oklahoma City Blazers, Fayetteville Force (CHL), Greensboro Generals (ECHL), Cape Fear Fire Antz (ACHL). Jasen recorded professional hockey scoring totals of 40 goals and 56 assists for a total of 96 points and 373 penalty minutes. Amazingly, Jasen played in 467 consecutive hockey games during his Junior “A”, collegiate career, and professional hockey career without being injured or left out of the lineup. A true Iron-Man, Jasen was a three-sport athlete who excelled at hockey at all levels throughout his career.

Jeff Twardzik earned 12 letters in football, basketball, and track while attending Calumet High School from 1985-1989. He earned 2nd team All-Conference honors in basketball during the 1986-87 and 1987-88 seasons, and 1st team All-Conference honors in basketball during the 1988-89 season. In track, Jeff competed in the 1600 meter and 3200 meter relay, as well as the 800 meter run, long jump, and high jump. He was named all-state in track in the 1600 meter relay in 1988. Jeff received the George Gipp
All-American Award as the outstanding senior male athlete in the class of 1989. He would later serve on the Calumet All-Sports Booster Club board for 8 years, including 4 years as president (2003-2011). Jeff coached JV girls’ basketball at Calumet High School from 2011-2014 with a final record of 53-3 including two 19-0 undefeated seasons. He would then coach the girls’ varsity basketball team from 2014-2018 compiling an overall record of 73-19. Jeff led Calumet High School to the 2015 district championship, 2015 regional championship, and it’s first-ever MHSAA Basketball State Championship during the 2014-15 season while compiling a 24-2 record and earning UP Class C Team of the Year honors. In 2015, he earned the following coaching honors: 2015 Detroit Free Press Dream Team Coach of the Year, 2015 All-UP Class ABC Coach of the Year, 2015 Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan Region 16 Coach of the Year, 2015 Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan Class C Coach of the Year. Jeff led Calumet High School to the its first undefeated regular season, first conference championship, and second consecutive district championship in 2016 while being named conference coach of the year, and Associated Press Class C Second Team All-State Coach of the Year while compiling a 23-1 record. He led Calumet High School to its third consecutive district championship in 2017, while posting a 16-6 record. He retired from coaching after the 2017-18 season with an overall record of 126-22 (.851). Jeff is in an exclusive group of athletes that earned 12 varsity letters. He was an outstanding athlete that went on to win a state championship in basketball as a coach.

Jim Crawford excelled at hockey in his hometown of Lindsay, Ontario. He began his junior hockey career with the Lindsay Junior C Merchants, where he led the league in scoring during the 1969-70 season. Jim was a member of the Petrolia Jets Junior B team that won the league and playoff championship during the 1970-71 season. He was then drafted to play Junior A with the Niagara Falls Flyers of the Ontario Hockey Association. In 1971, he signed a professional tryout contract with the California Golden Seals of the National Hockey League. Jim was recruited by the Copper Country Chiefs to play in the United States Hockey League where he played for both the CC Chiefs and the Marquette Iron Rangers from 1973-1976. He then played senior hockey with the Calumet Wolverines and led them to multiple Gibson Cup championships. In 1984, Jim was hired to be the varsity hockey coach at Calumet High School where he coached for 31 years, until his retirement in 2015. During his tenure, Calumet High School won 12 conference championships, 15 regional championships, made 10 appearances in the state finals, and finished as State Runners-Up on three occasions. Calumet won the MHSAA State Championship in 1992, 1993, 1996, 1998, 2003, and 2008. Jim finished with a career conference record of 248-81-10, an MHSAA playoff record of 77-25-0, and an overall record of 533-270-20 (.660). Those 533 wins were 3rd most in Michigan high school history in 2015. He was inducted in to the Lindsay Sports Hall of Fame in 2011, and the U.P. Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. No other UP high school coach has won six state championships in any sport.

Shane Jacques earned 10 letters in cross country, track, and hockey while attending Calumet High School from 1985-1988. In cross country, Shane was a three time All-State selection. In track, he competed in the 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200 meter runs, as well as the 1600 and 3200 meter relay throughout his high school career. He set a school record as a member of the 3200 meter relay team with a time of 8:24.44 in 1986. This record stands at the time of induction. Shane was a member of the 1600 meter relay team that set a school record in 1988. During his senior year, he set a school record in the 800M Run with a time of 1:57.30. This record stands at the time of induction. Shane was a six time All-State selection in track, including a UP Finals 1st place finish in the 800M run with a time of 1:59.3 in 1988. Shane also excelled in hockey as a member of the varisty team his junior and senior year. He won league championships in 1987 and 1988, as well as a regional championship in 1988. He scored 25 goals and added 31 assists for a career total of 56 points in 50 games. Shane received the George Gipp All-American Award as the outstanding senior male athlete in the class of 1988. After high school, he ran the 800 meter run and 3200 meter relay in track while attending Michigan Tech before injuries shorted his collegiate career. Shane served as a volunteer assistant track coach at Calumet High School in 1989. He coached both house and travel hockey and was a referee for the Calumet Hockey Association for many years. Shane served four terms on the Calumet All-Sports Booster Club board including two terms as president (2009-2013). He was a leader both in the classroom, and in athletics, while excelling in three sports.

Mary Lynn (Langley) Saurino earned 9 letters in basketball, track, and gymnastics while attending Calumet High School from 1974-1978. In gymnastics, she finished in 1st place in the trampoline at the UP Finals in 1974. In track, Mary Lynn, participated in the high jump, long jump, 440 yard dash, mile relay, and hurdles. She set a school record at the time in the high jump at 5’3” and finished 1st in the UP finals in 1978. Mary Lynn set the school record at the time as a member of the mile relay team in 1978. She earned All-Conference 2nd Team honors in basketball in 1975, All-Conference 1st Team honors in basketball in 1977, and All-UP 2nd Team honors in basketball for Class A-B in 1977. Mary Lynn served as the team captain during her senior year. She set the following school records at the time: most field goals in a game with 13 (1977), most field goals in a season with 126 (1977), most field goals in a career with 236 (1977), most points in a game with 27 (1977), most points in a season with 272, with an average of
13.6 points per game (1977) and most points in a career with 520, with an average of 11.3 points per game (1977). In addition to school sports, she grew up playing ice hockey in the Calumet Hockey Association. Mary Lynn received the CHS Senior Female Athlete Award, now the Holly Jean McCullah Award, as the outstanding female athlete with the class of 1978. She went on to play college basketball at Suomi College where she was a team captain (1979-1981). Mary Lynn was an outstanding athlete who excelled in the early days of female athletics.

Julie (Hoxie) Langseth earned 10 letters in gymnastics, track, basketball, and cross country while attending Calumet High School from 1981-1985. She received the CHS Senior Female Athlete Award, now the Holly Jean McCullah Award, as the outstanding senior female athlete in the class of 1985. Julie was the head gymnastics coach at Negaunee High School from 1988-1990, where her team won an MHSAA Upper Peninsula State Championship in 1989. Julie serves as the varsity gymnastics coach in Antigo, Wisconsin where she has coached from 1992 to present. She has led Antigo High School to 6 conference championships, 14 WIAA state tournament appearances that resulted in 4 sectional championships, and 10 sectional runner-up finishes. Julie was named the Wisconsin High School Coach of the Year in 2003. She led Antigo High School to the 2008 WIAA Division 2 State Championship. In addition, Julie coached middle school track from 1992-1995, and 2009-2017. She is the co-founder and coach of a gymnastics program in Antigo that serves both recreational and competitive gymnasts. Julie was a well-rounded, multi-sport athlete who has left her mark as a gymnastics coach.

Kevin Manninen earned 9 letters in cross country, hockey, and track while attending Calumet High School from 1983-1987. In track, he qualified for the UP Finals in 1984 and 1986 in the 1600 meter run and the 3200 meter relay. Kevin was named 1st Team All-Conference and Most Valuable Player of the Lake Superior Hockey Conference as both a junior (1986) and senior (1987). He served as the team captain, and was named to the All-State 1st Team as a senior in 1987. Kevin set the all-time Calumet scoring record with 85 goals, 101 assists for a total of 186 points in only 76 games. This record stood for 22 years before being broken in 2019 in 107 games. He holds the following school records in hockey at the time of induction: Most points in a game: 10 (1985-86), most assists in a game: 6 (1985-86), most hat tricks in a season: 7 (1986-87), most hat tricks in a career: 12 (1984-87), and most goals in a season: 42 (1986-87). Kevin played two seasons in the United States Hockey League with the Waterloo Blackhawks from 1987-89, where he scored 46 goals and recorded 59 assists for a total of 105 points in 88 games. He served as team captain in Waterloo and played in the USHL All-Star Game (1989). Kevin was selected as a member of the USHL All-Star Team that played in Switzerland (1989). He played in Finland with HIFK Helsinki in the Liiga, Finland’s Elite League, during the 1989-1990 season, scoring 31 goals and 51 assists for a total of 82 points in 50 games. Kevin played 48 games at MTU in the WCHA during the 1990-91, and 1991-92 seasons, scoring 8 goals and 14 assists for a total of 22 points. He later competed in golf at Oakland University during the 1995-1996 season, winning two individual tournament titles, while being selected to the GLIAC 2nd Team. Kevin was a gifted and talented athlete, who excelled at both golf and hockey, while setting multiple school records along the way.

Gordie Lassila lettered in football while attending CHS from 1946-1950. In football, he played tailback, linebacker, and punter while serving as team captain his senior year. He earned All-UP Honorable Mention honors as a senior in 1949. Gordie played senior hockey and was an outstanding defenseman with the CLK Radars. He excelled as a ball player while playing Legion baseball, the Twi-Light League and fast-pitch softball league. Gordie attended Michigan State Universtiy, where he lettered in hockey during the 1955-56 season. He would later go on to coach varsity hockey at Calumet High School for 8 years from 1970-77 and 1980-81 where his teams earned a record of 106-61-1 (.634%). During that time, Calumet won two conference championships, 2 regional championships, finished as state runner-up in in 1976, and made a final-four appearance in 1977. Gordie coached in the longest Calumet High School hockey game ever recorded, a six-overtime win vs. Houghton in the regional championship in 1975. Gordie was a natural athlete who excelled at football, hockey, baseball, softball, bowling, and golf.

Brian Poshak earned 10 letters in football, hockey, and track while attending Calumet High School from 1988-1992. He was selected to serve as team captain in all three sports his senior year. Brian earned All-Conference 1st team in football as a defensive back in 1991. He also earned All-UP Honorable Mention honors as a defensive back in 1991. In hockey, Brian won three league championships and two regional championships (1990-1992). He was named to the hockey All-Conference 1st team as a senior in 1992. Brian was a member of the 1990-1991 hockey team that finished as State Runner-Up and was also a member of the 1991-1992 hockey team that won Calumet’s first state championship. Brian was named All-State 1st team in hockey as a senior in 1992. During his career, he scored 45 goals and 69 assists for 114 points in 79 games. In track, Brian ran the 1600 meter and 3200 meter runs, and the 1600 meter relay, where he qualified for the UP Track Finals three consecutive years. He was a member of the conference and regional championship track team in 1989. Brian received the George Gipp All-American Award as the outstanding senior male athlete in the class of 1992. He was a well-rounded, three sport athlete who enjoyed both individual and team success.

Don Poshak earned 6 letters in football and track while attending Calumet High School from 1964-1968, where he was a captain on both the football and track teams his senior year. He earned Copper Country All-Conference football 2nd team honors and All-UP honorable mention honors as a quarterback in Class A-B football as a senior in 1967. Don pole vaulted and placed in three consecutive UP Track and Field Finals in 1966-67-68. In 1967 he tied the outdoor school record at a height of 11′ 6”. In hockey, Don played with the CLK Wolverines senior hockey team and was a member of three Gibson Cup championships in 1968, 1971 and 1972. He also played with the Marquette Iron Rangers in 1971 in the USHL. Don graduated from Northern Michigan University with a BS degree in Education with a mathematics major in 1972 followed by a Master’s degree in Educational Administration. He began a teaching and coaching career with CLK Schools in 1972, where he served as an assistant coach in football, hockey, and track, and would
later become the varsity head coach in football, hockey, and track (1973-1991). He was the Calumet High School Athletic Director from 1992-1997, and 2003-2005 where he was a member of multiple local, regional, and state-wide committees, served as a conference officer, and was a member of the UP Athletic Committee. As a district administrator, Don served as assistant principal at both Calumet High School and Washington Middle School (1993-1996), as well as curriculum director (2003-2005). He served as Calumet High School Principal from 1996-2003. During this time, CHS earned the distinguished Governor’s Cup for Academic Excellence (2000, 2001). Don was named Upper Peninsula Secondary School Principal of the Year in 2003. He is a member of the CHS/SHHS Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame. Don Poshak is a life-long Copper King that served CLK Schools for over 35 years.