MADISON – Melvin Gordon holds some of the most impressive records in Wisconsin football history.
His 408 yards against Nebraska in 2014 are 69 better than the single-game record Ron Dayne set 18 years earlier.
Gordon’s 2,587 rushing yards in 2014 are the program’s single-season record by almost 400 yards. And his career average of 7.79 yards per carry is more than 1 yard better than the second-best Badger (Jonathan Taylor, 6.67).
It was only a matter of time for the Kenosha native who starred at Bradford High School to gain entry into the University of Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame. He got the call this year, one of 12 individuals announced May 28 as inductees for the 2026 class.
The group will be inducted in a ceremony during hall of fame weekend Sept 18-19.
Here is a look at the entire class.
Chris Borland, football (2009-13)
A first-team All-American linebacker, Borland was also the Big Ten defensive player of the year as a senior. He helped the Badgers win conference titles in 2010 and ’11 and played in three Rose Bowls. San Francisco selected him in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
Bob Bruce, special service
A former golfer, Bruce helped the Badgers place in the top 20 of the NCAA championships in 1952 and ’53. He was part of the planning committee for University Ridge Golf Course in 1991.
Kelsey Card, track and field (2012-16)
A seven-time All-American for Wisconsin, Card won the NCAA outdoor title in the discus in 2016 and was the Big Ten’s record holder in the shot put. She went on to represent the United States in the 2016 and 2020 Olympics in the discus.
Sam Dekker, men’s basketball (2012-15)
The Sheboygan native helped the Badgers reach Final Fours in 2014 and ’15. UW won the Big Ten title in 2015 then reached the national championship game. He was the most outstanding player of the NCAA West Region in 2015 and was selected with the 18th pick of the NBA draft by Houston later that year.
Al Fish, administration (1989-2002)
Fish, a former associate athletic director, oversaw the planning and management of many of UW’s facilties, including the Kohl Center, University Ridge Golf Course and Camp Randall Stadium.
Melvin Gordon, football (2011-14)
The Kenosha native won the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s top running back and was the runner-up in the Heisman Trophy vote to Marcus Mariota in 2014. He was also the Big Ten’s offensive player of the year and a first-team All-American that season. He was a first-round pick by the Chargers in the 2015 NFL draft.
Janet Huff, women’s basketball (1980-84)
The Milwaukee native was the first player in program history to earn first-team all-Big Ten distinction. She also helped the Badgers reach the AIAW national tournament in 1982, the first postseason appearance in program history. She ranks 14th in program history with 1,455 points.
Bob Konovsky, wrestling/football (1954-56)
Konovsky earned his greatest acclaim at UW as a wrestler. He was a three-time Big Ten champion and All-American heavyweight. He won the Big Ten’s medal of honor for academic and athletic excellence in 1956. He was selected in the seventh round of the NFL draft by the Chicago Cardinals and played three seaons in the league.
Sis Paulsen, women’s hockey (1999-2003)
The Eau Claire native was a three-time captain for the Badgers. She was the program’s all-time scoring leader among defenders until 2025 and currently ranks second in that category. She was a first-team All-WCHA selection in 2000. She has served as equipment manager for the program since 2017.
Barbara (Basia) Urbanska-Lucido, women’s tennis (1995-99)
Urbanska-Lucido helped the Badgers win the 1996 Big Ten title, the lone conference championship in program history. She went on to earn All-American distinction in singles and doubles in ’98 and was the Big Ten player of the year in 1999.
Ron Vincent, men’s hockey (1978-82)
A member of the 1981 national championship team, Vincent still ranks third in program history in assists (131), fifth in points per game (1.30) and sixth in total points (206).
Ron Wuensche, men’s golf (1988-92)
A five-time individual tournament champion for UW, Wuensche led the team in scoring for four straight seasons. He finished second at the 1991 Big Ten championship and competed in three NCAA championships.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Melvin Gordon headlines University of Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame class
Reporting by Mark Stewart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
