Arcadia High School Inaugural Hall of Fame

The Arcadia Athletics Hall of Fame was established to honor the athletes, coaches, teams, and contributors who have made a lasting impact on Arcadia athletics. The Hall of Fame recognizes their accomplishments, dedication, and contributions while celebrating the memories and achievements that have helped shape the proud tradition of Raider Athletics.

 

William “Bill” Cashen

Bill Cashen spent 39 seasons building Arcadia athletics into a tradition of excellence. As head football coach, he compiled a 172–70–18 record, winning 15 conference championships with 12 undefeated teams, including the legendary 1939 and 1950 teams that went undefeated, untied, and unscored upon. Cashen also coached basketball and baseball for decades and became a member of the inaugural Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame class.

 

Jim Haines

Jim Haines became one of the most accomplished wrestlers in Arcadia history, winning a state championship before continuing his career at the University of Wisconsin. There, he captured the 1977 NCAA championship at 118 pounds. Haines represented the United States at the 1976 Olympic Games and later earned silver at the 1979 World Championships. His remarkable career earned him induction into the UW Athletic Hall of Fame.

 

Parker Hagg

Parker B. Hagg was a longtime educator, agricultural leader, and community supporter. After his death in 1987, Hagg left a generous gift to the Arcadia School District benefiting student-athletes, with funds directed toward the development of a baseball field. His contribution created a lasting legacy for generations of Raiders and is recognized today through Parker Hagg Field.

 

Ruth Grulkowski

Ruth Grulkowski rose from her Wisconsin roots to become one of the nation's top gymnasts. After finishing eighth in the all-around at her first national meet, she earned a spot on the 1952 U.S. Olympic Team, competing in every apparatus at the Helsinki Olympic Games. Grulkowski went on to become the AAU national all-around champion in both 1953 and 1954 and was later inducted into the University of Chicago Athletics Hall of Fame.

 

1950 Football Team

The 1950 Arcadia football team put together one of the most dominant seasons in school history. Coached by Bill Cashen, the Raiders finished a perfect 7–0—undefeated, untied, and unscored upon. Arcadia outscored its opponents 238–0, including a 26–0 victory over previously unbeaten Mondovi to secure the conference championship. Coach Cashen credited the team's exceptional spirit and teamwork for its remarkable success.

 

Richard Fredrickson

Richard “Dick” Fredrickson dedicated nearly four decades to Arcadia as an educator and coach. During a remarkable 35-year coaching career, he led Raider football teams to nine conference championships and Arcadia track and field teams to 17 regional, 13 sectional, and six state championships. A six-time District Coach of the Year, Fredrickson was inducted into both the Wisconsin Track Coaches and Wisconsin Football Coaches halls of fame.

 

Willie Berzinski

Willie Berzinski was one of the most accomplished athletes to come out of Arcadia. A standout halfback, he helped lead the Raiders to an undefeated, unscored-upon season in 1950 and earned All-State honors as a senior. He went on to a record-setting career at UW–La Crosse, earning All-American honors before being selected in the fourth round of the 1956 NFL Draft. Berzinski later played professionally for the Philadelphia Eagles and Toronto Argonauts.

 

Jack Haines

Jack Haines was a standout pitcher for Arcadia, known for a fastball that reached nearly 90 miles per hour and an impressive curveball. Following high school, he signed with the St. Louis Browns organization and spent three years playing minor league baseball in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His baseball career was interrupted by his service in the National Guard, but Jack continued competing successfully in the Southern Minnesota League, a highly competitive semi-pro baseball league.

 

John Berg

For 54 years, John Berg had what he called the “Best Seat in the House” as the official scorekeeper for Arcadia basketball. Beginning in 1968, Berg became a fixture at the scorer’s table, serving generations of Raider athletes and keeping the book for 11 of Arcadia’s 12 1,000-point scorers. His remarkable dedication and service made him an important part of more than five decades of Arcadia basketball history.

 

1939 Football Team

The 1939 Arcadia football team authored one of the greatest seasons in Raider history. Led by Coach Bill Cashen, Arcadia finished a perfect 6–0—undefeated, untied, and unscored upon. The Raiders outscored their opponents 133–0, led by standout halfback Marcellus Brownlee, who scored 81 points. The 1939 team established a standard of excellence that Cashen and the Raiders remarkably matched again in 1950.

 

Jim Crowley

Jim Crowley served Arcadia for more than three decades as a teacher, coach, athletic director, and assistant principal. In 1964, he established the Arcadia wrestling program, leading the Raiders to seven conference and six regional championships during an outstanding coaching career. His lasting impact on the sport earned him induction into the Wisconsin Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

 

Lou Sauer

A 1946 Arcadia High School graduate, Louise “Lou” Erickson Sauer went on to play three seasons in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, pitching for the Racine Belles and Rockford Peaches from 1948–1950. Her baseball legacy was later honored in Cooperstown and at Miller Park. Lou returned that experience to Arcadia as a coach for both the high school girls softball program and Arcadia City women’s fast-pitch softball.