Athletic Hall of Fame Winners: 2006
Laura Williams-Bleche
Williams-Blechle, known by her teammates and friends as “Flea,” was a Cougar Softball player from 1986-1990. Williams-Blechle played a key role in Columbia College’s rise as a national contender, helping the team win its first District Softball Championship and first appearance in the NAIA Softball National Championship Tournament, as well as an overall record of 174-38 (821). The 1989 team still holds the Cougar Softball single-season record for fewest losses (5) and highest winning percentage (.921). With Williams-Blechle on the field, the Cougars finished no lower than No. 12 in the NAIA final rankings. She helped propel the team to a No. 1 ranking, a Columbia College Athletic Department first, in 1989.
Individually, Williams-Blechle holds the Cougar Softball single-season record for most runs scored (83), most walks batting (62) and most stolen bases (54). In addition, she batted more than .300 in each of her four seasons. She was co-team captain during her sophomore, junior and senior years, and she was voted most valuable player during her junior and senior seasons. Williams-Blechle was a three-time All-Conference selection, two-time Academic All-Conference award winner, two-time First-Team All-District 16 selection, NAIA Honorable Mention All-American in her junior year and NAIA Second Team All-American in her senior year. She also was an NAIA All-America Scholar-Athlete her senior year. Williams-Blechle was voted Columbia College Female Athlete of the Year in 1989. She graduated from Columbia College in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in education and received certification in K-12 physical education and health from the University of Missouri. She earned a master’s degree in education from Webster University. She has been a head softball coach and physical education instructor for the past 15 years. She currently coaches and teaches at Wentzville Holt High School in Wentzville, Mo., where she resides with her husband, Jeff, a Cougar Soccer alumnus, and their three children, Justin, 12; Drew, 8; and Timmy, 5.
Susan and Wayne Kreklow
Susan and Wayne Kreklow began their coaching careers at Columbia College at different times, but they shared the enjoyment of leading the college’s Cougar Volleyball team to its first national championship in 1998, with a repeat performance in 1999. Susan Kreklow joined Columbia College in 1990 as volleyball coach. During the next four seasons, she led the Cougars to four straight conference championships and an overall record of 189-57 (.768). Wayne Kreklow joined her in 1994 as co-head coach of the women’s volleyball team and head coach of the newly created men’s volleyball team. The following six seasons “Team Kreklow” saw unmatched success at Columbia College with six more conference championships, back-to-back undefeated seasons in 1998 and 1999, two NAIA National Championships and an overall record of 267-29 (.902). They were six-time Conference Coaches of the Year, five-time Region Coaches of the Year and two-time NAIA Coaches of the Year. The Kreklows coached nine NAIA All-Americans, two NAIA All-America Scholar-Athletes, five NAIA Players of the Week and one NAIA Player of the Year. Since leaving Columbia College in 2000, the Kreklows’ success has continued at the University of Missouri. During the past season, Wayne Kreklow, head coach, and Susan Kreklow, associate head coach, led the Tigers to an overall record of 25-5 and an appearance in the NCAA Elite Eight. The Kreklows reside in Columbia, Mo., with their three children, Rick, 14; Ali, 11; and Ryan, 10.
Dr. Audrey Montooth
Montooth was a Cougar softball player from 1987-1991, serving as a vital member of numerous conference and district championship teams. During her four seasons, she helped the Cougars to an overall record of 203-37 (.843) and four straight conference championships, as well as the team’s first two District 16 Championships and first two trips to the NAIA Softball National Championship Tournament in 1990 and 1991. The 1991 team still holds the single-season record for most victories with 61 wins. The Cougars finished the year ranked no lower than eighth and as high as second during Montooth’s career. She also was a part of the 1989 team that was ranked No. 1 in the nation at one point in the season.
Individually, Montooth holds the record for most fielding chances in a season (460) and is tied for sixth-highest single-season fielding percentage (.993). In three of her four years, Montooth batted more than .300 for the year. She was named team co-captain and voted most valuable player in her senior season. Montooth was recognized as a two-time All-Conference selection, Conference Player of the Year (1991), First-Team All-District 16 (1991) and NAIA First-Team All-American (1991). For her efforts in the classroom, Montooth was a three-time Academic All-Conference recipient and two-time NAIA All-America Scholar-Athlete. After earning her undergraduate degree in biology with minors in math, chemistry and history from Columbia College in 1991, she graduated from the University of Kansas Medical School. Montooth currently is in private practice in St. Louis, Mo. In fall 2005, Montooth was selected as the Columbia College Graduate of the 1990s.
Thomas W. Roberts
Roberts played basketball for the Cougars from 1987-1991 under Bob Burchard, current head coach. Roberts helped lead the Cougars to back-to-back 30-win seasons in his junior and senior seasons and was an integral part of initiating the winning tradition of Cougar Basketball. Roberts helped lead Columbia College to its first national tournament appearance in any sport during the 1989-1990 season.
Roberts finished his career as the second leading scorer in school history, now in third position at 1,678. Roberts also ranks eighth all-time in assists (239) and 21st in rebounding (366). Roberts is a two-time all-conference honoree and was a First-Team All-District selection his senior season. Roberts also was voted most valuable player in his senior season. In 1991, Roberts’ jersey was retired, making him one of only two men’s basketball players to date to earn this honor. Roberts graduated from Columbia College with a degree in criminal justice administration in 1991 and currently is the head women’s basketball coach at New Mexico Highlands University, an NCAA Division II school located in Las Vegas, N.M.
Wendy Spratt
Spratt was a Cougar Softball player from 1986-1990, and helped lead the team to become the national powerhouse it is today. During her four-year career, Cougar Softball won its first District Softball Championship and made its first appearance in the NAIA Softball National Championship Tournament. The Cougars had an overall record of 174-38 (821). The 1989 team that Spratt was a part of still holds the Cougar Softball single-season record for fewest losses (five) and highest winning percentage (.921). With Spratt on the field, the Cougars finished no lower than No. 12 in an NAIA final ranking. She helped propel the team to a No. 1 ranking, a Columbia College Athletic Department first, in 1989.
Individually, Spratt is tied for the most hits by a player in a game (five) and holds the single-season record for highest batting average (.480). Spratt batted more than .300 during her sophomore and junior seasons and over .400 during her freshman (.421) and senior (.480) seasons. As a freshman, Spratt was voted co-most valuable player. She is a two-time all-conference award winner, four-time First-Team All-District 16 recipient and a First-Team All-American her senior year. For her off-the-field efforts, Spratt was a two-time Academic All-Conference award winner and a two-time NAIA All-America Scholar-Athlete. She was also named co-Columbia College Female Athlete of the Year during her senior season along with fellow Columbia College Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Wendy Mertz Slifka. Spratt graduated from Columbia College with a degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing including a minor in psychology, in 1990. She now is in her 12th season as head coach of the Columbia College women’s softball team and has led the Cougars to a 480-212 record, as well as seven American Midwest Conference (AMC) regular season championships.
