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CITY (VCSU) – Valley City State University will induct five individuals into the Viking Hall of Fame during homecoming weekend, the athletic department announced today.
The 29th group of Viking Hall of Fame honorees includes one of the most decorated runners in Viking history and four football players who were a part of three straight conference championships from 1982-84.
The 2014 class includes track and cross country standout, Darrin Boehm, and football players: Pat O’Brien, Pat Horner, Doug Schindele and Rod Skytland.
The inductees will be honored Friday, Oct. 3 during a banquet in their honor at Valley City State University. A social begins at 5 p.m. and the banquet follows at 6 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased by calling the VCSU athletic office at 701-845-7160.
Darrin Boehm – Track, Cross Country – 1985-89
A native of Mandan, N.D., Darrin Boehm excelled in both cross country and track and field while at VCSU, lettering all four years in both sports.
Boehm’s greatest success came on the cross country trails as he was a 2-time conference champion (1987, 1988) and is the only 4-time national qualifier in program history. Boehm qualified for the national championships as an individual in 1985, 1987 and 1988. He was also team MVP of the 1986 team that qualified for nationals and won the conference championship and the NAIA District 12 championship.
On the track, Boehm was a 4-year letter winner beginning in his freshman season of 1986. In 1987, he qualified for the national meet in steeplechase and placed 15th. Boehm qualified for nationals in the 1500-meter run as a senior and earned his second NAIA Scholar-Athlete honor.
Pat O’Brien – Football – 1981-84
A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Pat O’Brien made Valley City and the football field his home from 1981 to 1984. A 3-year letter winner and 3-time conference champion from 1982-84, O’Brien had his best season as a senior on the defensive line.
He led the team with 132 total tackles in 1984, while also racking up three forced fumbles and two sacks. O’Brien was named Honorable Mention All American in 1984. He was also named All Conference and All District, and received the team awards of MVP and Top Defensive Player. The Vikings went 5-1 in conference play in 1984, winning the third of three straight NDCAC championships.
Pat Horner – Football – 1982-85
A hometown Hi-Liner from Valley City, Pat Horner excelled at the collegiate level as a Viking tight end.
Horner earned All Conference and All District honors in both 1984 and 1985, and was named Honorable Mention All American as a junior in 1984 after catching 22 passes for 346 yards and a touchdown. He was a 4-year letter winner from 1982-85, and played a part in three straight conference championships from 1982-84.
Horner totaled 45 receptions for 691 yards and three touchdowns in his final two seasons. The Vikings went 22-13 overall during his career, and were nearly unbeatable in NDCAC play with an 18-5 conference record
Doug Schindele – Football – 1982-85
A fierce linebacker, Doug Schindele topped 100 total tackles in both his junior and senior seasons at VCSU and ended his career with 283 tackles.
A native of Stephen, Minn., Schindele was a 4-year letter winner for the Vikings. During his time at VCSU, the Vikings went 22-13 overall and posted an 18-5 record in conference play – winning three straight conference titles from 1982-84.
As a senior in 1985, Schindele led the Vikings with 127 total tackles. He was named Honorable Mention All American in 1985, along with All Conference and All District honors. Schindele was a team captain in 1985, and earned the team awards of MVP and Top Defensive Player.
During his junior season, Schindele earned Honorable Mention All Conference after tallying 110 total tackles.
Rod Skytland – Football – 1982-85
A native of Carrington, N.D., Skytland played running back for the Vikings, racking up more than 1,000 career rushing yards – including 701 yards his senior season.
Skytland was the main offensive threat out of the backfield in his senior season of 1985. He carried the ball 130 times for 701 years and two touchdowns. He also emerged as a receiving threat out of the backfield with 16 catches for 190 yards and a touchdown. Skytland was named Honorable Mention All American in 1985, along with being named All Conference and All District. He was also named the team’s Top Offensive Player.
Skytland was a 4-year letter winner from 1982-85 and rushed for 1,047 yards from 1983-85. The Vikings went 22-13 overall and 15-3 in conference play during his career – winning three straight conference championships from 1982-84.