Northland Pines Hall of Fame to induct Morton Bruss, Richter, Mule', hockey team

Three former standout athletes and a State champion boys hockey team will be inducted into the Eagle River/Northland Pines High School Athletic Hall of Fame (HOF) later this month.

The inductees who make up the 23rd HOF class include Kim Morton Bruss, Mark Richter and Mike Mule'. The 1988-’89 boys hockey team will be inducted into the HOF team category.

All the athletes will be honored at a ceremony Friday, Aug. 22, at the Northland Pines High School auditorium beginning at 4:30 p.m.

According to HOF Committee Chairman Larry Snedden, teammates, family, friends and fans of Northland Pines athletics are invited to attend the induction ceremony.

Snedden said a couple of the highlights of the program are when each of the inductees is introduced by a presenter and when each inductee recounts their time as an Eagle.

“It’s heartwarming to listen to the acceptance speeches from each inductee,” said Snedden. “Many sports memories are shared, and it’s amazing how many great relationships were built during their athletic careers at Northland Pines.”

The inductees also will be introduced at halftime of the varsity football game later that evening between Northland Pines and Antigo at 7 p.m., which is billed as the Hall of Fame Game.

Following the game, the inductees, family members and friends are invited to a reception at the Braywood, located at 4109 Braywood Lane, Eagle River.

The following is a description of each inductee’s achievements that will be on their hall of fame plaque. The HOF is located in the hallway adjacent to the fieldhouse in the high school.

Kim Morton Bruss

Kim Morton Bruss, a 1988 graduate of Northland Pines High School, was a three-sport athlete lettering in volleyball, basketball and track all four years. In volleyball, Kim was first team all-conference in the Lumberjack Conference her junior year. In basketball, she was second team all-conference as a sophomore, honorable mention as a junior and first team as a senior, when she was co-captain and co-MVP. During her varsity basketball career, the Eagles won two Lumberjack Conference co-championships in 1985-’86 and 1986-’87. In track, Kim was part of the 1985 State Champion 1,600-meter relay team and was part of the 400-, 800- and 1,600-meter State qualifying relay teams in 1988. The 1988 400-meter relay team she was part of still holds the current outdoor school record at 51.22 seconds. After high school, Kim attended a local community college and then returned to the North Woods to raise a family and continue to support her three children, Emily, Riley and Roen, who also attended Northland Pines and were part of the athletic program through multiple sports.

Mark Richter

Mark Richter, a 1987 graduate of Northland Pines, earned seven varsity letters, including four in hockey and three in golf. During his senior golf season, Mark’s team went 65-0, including a Sectional title and the Fall Golf State Championship. He was All-Conference his junior and senior years and was medalist at one conference meet. In hockey, Mark was a four-year letterwinner, member of two State Championship teams and first team All-Conference his sophomore, junior and senior years. He was captain in his junior and senior years. Mark was among the NPHS all-time leaders in the number of games played and penalty minutes. He is also the all-time leader in goals, assists and points. Mark went on to play two years in the USHL and four years at UW-Eau Claire. After graduating with a teaching/coaching degree, Mark coached four years of high school hockey in Wisconsin and then moved to Colorado with his wife, Julie, to embark on a sales career, working with Bill Sparks, Dennis Snedden and Mike Mule’,  all NPHS Athletic HOF inductees. In Colorado, Mark coached 12 years of hockey, winning seven State Championships. He also coached five years of soccer and softball. Mark and Julie have two daughters, Ally and Jenny, who played together on the 2016 Colorado 5A State Championship softball team. The Richters reside in Brighton, Colo., but travel to Eagle River often to visit family and friends.

Mike Mule’

Mike Mule’, a 1987 graduate of Northland Pines High School, earned eight varsity letters in football, hockey and track. In football, he served as the starting quarterback his sophomore to senior years and captain his senior year. Under his leadership, the Eagles were undefeated Lumberjack Conference champions and the State runner-up in 1986. He was second team all-conference in 1984, honorable mention in 1985 and first team in 1986. He held NPHS records for touchdown passes in a single game (3) and season (11) for many years. In hockey, Mike earned four letters and was co-captain his junior and senior years. He earned North Central Hockey Conference honorable mention all-conference in 1985, second team in 1986 and first team in 1987. He contributed to the team's Sectional and State championships in 1986 and a conference championship in 1987. He is tied for sixth all-time scoring with his brother John (70 goals/65assists/135 points). Mike also lettered in track in 1984 and 1985, competing in the 100- and 400-meter dashes, 4x400-meter relay and long jump. After high school, Mike continued his athletic career with Team Wisconsin hockey in 1987, USHL Junior A Hockey with the Madison Capitols (1987-'88) and Waterloo Blackhawks (1988-'89), and Division 3 college hockey at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (1989-'92). Mike is married to Patty Thomas (NPHS 1986) and they have two sons, Aidan and Brody. Currently residing in Cottage Grove, Minn., Mike enjoys giving back to the community by coaching youth hockey.

1988-’89 Boys Hockey Team

The Northland Pines High School boys hockey team won its third WIAA State Hockey Championship during the 1988-’89 school year. Ranked second in the state, the Eagles marched through the WIAA Sectional playoffs to advance to the State Championships. Coached by Tom Obrodovich and assisted by Dunnie Richter, the Eagles dumped D.C. Everest 7-3 and blanked Antigo 7-0 to win the Sectional championship to advance to the three-day, eight-team State Tournament at the Dane County Coliseum in Madison. At State, Pines edged Sun Prairie 1-0 in the quarterfinals, dominated  Wausau West 5-1 in the semifinals and man-handled Beloit 4-1 in the State Championship game. The 1988-’89 Eagles won the North Central Hockey Conference with a perfect 16-0 record, finished the season with a 24-1 overall record and won a coveted State Hockey Championship as Northland Pines left its mark on Badger State boys high school hockey with its third state title since 1984.