K Club Weekend Interviews

Nov. 1, 2012

In conjunction with the 2012 University of Kansas’ Homecoming events, K Club hosted its annual reunion to honor former student-athletes. Highlighted events of the weekend included the Hall of Fame induction as well as a tailgate before the KU football game against Texas. A round of golf and a social on Friday were also a part of the events hosted by K Club. Over 300 former student-athletes and their families participated in the events to honor past accomplishments.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Bill Hougland (Basketball, 1952 National Champion, 1949-52)
Favorite part about K Club/Homecoming weekend:
“Seeing the people and my old friends that I don’t see very often. That’s the nice part about getting together with K Club. We all went to school together and it’s fun to be around them. I don’t get a chance to do this except for once a year.”

Advice for future Jayhawks:
“Take advantages of what you have here and really enjoy it while you’re here because once you leave you have to go to work. When you’re here you make a lot of friends that will be with you for the rest of your life.”

Matt Kleinmann (Men’s Basketball, 2008 National Champion, 2004-08)
Favorite part about being a Jayhawk:
“I had a lot of great experiences; winning the national championship in 2008 is easily the best part. When I really think about it, I miss the relationships. I still keep in touch with some of the guys. When you’re in a locker room everyday with guys and you go through what you have to go through together to play as a team, I kind of miss that camaraderie. Once you leave, you realize the special time you had with these guys to compete with them.”

Favorite part about K Club/Homecoming weekend:
“Being able to come back and tell stories. I had dinner last night with Bud Stallworth, Dave Robesh and Ted Owens. Just being able to sit and listen to these guys’ stories about what it used to mean to them about playing basketball here was great. I guess I’m kind of sentimental for the history of it because I’m still kind of a young kid to them. So hearing them tell stories about KU basketball was pretty amazing to me.”

Advice for future Jayhawks:
“Soak it up. It goes by really fast. I was here for five years and it felt like I was here for five days. So for the people who can only be here for four, three or two years just soak it up. School is important, but I wish I would have gone to more football games, volleyball games and soccer games and experience everything.”

FOOTBALL

Todd Reesing (Football, quarterback for KU 2008 Orange Bowl Champion, 2006-08)
Favorite part about being a Jayhawk:
“That’s a tough question. There are so many things that I love about Kansas. So many good memories. Beating Missouri on that fourth-and-seven play. Winning the Orange Bowl. Putting us on the national map. It was such a fun experience to be in Lawrence with such good fans. The whole four years were awesome.”

Favorite part about K Club/Homecoming weekend:
“It’s the first time that I’ve been back in awhile. Just seeing some of the guys I’ve played with, alumni and friends I went to school and seeing everyone who has been spread throughout the country now has been so much fun. Also being on the other side of the fence and watching everyone play now has been pretty cool.”

Advice for future Jayhawks:
“Enjoy the experience, enjoy your time. It’s a great experience here at this university. I couldn’t be a happier alumni.”

Chip Budde (Football, 1987-90)
Favorite part about being a Jayhawk:
“The teammates. The friends I made and the friends I’ve been able to keep throughout my life.”

Favorite part about K Club/Homecoming weekend:
“The most exciting event this weekend has probably been the golf because it was a great chance to get back with former teammates and compete with guys who played different sports and just have a lot of fun.”

Advice for future Jayhawks:
“Stay in touch with the people you compete with. It’s a great experience being a college athlete and you appreciate it the more you are away from it. The friendships you make in the locker room, on the field and on the courts and in the pool, they’re fantastic. “

Jake Laptad (Football, 2007-10)
Favorite part about being a Jayhawk:
“I loved it here. The tradition and the people here are just great. It’s fun to be around all the Jayhawks. Everyone is so nice, I just love it here.”

Favorite part about K Club/Homecoming weekend:
“Being able to see people you haven’t seen since you’ve graduated. It’s always great seeing all of my old teammates and being able to talk about old times. It’s fun seeing all of the Jayhawks come together for Homecoming.”

MEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING

Kurt Anselmi (Men’s Swimming, 1976-79)
Favorite part about being a Jayhawk:
“I came in as a blind freshman. I had all these people that were ahead of me, so there was a lot of leadership on the team and fortunately I was lucky enough to be a conference champion in my first year. I was a diver with Dick’s team and he was very supportive of us. My freshman year was very special.”

Favorite about K Club/Homecoming weekend:
“It is fantastic. I’m looking at this crew in here and many of them, I know the names. I was one of the last recruiting classes from Dick (Reamon), but I have seen all these names on record boards and know many of them. It is a great time to be back.”

Advice for future Jayhawks:
“To get involved. I was very fortunate to have this group as a fraternity, because we spent so much time together. I would say that to anybody going to college. Get yourself involved, whether it is intramural stuff, it’s collegiately, whether it is fraternity or sorority; get yourself involved and don’t be a loner in college. Get around people. There are so many opportunities at KU. They have a great program here. I live in Texas, so people like me follow KU in every sport and every aspect.”

Tom Bowser (Men’s Swimming, 1965-68)
Favorite memory about being a Jayhawk:
“We remember the swim meets, where coach Reamon and Associate Athletics Director Monty Johnson had to go down to Laird Noller and beg for three station wagons so we could drive south and swim against SMU, Texas, Oklahoma, Texas Tech and then come back home. We were on a shoestring budget back then, like most non-revenue sports, so it was really nice when we won the Big Eight championship for the first time in 1968. I was pleased to be a co-captain on that team with my friend Jim Coughenour. We beat some big powers, Oklahoma and Iowa State, for our first championship and to have our teammates carry on and win eight in a row is something special.”

Favorite part about K Club/Homecoming weekend:
“It is a wonderful experience to be reunited with coach (Dick) Reamon and our teammates from years past, so everyone is having a great time. Mostly we like that the older we get, the faster we were and there is no one around to challenge us.”

Advice for future Jayhawks:
“Whether it is swimming, soccer or gymnastics, having a team experience where you set goals and work hard together, men or women, to achieve those goals represents a lesson for life that will serve everyone well. I went on to become the president and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Kansas City, where I spent my career and I can tell you that the athletic experience transferred over to the business experience really well. You learn how to play with each other in the sandbox and that is a very important lesson for life.”

Jim Coughenour (Men’s Swimming, 1968 Big Eight Champion, 1965-68)
Favorite part about being a Jayhawk:
“I guess it was more of the transition from high school over to a bigger atmosphere. The people were friendlier here at KU, and I was able to join a fraternity. That helped me adjust to KU. Swimming really helped me adjust to college life a bit more than anything else. It’s just a great atmosphere.”

Favorite part about K Club/Homecoming weekend:
“Seeing old friends and introducing my family to all of them.”

Advice for future Jayhawks:
“Study hard.”

Bo Darrah (Men’s Swimming, 1969 All-American, 1968-69)
Favorite part about being a Jayhawk:
“The camaraderie the team had was a special deal. The university and my fraternity (Phi Delta Theta) were also great things about being here.”

Favorite part about K Club/Homecoming weekend:
“Just seeing the guys I haven’t see for 30 years.”

Advice for future Jayhawks:
“Study hard and graduate.”

Gary Kempf (Men’s Swimming, 1973-75; coached, 1977-00)
Favorite memory part about being a Jayhawk:
“They won eight straight conference championships and my roommate and I, Tommy Compton, were just talking about how we were captains of the first team that did not win the conference championship, so we didn’t know if they were going to allow us to come this weekend. I can honestly say there are so many things. Just walking back onto the campus and the memories of our work; what we did and how we did it, it is all a tremendous memory.”

Favorite part about K Club/Homecoming weekend:
“This weekend has been a long time coming. One of the greatest coaches KU has had, has been coach (Dick) Reamon. I came and swam for Dick from 1972-76 and during that time, my life changed dramatically. Dick was a coach, a teacher and a mentor. This is just a small reflection of all the care that he put into the program over the years.”

Advice for future Jayhawks:
“I think the biggest thing is that they need to make sure that they grow in every facet of their life. This is what Dick (Reamon) taught us years ago: you grow academically, you grow athletically and you grow personally. It is important not to get lost in your success in one area or another, but become a total person. So few go on in their sports after college, so they need to develop as a total person while they are here.”

Ray Powers (Men’s Swimming, 1969-71)
Favorite part about being a Jayhawk:
“The excitement of being here on campus and the whole experience at KU was just wonderful.”

Favorite part about K Club/Homecoming weekend:
“Seeing all the guys I haven’t seen for so long and getting to see coach Reamon again. That tribute to him was really good yesterday. I loved it.”

Dick Reamon (Men’s Swimming 1960-62, Coached 1963-77)
Favorite part about being a Jayhawk:
“There are so many it’s really hard to say. I think that traditions and feelings that go over from year to year that are passed from the student athletes. It’s a special place.”

Favorite part about K Club/Homecoming weekend:
“Getting to see everybody. Years have gone by since we’ve all been together. It’s a special feeling for me, having been their coach, but also to see them enjoying each other after all this time. It’s a neat weekend.”

Advice for future Jayhawks:
“Once a Jayhawk, Always a Jayhawk. Welcome to the crowd.”

Tom Vanslyke (Men’s Swimming, 1964-68)
Favorite part about being a Jayhawk:
“Just great tradition, and a lot of fun.”

Favorite part about K Club/Homecoming weekend:
“Getting together with the coach and all the fellows from the 60’s. It is a terrific opportunity to reminisce.”

Advice for future Jayhawks:
“Beat K-State if you can someday!”

TRACK & FIELD

Egor Agafonov (Track & Field, Hall of Fame member, 2006-08)
Favorite part about K Club/Homecoming weekend:
“Everything. Tomorrow, the induction day, will be great. And the football game also. I have invited many of my friends who studied with me, so it will be great to see everyone. Itfeels great. I feel like I’m at home, especially because I get to see my coaches. It’s a really great feeling. It’s been two and a half years since I’ve been back, which is a long time. I’m glad I’m here.”

Advice for future Jayhawks:
“The only advice I have is to work hard and believe in themselves and the coaches. Just to work as hard as you can and believe that it’s there.”

David Johnston (Cross Country/Track & Field, All-American 1994, 1990-94)
Favorite part about being a Jayhawk:
“My favorite part was the camaraderie of the team. The team aspect is something you don’t find once you leave the Hill and you get into the real world. But as Jayhawks it’s something that we all experience.”

Favorite part about K Club/Homecoming weekend:
“It’s not only seeing old faces that you went to school with, but some of those guys who came before you. I still get star struck when I see some of these guys that are in the Hall of Fame. We’ve inducted a few more this weekend, and it’s a lot of fun to be a part of that tradition.”

Advice for future Jayhawks:
“Learn from those who went before you so you can uphold that tradition because KU has one of the most unique traditions in all of college sports. We like to say ‘Once a Jayhawk, Always a Jayhawk’ and it’s great that we have K Club to keep those engaged, and keep them coming back.”

Larry Stroup (Track & Field, Conference Champion 1956, 1954-57)
Favorite part about being a Jayhawk:
“I’m a Kansan and I like being a Jayhawk. KU was good to me when I was running track here and it was just fun to be a part of the team.”

Favorite part about K Club/Homecoming weekend:
“The best part about the weekend was coming to the K Club tailgate and seeing all the people that are here. A lot of them I know from the old days and there’s some young ones here. It’s just fun to mix.”

Advice for future Jayhawks:
“Pay attention to your coaches and train hard. Do you best and enjoy it.”

WOMEN’S ROWING

Tawnya Bach (Rowing 1999-2002)
Favorite part about being a Jayhawk:
“We’re like a big family. We were family when we were here as athletes and we’re still a family as graduates and alumni. We’ll always be family.”

Favorite part about K Club/Homecoming weekend:
“The football game. My husband is a Texas fan so we have a little rivalry going. It’s been over a year since I’ve been back. I don’t even live that far away, so it’s sad that I haven’t been back in a while. I always look forward to the K Club events.”

SUPPORT STAFF

John Novotny (First academic counselor for athletes, 1966-81)
Favorite part about K Club/Homecoming weekend:
“I was fortunate to be the first academic counselor for athletes at the University of Kansas. From that I have gained unbelievable experiences. This has been the most organized K Club weekend. The event at Abe and Jakes last night had a huge turnout and today with the tailgate before the game is perfect for relationship building. It’s unbelievable what people believe about the University of Kansas and their experience in each one of their athletic endeavors and I was just lucky to be a part of it.”

Advice for future Jayhawks:
“The number one thing is don’t forget to get your degree. Those professors are there to help you. Go to class and do your job, like I always used to tell the athletes. Be sure to get a degree in something that’s going to help you get a job because today, that’s critical.”

Interested in joining K Club? Visit kclub.kuathletics.com.