Northern State Athletics Hall of Fame
Stephanie (Hengel) Popelar was a three-sport stand-out for the Wolves, making her mark in cross country, track and field and women's basketball. Popelar was a 3-year starter for the Wolves and was a member of the 1987-88 Northern Sun Conference championship team that went 11-1 in league play.
However, it was on the track and cross country courses that Popelar made her most noteable mark, earning four all-conference and four all-district certificates. She also qualified for the NAIA national championships seven times throughout her career. Popelar was the NSC and disctrict championship in cross country in 1988, just one year after setting the conference record in the 5,000 meters with her time of 17:33.
Also a two-time NAIA Academic All-American, Popelar was awarded NSU's Hildred Wolfe Outstanding Athlete Award in 1989. That award is given annually to the top senior women's athlete at NSU based on career achievements.
Popelar was inducted into the NSIC Hall of Fame in 2010 and to the Aberdeen Central High School Hall of Fame in 2009. Employed as a senior legal analyst for Western Union, she has remained active in various committees and foundations. Popelar is also an accomplished triathlon competitor, finishing third in the women's 35-39 age group and first among all US women at the 2006 Triathlon World Championships.
