During Homecoming 2025, the Wesmen Athletics Department, with the support from Alumni Affairs, will be hosting two separate Wesmen Alumni and Friends Nights: each one devoted to the basketball program and the volleyball program.
Wesmen alumni and friends are encouraged to come back to the Duckworth Centre to reconnect with old teammates and meet the current players and coaching staff. Each night will include food, games, and a special Wesmen Alumni T-shirt. Wesmen alumni will also receive a free season pass to all Wesmen home conference games (excluding Wesmen Classic and playoffs). Pre-registration is preferred.
Ring of Honour
The basketball night will feature a small celebration to honour the 2024 inductees of the Wesmen Ring of Honour—Angie Johnson, Deb Steele-Kretschmer, Beth Cochran, and Michelle (Chambers) Foreman. These four basketball legends will have their names elevated into the Ring at the Dr. David F. Anderson Gymnasium, as they are honoured for their contributions to the program and the department.
Deb Steele-Kretschmer, 1977-1980
“If you’d asked someone in the 1970s to describe me in two words, ‘natural athlete’ wouldn’t have been one of them,” laughed Deb Steele-Kretschmer (BA 80) as she sat down to reflect on her career as a Wesmen athlete.
By the age of thirteen, Deb stood an impressive six feet six inches tall. Growing up in rural Nova Scotia, she never imagined she’d become an athlete—let alone compete at the university level and represent Canada on the national team.
One summer, she asked to attend a basketball camp in Halifax, not knowing it would be led by the head coach of the national women’s basketball team. This sparked something unexpected: a recognition of her potential. She began her university basketball career with the Saint Mary’s Huskies. But it was when she transferred to UWinnipeg in her second year, that Deb truly found her stride – both as a player and a person.
As a student-athlete, Deb learned the value of hard work both on and off the court. She honed her skills under the leadership of coach Vic Pruden and instantly became a game-changer. She helped lead the UWinnipeg Wesmen to three national tournaments and GPAC titles, including a silver medal at the CIAU championship in 1978. To date, she still holds the Wesmen program record for averaging 15.8 rebounds per game in 1979-1980.
Deb admits when she attended UWinnipeg, her focus was on basketball. Still, Deb finished her BA in English and learned that hard work pays off. “If I could be a successful basketball player, then I knew I could transform myself into a strong student,” said Deb.
It was with this mindset that she completed her master’s in communications at the University of North Dakota. “I ended up being voted outstanding graduate student,” said Deb. “I knew that if I applied myself, I could do anything right.”
Deb says she would not be the person she is today without the University of Winnipeg. “UWinnipeg gave me the opportunity to develop into a self-confident person and to understand my gifts. I was surrounded by people who valued me — and helped me to value myself.”
Now living in Edmonton, Alberta, Deb will be returning to Winnipeg for Homecoming 2025. When she heard about the induction, there was no question she would make the trip. “I will do anything for UWinnipeg and the program that helped make me who I am today,” said Deb. “This is coming 45 years after my university career, and it’s humbling for me to still be on the radar.”
Beth Cochran, 1982-1987
Growing up in a small town, Beth Cochran (BA 86, BEd 89) played every sport as a kid. She excelled across the board, but her true passion was basketball. Beth spent two summers during high school at the UWinnipeg basketball camps, and it was here she got her first taste of university-level play.
When it came time to choose a university, Beth was recruited by many schools—but the decision to join The University of Winnipeg was an easy one. “I loved the culture, and UWinnipeg was where I felt comfortable,” Beth recalled. “At the time, it felt like there was a place for me with the Wesmen, where I could really contribute and play a lot.”
In her five years as a Wesmen, Beth led her team to four national championship tournaments and claimed a silver medal at the CIAU games in 1984. Beth averaged more than 20 points per game and to date, she remains the No. 2 on the Wesmen all-time scoring list. Beth also was a member of the Canadian National Team, where she represented Canada at the 1986 FIBA World Championships for Women and at the 1987 Pan American Games.
Her time at UWinnipeg was memorable in every way—academically, athletically, and personally.
One of the more impactful parts of her university journey was the friendships she formed. Being part of a team gave her an immediate group of close friends, and those connections extended far beyond the women’s basketball team. “I grew exponentially,” said Beth of her time as a student-athlete. “The growth transferred over to other parts of my life too.”
Beth graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Bachelor of Education. As she embarked on a career in education, Beth eventually earned her EdD in Educational Leadership. She said her time at UWinnipeg ultimately laid the foundation for being a life-long learner and supporting students in their endeavours with education.
“Education was my way to have other opportunities beyond my small town,” said Beth. “I love how education gives students opportunities to improve and enrich their lives. When I think back, I just really see that everything for me, goes back to UWinnipeg. My time at UWinnipeg was just overall a great experience,” said Beth.
After a full career in teaching and education administration, today Beth is an education consultant in North Carolina.
Angie Johnson, 1971-1977
The Wesmen’s first superstar, Johnson played five seasons with the Wesmen and led the team to two national medals. A national tournament all-star in 1974, Johnson was named one of U Sports top 100 players in 2020. She also had an illustrious international career, suiting up for Canada in the World University Games, World Championship for Women, the Pan-Am Games and the 1976 Olympics.
Michelle (Chambers) Foreman, 1988-1993
A foundational member of the signature Wesmen dynasty, Chambers joins her teammate Sandra Carroll and former coach Tom Kendall (Class of 2018) in the Ring of Honour. Chambers helped the Wesmen to four CIAU tournaments and two GPAC championships. In 1992, when she was a GPAC all-star, the Wesmen were CIAU silver-medalists, and the team finally broke through for the program’s first national title in 1993, when Chambers was named tournament MVP.
The Homecoming 2025 Wesmen Alumni and Friends Nights will occur on September 16 and 18, 2025. To learn more and register, visit the Homecoming web page.
