Kord Cernich (1986-90 ice hockey), Jerry Cheynet (1969-74 men’s wrestling coach), 1972-73 LSSU Wrestling Team, and Lee Ann (Huffman) Wise (1979-83 women’s basketball) are set to be inducted into the Lake Superior State Athletics Hall of Fame class of 2025 on Saturday, October 25th at the annual Alumni Awards and Hall of Fame Induction ceremony beginning at 11:30 a.m. in the Walker Cisler Center as part of Great Lake State Weekend 2025. All recipients will also be recognized on-ice during the first intermission of the Saturday, October 25th hockey game vs. Bowling Green. The Class of 2025 LSSU Athletic Hall of Fame event marks the 21st induction ceremony at the university. Tickets for the event can be purchased on the LSSU Alumni webpage.
Kord Cernich ’90
Kord Cernich ’90 was a cornerstone of Lake Superior State University hockey from 1986 to 1990, helping define one of the most successful eras in program history with his grit, consistency, and high-level performance on both ends of the ice.
Cernich’s impact was immediate and long-lasting. In the 1987–88 season, he earned Second Team All-CCHA honors and was named to the NCAA Final Four All-Tournament Team after a standout postseason. He scored the game-winning goal in the semifinal and added two goals during the Final Four, playing a crucial role in LSSU’s historic first NCAA national championship — an especially meaningful moment for Cernich, as the title was won in Lake Placid, home of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice.”
His strong play continued into the next two seasons. In 1988–89, he was named both a First Team All-CCHA and a First Team All-American, followed by First Team All-CCHA and Second Team All-American selections again in 1989–90. He was also named to the CCHA Championship All-Tournament Team that year. He also served as assistant captain during his senior season.
Over his four years as a Laker, Cernich set an NCAA record with 175 consecutive games played, underscoring his durability and commitment to the team. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, he signed a professional contract with the New York Rangers in 1990.
Cernich spent several years playing professionally in North America and briefly in Europe, competing across multiple levels of the minor leagues. In 1994, he returned to his home state of Alaska and joined the Anchorage Aces. He became a fixture on the blueline for the Aces, playing more than 300 games with the team over the next seven seasons. He retired following the 2001 season.
After hanging up his skates, Cernich remained in Anchorage where he ran his dad’s electrical contracting company until his father’s passing in 2017. He then went on to work for another electrical contractor as a project manager until he retired in 2023.
Reflecting on his four years as a Laker, Cernich said, “My time at LSSU was the most fun four years of my life and I enjoyed every minute of it.” He went on to comment, “I’m thankful for the many lifelong friendships that I developed during those years. I would like to thank everyone who helped me achieve my goal of winning a national championship, and to do it at Lake Placid where 1980 happened made it extra special for an American kid.”
Cernich now lives in Anchor Point, Alaska with his wife Angela from May through October each year, and travels during the winters. He is the proud father of two sons, Max and Garin.
Jerry Cheynet
Jerry Cheynet served as head coach of the Lake Superior State College wrestling program from 1969 to 1974, establishing one of the most successful stretches in Laker wrestling history.
A native of Wichita, Kansas, Cheynet arrived at LSSU in 1969 and faced a steep challenge — his first team went winless in dual meets. But under his leadership, the Lakers quickly rose to prominence. Over the next four seasons, Cheynet’s teams compiled a 42-17-2 overall record, captured three consecutive NAIA District 23 Championships, and placed in the top 20 at every national tournament from 1971 to 1974.
His 1972–73 squad went undefeated at 13-0, won the GLIAC Championship, and finished 11th at the NAIA national tournament. The following season, the Lakers placed 7th at the NCAA Division III National Championships, one of the program’s best national finishes to date.
Cheynet coached:
- 7 GLIAC individual champions
- 20 NAIA District 23 champions
- 3 NCAA All-Americans: Jim Leyndyke, Jim Fallis, and Dave Jirikovic
- 3 NAIA national place winners, including two NAIA titles and one NCAA Division III national championship for standout Jim Fallis
His teams also collected multiple invitational titles, including the Southwestern Invitational, Grand Valley Invitational, and Golden Northern Invitational, as LSSU became a respected name on the national wrestling scene.
After the 1973–74 season, Cheynet was hired by Virginia Tech, where he served as head wrestling coach for 22 seasons, becoming the program’s all-time wins leader with 188 career victories. He was named CAA Coach of the Year in 1993 after leading the Hokies to a conference championship and coaching the program’s first NCAA All-American. He also coached men’s soccer, women’s soccer, and golf during his nearly 30-year tenure at Tech.
Cheynet was a standout athlete himself. He competed in both wrestling and soccer at Kansas State University, earning All-Big Eight Conference honors and becoming an NCAA All-American in wrestling in 1966, placing sixth nationally. He earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Kansas State in 1966, followed by a master’s degree in 1967 while serving as a graduate assistant wrestling coach.
Jerry Cheynet and his wife, Mary Jane (Faust) Cheynet, live in Blacksburg, Virginia. The couple has two sons, George and John, and six grandchildren.
1972-73 Men’s Wrestling Team
The 1972–73 Lake Superior State College wrestling team delivered one of the most impressive seasons in program history — finishing with a perfect 13-0 record and dominating every level of competition.
Under the leadership of head coach Jerry Cheynet, the Lakers captured the GLIAC Championship with a flawless 5-0 conference mark and went on to place 11th at the NAIA National Championships, the highest national finish the program had achieved to that point. Their postseason success also included a third straight NAIA District 23 Tournament title.
The team was led by standout All-American Jim Fallis, who claimed the NAIA National Title at 158 lbs and finished the season with an incredible 43-3-1 record. Fellow All-American Jim Leyndyke earned national runner-up honors at 126 lbs.
District 23 champions included Fallis, Leyndyke, Dave Jirikovic, Pat Weede, Jim Haskins, and Don Shamp. Recognized for their outstanding conference performances, Jirikovic (150 lbs), Fallis (158 lbs), and Haskins (177 lbs) were named to the GLIAC All-Star Team, while Leyndyke (126 lbs) and Mark Johnson (134 lbs) received Honorable Mentions.
Then known as Lake Superior State College (now Lake Superior State University), the program’s perfect season under Coach Cheynet remains a defining moment in Laker athletics — a gold standard of excellence that still resonates more than 50 years later.
Lee Ann (Huffman) Wise ’83
A standout two-sport athlete at Lake Superior State College, Lee Ann Huffman Wise made a lasting impact on Laker Athletics from 1979 to 1983. In basketball, she ranks first all-time in assists (592), holds the single-season assists record (190 in 1982–83), and sits 18th on the career scoring list with 1,147 points. She was a Clifford Everett Most Valuable Athlete, Top Defensive Player, Terry McDermott Outstanding Freshman, and earned GLIAC Honorable Mention honors. She also lettered in softball her freshman year.
Reflecting on her time at LSSC, Lee Ann said, “I have many great memories of LSSC/LSSU. It is where I met the love of my life, Tim Wise (LSSC 1984 Graduate) and so many lifelong friends.” She went on to say, “Those friends include Dr. Julie Vincent, Karleen Thompson, Linda (Thompson) Hulu, Laurie (Thompson) Parker, Nancy (Lenz) Dole, Marti Wallace and Julie Dickinson. There are many others that I have shared a bond with living together in Laker Hall/House and I will always cherish those memories.”
After earning her bachelor’s in business, Lee Ann pursued a Certificate in Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin–River Falls in 1989. She spent her 30-year career in Richfield Public Schools in Minnesota, earning a master’s (1993) and a specialist degree in Educational Leadership (1998). She served as Assistant Principal beginning in 1999 and became Principal of Centennial Elementary in 2001, retiring in 2019.
As head varsity basketball coach at Richfield High School (2006–2012), she led her teams to four Classic Suburban Conference titles and was named Conference Coach of the Year each time. In 2012, she earned Section Coach of the Year and led her team to the Class 3A State Runner-Up finish. Seventeen of her 21 players maintained GPAs of 3.0 or higher — a testament to her program’s focus on achievement and support beyond athletics.
In recognition of her impact, the City of Richfield declared June 3rd as Lee Ann Wise Day upon her retirement.
Lee Ann has been married to Tim Wise (LSSC ’84) for over 40 years. They have three children — Josh, Cory, and Hannah — and are proud grandparents to Bailey, Cooper, Mason, Beau, and Anaiya.