MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan University Department of Athletics proudly announces the newest inductees to the NMU Sports Hall of Fame. The 2024 class includes Phil Berger (hockey), Alyssa (Colla) DiCicco (women's basketball), Sten Fjeldheim (coach), Dave Iverson (wrestling), and Deborah (Lawrence) Pattis (swim & dive).

A ceremony to honor the inductees will be held on Friday, September 20 at the Northern Center following the Homecoming parade. Tickets for the ceremony will go on sale in early July. The inductees will also be recognized during halftime of the Homecoming football game vs. Alma College on Saturday, September 21 at 1 p.m. 


Phil Berger
Hockey | Class of 1989

In 127 career games on the ice from 1986-89, Berger was one of the purest goal-scorers the program has ever seen. He totaled 86 career goals placing him tied for sixth on the program's all-time list. In the 1987-88 season, Berger netted 40 goals, the fifth-best single-season mark in NMU history. That season, his accolades included: Hobey Baker finalist, Second Team All-American, WCHA First Team, team MVP, and five-time WCHA Player of the Week. His team and WCHA record seven hat tricks that season became known as the "Berger Bundles." The native of Dearborn, Michigan also made the WCHA-All-Tournament Team in 1989 along with a spot on the WCHA Second Team.

He went on to play nine seasons professionally in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) and was named a First Team All-Star in 1993-94 after recording 59 goals and 88 assists over 76 games for the Greensboro Monarchs. 

Berger will be the 20th hockey individual to be inducted. 



Alyssa (Colla) DeCicco
Women's Basketball | Class of 2015

Playing from 2011-15, DeCicco is the fourth all-time leading scorer in program history with 1,567 points. She was a team captain as a sophomore, junior, and senior while also leading the team in scoring each of those seasons. DeCicco earned GLIAC Second Team and Academic Excellence honors as a sophomore in 2013. In 2014, she earned Daktronics All-Midwest Region Second Team, GLIAC All-Defensive Team, and First Team All-GLIAC honors. She was named NMU's Female Athlete of the Year following 492 points and a 16.4 points/game average. 

In her final season, Decicco averaged 18.2 points/game while earning the GLIAC Commissioner's Award to go along with several other honors including Second Team Academic All-American, Daktronics All-Midwest Region First Team, All-GLIAC First Team, and GLIAC All-Defensive Team. 

DeCicco will be the 11th women's basketball individual to be inducted. 



Sten Fjeldheim
Nordic Skiing and Cross Country | Head Coach

One of the most decorated coaching careers in Northern Michigan history, Sten coached the Nordic Skiing team from 1986-2021. Under his leadership, the skiing programs quickly became nationally known. He coached two women's national titles, a combined men's and women's national titles, and 23 women's and 22 men's regional titles. While at the helm, the program produced an outstanding 102 All-Americans, 13 Olympians, seven NCAA Champions, and six U.S. National Champions. Sten earned eight Central Collegiate Ski Association Women's Coach of the Year awards, five CCSA Men's Coach of the Year awards, and one National Collegiate Ski Association Coach of the Year award during his tenure at Northern.

From 1994-97, Fjeldheim served as an assistant national team coach/junior development coordinator for the United States Ski Team. During Fjeldheim's time with the U.S. Team, he coached at the 1994 Olympics, 1995 World Championships, 1997 World Championships, and several junior world championships.

On top of his success in the winter, Fjeldheim was also on the trails during the fall as he coached the women's Cross Country team from 1986 to 2007. Fjeldheim led the Wildcats to six NCAA Division II National Championship appearances. Under his leadership, the program produced 10 NCAA All-Americans, won two GLIAC Championships, and captured a Great Lakes Regional Championship. He was named the 1992 and 2000 GLIAC Coach of the Year and 2005 Great Lakes Regional Coach of the Year. As a student-athlete, Fjeldheim skied three seasons for the Wildcats and was a member of the U.S. Ski team from 1980-86.

Fjeldheim will be the 21st coach to be inducted. He resides in Marquette with his wife, Pamela. They have three children: Ingrid, Kirsten and Stig.



Dave Iverson
Men's Wrestling | Class of 1985

Iverson was a standout wrestler at Northern Michigan from 1981-85. He was a national qualifier as a freshman in 1981 with a 19-win season. Iverson would gain All-America honors in 1982 after a 21-win campaign that led him all the way to a sixth-place national finish and a NCAA Division II Mideast championship title at 177. In his final season, he again earned All-America recognition with 27 wins and a seventh-place finish at the National Championships. 

Iverson will be the 11th men's wrestling individual to be inducted. 



Deborah (Lawrence) Pattis
Women's Swim and Dive | Class of 2015

In the pool from 2011-15, Pattis was a standout performer throughout her time as a Wildcat. She was a six-time All-American and currently holds three school records: 50 Freestyle (22.79), 100 Freestyle (49.80), and 50 Butterfly (25.06). Additionally, Pattis is also the holder of the PEIF pool records in the 50 Freestyle (23.46) and 100 Freestyle (51.49). She also anchored the 400 Medley Relay team in 2014 which holds the PEIF pool record of 3:54.62. 

Her standout performance was one of her last as a Wildcat. At the NCAA Championships in 2015, she finished the 50 Freestyle in 22.79, breaking her previous school record to take third place in the nation. 

Pattis will be the 12th women's swim & dive individual to be inducted.