Hall of Fame recognition scheduled for January 17 & 18

G-A’s Alyssa Foy Green, Alec Kowalewski, Mike Walden to be honored during ceremonies

By Dale Martin

The Galesburg-Augusta High School Athletic Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025 will be inducted during ceremonies on January 17 and 18. This year three individual athletes will be honored. Those being inducted are Allysa Foy Green, Alec Kowalewski, and Mike Walden.

The new inductees will be introduced in between the girl’s and boy’s varsity basketball games on Friday, January 17. They will be formally inducted into the hall of fame during a luncheon in the high school cafeteria at noon on Saturday, January 18.

The public is invited to attend both events. If you wish to attend the luncheon you must purchase or reserve your tickets by Friday, January 4. The cost for the luncheon is $15 per person and you may call Dale Martin (269-270-6135) to place your order.

Alyssa Foy Green

Alyssa Foy Green was a 2010 G-A graduate. She was elected to the student council all four years.

She earned six varsity letters with 2 in basketball and 4 in softball. It was on the softball field that Alyssa proved to be one of G-A’s best ever.

She was All-KVA 1st Team catcher all four years, All-District 9 1st Team catcher all four years, All-Region 1st Team catcher all four years and  All-State Division 3 1st Team catcher three years. In 2010  Alyssa was  named to the All-Area Team, which includes players from all divisions and was named the Player of the Year in Division 3/4 by the Kalamazoo Gazette.

Alyssa played in 154 games at G-A, collecting 222 hits in 493 plate appearances for a .450 batting average. She scored 123 runs and batted in 190 runs. Almost one half of her hits went for extra bases with 72 doubles, 13 triples and 16 home runs. Her 72 doubles set a new MHSSA career record. Her on base percentage was .546.

While attending G-A Alyssa spent her summers playing for a Big League softball team in Portage. Her team won the Big League World Series Championship in 2009.

After graduating from G-A, Alyssa attended The University of Toledo on a full-ride scholarship. As a freshman she was the starting catcher.

Alyssa is currently employed at B45 Academy in Kalamazoo as the director of administration and operations.  Along with  her responsibilities she also coaches the 10U softball team.

Alec Kowalewski

Alec Kowalewski was a 1998 G-A graduate. He was in the top ten of his class and a member of the National Honor Society.

Alec earned varsity letters in football his junior and senior year. As a junior he was named lineman of the year and as a senior he was team captain and earned All-KVA Honorable Mention honors.

Alec earned four varsity letters in wrestling. He posted a 19 and 12 record as a freshman. As a sophomore he had a 33 and 13 record, took 2nd in the Districts and 3rd in Regionals. He finished his junior year with a 40 and 6 record. He took first place in 4 invitationals, placed 2nd in Districts, 2nd in Regionals and 8th in State. In his senior year Alec became the first G-A wrestler to record 50 or more wins in a season. He finished his senior year with a 52 and 2 record. He placed 1st in 7 invitationals, 1st in Districts, 1st in Regionals and 2nd in State. The three time team captain finished his G-A career with a 144 and 42 record.

After graduation Alec attended Michigan State University. He made the wrestling team as a walk-on and recorded a 37 and 45 record in the 157 and 165 pound classes. In 2001 he was the champion at the Cleveland State Open Tournament and earned Big 10 All-Academic honors. In 2003 he received the MSU Coaches Commitment Award. He also earned the Grady Peninger Scholastic Achievement Award.

After his graduation  he served as a graduate assistant coach at MSU for a year before taking a coaching position at Haslett High School where he was an assistant wrestling coach six years.

Alec moved to Oregon where he was a wrestling coach at Crescent Valley H.S. for the 2016 and 2017 seasons. He is currently a professor at Oregon State University.

Mike Walden

Mike Walden was a 2001 G-A graduate.

Mike earned 4 varsity letters in football. He was named an All-KVA linebacker his senior year.

Mike earned 4 varsity letters in wrestling. He started out his wrestling career in the 160 pound class as a freshman and won 1st place in the Districts.

As a sophomore, he moved up to the 189 pound class. He won his second District Championship, his first Regional Championship and placed 4th at State.

He stayed in the 189 pound class as a junior. He won his third District Championship, his second Regional Championship and again placed  4th at State.

Moving up to the 215 pound class as a senior he won his 4th District Championship, his third Regional Championship and placed 2nd at State.

Mike set two G-A single season records his senior year. He earned 254 points and recorded 38 wins by pin.

Finishing his G-A career with 181 wins against just 23 losses, he set three G-A career records. First, 114 of his 181 wins were by pin. Second, Mike recorded 177 near falls and third, he scored 707
points.

While at G-A Mike also wrestled for Team Michigan in both Greco-Roman and Freestyle disciplines. He earned All-American status at the 2000 USA Team Tournament.

After graduating from G-A Mike took his talents to Muskegon Community College. In 2001-02 he was a Regional Champion and placed 5th Nationally in the 197 pound class. He was also named the MCC Most Outstanding Wrestler for 2001-02.

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