August 2007

Sports Corner

Former V-Hawk Honored for Olympic Career

Mike Peplinski ’96 was honored in conjunction with the Wall of Fame ceremony for his participation in the 1998 Winter Olympics and for his courageous battle with a rare kidney disease. Peplinski, a Galesville native, started curling in the fourth grade. After winning virtually every local, regional, and national competition, he and his team qualified for the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, Japan. His story is even more remarkable considering he had a rare kidney disease where only 25 percent of his kidneys functioned. Just four months after the Olympics, Peplinski received a timely kidney transplant. His Olympic jersey and other memorabilia are now displayed in the Varsity Athletics Center.

Pictured with Mike are his father-in-law Bill Brendel, mother-in-law Elizabeth (Meehan) Brendel '70, wife Michelle (Brendel) Peplinski '96, and daughter Matelyn Peplinski. Mike's son Jaren Peplinski was not present for the picture.