Two teams, five individuals to be inducted into M-Club HOF

Special to the News

The Mount Vernon M-Club have announced their 2026 Athletic Hall of Fame class of inductees. The individual inductees are Chad (Ruggeri Govert), Ryan Ploetz, Elizabeth (Frye) Blegen, Dustan Rubenacker, and Vicki Rueger. The teams to be inducted are the 2009-10 girls swim team and the 1982 baseball team. The service award winner for 2026 is Steve Mitchell and the guest speaker will be IHSAA Commissioner Paul Neidig.

The event will be held on April 4, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. The doors will open at 5:30 at the Mount Vernon High School Cafeteria.

Chad (Rugeri) Govert was a 2004 graduate. He participated in wrestling and was the 2004 Heavyweight State Champion. Chad qualified two times for the semi-state, and two time Big 8 Conference Champion. He is 8th for all-time season pins with 28, fifth all-time career pins at 91 and with 186 career takedowns places him in 10th place.

Ryan Ploetz, graduated in 2009. While at Mount Vernon Ryan received two varsity letters in football, three in basketball and two in track in field. He was a member of the National Honor Society and was on the yearbook staff. After high school he attended Grand Valley State University on a football scholarship. An injury ended his football career in 2011. While there he received All-Academic award and won the distinguished undergraduate service award from the Seidman School of Business.

Elizabeth (Frye) Belgen, graduated in 2010. Elizabeth was a member of the swim team all four years of her high school career. She was All-Conference for the years of 2007-2010. Her individual accomplishments included multiple first place finishes in the 200 Medley Relay, 500 Freestyle, 200 IM and the 400 Freestyle Relay. She also received the Swimming All-American 200 Medley Relay Award, Coach’s Leadership Award, team captain for the 2009-2010 team and was a member of the National Honor Society.

Elizabeth helped her team to go undefeated all four years of her high school career, win four Big- 8 All-Conferences, four sectional finalists and state qualifier for three years.

After high school, Elizabeth was awarded a swimming scholarship at Delta State University. She helped her team win two conference championships, multiple top 5 and top 8 rankings in conference finishes in distance freestyle events, CSCAA Scholar All-American (2011), NSISC All-Academic Team (2010–2014). She won the Ronnie Mayers Lady Statesmen Leadership Award in (2013, 2014) and team captain (2013–2014).

Dustan Rubenacker, was a member of the class of 2010. While at Mount Vernon he had four varsity letters for football and three for wrestling. His accomplishments on the football team were making the All-state team and earning three years of All-Conference honors. He was a member of the 2007 sectional championship team.

In wrestling, Dustan earned All-Conference in his senior year at 215 lbs. weight class, Academic All-State and member of the Big 8 Championship team.

In received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern Indiana.

Coach Vicki Rueger, a long-time coach at Mount Vernon High School. Coach Rueger began as an assistant coach in 1986 and moved to the head coach in 1989 coaching boys’ and girls’ tennis. Some of her cherished accomplishments were winning the first girls regional title in any sport in the 1992 season. That team finished the season 16-2. Her team won nine consecutive sectional championships, more than 100 career match wins for her teams and was awarded Big 8 coach of the year.

Coach Rueger was privileged to coach numerous players who earned Honorable Mention All-State and furthered their tennis careers on college scholarships.

During her tenue as coach, Rueger, established large summer tennis program with over 100 campers annually, promoted multi-sport participation and built a culture of: high expectations, mental toughness, competitive discipline-integrity in play and Mount Vernon pride.

As a teacher at Mount Vernon Senior High School, she has taught numerous students in the English department and has been chosen as a favorite among her students many times.

2009 – 2010 Girls Swim Team capped off an outstanding era of Wildcat swimming with dominant season under the leadership of Head Coach Larry Zoller.

They had a 10-1 dual meet record, multiple invitational victories, a Big Eight Conference title, a sectional championship and finished 28th at the state finals.

Comprised of a deep and talented roster across all grade levels. They captured first place at several major competitions, including the Tell City Relays, Mount Vernon Invitational, Fishers Jingle Bell Meet, IUPUI Christmas Invite, and the Mooresville Depth Meet.

1982 Baseball team

This team’s achievements went far beyond the numbers. Their success was built on relentless training, trust in one another, and a commitment to pushing each other to new heights. From the senior leadership of Kourtney Higdon, Norris, and Reinitz to the rising talent of underclassmen like McCormick, McWilliams, and Slygh, every swimmer played a role in making this season one for the history books.

The team consisted of: Alexandria Kippenbrock, Alyssa Burnett (Saltzman), Amanda Deason (Schisler), Amy Steele, Ashton Wagner (Fueling), Becca Slygh (Straub), Caitlin Isaac (Ries), Chelsea Huber (Konrath), Elizabeth Blegen (Frye), Emily Harris, Erika Maurer (McCormick), Hannah Wheaton, Kate Carter (Higgins), Kelsey Turner, Kendyl Bourne, Kirstie Queener (Keene), Lauren Hendricks (Clowers), Maddie McWilliams (Pattengale), Mary Saev (Kleuh), Molly Reynolds (Elpers), Paige Stallings, Sierra Brown, Stephanie Juncker, Taylor Duckworth (Cullman).

The 1982 baseball team consisted of Tim Allen, Kelly Blubaum, Brett King, Dan McNamara, David Maier, Martin Mason, Ron Mitchell, Steve Norton Charles Naap, Michael Niehaus, Tim Paris, Greg Redman, Curt Reinitz, Steve Sheffer, Greg Stark, Ron Tanner, Tim Zickmund and coached by Dave Bell.

The team won the Princeton sectional in 1982 and had a 14-15 regular season record. The team faced a tough schedule. Coach Bell stated the players started slow and matured during the season, finally believing in themselves and each other. Bell said a big part of their success was their aggressive style of play. The team finished the season in the first round of the sectional against Evansville Memorial High School.

Service Award Winner, Steve Mitchell, Mount Vernon graduate of 1973. Steve’s athletic career at MVHS included cross country (4 years), basketball (4 years) and baseball (4 years). Steve lettered in all three sports while at Mount Vernon and went on to play baseball at Marion College for two years and then transferred to ISUE (now University of Southern Indiana for two years.

His coaching career at Mount Vernon had a span of 40 years where he coached football, basketball, baseball and softball. He served as head coach for girls’ and boys’ basketball and girls’ softball. He taught 8th grade math at Junior High for 30 years before his retirement.

Mitchell’s involvement with Mount Vernon M-Club includes being an active member dedicated to fundraising to support raising funds for all sport programs. He assisted with the annual golf outing and picnic, track concession stand, securing hole sponsors for the annual golf outing and selling raffle tickets for many events. He has been a member of the Hall of Fame selection committee for many years and worked the chain crew for football games. He has helped the M-Club contribute approximately $300,000 to MVHS athletics since the 1970s.

Mitchell’s favorite MVHS memory is playing in the Princeton Sectional Championship basketball game and remains proud of the team’s performance and competitive spirit. He gives credit for his inspiration and commitment to MVHS coaches Valier, McNamara, and Jeffries for personal and athletic growth. Mitchell believes athletics provide friendship, discipline, and competitive outlets and encourages student-athletes to work hard, have no regrets and make the most of their one opportunity to compete.

Mitchell’s vision for the M-Club is to be proud of the club’s legacy and community generosity and encourage younger members to get involved. He believes no organization has been a better friend to MVHS athletics than the M-Club and is grateful for the memories, friendships, and opportunity to give back.

To celebrate this 2026 class’s induction into the Mount Vernon Athletic Hall of Fame go to https://www.mvwildcats.org/Registrations under the MClub group purchase tickets for the event.