June 6, 2007

Wayne State University head men's golf coach Mike Horn announced the signings of four student-athletes to National Letters of Intent for the upcoming school year.

Ron Hackenberg, a native of Allen Park, was a four-year golf letterwinner for Allen Park High School, earning all-league, all-Downriver, and team MVP honors as well as a fourth-place finish at states in 2006, shooting 70 and 73. The team captain had the lowest average score on the team, just 1.5 strokes over par. He also lettered four years in hockey as a forward and played AAA hockey for Honeybaked and Compuware prior to high school.

Marquette native Eric Johnson, a four-year letterwinner for the Redmen, earned medalist honors in the Great Northern Conference meet this past season, shooting 72. He won seven high school events over his sophomore and junior seasons and garnered All-Upper Penninsula and All-GNC honors. Johnson qualified for Michigan Junior Amateurs in 2006 (73) and was second alternate in 2005, shooting 74 and losing to GVSU's Steve Larson, GLIAC Golfer of the Year, by two strokes.

Jack Mitroka, a native and graduate of Riverview, earned four letters in golf and was a state qualifier in three of his four years, including his junior and senior seasons. He led the team to consecutive Huron League championships in 2005 and 2006, as well as a district title his senior year. Mitroka won an individual league championship in 2005, averaging 35.6 for nine holes and 73.1 on 18-hole courses, and a district title in 2006 (36.0/73.1). He was an All-Area and First Team All-League selection every year and twice received All-State accolades. Mitroka also lettered two years in basketball, helping the 2004-05 squad earn league and district titles and regional runner-up status.

Michael Wouters (also known as "Bubba"), who hails from Sterling Heights, lettered in golf all four years at Henry Ford II. He was an all-county, all-league, all-division, and MVP selection three years in a row and received all-state honorable mention recognition his senior year. He was also a three-year letterwinner in basketball and set a single-game school record with 10 steals. Wouters, who served as team captain in both golf and basketball, is the nephew of Chris Wouters, a former Wayne State baseball player (1977-80) and 1999 inductee into the WSU Athletic Hall of Fame.

The WSU golf team, which placed fifth at the 2007 NCAA Super Regional, will look to these four signees to help compensate for the loss of seniors Lance Chamberlain and Joe Wilson.