- A 1960 Loras graduate, Wolniewicz was a tremendous Duhawk athlete in football.
- Outstanding on both sides of the ball. As a senior captain, Matt was recognized as Most Valuable Player for the team. He was also the leading pass receiver, averaging over 11 yards per catch.
- Final recognition came from both regional and national sources. Regionally, he was First Team as a Midwest, Catholic, Small College, All-American through the LacrosseTimes-Review. Nationally, according to a national Catholic newspaper publication, Matt was a second team selection as an All-Catholic, All-American end.
- In October 1959, St. Ambrose was leading Loras 28-16 in the closing minutes in the Rock Bowl, when a number of St. Ambrose fans came around the track carrying the “Victory Bell,” the traditional prize which would be the possession of the winning team.
They stood on the running track behind the Loras team bench and in front of the Loras fans seated in the stands, adding insult to injury.
Two Loras students (Ed Clark and Ron Amache) went down to the track, took the “Victory Bell,” went up the hill out of the Rock Bowl, and, for their efforts, received a vacation from Loras but with the appreciation of a lot of Loras people. - In the 1956 season, as the Loras team bus was pulling into the Luther College campus area, a few of the Luther fans were tossing objects against the side of the Loras team bus. When we realized these objects were “dead fish,” it created quite a stir on our team bus.
The Loras team went into the locker room with a real game-face mood and upset/beat an undefeated Luther College football team as Tom Vlaszek (Leo High School) returned a punt and kickoff for touchdowns.
The last game in the ’59 season was played in the Rock Bowl against Whitewater (Wisconsin).
As I was leaving the field after the game with my teammates, a number of Loras students came up behind me and lifted me up and carried me off the field on their shoulders (Tom Cashman was in this group). It was a total surprise but, after a few moments, I got them to put me down.
I appreciated what they did and took pride in the respect of these Loras students.
StoryIn October 1959, St. Ambrose was leading Loras 28-16 in the closing minutes in the Rock Bowl, when a number of St. Ambrose fans came around the track carrying the “Victory Bell,” the traditional prize which would be the possession of the winning team.
They stood on the running track behind the Loras team bench and in front of the Loras fans seated in the stands, adding insult to injury.
Two Loras students (Ed Clark and Ron Amache) went down to the track, took the “Victory Bell,” went up the hill out of the Rock Bowl, and, for their efforts, received a vacation from Loras but with the appreciation of a lot of Loras people.
In the 1956 season, as the Loras team bus was pulling into the Luther College campus area, a few of the Luther fans were tossing objects against the side of the Loras team bus. When we realized these objects were “dead fish,” it created quite a stir on our team bus.
The Loras team went into the locker room with a real game-face mood and upset/beat an undefeated Luther College football team as Tom Vlaszek (Leo High School) returned a punt and kickoff for touchdowns.
The last game in the ’59 season was played in the Rock Bowl against Whitewater (Wisconsin).
As I was leaving the field after the game with my teammates, a number of Loras students came up behind me and lifted me up and carried me off the field on their shoulders (Tom Cashman was in this group). It was a total surprise but, after a few moments, I got them to put me down.
I appreciated what they did and took pride in the respect of these Loras students.
