UWEC Athletics Hall of Fame
JoDell Bendickson came in as a junior college transfer and earned Second Team All-American honors in helping the Blugolds to the two winningest seasons in school history, the 40-win campaigns of 1998 and 1999. Although playing just two seasons after transferring from Rochester Community College, Bendickson had a significant impact during her tenure. The Alden, Minnesota native helped the Blugolds achieve a 40-15 mark in 1998 and a 40-14 record in 1999 with a .378 batting average, .386 on base percentage and .532 slugging percentage. The 5-5 outfielder swung from the left side of the plate. She set school single season records for games played, at bats and hits in 1998 when she earned a spot on the All-Great Lakes Region First Team as well as the NFCA All-America Second Team. In addition to landing a berth on the All-WIAC team both of her seasons in Eau Claire, she was a team captain and All-Region Third Team as a senior when the Blugolds finished fourth in the NCAA championships which were held at Gelein Field in Eau Claire’s Carson Park. In her first season as a Blugold, she was the team’s offensive Player of the Year while hitting .405 with a .563 slugging percentage. She also landed a spot on the Regional Tournament All-Tournament team that year.
Bendickson graduated with an exercise management degree in 2000. She also attended St. Paul College to earn her license as a respiratory therapist. She worked in cardiac rehab at Westfields Hospital in New Richmond from 2000-06. At the time of her induction, she had been at Regions Hospital in St. Paul since 2005 and was promoted to Lead Respiratory Therapist in 2013. She received her Adult Critical Care Certification in May, 2015. Bendickson was involved in the Lakeville Fastpitch Softball Association as a coach and in player development in 2016, 2017 and 2018. At the time of her induction, she and her spouse Robin Bosshart were parents of two children.
