Courtesy Photo Former Alpena High multi-sport star Ryan Krueger will be inducted into the Alpena Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday. During his high school career, Krueger starred in hockey, soccer and baseball and earned all-state honors in hockey and baseball. Krueger went on to play baseball at Central Michigan and appeared in more than 150 games.

The Alpena Sports Hall of Fame has welcomed many multi-sport stars into its ranks through the years and each of them has their own unique story.

On Saturday, Ryan Krueger will get to tell his story.

After a stellar career in three sports at Alpena High School, which included all-state honors in hockey and baseball, Krueger will take his place in the Hall of Fame. He’ll be inducted during the Hall of Fame’s annual banquet at the APlex along with Jerry LeTourneau, Mike Cadarette, Jack Discher and Dick Spencer.

“It’s pretty humbling. It’s a pretty big honor, knowing the history of it. It means a lot,” Krueger said.

With his induction, Krueger will join family members Jimmie Garant, Art Adrian and Bill Adrian who were inducted in the classes of 1986, 1989 and 1998 respectively.

Playing during a period of great success for Alpena athletics, Krueger was a winner in soccer, hockey and baseball for the Wildcats and earned an academic excellence award in all three sports. While he was a versatile athlete in his own right, Krueger played with many athletes who became stars for the Wildcats and went on to star in college.

Krueger went on to play collegiate baseball at Central Michigan, but as a Wildcat he starred just as easily on the baseball diamond as he did on the ice or on the soccer field.

During the 1996-97 season, Krueger earned all-conference and all-state honorable mention in hockey and was named Alpena’s Offensive Player of the Year. Playing on a line with A.J. Stibitz and Chris Hamp, Krueger helped the Wildcats to a 21-4-2 record and a Final Four finish after they lost in the semifinals.

“The hockey team my junior year was loaded and we just clicked,” Krueger said.

Krueger’s success extended to soccer where he he helped the Wildcats win a district title in 1997.

“Soccer, I didn’t know too much about it, but I decided to give it a try when I was young and kept at it,” Krueger said.

On the baseball diamond, Krueger starred as a pitcher and outfielder and played alongside future Hall of Famers Matt Cameron and Nick Alexander among other talented players. With a wealth of talent under Cadarette, the Wildcats advanced to the quarterfinals and was honored by the Hall of Fame as the Team of the Year in 2010.

During his junior year, Krueger earned all-district, all region and all-state honors.

After a successful junior season, Krueger hoped for a successful senior year, but his year was cut short after a anterior cruciate ligament tear early in the hockey season. Unfortunately the injury also cost Krueger his senior baseball season.

Krueger hoped to play collegiate baseball after high school and he got his wish when Central Michigan offered him a scholarship. During his stellar junior season, scouts had gotten a first-hand look at Krueger when they came to scout Alexander, who would go on to pitch at Michigan.

In Mount Pleasant, Krueger went on to have a successful four-year career with the Chippewas. During his career from 1998-2003 he was selected Mid-American Conference Player of the Week twice. In 2003 as a senior he was voted a team captain and team MVP and also earned academic first team all-conference honors. During his college career he appeared in 167 games, batting .296 with 163 hits, 11 home runs and 82 RBIs. He also stole 47 bases.

“I had good experiences (and memories) of playing college athletics. Living and breathing with guys for four of five years, the friends and camaraderie (are what I remember),” Krueger said.

As much as Krueger’s induction will honor his individual accomplishments, Krueger said he owes his success to his coaches and teammates as well.

“It’s a huge honor because the other people I played with, those were definite teams,” Krueger said. “We wouldn’t have had any success without great teams. None of those teams would have been successful with a core of great athletes. To be part of that group is humbling.”

James Andersen can be reached via email at sports@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5694. Follow James on Twitter @ja_alpenanews.