Thunder Hall of Fame

Tom Engstrom

Inducted 2003
Co-Founder
Minnesota Thunder 1990 – 1994
Position: General Manger
School: Wheaton College
Hometown: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Height: 5’10″
Weight: 175 lbs.

Career Highlights:
- Co-Founder, President and GM of the Minnesota Thunder 1990 – 94
- MYSA Coach of the Year, 1994 (Minneapolis Westside U-18 Region Runner-up)
- High School, Two years All-State at Minnehaha Academy, 1980, 1981
- 1984 NCAA Div. III National Champion at Wheaton College
- Head Coach, The King’s College, 1986-92
- NAIA National Coach of the Year, 1990
- Player, Charlotte Eagles, 1994 – 97
- General Manager, Charlotte Eagles, 1997 – Present

John Swallen

Inducted 2002
Minnesota Thunder (1990 – 2001)
Position: Goalkeeper
Birthdate: 6/16/65
School: Ripon College
Hometown: Vadnai Heights, Minnesota
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 190 lbs.

Career Highlights
- Finished the 2000 season with the League-best record among regular goalkeepers (14-1-3)
- Served as the team’s co-captain from 1993 – 2001
- 1999 A-League MVP after leading the league in wins (17), shutouts (11), and GAA (0.56)
- 1999 a-League goalkeeper of the Year
- USL Championships All-Tournament (1995)
- 1996 USISL All-Star Game participant
- All-Tourney pick at 1995 Sizzlin’ Nine Championship
- Named to the 199 First Team All- League
- USL All-Star Game (1996)
- 1995 Midwest Division All-Star
- 1995 USL Championships Outstanding Goalkeeper

Gerard Lagos

Inducted 2002
Minnesota Thunder (1990 – 2001)
Positions: Forward
Birthdate: 8/25/69
School: University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee
Hometown: St. Paul, Minnesota
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 195 lbs.

Career Highlights:
- Names to the USL Championship All-Tournament team in 1994
- Scored first-ever Thunder goal for Minnesota in 1990
- Retires as the last remaining Thunder player from original team
- Scored two goals at the 1996 Sizzlin’ Six finals, which earned the Thunder a spot in the national semifinals
- 1994 Midwest Division All-Star
- Minnesota’s number two All-Time leading scorer on the team with 44 goals, and 35 assists for 123 points (1995-2000)
- Played his whole professional career (12 seasons) for the Thunder since the club’s inception
- Member of the US U-20 National Team that finished fourth in the World in Saudi Arabia in 1989

Manny Lagos

Inducted 1996
Minnesota Thunder 1990 = 1996
Position: Midfielder
Birthdate: 6/1/71
School University of Wisconsin-Milwauikee
Hometown: St. Paul, Minnesota
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 165 lbs.

Career highlights:
- Played 6 years with the Thunder (1990 – 1996)
- Was a member of the original team
- United Soccer League MVP with 18 goals, 9 assists (45 points) in 1994
- Third on Thunder all-time list for most goals scored (29)
- Fourth on Thunder all-time list for most points scored (70)
- Named Midwest Division MVP in 1994 and in 1995
- Selected as Midwest Division All-Star in 1994 and 1995
- Played in the USL All-Star Game in 1994, 1995 and 1996
- Named USL Championship All-Tournament in 1994
- Scored a game-winning goal for the USA in the 1992 Olympics in Spain
- First appearance with the US National Team was Dec. 9, 2001

Tony Sanneh

Inducted 1996
Minnesota Thunder 1990 – 1996
Position: Defender
Birthdate: 6/1/71
School: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Hometown: St. Paul, Minnesota
Heights: 6’2″
Weights: 190 lbs.

Career Highlights
- Played in the 1996 USL All-Star Game
- Ninth on Thunder all-time list for points scored (50)
- Seventh on Thunder all-time list for most goals scored (17)
- Seventh on Thunder all-time list for most assists (16)
- Played every minute of every game in the 2002 World Cup
- Key member of two DC United MLS Championships
- Four-year veteran of the German Bundesliga

Tony Peszneker

Inducted 1996
Minnesota Thunder 1990 – 1996
Position: Defender
Birthdate: 2/11/58
School: Midwestern Sate (TX)
Hometown: Calgary, Alberta
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 160 lbs.

Career Highlights
- Logged over 500 professional games including four stints with outdoor teams (Minnesota Kicks 1980 – 81, Edmonton Eagles 1982, Edmonton Brickmen 1982 – 83, and the Minnesota Thunder 1990 – 95) and two indoor teams (Wichita Wings 1982 – 85 and Memphis Storm 1987 – 88.)
- 1996 Head Coach, Minnesota Thunder Reserves
- 1995 Assistant Coach, Minnesota Thunder
- Defender of the Year USISL, Midwest Division 1994
- Member of 1994 Minnesota Thunder USISL Midwest Division and Regular Season championship team
- Member of 1988 Memphis Storm championship team
- Member of 1982 Edmonton Eagles championship team
- MVP at Midwestern State in 1977-78
- Member of 1995 Minnesota Thunder USISL Midwest Division and Regular Season championship team