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Michelle Manthei Kankousky
Kankousky was a first-team All-American
in 2001 when she pitched the Mavericks to the NCAA II championship. She was
88-28 over her 1998-2001 career, striking out 526. She recorded 34 career
shutouts. In 2001, she was 28-3 with a 0.81 earned run average and struck out
219 in 215 innings. In 2001, the Mavericks had to battle back from the
loser's bracket and Kankousky won two clutch games to put UNO into the title match with Lewis University.
Mar Tay Jenkins
Jenkins
played two seasons for the Mavericks, leading the team in 1996 with 36
catches for 848 yards and eight touchdowns. He suffered a season-ending knee
injury in the opening game of 1997 after catching a 32-yard touchdown pass.
He passed up the NFL draft the next spring in order to complete his college
career with the Mavericks and caught 66 passes for 1,420 yards and 11
touchdowns in 1998. He also averaged 25.4 yards on kickoff returns, including
one for an 89-yard score, and rushed for four touchdowns and 219 yards.
Jenkins helped the Mavs win NCC titles both years he played, their first
league championships in 12 years. Drafted in the sixth-round of the NFL draft
by Dallas, he later went to the Arizona Cardinals and set league records for
kickoff return yards and average with the Cardinals.
Mary Yori
Currently
the head softball coach at Colorado State University, Yori led the Mavericks
to a 459-158 record during her 11-year career at UNO from 1989-99. Her teams
won four straight North Central Conference and NCAA II regional titles from
1994-97. The Mavs finished third twice, fifth once and in 1996 advanced to
the championship game. The program produced eight All-Americans and two
first-team CoSIDA Academic All-Americans. Yori was named the national coach
of the year in 1994 and 1996 by the National Fast-pitch Coaches Association.
Her teams reached the NCAA II regionals 10 straight years.
Other
Hall of Fame honors:
Six other individuals werehonored as part of the Athletic Hall
of Fame Banquet. They include Hockey All-American Scott Parse, national
wrestling champion J.D. Naig and NCC track athlete of the year Molly Belling
as athletes of the year as selected by area sportswriters and broadcasters.
Maverick supports honored included Dave Van Metre (Maverick Club Man of the
Year), Chris Wendlandt (Maverick Women's Executive Board Distinguished Person
of the Year) and Ken West/DLR Group (Corporate Citizen of the Year).
Athletes of the Year
Male Athlete of the Year: Scott Parse
UNO's all-time scoring leader, Parse was a two-time Hobey Baker
Award finalist, a three-time all-CCHA first-team player and the team MVP four
straight years. He scored 24 goals and had 28 assists last season before
signing in the summer with the Los Angeles Kings of the NHL.
Male Athlete of the Year: J.D. Naig
Naig capped his remarkable career with his third national
championship in March. His senior record of 44-7 put him at No. 4 in all-time
wins at UNO with 142 for his career. He also was a member of the NCC
all-academic team, all-district academic team and a three-time coaches
All-American academic team pick.
Female Athlete of the Year: Molly Belling
An All-American at both the indoor and outdoor national meets,
Belling won four NCC events and set a league record in the 100-meter dash.
She was the NCC's outstanding athlete in the outdoor meet and the region's
athlete of the year as named by U.S. Track and Field coaches. In addition,
she was a member of the coaches' all-academic team.
Maverick Man of the Year: Dave Van Metre
Long active with UNO's Maverick Club, Van Metre has been
involved in athletics as a player, booster and contributor. A standout player
and a graduate of Colorado College, he was drafted by the NFL's Rams before
entering private business. He is also engaged in refurbishing inner city
athletic facilities in the area.
Distinguished Person of the Year: Chris
Wendlandt
A prime example of unrestricted devotion to UNO athletics,
Wendlandt has provided behind-the-scenes support for the Diet Pepsi Women's
Walk, luncheons, golf tournaments, corporate sponsorships and banquets. She and
her husband, Terry, are also visible supporters at numerous men's and women's
athletic events throughout the year.
Corporate Citizen of the Year: DLR Group/Ken
West
Involved
in the development of facilities that are integral to the success of UNO and
athletics, DLR Group has established a relationship of trust. As director of
the DLR Group Nebraska office, West led the development of the Qwest Center
Omaha, the home of the hockey Mavericks and has served on the Maverick
Council Executive Board and is also involved in the master plan for future
athletic facilities.
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