(WARRENSBURG, Mo.) – Nine individuals, one group and two teams make up the 2011-12 class of the University of Central Missouri Athletic Hall of Fame
Joining the Hall of Fame this season is
Sandy Schneider (basketball, cross country, track & field, 1974-76) from the early era;
Kristin Anderson (track & field, cross country, 2001-06),
Shawn Callahan (baseball, 2004-05),
Michael Hicks (basketball, 2004-06),
Rachel Matakas (women's basketball, 1993-96),
Katie Tarka (volleyball, 2003-06), and
Colston Weatherington (football, 1999-2000) from the modern era. Former Jennies softball coach
Rhesa Sumrell (1988-2006) goes into the Hall of Fame this year in the coaching category. Football and basketball public address announcer
Marion Woods enters in the special recognition category. Joining Woods in the special recognition category is
The Chain Gang for UCM Football. The
2004-05 Jennies Bowling team and the
1969 Mules Cross Country team will join the Hall of Fame as well.
Early Era
Sandy Schneider
Basketball, Cross Country, Track & Field, 1974-76
Schneider was named to the Jennies basketball All-Decade team for 1970-80 and to the Silver Anniversary Team (1970-95). She led the Jennies in assists and steals both seasons she was with the Jennies (1974-75 and 1975-76). She also competed in cross country and track as a senior, placing fifth in the state in the 800 meters. Schneider went on to coach high school basketball in her home state of Washington, where she led Lakeside School in Seattle to five state championships. In her 26 seasons at Lakeside she compiled an outstanding 473-205-1 record with nine league championships, eight district championships, 17 trips to the state tournament, and a 56-game winning streak. She was inducted into her high school hall of fame at Blanchet High School in Seattle last spring.
Modern Era
Kristin Anderson
Track & Field, Cross Country 2001-06
Anderson was a two-time National Champion winning the 2005 steeplechase and the 2006 Indoor 5,000 meters. She is a seven-time All-American earning honors in the 2003, 2004 and 2005 steeplechase, 2004 cross country, the 2005 and 2006 indoor 5,000 meters and 2006 indoor distance medley relay. She holds the school record in the indoor 5K, indoor distance medley relay, steeplechase; second all-time at UCM in 5000m run, third in indoor mile and 1500m run, fourth in indoor 3000m run and outdoor 3000m run. She was an 11-time MIAA Champion in track and field and a two-time individual MIAA Champion in cross country. Anderson was named the MIAA's Ken B. Jones Award winner as the conference's top female student-athlete and the 2006 NCAA Division II Female Athlete of the Year.
Shawn Callahan
Baseball, 2004-05
The 2005 National, Region, and MIAA Position Player of the Year, he also earned first-team All-American honors after hitting .426 with 18 homers and 86 RBI as a shortstop. During his two seasons with UCM, the Mules went 114-17 overall. The Holden, Mo. product ranks among the single-season leaders in hits, runs, home runs, and RBI. He was drafted in the 22
nd round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Oakland A's.
Michael Hicks
Men's Basketball, 2004-06
Michael Hicks was a 2005-06 All-American, a first team selection by the NABC and a third team selection by Division II Bulletin. He was a two-time first team All-MIAA selection and twice named to the MIAA Tournament All-Tournament team, including MVP honors in 2004-05 when the Mules won their first MIAA tournament title since 1983-84. He averaged 21.5 points per game as a senior, the 13
th highest single-season total in UCM history; ranks 13
th on UCM all-time scoring list with 1,210 points in two seasons. Hicks is the UCM single-season record holder with 116 made three-point field goals, 18 more than second place and second in career three-point field goals made with 191 in two years. He is just 16 shy of the all-time record which was set by a four-year player. He is currently playing professional basketball in Poland.
Rachel Matakas
Women's Basketball, 1993-96
Matakas was named first-team All-American in 1994-95, first-team All-Region in 1994-95 and 1995-96 and a three-time All-MIAA selection. She was named MIAA Most Valuable Player in 1994-95, finishing her Jennies' career ranked seventh in scoring (1,462 points), third in scoring average (18.0 ppg), seventh in field goal percentage (.501), third in rebounding (855), and first in rebounding average (10.6 rpg).
Katie Tarka
Volleyball, 2003-06
Tarka was a three-time All-American and four-time All-MIAA and All-Region selection, including three years as a first team All-MIAA selection. She is the UCM and MIAA career leader in digs with 3,016 and single-season leader with 902 as a senior in 2006. She earned seven different all-region honors, was named to three NCAA Regional All-Tournament teams, earned three Jennies Defensive MVP awards, and was named team MVP as a senior. She was a four-time MIAA Scholar Athlete and MIAA Academic Honor Roll member.
Colston Weatherington
Football, 1999-2000
Weatherington was a two-time All-American defensive end for the Mules, the eighth first-team All-American in school history. He was also the MIAA Defensive MVP in 1999 while earning first-team honors in both 1999 and 2000. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 2001 in the 7
th round of the NFL Draft. He also played in the Arena League for the Dallas Desperados and earned first-team All-Arena League honors.
Coaches
Rhesa Sumrell
Softball, 1988-2006
Sumrell served as the head coach of the Jennies softball program from 1988-2006. She is the winningest coach in Jennies softball history with 614-359 record in 19 seasons. Her teams captured four MIAA Championships and four MIAA Tournament Championships with three runner-up finishes. The Jennies won two Regional Championships (1989 and 1994) during her tenure and had two regional runner-up finishes. The Jens finished fourth at the NCAA-II championships twice. Sumrell coached 12 players who combined to earn 18 All-American honors.
Special Recognition
The Chain Gang for UCM Football
The chain gang for UCM Football has a combined 162 years of service to Mules Football. The crew of Rusty Enzor, 33 years; Ed Curtis 39 years; Glenn Borum 27 years; Paul Earls 31 years; Jim Joyner 20 years; Robert Trot seven years and Joe Vaughan five years, has worked the sidelines of Mules football games rain or shine dedicating countless hours of volunteer service to UCM.
Marion Woods
Marion “Woody” Woods has served as the public address announcer for Mules football games for 27 years and Mules and Jennies basketball games for 25 years The “Voice of Warrensburg” for 45 years on 1450 KOKO, Woods is known for his smooth and friendly delivery behind the mike and for his signature phrase, “Here come the Mules!”
Teams
2004-05 Jennies Bowling
The 2004-05 Jennies bowling squad finished the season as the National Runner-Up at the NCAA Championships. The young Jennies squad with no seniors and three freshmen in the starting lineup finished the season with an 89-21 record. They had two All-Americans in Tina Peak and the Division II National Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, Bryanna Caldwell. Peak became the first woman to ever roll two 300-games at the NCAA Championships.
1969 Mules Cross Country
The 1969 Mules cross country team captured the first MIAA cross country championship in school history. The team was undefeated three years in a row at home leading up to their championship season in 1969. They finished the year with a 10
th place finish at the NCAA College Division National Championships under head coach Richard Maxwell.
With the 2011-12 inductees, the Central Missouri Athletic Hall of Fame will consist of 177 individuals and 51 teams.
The annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held Saturday, February 25 at 9:30 a.m. in the Sandra Temple Elliott Union Ballroom. Tickets are $12 per person and may be purchased by calling the UCM Athletic Office at 660-543-4250 before February 17.
