Baseball | 2/18/2023 8:47:00 PM

WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- The University of Central Missouri athletic department enshrined seven individuals and two teams into the UCM Athletic Hall of Fame Saturday morning, Feb. 18, inside the Elliott Student Union Ballroom on the Central Missouri campus. 

The seven former student-athletes in the 2023 class include one individual from the Early Era and six from the Modern Era. The lone inductee from the Early Era is former Mules football standout Robin Fisher (1980-84) while the Modern Era features LaShonda Albert (Jennies basketball, 1996-98), Ana Dilkes (Jennies soccer, 2014-17), Jason Herz (Mules baseball, 1999-2002), Jonah Melly (Mules track & field and cross country, 1992-95), Bradye Peniston (Jennies volleyball, 2009-12) and Jaylen Zachery (Mules football, 2014-17).

The two teams that were newly inducted into the UCM Athletic Hall of Fame are a pair of NCAA Division II National Champions in the 2017 Jennies soccer team and the 2017-18 Jennies basketball team.
 
Early Era:
Robin Fisher (Mules football, 1980-84)
A three-time All-MIAA safety for the Mules from 1982-84, earning first team all-conference honors in 1983 and 1984, and honorable mention accolades in 1982…Was the 1985 Vernon Kennedy Award winner for the top male student-athlete at UCM…Helped lead the 1983 Mules to a MIAA Co-Championship, the first conference title since 1970…Five-year starter and was the defensive team captain in 1984…As a defensive back, ranks second in program history with 21 career interceptions, and first in interception return yards at 246…Is seventh in MIAA history for most interceptions with 21…Had a single-game record six pass break-ups vs. Truman in 1983…Two-time MIAA Scholar-Athlete and was the inaugural recipient of the Eph and Mary Jane Markey Scholarship in 1984…Also lettered as a golfer in 1985.

Modern Era:
LaShonda Albert (Jennies basketball, 1996-98)
Two-time Kodak Division II honorable mention All-American…Second team Daktronics and third team Division II Bulletin All-American as a senior…Two-time first team All-MIAA pick…Holds the school record for career scoring average with 20 points per game…Ranks eighth in career free throw percentage (.793) and tied for 10th in blocked shots (77).

Ana Dilkes (Jennies soccer, 2014-17)
One of the most successful goalkeepers in program history…Seven-time All-American and four-time First Team All-MIAA goalkeeper…2017 United Soccer Coaches NCAA-II National Player of the Year…Helped the Jennies to four MIAA and Central Region Championships and the 2017 NCAA-II National Championship in which the team went a perfect 26-0…Played in 97 matches and posted a save percentage of .944 with 64 shutouts…Still holds the UCM program records for shutouts (64), goals-against average (0.37), matches played (97) and wins (89).  

Jason Herz (Mules baseball, 1999-2002)
A First Team ABCA All-American pitcher in 2002, he set the school record by going 14-0 (ranked No. 1 in the nation in wins that season)…One of only four starting pitchers in school history to have an undefeated season…Also First Team All-MIAA, MIAA Co-MVP with teammate Craig Ringe, Region Pitcher of the Year…Recorded 88 strikeouts, 26 career wins (eighth all time) and 217 innings pitched just outside top-10 all-time).

Jonah Melly (Mules track & field and cross country, 1992-95)
A six-time All-American (cross country and steeplechase in 1993 and 1994, cross country in 1995, 1,500m run in 1995); he was fourth in the steeplechase in 1994, eighth in 1993…Ranks in the top-10 in school history in the indoor 800 (5th) and mile (6th), and in the outdoor steeplechase (6th)…In 1993, he was the MIAA Champion in cross country, indoor 800m and mile, and outdoor 800m and steeplechase…Was also the high-point individual at the 1993 MIAA Indoor Championships…In 1995, he was the MIAA Champion in cross country and indoor 800-meter run.

Bradye Peniston (Jennies volleyball, 2009-12)
Three time All-American and four-time All-MIAA middle blocker, including First Team All-MIAA in 2012…Named the Jennies' Best Offensive Player in 2012…Three-time AVCA All-Region selection, twice to the first team…Fifth all-time at UCM in total points with 1,562.5. Her 438 career blocks are 10th all-time at UCM…Finished career with 1,261 kills and 1,562.5 points…2013 Dr. Peggy Martin award winner for top female athlete at UCM…Four-time MIAA Scholar-Athlete and member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll.

Jaylen Zachery (Mules football, 2014-17)
Don Hansen's Football Magazine Honorable Mention All-American wide receiver in 2016…Three-time All-MIAA selection, including a two-time, first team honoree in 2015 and 2016 as a receiver and kick returner, and a second team honoree as a receiver in 2016…Two-time All-Region selection…Holds the UCM career record for yards receiving with 2,811 on 175 receptions…Is also the career record holder for most pass receptions with 175, and ranks second in career punt returns at 78..Is top-five in career punt return yards (645 on 58 returns), all-purpose yards (4,771) and TD receptions (18)…Still holds the UCM single-game record for most kickoff return yards in a game with 192 yards on five returns vs. Minnesota-Duluth Dec. 2, 2017.

Class of 2023 Teams:
2017 Jennies Soccer Team
The 2017 Central Missouri Jennies soccer team captured the program's first NCAA Division II National Championship and went a perfect 26-0…UCM played Carson Newman to a 1-1 draw in double overtime before turning back the Eagles in penalty-kick shootout, 5-3, at Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, Mo….The 26 wins was an NCAA Division II single-season record…The Jennies also captured the NCAA Division II Central Regional Championship, as well as the MIAA Regular Season and Postseason Tournament Titles…UCM had eight All-American selections, 10 All-Region picks, and nine All-MIAA players. Goalkeeper Ana Dilkes was named the National Player of the Year, while head coach Lewis Theobald and his staff were named National Coaching Staff of the Year after being named Central Region Staff of the Year…Theobald was also named the MIAA Coach of the Year.



2017-18 Jennies Basketball Team
The 2017-18 Central Missouri Jennies basketball team won the program's second NCAA Division II National Championship, posting a 30-3 overall record…The 30 wins was a program record for wins in a single season…UCM also captured the MIAA Regular Season that season with an impressive 18-1 MIAA tally…The Jennies also won the NCAA-II Central Regional Championship…Central Missouri compiled five All-MIAA honorees, including Player of the Year Paige Redmond and Defensive Player of the Year Kayonna Lee…Head coach Dave Slifer was also named the MIAA and WBCA Central Region Coach of the Year…On the way to their national title, the Jennies upset defending national champion Ashland in the title game in Sioux Falls, S.D., snapping the Eagles' 73-game winning streak with a 66-52 triumph.