KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Former longtime University of Central Missouri Athletics administrator Kathy Anderson and Mules wrestler Mark Burrell were elected to the 2025 MIAA Hall of Fame enshrinement class, the conference office announced Thursday, March 27.
Anderson, who served as an administrator for UCM Athletics for 18 years before retiring in June 2023, becomes the first individual to be inducted into the MIAA Hall of Fame as both a student-athlete and an administrator, as she was enshrined as a student-athlete in 2010 as part of the founding class.
During her 18-year tenure with UCM Athletics as an administrator, Anderson was instrumental in helping numerous student-athletes and coaches achieve their goals both inside and outside of competition.
She was elevated to Interim Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics in January 2023 after previously serving as the Associate Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Internal Operations and Associate Athletic Director for Internal Operations. Anderson also served as the Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) for UCM Athletics.
During her 18 years at Central Missouri, the Mules and Jennies captured 97 MIAA Championships, 27 NCAA Division II Regional Titles and five NCAA Division II National Championships. UCM student-athletes earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-America® honors 82 times during Anderson's tenure, and numerous Mules and Jennies were named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll and received MIAA Scholar-Athlete and MIAA Academic Excellence recognition.
Before returning to UCM in 2005, Anderson served previously as Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance and Student Services at fellow MIAA member Northwest Missouri State University.
Anderson also served as past chair for the Division II softball and women's basketball committees and Chair of the Institutional Representatives for the MIAA.
Anderson was inducted into the UCM Athletic Hall of Fame as a student-athlete in 1992 (founding class). She was enshrined in the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame 2015 and was named to the Hall of Fame's 2011 "Filbert Five."
Burrell, who wrestled for the Mules from 1988-90 and was a two-time All-American, is the first-ever individual wrestler to be inducted into the MIAA Hall of Fame.
Burrell won back-to-back NCAA Division II National Championships at 126 pounds for the Mules in 1989 and 1990. He posted an impressive record of 44-6-2 in 1989 and went a stellar 40-3-1 in 1990 on his way to his two national titles.
Burrell was the first UCM wrestler to win a match at the NCAA Division I Championships and still holds Central Missouri career records for winning percentage (.890) and takedowns (169) and the single season record for points (167).
He was inducted into the UCM Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999 and is a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Anderson and Burrell will be officially enshrined into the MIAA Hall of Fame during the 2025 MIAA Awards Celebration which will take place the first week in June. More information on the event will be announced at a later date.
The MIAA Hall of Fame Class of 2025:
- Kathy Anderson, Central Missouri Administrator
- Allen Barbre, Missouri Southern Football Athlete
- Kate (Lehman) Bremerman, Fort Hays State Women's Basketball Athlete
- John Brown, Pittsburg State Football Athlete
- Mark Burrell, Central Missouri Wrestling Athlete
- Ryan Helsley, Northeastern State Baseball Athlete
- Kiara Jones, Pittsburg State Men's Track & Field Athlete
- Nikki (Llewellyn) Nill, Missouri Southern Women's Soccer Athlete
- Darci (Schmitz) Riordan, Fort Hays State Women's Track & Field Athlete
- Dane Simoneau, Washburn Baseball and Football Athlete
- LEGACY – Shally Lundien, Missouri Southern Softball Athlete
