Fred Abboud
Induction Class of 2016
Football
Baseball
Track & Field
A three-sport letterman at Omaha Central High School, Abboud served in the U.S. Army before coming to Omaha University, where he was the starting fullback for four years and leading scorer for three seasons. He also played defensive back, returned kicks and was second in total offense on the team for two years. He also played baseball and had a career batting average over .300. He also was a member of the Omaha U. club hockey team, played on the freshman basketball team and briefly ran track, as well as being the school's light heavyweight boxing champion. He graduated in 1951 and is a member of the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame.
Harlan Aden
Induction Class of 1996
Football
Harlan Aden played football from 1962-65 under Al Caniglia. He led the Omaha University Indians to a 20-8 record during his career, including Central intercollegiate titles in 1963 and 1965. He served as one of the team captains from 1964-65. In 1965, he was named to Associated Press small college All-American team as a guard.
Curlee Alexander
Induction Class of 1987
Wrestling
Curlee Alexander was the first wrestler in school history to earn four All-American plaques during his 1965-69 wrestling career. Wrestling at 115 pounds, he led the team to a 44-12-3 record and national runner up finishes in 1968 and 1969. Alexander had 63 career victories, along with being fourth in the NAIA national tournament in 1966 and third in 1968. Alexander won the national NAIA championship in 1969.
Gerald Allen
Football
Laura J. Anderson Gibbons
Induction Class of 1996
Basketball
Laura J. Anderson Gibbons was a two-time all-American and the third-leading scorer in school history with 1,658 points during her 1984-88 basketball career. She is first in career free throws with 368 and sixth in career rebounds with 861. She earned three all-NCC team honors and twice made the all-academic NCC team. She was also a NCC Honor athlete, NCC MVP, Nebraska college female athlete of the year, Middle America college player of the year, and College World Series Queen. She held the UNO record for points in one game (36), free throws in one season (161), blocked shots in one game (7), and she was second in scoring average for a season (20.6).
Joe Arenas
Football
Joe Arenas played football for Omaha University Indians from 1947-51. He started as a blocking back in the old single wing formation and then moved to tailback, where he went on to gain All-American honors. One season he averaged over 200 yards per game. Arenas went on to play professional football for the San Francisco 49ers where he led the NFL in kick-off returns for several seasons. Many of his records can still be found in the 49ers record books. He was also a starting guard on the basketball team and a high jumper for the track team. In 1954, he was selected to the Helms Hall of Fame and received the Alumni Achievement Award from Omaha University.
Brenda Baumann Pulling
Induction Class of 2000
Volleyball
Brenda Baumann was a three-year starter for Maverick volleyball from 1987-1990. She highlighted her career by earning second team AVCA All-America honors in 1989 while establishing a school record with 669 kills. She ranked ninth nationally in kills and hitting percentage. At UNO, she ranked third in career kills with 1,498 and seventh in career blocks with 99. She was also named to the All-American strength team and the all-North Central Conference first team. In 1989, she was UNO Female Athlete of the Year and was an AVCA all-region selection.
Don Benning
Wrestling
Don Benning was hired as the head wrestling coach at Omaha University in 1963. Benning became the first African-American head coach in a predominantly white university in the United States and was the first full-time black faculty member at Omaha University. Benning's 1970 team was 14-0 and won the title trophy from the national meet. Benning's team finished second in the 1968 and 1969 NAIA national meets. The Mavericks were third in Benning's final season in 1971. Benning had three black All-Americans on the 1970 team - brothers Roy and Mel Washington, and Landy Waller. His wrestling team brought the first ever collegiate national championship to the state of Nebraska in 1970 after being runners up in 1968 and 1969. He was selected by both the Omaha World Herald and the Lincoln Journal Star as state college coach of the year. Benning was also NAIA Wrestling Coach of the Year, a member of the Nebraska Scholastic Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame, and a member of the 1969 United States Olympic Wrestling Committee. After eight years and four top-three finishes at the national tournament, Benning left coaching in 1971.
Tracy Ankeny Blair
Induction Class of 2014
Volleyball
Tracy Ankeny Blair was a two-time first-team All-American and a second-team selection once. She set the school record for career kills with 1,961 and is among the leaders in career digs with 1,691 and career attack percentage at .310. The Dixon, Neb., native was a second-team All-American as a freshman in 1997 and was a first-team pick in 1999 and 2000. She was a four-time all-North Central Conference and all-region selection and was an academic all-NCC pick three times.
Paul Blazevich
Induction Class of 1988
Football
Paul Blazevich became an All-American while leading the 1962 football team to a conference championship and a bowl game victory. He set records for career touchdown pass catches with 15 and for touchdown pass receptions in a game with three. He also set a record for career punting average with 37.8 yards. The 1962 team, coached by Al Caniglia, won the Central Intercollegiate Conference title and then went on to capture the All Sports Bowl Championship with a 34-21 win over East Central Oklahoma and an 8-1-1 record.
Chris Bober
Induction Class of 2006
Football
Chris Bober earned first-team All-American honors as an offensive lineman in 1998 and 1999, becoming UNO's first two-time first-team football All-American since Bill Englehardt in 1955-56. An outstanding blocker and pass-protector, he redshirted in 1995, played as a part-time starter in 1996 then started full-time for three seasons. UNO won two NCC titles and made three NCAA II playoff appearances during his career. He was all-NCC twice, each time being named most valuable offensive lineman. Drafted by the New York Giants, he became a starter in the NFL and later signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2004.
Marlin Briscoe
Induction Class of 1975
Football
Marlin "the magician" Briscoe was an All-American quarterback for Omaha University in the mid-60s. During his 1963-67 football career, Omaha had a 27-11 record, including three conference championships. He set 22 records, including 52 touchdown passes, 4,935 yards passing, a 55 percent completion record and a career total offense record of 6,253. As a senior, he was among the nation's leaders in passing and total offense. Briscoe, drafted fourteenth by the Denver Broncos, started at three positions in the NFL. He led the league as quarterback, defensive back and wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills. He also played for the Detroit Lions, San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins.
David Brisson
Induction Class of 2010
Hockey
David Brisson was one of the first stars to emerge for the UNO hockey team, leading the team in scoring in three of his four years. He set school single-season and career-records during his time on the ice for the Mavericks from 1999-2003. He scored 56 goals and 79 assists for 144 points and is currently third on the all-time scoring list. He scored 22 goals and 25 assists for 47 points during the 2000-01 season, then a school record for points in a season. He was a First Team all-Central Collegiate Hockey Association selection in 2001 and made the CCHA's all-academic team as a senior. He is still tied for the all-time school lead with 159 games played. Brisson is the first member of the UNO hockey team to be inducted into the UNO Athletic Hall of Fame.
Sheila Brown Geil
Induction Class of 2006
Cross Country
Track
Shelia Brown Geil set four records and was an All-American in track and cross country during her 1984-87 Maverick career. She also won four North Central Conference titles, setting two meet records in the process. Brown Geil earned All-American honors on the track in 1985 as a member of the 1,600-meter relay team. In 1987 she became UNO's first NCC cross country champion and earned All-American honors. She also was a three-time NCC All-Academic team selection in both cross country and track and graduated cum laude in broadcasting.
Sandy Buda
Induction Class of 2012
Football
One of the most successful football coaches in UNO history, Sandy Buda compiled an 84-49 record from 1978-89 and captured North Central Conference titles in 1983 and 1984. His teams advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs twice - in 1978 and 1984, when the Mavericks lost in the national semifinal game. The Omaha native ranks second all-time in wins at UNO.
Carri Butler Hutcherson
Induction Class of 2005
Track
Carri Butler Hutcherson earned All-American status 16 times and won 16 North Central Conference events during her 1994-98 track and field career. In 1995, Hutcherson was named outstanding athlete at the NCC outdoor meet and was a member of the NCC all-academic team in 1998. During her career, she had three second-place finishes and three third-place finishes in outdoor and indoor nationals. Her performances rank among the school's best in several events and she still holds the 400-meter indoor and outdoor school records.
Al Caniglia
Football
Al Caniglia coached football from 1960-1973 and led the team to a 74-55-5 record. He had teams in the top 25 many times, along with winning five of seven CIC titles. In 1961, he was named Coach of the Year by Rockne Club of Kansas City. In 1962, his team won the All-Sports Bowl. He produced many All-Americans, including Marlin Briscoe, Paul Blazevich, Charles McWhorter and Dom Polifrone.
Lloyd Cardwell
Induction Class of 1978
Cross Country
Football
Track
Lloyd "Cardie" Cardwell is one of the greatest all-around competitors ever to come out of the state of Nebraska. He starred as halfback at the University of Nebraska from 1934-36 and then went on to earn All-Pro honors for the Detroit Lions. He was both an outstanding football and track coach during his time at Omaha University. As football coach from 1946-59, he produced one of the greatest teams the University has ever had. His 1954 team went undefeated and won 7-6 over Kentucky in the Tangerine Bowl and he was named Little All-American Coach of the Year. He went on to accomplish a 58-52-2 record before retiring as football coach. His accomplishments as head track and cross-country coach include numerous relay-teams that have won first-place at prestigious meets like the Texas Relays, the Kansas Relays, and the Drake Relays. Cardwell developed great runners such as Roger Sayers, an international sprint star who defeated the "world's fastest human" Bob Hayes. Following the 1977-78 academic year, "Cardie" retired after 32 years of coaching and teaching at Omaha University and the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Tanya Cate
Induction Class of 2005
Volleyball
Tanya Cate was a four-year letterwinner during her 1994-97 volleyball career. She was a second-team All-American in 1996 when the Mavericks captured the NCAA II national championship. In 1997 as a senior, she was the most valuable player in the North Central Conference and earned first-team All-America honors. She was a member of the NCC's all-academic team and helped lead the team to NCC and regional tournament titles. She ranks in the top 10 in school history in career kills with 1,450, digs with 1,438, and in block assists with 351.
Connie Claussen
Former Associate Athletic Director/Head Softball Coach
Connie Claussen retired as the associate athletic director on June 1, 1998, but remains an assistant athletic director on the Maverick staff. .A graduate of Omaha University, Claussen began teaching physical education at UNO in 1963 and was chairing the department within two years. During that time she began laying the groundwork for what has become one the top programs in NCAA II. In 1986, Claussen started the Diet Pepsi/UNO Women's Walk, the primary fundraiser for UNO women's athletics. Claussen has served on several NCAA national committees, including the NCAA Executive Committee and chairman of the NCAA II Championships Committee. She was a member of the UNO Alumni Board and was given the Chancellor's Medal in 1981. She is the first woman member of the UNO Athletic Hall of Fame and has also been inducted into the Omaha Benson High School Hall of Fame, Omaha Softball Association Hall of Fame, and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in recognition of coaching the 1975 Lady Mavs to the national softball championship. Claussen was named UNO's Boss of the Year by the Educational Office Professionals Association (EOPA) and also received the UNO Alumni Association's Citation for Alumnus Achievement in 1997.
Don Claussen
Induction Class of 1985
Basketball
Don Claussen began his Omaha University basketball career in the 1950 when the modern era of college basketball was just beginning. Claussen played just one semester in each of his first two years in school, but his junior and senior season became unforgettable in school history. He set the school's single season scoring record with 393 points his junior year and added 348 points as a senior in 1954, becoming the first 1,000-point scorer in school history. Claussen still stands 12th on the all-time scoring list with 1,070 career points. Claussen also played baseball, lettering three years with a .295 career batting average. After graduating, he returned to serve as an assistant coach in baseball and basketball for three years.
Keith Coleman
Induction Class of 1998
Football
Keith Coleman was one of the most dominating defensive players the Mavericks have had since joining the North Central Conference. He was twice named to the all-NCC team unanimously during his 1983-86 career, piling up 391 total tackles and 17.5 sacks. He helped lead the team to two NCC titles and was recognized as a Kodak and Associated Press first-team All-American.
Steve Costanzo
Induction Class of 2011
Wrestling
Steve Costanzo compiled a 133-40-2 record during his 1992-95 career as a wrestler at 134 and 142 pounds. He was a three-time All-American, finishing seventh once and third twice in the NCAA II national meet. He twice won North Central Conference titles, in 1994 and 1995. Costanzo became the head coach at Dana College and led the Vikings to the NAIA title in 2006 and in May of 2006 was named the head coach at St. Cloud State.
Braumon Creighton
Induction Class of 2004
Wrestling
A four-time All-American, Creighton won national titles as a 134-pound junior and as a 141-pound senior during his 1995-99 wrestling career. He compiled a 151-27 record, which is second-most wins in school history. Creighton was fifth as a 126-pound freshmen and third as a 134-pound sophomore. He led the team to two NCC titles and two runner-up finishes in the NCAA II tournament. He is one of just eight wrestlers to earn four All-American plaques during his career.
Bill Englehardt
Induction Class of 1975
Football
Bill Englehardt is the only two-time All-American in UNO football history. Englehardt led the football team to a combined 30-5-1 record from 1953 through 1956, including a perfect 10-0 record in 1954, which included a 7-6 Tangerine Bowl win over Eastern Kentucky. At one point, Englehardt held or shared 21 individual school records. He brought the old cliché "triple threat" to life. He rushed for 2,152 yards, passed for 3,568 yards and 36 touchdowns, held a 34-yard punting average, scored 35 touchdowns with a total of 237 points, kicked extra points, returned punts, and even caught five passes. Englehardt still holds the scoring record for UNO.
Ruth Evans McClinton
Induction Class of 1997
Volleyball
A three-time volleyball All-American from 1986-88, Ruth Evans McClinton was also the 1988 UNO Female Athlete of the Year. Following her senior season, she was a member of the 1988 North Central Conference all-academic team and a conference honor athlete The Lady Mavs were 144-30 during her career, won three NCC titles, and made three Final Four appearances. She ranks first in career block assists and second in career service aces.
Dennis Forrest
Induction Class of 1988
Basketball
Dennis Forrest set school scoring records for a season and career, along with leading UNO to three NCAA Division II tournaments during his 1970-74 basketball career. During his senior season, he broke his brother's (Calvin Forrest) record with 722 points. He finished his career with a record setting 1,660 points. He also holds the record for most field goals in a season with 282. Forrest led the team to three straight trips to the Division II tournament in 1975, 1976 and 1977.
Kathy Gass Eckley
Induction Class of 1997
Softball
Kathy Gass Eckley earned All-American honors as a senior during her 1984-87 softball career. She was an all-North Central Conference selection all four seasons and was the League's Most Valuable Player in 1987. She was named to the all-academic team three times in the NCC and was a GTE third-team academic All-American. Eckley helped UNO win the 1985 NCC title, earn a No. 9 national ranking, and an appearance at the regional tournament. She ranks eighth on UNO's career chart for hits with 164 and batting average with .339.
Bob Gates
Induction Class of 2002
Baseball
As the head baseball coach for 23 years, Bob Gates coached the team to two North Central Conference titles, two NCAA II tournament appearances, and 464 victories during his 1976-99 career. One of the most respected high school and college coaches, he guided the program through a period of severe budget cuts in the mid-80s, then brought the program back to prominence in the NCC. He was admitted to the Nebraska High School Hall of Fame and his uniform number has been retired from UNO.
Cody Garcia
Induction Class of 2017
Wrestling
A four-time All-American and twice a National Champion, Cody Garcia wrestled for the Mavericks from 2005-10. He won the national championship at 125 pounds in 2006 and following a redshirt year, he won another championship at 125 in 2008. Moving up to 133 pounds in 2009, he finished third nationally and was the runner up at that weight as a senior in 2010. A member of three national championship teams, Garcia finished his career fourth in school history with 147 career wins. His 48 wins earned during his senior season rank second all-time at UNO for single-season wins.
Greg Geary
Induction Class of 2006
Baseball
Micky Gehringer
Induction Class of 1990
Softball
Micky Gehringer held the single-season record with a .430 batting average and was the career leader in runs scored during her 1972-76 softball career. She led the team in batting in 1973 and 1974. In 1975, she helped lead the team to the national women's softball championship. Great hitters must run in her family because her uncle, former Detroit Tiger star Charlie Gehringer, is in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Jim Gregory
Induction Class of 1991
Basketball
During his 1977-81 basketball career, Jim scored 1,196 points, making him the No. 6 all-time scorer in school history. From 1981-82, he led the team in scoring with 429 points. In 1981, he was an all-NCC selection and led the NCC in free throws. He was named to the CoSIDA all-academic team and won a NCAA post-graduate scholarship.
Bill Haas
Induction Class of 1991
Basketball
Football
Bill Haas earned all-conference honors in both football and basketball while playing for Omaha University from 1964-68. The Ralston native caught 79 passes for 1,207 yards as a split end during his football career, but was also a place-kicker and a quarterback. In basketball, he was a four-year regular and scored 1,064 career points, which is currently fourteenth best in school history.
Frank Hahn
Induction Class of 1998
Football
A four-year letterwinner, Frank Hahn earned the respect of his teammates with his hard work and dedication to the game. The lineman frequently played 60 minutes during his 1953-56 football career at Omaha University. Hahn's blocking skills in the single-wing offense of Coach Lloyd Cardwell led to the success of the undefeated 1954 Indian team that captured the Tangerine Bowl championship.
Barb Hart Baumert
Induction Class of 1989
Basketball
Barb Hart Baumert led the team to an 85-44 record while scoring 1,710 points during her 1977-1981 basketball career. In 1978, she set the single season record for rebounds with 378 and had the single best scoring season with 681 points. She was also the all-time career rebounding leader at UNO with 1,190. As a senior, she was recognized on the North Central Conference All-Tournament team and was a third-team All-American selection. She also led the softball team with a .404 hitting average in 1980.
C.L. Hartman
Induction Class of 1979
Basketball
Football
C.L. (Sed) Hartman was a coach and athletic director for Omaha University. He coached basketball from 1931-35 and football from 1931-41. His 1931-32 basketball team recorded the only perfect season in the school's history winning 20 games without a loss. Hartman's .824 winning percentage (56-12) heads the list of Maverick basketball coaches. From 1931-35, his football teams posted a 25-11-4 record.
Tanis Hastmann Walch
Induction Class of 2017
Women's Golf
UNO’s only All-American in women’s golf, Hastman is the school’s all-time scoring leader with a career average of 80.07 during a four-year career from 2001-2005. She was the individual medalist each year at the North Central Conference Championship, leading the Mavs to two league titles and a runner-up finish. She was also a four-time member of the All-NCC team and a member of the Academic All-NCC team in 2003. She played in 101 career rounds to rank second all-time and was an individual medalist a school-record 14 times. As a junior and senior, she posted season scoring averages of 79.4 which rank fifth-best in school history. The native of Winnipeg, Manitoba owns the second-best 72-hole score in school history at 314, a mark shot during the 2005 NCAA Division II National Championship when she finished 17th overall. For her career, she made two appearances in the NCAA Championship.
LaRon Henderson
Induction Class of 2010
Football
One of the Mavericks' greatest rushers, LaRon Henderson became UNO's all-time leading rusher during his career from 1987 to 1990. He finished with 2,720 yards, putting him at the top of the school's rushing chart (he is now third). His best game came during his last game with the Mavericks, a then school-record 233-yard performance against South Dakota State in 1990. He was named to the all-North Central Conference second team three times in a career slowed by injuries.
Mary Henke Anderson
Induction Class of 1998
Basketball
During her 1979-83 career in basketball, UNO was 84-41, won three NCC titles, and competed in the AIAW regionals twice and the AIAW nationals once. Mary Henke Anderson led the team in scoring in 1979-80 with 473 points and in 1982-83 with 332 points. She was third in career rebounding with 1,024 and fourth in career scoring with 1,629 points. She also held the career record for blocked shots with 291.
Brad Hildebrandt
Induction Class of 2003
Wrestling
A four-year starter and three-time All-American during his 183-88 wrestling career, Brad Hildebrandt compiled a 131-37-2 record and set the school record for wins at 158 pounds. He finished second, fifth, and eighth during his career in the NCAA II National Tournament. He was also a two-time North Central Conference all-academic team selection and a two-time selection to the wrestling coaches' national all-academic team. As a senior, he led his national championship match 8-1 when he was forced to default because of an injury. He currently ranks fifth in career wins with 131 and in career falls with 42. He has coached the Skutt Catholic High School team to six straight state wrestling titles.
Ben Huff
Baseball
Basketball
Football
Ben Huff was a 10-letterwinner during his 1928-32 athletic career. Huff lettered four years in football and basketball and twice in baseball. During his football career, he played in all but three minutes of one game as a junior and 12 minutes of one game as a senior. The Cardinals, as the team was called, were 16-10-7 during his career and were 5-1-1 during Huff's senior year. In basketball, he played every game during his first three years and decided not to play his senior year because of his heavy class load. However, five games into the season Coach Sed Hartman persuaded Huff to return to the team because of injuries to key players. The team went on to post the best record ever for an OU-UNO team, 20-2. When the school began a baseball program in 1930, Huff was a pitcher, started every game, and led the team in hitting both years. He was the first athlete to graduate from the school after becoming the Municipal University of Omaha.
Mar Tay Jenkins
Induction Class of 2007
Football
Mar Tay 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.
Niece Jochims
Induction Class of 1986
Basketball
Niece Jochims played basketball for the Lady Mavs from 1975-79. She set numerous scoring and rebounding records that are still being used to judge women's basketball. She holds the UNO record for career points with 1,937, which stood for six years as the highest total by any women's player in the state of Nebraska. She is also the No.2 career rebounder in school history.
Harold Johnk
Basketball
Football
Track
Harold Johnk competed in football, basketball and track from 1933-37. In football, he played center on offense and linebacker on defense. He was named to the all-NCC team in 1935 and 1936. In basketball, he was a 6-foot-4 center and a key rebounder. In track, he threw shot put, discus and ran low hurdles. His discus mark of 147 feet stood as the school record for several years. In 1936, Johnk's senior year, he earned Little All-American honors.
Larry Johnson
Induction Class of 1989
Basketball
Football
Track
Larry Johnson was the center for Coach Lloyd Cardwell's offensive line when Omaha University as beginning to stake its claim as one of the top college division teams in the country. In 1952, while serving as captain his senior season, he was named the team's most outstanding player and the school's Athlete of the Year. He received national recognition when he was the third All-American ever to be selected to the little All-American squad. Johnson lettered three of his four years playing football, along with lettering twice in basketball and three times in track.
Elaine L. Johnson Hinton
Induction Class of 1991
Basketball
Elaine L. Johnson Hinton was sixth on the all-time scoring list with 1,317 career points and made the Central Sate Classic All-tournament team during her 1974-78 basketball career. She played 96 consecutive games for the Lady Mavericks, who were 55-41 during her career. She ranks in the top10 for several offensive categories, including points, field goals, free throws, scoring average, and rebounding. Hinton started every game during her career and her assists set up Niece Jochims to become the all-time leading scorer. She also played on the 1975 CWS softball championship team.
Jimmy Jones
Induction Class of 2001
Football
Jimmy Jones was an integral player on Coach Al Caniglia's formidable Omaha University Indians. While a member of the team, the Indians captured Central Intercollegiate Conference titles three times in four years. He was an All-CIC selection on both offense and defense as a tackle and as an end in 1964 and 1965. As a senior, he was a team leader with 17 pass receptions. Following his collegiate career, he signed to play professional football with the New York Jets.
Justin Kammrad
Induction Class of 2016
Football
A first-team All-American in 2003 and UNO's first-ever Harlon Hill Award finalist top 3 after leading the nation in rushing, Kammrad set several school rushing records during his 2000-03 career. He set the single-game and season records, running for 308 yards in his final game to give him 1,866 yards in 2003. He is No. 6 in career rushing with 2,353 yards. The Council Bluffs, Iowa, native set the single-game record in his first collegiate start and broke it in his final game. He was hampered by knee injuries, which held him to just one game in 2001 and nine games in 2002.
Ryan Kaufman
Induction Class of 1993
Wrestling
Ryan Kaufman won 72 matches, the 1981 NCAA Division II title and one national championship during his 1980-82 wrestling career. He was named to the NCC all-academic wrestling team twice and was an All-American both seasons. After graduating in 1986, Kaufman joined the Omaha Fire Department and was a part-time assistant for the Mavericks.
Pat Kelley III
Induction Class of 2005
Wrestling
One of the schools all-time great competitors, Pat Kelley III compiled a 122-42 record during his 1992-97 career as a 190-pound wrestler. Kelley finished fourth twice in the NCAA Division II national tournament and second as a senior, making him a three-time All-American. He was voted UNO's outstanding wrestler in 1996 and earned an NCAA post-graduate scholarship in 1997. He was also a four-time Academic All-North Central Conference and NCAA II all-academic team selection. Kelley was the 1995 UNO Male Athlete of the Year.
Stephanie Kirby
Induction Class of 2010
Soccer
A native of Elkhorn, Neb., Stephanie Kirby was a two-time First Team All-American and a four-time all-North Central Conference selection while playing soccer for UNO from 2000-2003. She helped lead the Mavericks to three NCC tournament titles and second- and third-place finishes in the NCAA Division II tournament. She was a CoSIDA Academic All-American and a member of the NCC All-Academic team three times. She also was a member of the NSCAA Scholar All-American First Team. She scored 25 goals and 33 assists for 83 points in her career and was named the Omaha World-Herald's State College Female Athlete of the Year in 2003.
Dan Klepper
Induction Class of 1994
Football
Dan Klepper was a four-year letter winner and a two-time all-conference offensive guard during his 1965-68 football career under Al Caniglia. In 1967, he was an NAIA honorable mention on the All-American team and in 1968, he was named Associated Press Little All-American. Dan was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs because of his speed, agility, and blocking skills.
Kathy Knudsen
Induction Class of 1993
Volleyball
Kathy Knudsen set a UNO record for the most kill spikes in a career with 1,645 and finished in the top five in four other categories during her 1982-85 volleyball career. She was a four-year letter winner, Lady Mav Athlete of the Year in 1985, an all-North Central Conference, and an all-region player. Kathy was given an honorable mention on the 1985 All-American team. In 1984 and 1985, Kathy was named most valuable player and was named to the NCAA II Final Four all-tournament team.
Larry Krehbiel
Induction Class of 2008
Baseball
Unbeaten in the first 19 games of his career, pitcher Larry Krehbiel finished his 1963-65 Omaha University career with a 24-2 record, tossing 11 shutouts in his 25 starts. He earned second-team All-American honors in 1964 and was a first-team selection in 1965. He averaged just under 10 strikeouts per game, posting records of 8-0, 7-0 and 9-2. As a senior, he helped pitch the team to the championship game of the NAIA tournament.
Stephanie Kruse Kros
Induction Class of 2014
Women's Soccer
Stephanie Kruse Kross was a first-team All-American and a two-time first-team all-Central Region player in soccer. She was the 2002 North Central Conference player of the year, helping UNO win three NCC titles and a berth in the 2002 national championship match. She was a two-time academic all-NCC selection and upon her induction, she ranked third in school history with 112 career points and second with 45 career goals, and was among the leaders with 22 career assists in her 1999-2002 career.
Rod Kush
Induction Class of 1992
Football
Rod Kush lettered three seasons and earned outstanding defensive back three times during his 1976-78 football career. As a senior, he was awarded the Glen Hepburn Award for defensive excellence and earned all-NCC honors when he recorded 88 tackles, six interceptions and broke up 13 passes. During his career, he had 11 interceptions, broke up 26 passes, and returned a 40-yard punt for a touchdown. Kush was later drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the fifth round of the National Football League and spent several seasons as a starting defensive back with the Bills and the Houston Oilers.
Don Leahy
Induction Class of 1993
Don Leahy served as the Athletic Director at UNO from 1974-85. He also served a short time as the assistant football coach. During his tenure, the Mavericks moved into the North Central Conference, new bleachers were added to the football field, locker room space was increased, women's athletics were added, and weight room facilities were improved. He helped organize the UNO Hall of Fame, the Maverick Club booster organization, and organized fund raising and ticket campaigns. Leahy is currently a member of the NCC Hall of Fame.
Michala Lehotak Cimino
Induction Class of 2008
Softball
Michala Lehotak Cimino set the benchmarks for success as a hitter and a third baseman and also helped to usher the Mavericks into an era of dominance in softball. During her 1993-94 playing career, she was a two-time all-North Central Conference selection and an all-region pick. She left as the career home run leader and set a school record with 15 homers while batting .342 with 68 runs batted in as a senior. The Mavs were 102-21 during her career, won an NCC title and finished third in the national tournament.
Bob Mackie
Baseball
Basketball
Bob Mackie played both basketball and baseball from 1951-55. He is ranked No. 4 for all-time career points with 1,254 and ranked No. 1 for most free throws in a career with 468. In 1954, he had the most free throws in one game with 18 and most free throws in one season with 159. He started all four years he played basketball and he was captain during his senior season. In baseball, he was an infielder and was a one-year varsity athlete.
Cherri Mankenberg
Induction Class of 2003
Basketball
As the first full-time head women's coach in UNO history, she led the Mavericks to three NCC titles and seven post-season tournaments during her 22-year career as the women's basketball coach. She also coached seven players who are now in the UNO Athletic Hall of Fame. During her career, she compiled a 344-277 record, was named NCC Coach of the Year, regional coach of the year, and in 1992 was the Omaha World Herald's NCAA II coach of the year in Nebraska. An outstanding player in high school and college, she is a member of the Iowa Girls' High School Hall of Fame and was the first woman inducted into the Wayne State College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1979. She followed Connie Claussen as the associate athletic director at UNO in 1998 and retired in August 2003, ending a 27-year career in UNO Athletics.
Mark Manning
Induction Class of 1995
Wrestling
Mark Manning won two national titles and three All-American honors during his 1981-85 wrestling career. He won the national NCAA II title in 1983 and 1985, placed fifth in 1984, and won two NCC titles. He ranked third in career wins with 121, the most ever by a three-year wrestler. He also holds the single-season record for wins with 47. Following his career, he was awarded a NCAA postgraduate scholarship.
Michelle Manthei Kankousky
Induction Class of 2007
Softball
Michelle Manthei 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.
Bryan Marshall
Induction Class of 2018
Hockey
A four-year letter winner from 2004-2008, Bryan Marshall ranked second in career scoring for UNO hockey at the time of his induction with 150 points. He averaged better than a point per game while playing in 147 games in his Maverick career. He was second all-time in assists with 101, ranked ninth all-time with 49 goals and was tied for third all-time with 10 game-winners. He led the team in scoring as a senior with 43 points and was a part of UNO’s nation-leading power play unit that had 53 goals that season. He was named a CCHA Second Team All-Conference selection as a senior.
Nikki Mastny Bails
Induction Class of 2011
Volleyball
Despite having her Maverick volleyball career cut short due to a chronic back injury, Nikki Mastny twice earned AVCA All-America honors with second-team recognition in 1999 and first-team accolades in 2000. She was a two-time all-North Central Conference and AVCA all-Region honoree. She owns the eighth-highest single-season digs (513) and attacks (1,181) totals, both in 2000. She was limited two just two matches as a senior but still ranks among the leaders in career kills with 1,192 (13th).
Bob Matthews
Induction Class of 1977
Basketball
Football
Track
Bob Mathews is remembered as one of Omaha University's great all-around athletes. He earned three letters in football, three in basketball, and three in track from 1939-42. In football, he could run, pass, punt, and kick. Mathews earned All North Central Conference honors while playing quarterback, halfback, and cornerback. As a junior and senior, he played sixty minutes of every football game but one. In 1941, he scored 47 of the team's 71 points. As captain of the basketball team, he was selected All-Conference guard for two years. Mathews' biggest honor came in 1942 when he was selected as the North Central Conference's "Outstanding Athlete" of 1941-42.
Marlene McCauley
Induction Class of 1985
Softball
Marlene McCauley was the first woman ever pictured along side male athletes at the former Tiger Tom's Pub. During her 1976-98 softball career, she threw 362 1/3 innings, allowed only 82 runs, 209 hits, and struck out 259 batters and walked 35. She threw 16 shutouts, six one-hitters, three no-hitters, and one perfect game against North Dakota State in the 1978 regional tournament. Marlene received national attention when, at age 37, she was awarded an athletic scholarship to play for UNO. Marlene led the team to a 61-32 record during her career and helped the Lady Mavs to third and sixth place finishes in the Women's College World Series, which at the time included all divisions in one tournament.
Beth McGill
Induction Class of 2012
Soccer
UNO's career scoring leader, Beth McGill was a three-time NSCAA Third-Team All-American, a member of UNO's national championship team in 2005 and a member of the all-tournament team. McGill started all 69 games in her three-year career and scored a school-record 18 game-winning goals. She amassed 58 goals and 147 points at UNO and led the 2006 squad with 22 goals and 12 assists for 56 points, setting the school record for points in a season. The Omaha native also was the North Central Conference Player of the Year in 2005 and 2006 and was a three-time all-NCC first team pick. She was named the 2005-06 UNO Female Athlete of the Year.
Charles McWhorter
Induction Class of 2008
Football
Charlie McWhorter's speed and agility helped him pile up 2,161 yards rushing during his 1969-72 career as a running back for the Mavericks under Coach Al Caniglia. He earned first-team All-American honors in 1972 when he set school records with five touchdowns in a game and a 43.2-yard average on kickoff returns, as well as setting the career kickoff-return mark with a 28.3-yard average. The Omaha North High School graduate was just the second UNO player to go over 1,000 yards in a season when he ran for 1,018 in 1971.
Carl Meyers
Induction Class of 1987
Football
In the three years prior to Carl Meyer's arrival in 1961, the team had just won two games. In 1961, the slick passing and strong kicking Meyers led the team to a 6-3 record. In 1962, the team was 8-1-1, won the Central Intercollegiate Conference Title and the All Sports Bowl, and in 1963, they finished 7-2 with another conference championship. His 99-yard pass play for a touchdown to Roger Sayers still stands as the nation's longest in NAIA play.
Barry Miller
Induction Class of 1992
Baseball
Barry Miller was a 1962 All-American for Omaha University before being drafted by the Milwaukee Braves. The New Jersey native holds the school record for wins in a season, 11, and strikeouts in a season, 112. In 1961, he led the team to a 19-7 record and made school history by striking out 100 batters in one season. In 1962, he was 11-0 and struck out 112 batters for the 18-6 Indians, giving him a career record of 20-1 with 212 strikeouts in just 154 innings.
Louis Miloni
Induction Class of 2002
Football
Wrestling
During his 1960-62 football career under Al Caniglia, Louis Miloni earned three letters, all-conference honors as halfback, and gained 1,751 yards. He served as co-captain in 1962, which is the year the team won both the Central Intercollegiate Conference Title and the All-Sports Bowl Game. During his senior year, he gained 758 yards on 120 carries, scored a touchdown during the All-Sports Bowl, and gained 72 yards on only 17 attempts. Along with playing football, Louis qualified for the NAIA national wrestling tournament.
Janice Moreau Howell
Induction Class of 1999
Track
Janice Moreau Howell was a four-time All-American and held the indoor and outdoor 800-meter record during her 1984-86 track and field career. She was a member of the 4x400-relay team, which held the indoor and outdoor school record. She was named an All-American in 1984 in the 4x400-relay, in 1985 in the 800-meter dash, and in 1986 in both events.
J.D. Naig
Induction Class of 2015
Wrestling
J.D. Naig was a three-time national champion and finished his career at UNO in 2007 with a 140-26 career record, the sixth-most wins in school history. Wrestling at 165 and 174 pounds during his career, Naig won national titles in 2005, 2006 and 2007 and is one of just 11 Mavericks all-time to be named a four-time All-American, as he finished third as a freshman. His 43 career falls are tied for seventh in school history, and he was also a two-time Academic All-American. In 2007, Naig was named Outstanding Wrestler of the NCAA Division II National Tournament with a final record of 42-7.
Randy Naran
Induction Class of 1994
Football
During his 1980-84 football career, Randy Naran earned three letters and led the team to NCC co-championships in 1983 and 1984. He was the only quarterback at UNO to pass for over 300 yards in two games and was the leader in career passes with 5,814 yards. He also holds the record for completions in a season with 171, which is a .602 completion percentage. He finished his career with a .564 completion percentage and 451 total completions. As a senior, he earned all-NCC honors when the Mavericks were 11-2 and ranked No. 2 in the nation.
R.J. Nebe
Induction Class of 1996
Wrestling
R.J. Nebe won two conference championships and was the school's all-time leader with 153 wins during his 1985-88 wrestling career. In 1988, he won the title at 177 pounds and went on to finish sixth in the NCAA Division I tournament. He is one of three men in UNO history to earn NCAA Division I All-American honors. He recorded more than 40 wins during three different seasons and holds three of the top seven single-season win totals in school history.
Marv Nevins
Induction Class of 2014
Football
Marv Nevins was a football lineman from 1954-56 and later an assistant coach. He was a starter at tackle during a stretch in which Omaha University compiled a 30-5-1 record, including a triumph in the 1955 Tangerine Bowl game. The Omaha native served as the OU team captain in 1957 and was named to school's all-time Omaha U. Team by the Gateway in 1972.
Toni Novak Geary
Induction Class of 2004
Softball
A three-time all-NCC softball player during her 1994-97 softball career, Toni Novak Geary earned first-team All-American honors as a senior. In addition, she appeared three times on the NCC all-academic team and was the 1997 Omaha Sportscasters' Association Sportswoman of the Year. She set career records for hits, runs, stolen bases and finished with the fourth best career batting average at .388. During her four-year career, the Mavericks had a 194-52 record, won four straight NCC titles and finished second, third, and fifth in the NCAA II national tournament.
Allie Nuzum Majerus
Induction Class of 1992
Volleyball
Allie Nuzum Majerus helped lead the Lady Mavericks to four NCAA II regional tournaments and three final four visits during her 1983-86 volleyball career. She holds the record for most career service aces with 335 and is No. 3 on the career kill spike chart with 1,468. In 1986, she was named an All-American and Lady Mav Athlete of the Year. Allie was a two-time all-NCC selection, two-time all-NCC academic team pick, the 1987 NCC Female Honor Athlete, and made the National Strength and Conditioning All-American team.
Kim Osler Brown
Induction Class of 2001
Track
Kim Osler Brown captured the NCAA Division II indoor 55-meter hurdle championship in 1995 with a time of 7.99 seconds. That time was the fastest ever run by a North Central Conference woman. In 1995, she won the North Central Conference title in the 100-meter hurdles and anchored for the winning 4x100 meter relay team. During her last two seasons, she won 34 of 41 hurdle races at either 55 or 100 meters in finals and preliminaries.
George Parish
Induction Class of 1979
Football
George Parish played end on the first university football team and was a member of the University's first graduating class in 1913. He was the first university athlete to participate and letter in football, basketball, baseball, and track. In 1913, he was selected to the All-Conference team and was selected for post-season honors.
Scott Parse
Induction Class of 2016
Hockey
Scott Parse is Omaha's all-time career points leader for hockey, amassing 197 between 2003 and 2007. He also owns the school record for goals (79) and assists (118). A two-time AHCA All-American including a First Team selection in 2006, the native of Portage, Mich. set the school record for points (61) and assists (41) in a season as a junior. That year, he became the first Maverick nominated for the Hobey Baker Award, and he was nominated again the following year. A model of durability, he is one of three players to hold the school record for games played (159).
Lloyd Patterson
Induction Class of 1989
Basketball
Lloyd "Pat" Patterson took charge for Coach Sed Hartman and led the team in scoring as they marched to an incredible 20-0 record during his 1931-35 basketball career. He averaged 10 points a game during that perfect season, which was nearly thirty percent of the team's scoring average. He led the team to nine straight wins at the beginning of the 1932-33 season, which led to a record setting 29 consecutive victories. As team captain his senior year, he led the team to a 52-12 record. He lettered in basketball all four years and was part of the first team from Omaha University to play in the North Central Conference, earning All-League honors form the Sioux City Journal.
Leo Pearey
Induction Class of 1975
Basketball
Football
Track
Leo Pearey earned 10 letters in three sports from 1932 through 1935, including four in both football and track, and two in basketball. As a senior, Pearey earned Associated Press Little All-American honors after leading the then Omaha Cardinals to a 6-3 season, including the Nebraska Intercollegiate Conference Title. Pearey scored 11 touchdowns in 1935, a record that held until the 1950s. Following his undergraduate career, Pearey joined the Omaha University coaching staff until 1939. Each spring, four awards are presented to UNO players who show the most improvement during spring football. These awards are named in honor of Leo Pearey.
Jack Petersen
Induction Class of 1986
Football
Jack Peterson was an integral part of a new football era, playing from 1961-63 under Al Caniglia. The team compiled a 21-6-1 record during those years, winning the Central Intercollegiate Conference championship twice and the 1962 All-Sports Bowl game. Peterson was an NAIA All-American in 1963 and was named a college division All-American by both United Press International and the Associated Press.
Ali Petersen
Induction Class of 2012
Swimming and Diving
Ali Petersen was UNO's first NCAA Champion in swimming, winning the 100- and 200-yard backstrokes in 2002. Her time in the 200 backstroke set an NCAA record that stood for seven years. A native of Omaha, Petersen also was a member of the Mavericks' 200 medley relay and 400 medley relay teams that won back-to-back North Central Conference titles in 2002 and 2003. She won individual NCC titles in the 100 back and 200 back, the latter of which set an NCC record. She was named the NCC Newcomer of the Year in 2002. Petersen is the first member of the UNO swimming and diving team to be named to the Hall of Fame.
Denise Peterson
Induction Class of 2002
Softball
Denise Peterson was one of the best pitchers in Division II during her 1993-96 softball career. She won led the team to 73 victories, including 30 shutouts. In 1996, she won a school-record 32 games for the Mavericks as they marched to the NCC title, the regional championship, and into NCAA Division II finals. She was a two-time all-North Central Conference player and was named UNO's Female Athlete of the Year in 1996.
Don Pflasterer
Induction Class of 1976
Basketball
Football
Track
Don Pflasterer won nine letters at Omaha University between 1938-1941 in football, basketball, and track. In football, he played halfback on both defense and offense. He played every game in its entirety, but one and was named the Outstanding Athlete of the Conference. In basketball, he was a guard and in track, he ran sprints, competing in the 100-meter dash, the 200-meter dash and relays. He served as class president for three years and was listed in Who's Who in Colleges and Universities. Following World War II, Pflasterer came back to UNO as an assistant basketball and football coach, as well as a physical education instructor. He later became the head basketball coach from 1948-1952. In 1952, he was named Dean of Men. Pflasterer served as Dean of Student Personnel from 1960-1972. In 1974, he was appointed Coordinator for Student Development and Director of the Student Center. In that same year, he was appointed to serve as an Assistant to the Vice Chancellor for Educational and Student Services.
Dominick Polifrone
Induction Class of 1995
Football
Dominick Polifrone was a football lineman for Coach Al Caniglia's Omaha University Indians from 1966-69. Polifrone recorded 149 tackles over his last two seasons and 81 during his senior season when he was named a first-team National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics All-American.
Evan Porter
Induction Class of 2018
Baseball
Two-time All-American Evan Porter started four years at shortstop from 2006 to 2009 for the Omaha baseball team. At the time of his induction, Porter was UNO's all-time leader in games started (239), games played (239), at-bats (869), hits (323), doubles (75), home runs (43), RBI (249) and total bases (527). For his career, he batted .372 to rank sixth in school history, as well as second in career runs scored (215) and seventh in slugging percentage (.606). Porter holds single-season records for games started (61), games played (61) and hits (97).
Amy Price
Induction Class of 2018
Women's Soccer
Amy Price was named an NSCAA Second-Team All-American as a freshman in 2002 and led the Mavericks to the 2005 Division II national championship as a senior where the goaltender was named defensive MVP of the NCAA Tournament. Price earned NSCAA all-region and NCC all-conference honors twice in her career. At the time of her induction, Price was UNO’s career leader in saves (288), save percentage (.837), wins (70) and shutouts (41.5), and she finished her career with a 51-8-4 record. She was also an academic standout, earning academic all-district honors in 2003, academic all-conference in 2004 and NSCAA Second-Team Academic All-American in 2005.
Anja Puc
Induction Class of 2017
Track & Field
Anja Puc had a decorated track & field career for the Mavericks from 2007-2011 during which she was a three-time national champion and an eight-time All-American. She won the 800 meters both indoors and outdoors in 2010 and was part of UNO’s national championship 4 x 400 meter relay team in 2009. The native of Medvode, Slovenia also was the MIAA 800 meter champion indoors in 2010 and 2011 as well as a member of the MIAA champion 4 x 400 meter relay teams in 2009 and 2010. Outdoors, she was the MIAA champion in the 800 meters in 2009 and 2010 as well as the 1,500 meter champion in 2010 and a member of the champion 4 x 100 meter relay in 2009 and the 4 x 400 meter relay in 2010. She was an All-MIAA performer 11 times, and she still holds four school records and is part of a fifth. In addition, she earned UNO’s Connie Claussen Senior Career Achievement Award in 2012.
Robert Redden
Induction Class of 1990
Baseball
In 1949, World War II veteran Robert 'Bugs' Redden stepped to the plate as a freshman for Coach Virgil Yelkin's baseball team. He batted a .308 average his first year and followed with seasons of .360 and .317 before being recalled into the service during the Korean War. In 1953, he returned as a senior and was named team captain. During his career, he had a batting average of .390 and the Indians compiled a 33-10-1 record. A long-time semi-pro player, Redden still enjoys playing pepper and rarely misses a Maverick home event.
Mark Rigatuso
Induction Class of 1990
Wrestling
Mark Rigatuso won 105 matches, three straight North Central Conference championships and two NCAA Division II titles during his 1979-83 wrestling career. In 1982, as the Division II champion, he advanced to the Division I tournament and finished sixth, earning All-American status. In 1983, he finished fourth at the Division I tournament becoming the school's first Division I All-American. He won 76 matches his final two seasons, was one of the top-heavy weights in the nation and in 1983 won the prestigious East-West All-Star Classic.
Rudy Rotella
Induction Class of 1979
Football
Rudy Rotella was team captain of the 1954-55 Omaha University football team. As a senior, Rotella earned both NAIA and NCAA honors while leading the best team in the University's history. The '54 team, coached by Lloyd Cardwell, had a perfect 9-0 regular season before defeating Eastern Kentucky, 7-6, in the Tangerine Bowl. During his senior year, Rotella was among the nation's leaders in pass receptions. His 32 receptions for 462 yards ranked him fourth in the country. He was named Most Valuable Player in 1954.
Cindy Rudloff Lebeda
Induction Class of 1994
Basketball
Softball
Volleyball
Cindy Rudloff Lebeda lettered four consecutive years in three different sports from 1972-76. She was the team captain in volleyball as a senior, helping the team advance to regionals. She had a .960 serving accuracy when the team was 30-11. She played on the 1975 national softball championship team and was a key player for the basketball team.
Pinar Saka
Induction Class of 2015
Track & Field
Pinar Saka was an eight-time All-American and was twice a national champion while competing for the UNO track & field team from 2006-10. She won the 400 meters and was a member of the winning 4 x 400 meter relay at the 2009 NCAA Indoor Championship. That same year, she helped the Mavericks win the MIAA Indoor Championship and was the MVP of the championship while winning the 400 and the 4 x 400 relay. For her efforts, she was both the South Central Region Track Athlete of the Year and the USTFCCCA Division II Track Athlete of the Year. In all, Saka was a six-time conference champion. She owns four school records and was part of four school-record relay teams.
Roger Sayers
Football
Track
Roger "the rocket" Sayers was a track and football star in the early 1960s. Sayers, older brother of the legendary Gale Sayers, won 28 consecutive races as a freshman in 1961. In 1962, he won the national NAIA 100-yard dash, beating world record holder Bob Hayes. In 1963, he repeated his NAIA triumph. He was named to the U.S. team that competed against the Russians in Poland. He holds the UNO record in the 100-yard dash at 9.4 seconds, and the 220-yard dash at 20.7 seconds. He was also a member of two record setting relay teams. In 1970, Sayers was elected to the NAIA Track Hall of Fame. During his football career, he gained over 1,500 yards, averaging almost 10 yards per carry. At one time, Sayers touched the ball just 14 times and scored seven touchdowns. He still holds seven UNO football records.
Stan Schaetzle
Baseball
Basketball
Stan Schaetzle earned nine athletic letters during his 1953-57 basketball and baseball career. In basketball, he established records for points in a game, in a season, and in a career while leading the Omaha University Indians to 41 wins. He was ranked third for career points with 1278 and ranked tenth in most points in a season with 424. His 17 field goals and 49 points against Wayne State in 1956 still stands as a UNO record. Schaetzle was the first non-football athlete to earn the outstanding senior athlete trophy at the Omaha University.
Lori Schutte Schaal
Induction Class of 1995
Volleyball
During her four-year (1984-88) volleyball career, the UNO team was a four time NCC champion, made four regional appearances, advanced to the Final Four three times and had a 169-32 record. Individually, Lori was a two-time All-American, a four-year letter winner and was Lady Mav Female Athlete of the Year (1987). She set records for hitting percentage in 1987 with a .396 and held the highest hitting percentage for a career with a .349. Lori's academic achievements include winning a NCAA Post Graduate Scholarship, graduating magna cum laude and being named a second-team GTE academic all-American.
Colette Shelton Pawol
Induction Class of 1988
Cross Country
Track
Volleyball
Colette Shelton Pawol competed in track and volleyball from 1977-1981. She was the North Central Conference Champion in eight events in three years and in 1981 led the track team to the league championships. She holds records at UNO in 400-meter hurdles and 600-meter run. She is also a member of the record-holding 4x400 meter and mile relay teams. She led the volleyball team in serving as a freshman, hitting as a junior, and in scoring as a senior when the team captured the state AIAW championship. The two years she ran cross-country, she never finished lower than third place in any meet.
Les Sigman
Induction Class of 2014
Wrestling
Les Sigman is the all-time winningest wrestler in UNO history. A part of three national championship teams at UNO from 2003-06, Sigman became just the fourth wrestler in Division II history to win four national championships. Sigman dominated the heavyweight ranks during his Maverick career, going 179-7 in his four years at UNO. A four-time All-North Central Conference champion, Sigman was named NCC Wrestler of the Year and Outstanding Wrestler in the NCAA II National Tournament in 2006 after going 47-0 in his senior season. As a junior, Sigman set the all-time single-season wins' mark with 51 wins (51-3).
Sandy Skradski
Induction Class of 1999
Basketball
During her 1989-1993 basketball career, she was Kodak College Division All-American and Omaha World Herald's State College Female Athlete of the Year in 1992-93. She earned all-NCC, all-academic NCC and all-Region honors. She became the NCC's leading career rebounder with 10.9 rebounds per game, while averaging 21.1 points per game. She was also USA Today Division II National Offensive Player of the Week and a National Strength and Conditioning All-American.
Howard Sorenson
Induction Class of 1977
Football
Track
Howard Sorenson was a football and track standout at Omaha University from 1931-32 and from 1935-36. Sorenson was a great tackle in the early 1930s and was selected to the Nebraska Intercollegiate Athletic Association for several years. In track, Sorenson won the NIAA first place honors for three consecutive years in both shot put and discus. Sorenson also served on the Maverick Board of Directors.
Amy Steffel
Induction Class of 2003
Dr. William Thompson
Induction Class of 1978
Baseball
Basketball
Football
Dr. Bill Thompson served UNO athletics as both an athlete and a booster. A graduate of Omaha University in 1917, he played baseball, basketball, and football. He returned to the University in 1931 to serve as head of the Psychology Department and later as Dean of the Liberal Arts College. During this time, he served as Faculty Representative to the North Central Conference and as Chairman of the Omaha University Athletic Committee. He was a long-time supporter of the Omaha University and UNO athletic programs.
Ed Thompson
Induction Class of 2004
Football
Ed Thompson began his football career as a wide receiver in 1995. IN 1996, he switched to the quarterback position and led the Mavericks to the North Central Conference championship and an NCAA II playoff appearance during a 10-2 season. He made NCAA II history when he ran 1,075 yards and passed for 1,164 yards during the 1997 season. He repeated this performance the following season when he rushed for 1,191 yards and passed for 1,027. In 1998, UNO won the NCC title and advanced to the playoffs. The Mavericks posted a combined 27-8 record with Thompson as quarterback.
Dean Thompson, Jr.
Induction Class of 1990
Basketball
Dean Thompson scored 1,816 points, played in 117 consecutive games, and led the team to 81 victories during his 1980-84 basketball career. He was nicknamed "The Dream" for his smooth, fluid style. He earned three trips to the NCAA Division II tournament and a trip to the Holiday Tournament. Dean was named to three All-NCC team selections and was named second-team All-American. In 1984, he was Omaha Sportscasters' Association Sportsman of the Year and became the school's all-time leading scorer. Dean was the youngest person ever elected to the UNO Hall of Fame.
Fred "Tippy" Tyler
Football
Track
Fred Tyler was a four-year varsity athlete in both track and football from 1933-37. Tyler helped lead the football team to a four-year record of 16-10-5, including an 11-game unbeaten streak during the 1934-35 seasons. During this season, the team had eight shutouts, scored 209 points, and allowed just eight total points. He was selected to the1936 All North Central Conference Team and was the first University of Nebraska at Omaha player selected by a pro team. However, he spurned the $85 per game salary with the Cleveland Rams and instead opted for a well paying job with the Nebraska Consolidated Mills. In track, he won the North Central Conference 120 high hurdle championship in 1935, 1936, and 1937. He also placed in the 100-yard dash, 220 low hurdles, and the mile relay teams.
Jenni Upenieks
Induction Class of 2015
Softball
Jenni Upenieks played for the UNO softball team from 1994-97, finishing high on several career batting charts. She was a four-time all-North Central Conference player as a center fielder and was a second-team All-American in 1996 and a first-team pick in 1997. She stands fifth in career RBI with 143 and third in runs scored with 182. Upenieks led her team to four straight national tournament appearances and 194 victories during her career. UNO finished third twice, fifth and second during that period.
Jack Vaccaro
Induction Class of 1985
Baseball
During his 1959-1962 baseball career, the Omaha University Indians were 79-20, were the national runner-up in 1959, fourth in 1960 and third in 1961. In 1962, the team withdrew from the NAIA playoffs because the NCAA felt it was a conflict of interest with the College World Series, which was co-hosted by Omaha University. In 1961, Vaccaro led the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics in hitting with a .528 batting average and was an All-American outfielder. Vaccaro set six records in NAIA tournaments including most bases in one game, 11, most triples in one game, 3, most doubles in one game, 4, tied most home runs in one game, 2, most years an individual played in the NAIS Tournament, 3, and most hits by an individual in the NAIA Tournament.
Mel Washington
Induction Class of 1977
Football
Wrestling
Mel Washington was a football and wrestling standout from 1968-1971. He holds six UNO all-time defensive football records, but is remembered most for his wrestling skills. During his four years at UNO, he was the NAIA national wrestling champion in both 1969 and 1971, wrestling at 177 pounds. He placed third in the nation as a freshman and second as a junior. In 1971, he was named NAIA "Outstanding Wrestler." Washington holds the record for most wins (98-4) in UNO history. Washington and his teammates won a national crown in 1969-1970. In football, Washington was a four year varsity athlete at defensive tackle and made the All-Conference teams for several seasons. He was captain of the team as a senior. Records Washington set include most tackles in one game,16, most tackles in one season, 86, most assisted tackled in one game, 17, most fumbles forced in one game, 2, most fumbles forced in one season,10, and most fumbles recovered in one season, 5.
Connie Wichman
Induction Class of 1987
Softball
Connie Wichman was a leading hitter in the history of UNO softball. Her .347 career batting average still stands, as do her records for runs batted in a season, 30, triples in a season, 10, and career triples, 24. While a member of the Lady Mavs, the team compiled a 78-39 four-year record and won the 1975 national all-division women's title, before finishing third, sixth, and ninth.
Greg Wilcox
Induction Class of 2000
Wrestling
Greg Wilcox compiled a two-year record of 73-19, the most wins by any Maverick during his 1980-83 wrestling career. He set a single-season record with 42 wins and finished fifth in 1981. He came back in 1983 after an injury with 31 wins and a 190-pound national title. He ranks 24th on the all-time win list. His performances led the Mavericks to third-place national trophies twice.
Becky Wilson Kapperman
Induction Class of 1995
Track
During her 1982-85 track and field career, Becky Wilson Kapperman was a two-time All-American, won nine NCC titles, and was a member of the 4x400-relay team that placed fifth in 1984 and sixth in 1985. The four-year letterwinner ranked first in six different events over the course of her career and set 14 school records.
Phil Wise
Football
Phil Wise spent nine seasons in the National Football League following his outstanding UNO career. During his 1968-70 football career, he rushed for 1,146 yards in a season and 231 yards in a game. As a junior, he was ninth in the nation in NAIA ranks in scoring with 15 touchdowns and recorded 200-yard games three times. He still holds the UNO record for longest run from the line of scrimmage, a 95-yard dash against Fort Hays State in 1969. He was an all-conference selection twice, once at defensive back and once at running back. Wise spent six years with the New York Jets and three years with the Minnesota Vikings.
Adam Wright
Induction Class of 2011
Football
Adam Wright is UNO's all-time leading rusher, piling up 3,926 yards during his career as a tailback from 1997-2000. As a senior, he had a then-record 1,381 yards and earned first-team All-American honors. UNO was 35-12 during his career, capturing the North Central Conference title and advancing to the NCAA Division II playoffs twice. The Omaha North High graduate rushed for 748, 741, 1,056 and 1,381 yards and 33 touchdowns. He also holds the school record for rushing attempts with 692.
Joe Wypiszenski
Induction Class of 1999
Wrestling
During his 1989-91 wrestling career, Joe Wypiszenski finished second twice and third once in Division II and earned Division I honors in 1990, finishing eighth. He was a three-time Division II All-American and the last Division I wrestling All-American at UNO. He compiled a 105-27-5 record for the Mavericks and helped lead the team to the 1991 national championship.
Mary Yori
Induction Class of 2007
Softball
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.
