NU Men's Golf Team Boasts December Graduate

Lincoln - A talented collection of 31 University of Nebraska student-athletes, including a former member of the Nebraska golf team, will earn their degrees during winter commencement ceremonies on Saturday at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.

Kent Schreiner, a three-year letterwinner, leads the men's golf team in receiving his degree on Saturday. Schreiner, who wrapped up his junior season in 2004-05 and continued to help the team as a graduate assistant in the 2005-06 season, joined the Nebraska golf program as a walk-on in the 2003-04 seaso and ultimately played a key role throughout his three-year college career. Schreiner saw limited action in the fall, but will contend for tournament action during the spring campaign.

Coach Bill Spangler called Schreiner one of Huskers’ hardest working players during his tenure, additionally mentioning his ability to always "find a way to get the ball in the hole." Schreiner was additionally one of Nebraska’s top golfers in the classroom, carrying a high grade point average while majoring in business administration.

In the fall of 2004, Schreiner was part of the NU lineup at the Fairway Club Invitational and tied for 27th with a 234 total, including a career-low 71 in the second round. During his 2003-04 campaign, Schreiner played in two spring tournaments and made an impressive Husker debut, finishing in a tie for 14th place at the Pepsi-Cola Invitational with a 231 total, helping Nebraska to the team title.

In High School, Schreiner was a standout at Ogallala High School, where he placed third in the Class B state tournament as a senior and seventh during his sophomore season. He also earned three letters each in football and basketball.

Kent is the son of Gary and Cherry Schreiner. He was born on March 30, 1984, and majored in business administration at Nebraska. Kent has a brother, Mitch (28), and a sister, Kelly (31).

The Nebraska football team boasted a team-leading 12 football players schedule to receive their degress on Saturday, including Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year Zac Taylor and Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year Adam Carriker. Nebraska special teams captain Brandon Rigoni, a Lincoln native, starting tight ends Matt Herian and J.B. Phillips, starting linebacker Stewart Bradley, and starting defensive tackle Ola Dagunduro will also pick up their degrees on Saturday. Current Huskers Newt Lingenfelter and Will Otto will also receive their diplomas, giving NU nine current football players on the graduation roster. Overall, Nebraska will have 13 football players with degrees in hand on the roster for the 2007 AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic, including previously graduated seniors Dane Todd, Andrew Shanle, Kurt Mann and Isaiah Fluellen.

Former Huskers Chase Andersen, Chris Bryant and Shamus McKoy will also collect their degrees Saturday.

The Nebraska track and field program will add seven members to the December 2006 graduating class, including 2005 NCAA outdoor 800-meter champion Dmitrijs Milkevics and 2004 NCAA indoor 60-meter hurdles champion Priscilla Lopes, along with Sara Jane Baker, Chris Chandler, Andy Nelson, Nic Petersen and Jason Thompson.         

The women’s swimming and diving program will contribute two graduates with Mackenzie Clark and Abby Fitzpatrick earning degrees, as will the men’s gymnastics program, with Ray Hacker and Nick Moore receiving undergraduate degrees. The women’s golf team will also boast two new graduates with Jackie Beste and Sara Sackett taking home diplomas.

Pitcher Brett Jensen, an All-American for the Husker baseball team, will close out his academic career at Nebraska with his degree, as will former Husker volleyball All-American Jen Saleaumua.

Husker soccer player Kari Hogan, women’s tennis player Pamela Castillejos and bowler Karla Engh complete the list of 31 Husker graduates.

Nebraska’s 31 December graduates come from 18 states across America, in addition to three foreign countries.

“I admire each one of these student-athletes for the way they have balanced school with competition,” Nebraska Associate Athletic Director for Academic Programs and Student Services Dennis Leblanc said. “These 31 graduates add to Nebraska’s continually growing tradition of academic and athletic excellence. These student-athletes have come from all around the United States and the world to get an outstanding education while competing at the highest level of athletics. The athletic department, the University and the entire state of Nebraska should be proud.”            

Nebraska continues to feature one of the highest graduation rates in the nation with an exhausted eligibility graduation rate of 94 percent.