Huskers Produce Large Class of December Graduates

Lincoln - One of the largest-ever December graduating classes of Nebraska student-athletes received diplomas during winter commencement ceremonies on Saturday, Dec. 22, at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska’s graduating class of student-athletes was nearly 30 percent larger than last December’s group of 31 graduates. The Huskers’ 44-member graduating class consists of student-athletes from 14 U.S. states and three foreign countries, including Germany, Latvia and South Africa. Nearly all of Nebraska’s varsity teams are represented in the group, while the Huskers graduated with nearly 20 different majors in their fields of study. Despite the diversity of the group, a total of 20 Nebraska natives made up nearly half of the class.

Nebraska Senior Associate Athletic Director for Academics, Compliance and Planning Dennis Leblanc said the December 2007 graduating class consists of strong examples of student-athletes who have the ability to excel in the classroom, in the community and in competition.

"I congratulate all of these Nebraska student-athletes for the way they have balanced classwork, community involvement and competition," Leblanc said. "These 45 graduates come from a diverse background from around the country and the world and have represented Nebraska at the highest level in academics and athletics. The athletic department, the University and the state of Nebraska are proud of their accomplishments."

The Nebraska football team produced the largest contingent in the group with a total of 20 players earning their degrees. Brett Byford, Ben Eisenhart, Dan Erickson, Cornealius Fuamatu-Thomas, Tierre Green, Victory Haines, Frantz Hardy, Sean Hill, Andy Kadavy, Sam Keller, Lane Kelly, Kevin Luhrs, Corey McKeon, Josh Mueller, Wali Muhammad, Steve Octavien, Bo Ruud, Andy Sand, Matt Senske and Bryan Wilson all completed their undergraduate academic careers.

Coach Gary Pepin’s track and field program added five members to the group, including national champions Arturs Abolins and Dace Ruskule, along with Bryce Dickmeyer, Bubba Kramer and Alec Maduza.

Coach Pablo Morales’ women’s swimming and diving team also produced a strong contingent of five graduates, including Emilee Crawford, Kate Dulgar, Bailey Ingles, Kaci Ressler and Dani Millis. Millis competed her first four years at Nebraska for Coach Dan Kendig’s women’s gymnastics team, which also featured All-American Michele Zabawa among the graduates.

Christina Houghtelling, the 2005 AVCA National Player of the Year for Coach John Cook’s Nebraska volleyball team, joined former teammate Meghan Smith among NU’s class of December graduates. Houghtelling, a native of Cambridge, Neb., was also a CoSIDA Academic All-American for the Huskers.

A trio of former Husker baseball players (Mike Harmelink, Jon Klausing and Al Smith) earned their diplomas for Coach Mike Anderson’s team, along with Husker softball players Ashley DeBuhr and Devin Porter for Coach Rhonda Revelle.

Joerg Barthel and Sean Coetzee earned their degrees as former members of Coach Kerry McDermott’s Nebraska men’s tennis team, while Ty Capps and Chrissie McArdle completed their degrees as members of the Nebraska men’s and women’s golf teams.

Soccer player Jessie Bruch, men’s gymnast Jason Wassung and Husker All-American bowler Amanda Burgoyne rounded out the list of December student-athlete graduates at Nebraska.

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

December 2007 Nebraska Student-Athlete Graduates (44)

• Arturs Abolins (Track & Field) Riga, Latvia, Economics
• Joerg Barthel (Men’s Tennis) Friedrichsdorf, Germany, International Studies
• Jessie Bruch (Soccer) St. Louis, Mo., Animal Science
• Amanda Burgoyne (Bowling) Newport, Minn., Sociology
• Brett Byford (Football) Hartselle, Ala., Psychology
• Ty Capps (Men’s Golf) Highlands Ranch, Colo., Political Science
• Sean Coetzee (Men’s Tennis) Durban, South Africa, Marketing
• Emilee Crawford (Swimming & Diving) Overland Park, Kan., Communication Studies
• Ashley DeBuhr (Softball) Beatrice, Neb., Communication Studies
• Bryce Dickmeyer (Track & Field/Cross Country) Fremont, Neb., Mechanical Engineering
• Kate Dulgar (Swimming & Diving) San Diego, Calif., Elementary Education
• Ben Eisenhart (Football) Culbertson, Neb., History
• Dan Erickson (Football) Omaha, Neb., Communication Studies
• Cornealius Fuamatu-Thomas (Football) Honolulu, Hawaii, Sociology
• Tierre Green (Football) Omaha, Neb., Sociology
• Victory Haines (Football) Logan, Utah, Mathematics
• Frantz Hardy (Football) Miami, Fla., Sociology
• Mike Harmelink (Baseball) Omaha, Neb., Art/Advertising
• Sean Hill (Football) Lisle, Ill., Communication Studies
• Christina Houghtelling (Volleyball) Cambridge, Neb., Elementary Education
• Bailey Ingles (Swimming & Diving) Omaha, Neb., Elementary Education
• Andy Kadavy (Football) Seward, Neb., Elementary Education
• Sam Keller (Football) Danville, Calif., Political Science
• Lane Kelly (Football) Omaha, Neb., Criminal Justice
• Jon Klausing (Baseball) Arvada, Colo., Advertising
• Bubba Kramer (Track & Field) Atkinson, Neb., Industrial Technology Education
• Kevin Luhrs (Football) Omaha, Neb., Dietetics
• Alec Maduza (Track & Field) Shorewood, Wis., History
• Chrissie McArdle (Women’s Golf) Eden Prairie, Minn., Finance
• Corey McKeon (Football) Naperville, Ill., Communication Studies
• Dani Millis (Women’s Gymnastics/Diving) Frisco, Texas, Marketing
• Josh Mueller (Football) Columbus, Neb., Business Administration
• Wali Muhammad (Football) Bloomfield, N.J., Sociology
• Steve Octavien (Football) Naples, Fla., Sociology
• Devin Porter (Softball) Lakewood, Calif., Communication Studies
• Kaci Ressler (Swimming & Diving) Tampa, Fla., Political Science
• Dace Ruskule (Track & Field) Vecumnieku Pagasts, Latvia, Psychology
• Bo Ruud (Football) Lincoln, Neb., Business Administration
• Andy Sand (Football) Lincoln, Neb., Business Administration
• Matt Senske (Football) Bellevue, Neb., Business Administration
• Al Smith (Baseball) Omaha, Neb., English
• Meghan Smith (Volleyball) Sidney, Neb., Communication Studies
• Jason Wassung (Men’s Gymnastics) Lincoln, Neb., Construction Management
• Michele Zabawa (Women’s Gymnastics) Omaha, Neb., Elementary Education