The University of Nebraska proudly announced the inaugural class of the University of Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame on Tuesday, March 17. A total of 22 distinguished student-athletes will be enshrined this fall in conjunction with the Huskers’ season-opening football game with BYU on September 5th, 2015.
The creation of the University of Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame serves to honor Husker Athletics programs and student-athletes who have won 25 team national championships, captured 156 individual NCAA titles and lead the nation with 320 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans and 17 NCAA Top 10 Award winners. The inaugural Hall of Fame class includes one inductee from every current Nebraska sport, plus an honoree from the men’s swimming program, which was a recognized varsity sport from 1921 to 2001.
“The University of Nebraska has an outstanding history and tradition of excellence in athletics, and our talented student-athletes have played a pivotal role in forging this reputation,” Director of Athletics Shawn Eichorst said. “Therefore, it is with great enthusiasm and respect that we have created the University of Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame and now proudly honor an elite group of student-athletes.”
The distinguished student-athletes who make up Nebraska Athletics’ inaugural Hall of Fame class include: Steve Friesen (men’s golf); Alex Gordon (baseball); Charlie Greene (men’s track and field); Jim Hartung (men’s gymnastics); Penny Heyns (women’s swimming and diving); Karen Jennings (women’s basketball); Steve Jung (men’s tennis); Joe Kirby (men’s cross country); Christine Latham (soccer); Liz (Mooney) Shaffer (women’s tennis); Eric Piatkowski (men’s basketball); Adam Pine (men’s swimming and diving); Shannon Pluhowsky (bowling); Merlene Ottey (women’s track and field); Dave Rimington (football); Sarah Sasse-Kildow (women’s golf); Bill Scherr (wrestling); Richelle Simpson (women’s gymnastics); Lori Sippel (softball); Fran (ten Bensel) Benne (women’s cross country); Amanda (Trujillo) Scrivner (rifle); and Allison Weston (volleyball).
The highly decorated class of 22 combined for eight national player-of-the-year awards, 127All-America certificates, 32 individual NCAA titles and 11 team national championships. Hartung was a part of four men’s gymnastics national championship teams, Ottey (women’s track and field) and Pluhowsky (bowling) each led three Husker teams to national titles, and Weston was a member of Nebraska’s first national champion volleyball team in 1995. In the classroom, the inductees produced a total of three CoSIDA Academic All-American-of-the-Year accolades, seven Academic All-America honors and two NCAA Top 10 Awards.
The inductees also excelled internationally and in the professional ranks. Eight members of the inaugural Hall of Fame class were Olympians, competing in a combined 19 Olympic Games and winning 15 Olympic Medals, including five Gold Medals. Among the major professional sports, Gordon, Piatkowski and Rimington were all first-round draft picks. Gordon enters his ninth year in Major League Baseball in 2015 as a two-time all-star and four-time Gold Glove Award winner. Piatkowski enjoyed a 14-year NBA career, while Rimington played seven seasons in the NFL.
Several members of the inaugural class have been enshrined in other halls of fame. Rimington and Jennings are members of the CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame, while Rimington is also enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame. Greene is a member of the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame and the United States Olympic Hall of Fame, and Hartung has been inducted into the United States Gymnastics Hall of Fame and the United States Olympic Hall of Fame. Heyns is enshrined in the International Swimming Hall of Fame, Pluhowsky in the International Bowling Hall of Fame and Sippel in the International Softball Federation Hall of Fame. Greene, Hartung, Heyns and Pine are proud owners of Olympic Gold Medals, while Ottey participated in nine Olympic Games, winning three Silver and six Bronze Medals.
The inaugural class was selected by a 12-person committee consisting of seven members of the Nebraska Athletics staff and five prominent former Husker student-athletes: Nicole Ali (women’s track and field); Frosty Anderson (football); Karen Jennings (women’s basketball); Janet (Kruse) Sellon (volleyball); and Al Maxey Sr. (men’s basketball).
“We greatly appreciate the Hall of Fame Committee for the hard work and thoughtful consideration in putting together this inaugural class,” Eichorst said. “With the number of exceptional student-athletes who have matriculated at Nebraska, limiting the first class to just one inductee per sport was no easy task. We are especially grateful to our five former student-athletes who volunteered their time for this worthy endeavor. They helped establish Nebraska’s tradition through their achievements as student-athletes and now have played a significant role in building the legacy of our Hall of Fame.”
Criteria considered for the Hall of Fame included: 1) the nominee must have completed his or her Nebraska athletic career at least 10 years prior to the current academic year; 2) the nominee must have demonstrated exceptional performance in his or her sport(s) and earned at least one varsity letter; and 3) the nominee must have demonstrated good character and citizenship.
The 22 members of the inaugural class will be enshrined at a private ceremony on Friday, September 4th, before being recognized in Memorial Stadium during Nebraska’s season-opening football game against BYU the next day.
The University is in the process of constructing an Athletics Hall of Fame plaza to serve as the permanent home honoring the Hall of Fame members. When completed this fall, the plaza will be accessible to the public every day of the year at no charge. The plaza will be located on a renovated walkway, stretching from the columns above the Ed Weir Outdoor Track and Field Stadium and continuing to the historic NU Coliseum. The University of Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame plaza will serve as a grand entryway to the Ed Weir Stadium and will complement Memorial Stadium’s East side. The plaza will recognize each annual Hall of Fame class and will also highlight the history and successes of Nebraska’s athletics programs.
Following this year’s class, a new Hall of Fame class will be selected annually. While the inaugural class includes an inductee from every sport, future classes will seek to recognize the most distinguished student-athletes regardless of sport and future classes will be limited to fewer inductees.
2015 University of Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame
Steve Friesen, Men’s Golf, 1996-99 (Lincoln, Neb.)
Steve Friesen excelled on the course and in the classroom for the Nebraska men’s golf program. He was recognized for his achievements in both areas when he was named the recipient of the 1999 Ben Hogan Award, presented annually to collegiate golf’s top scholar-athlete. On the course, he was a 1999 All-American and a three-time All-Big 12 selection. The only three-time all-conference honoree in program history, Friesen was a two-time, first-team All-Big 12 selection. He posted Nebraska’s lowest round (69) and lowest overall score (288) at the 1998 NCAA Championship. His play helped the Huskers to their first back-to-back NCAA Championship appearances in school history, including the program’s best finish (14th) in 1999. In the classroom, Friesen was a three-time CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree. The first Husker golfer to earn an academic all-district award, Friesen is the only Husker to earn multiple academic all-district honors. Friesen earned his Bachelor of Science from the University of Nebraska in 2000 with a major in biological sciences.
Alex Gordon, Baseball, 2003-05 (Lincoln, Neb.)
Alex Gordon is the only Nebraska baseball player to be named national player of the year. After earning freshman All-America honors in 2003, Gordon was honored as a first-team All-American in both 2004 and 2005. In 2005, Gordon was the consensus national player of the year, winning the Golden Spikes, Brooks Wallace, Dick Howser and the ABCA National Player-of-the-Year Awards. In addition to his accolades at the national level, Gordon was the two-time district player of the year and two-time Big 12 Player of the Year. A third baseman at Nebraska, Gordon led the Huskers to a school-record 57 victories in 2005, when Nebraska captured its first College World Series victory. Gordon hit .353 in his NU career with 53 doubles, 11 triples, 44 home runs and 189 RBIs. A 2004 U.S. National Team member, Gordon has gone on to a stellar professional career following his playing days at Nebraska. He was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft and was named Baseball America’s 2006 Minor League Player of the Year in his first professional season. A two-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner in left field, Gordon also won the 2014 Platinum Glove Award as the top defensive player in the American League. He enters his ninth season with Kansas City in 2015 after helping the Royals to a World Series appearance in 2014. Gordon also has given back to the University of Nebraska, donating $1 million toward the Alex Gordon Training Complex, an indoor training facility for the Nebraska baseball and softball programs.
Charlie Greene, Men’s Track & Field, 1965-67 (Seattle, Wash.)
Charlie Greene was a six-time national champion on the track for the Huskers, winning the most NCAA titles of any Nebraska male track and field student-athlete. Greene won three straight 60-yard dash titles at the 1965, 1966 and 1967 NCAA Indoor Championships, and he was also the NCAA outdoor champion in the 100-meter dash in each of those years. The first Husker to successfully defend an NCAA title in any sport, Greene was also a seven-time All-American and 11-time conference champion. A former world record holder in the 100-meter dash, Greene was a two-time U.S. Olympian. In 1968, Greene was a member of the U.S. 4x100-meter relay team that won the Gold Medal with a world-record time of 38.19. After winning the first Gold Medal by a Husker student-athlete in the history of Nebraska Athletics, Greene became NU’s first student-athlete to win multiple Olympic medals when he added a Bronze Medal in the 100-meter dash. In 1992, Greene was inducted into the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame, and he is also a member of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. Greene earned his Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Nebraska with a major in physical education and athletics in 1967.
Jim Hartung, Men’s Gymnastics, 1979-82 (Omaha, Neb.)
Jim Hartung owns the most individual NCAA titles (7) and most All-America (22) accolades of any male student-athlete in the history of Nebraska Athletics and is the only member of the 2015 class to lead his Husker teams to four-straight NCAA Championships from 1979 to 1982. A seven-time NCAA champion, Hartung was the NCAA All-Around champion in 1980 and 1981. He was a three-time NCAA champion on the still rings and a two-time national champion on the parallel bars. Hartung won two individual titles at the 1980 NCAA Championships, three at the 1981 event and two at the 1982 NCAA Championships. In 1982, Hartung won Nebraska’s first Nissen-Emery Award, described as the “Heisman Trophy” of men’s gymnastics. In addition to his 11 combined NCAA championships, Hartung was a 22-time All-American. He captured at least five All-America honors every season of his career, including earning All-America recognition in every event at both the 1981 and 1982 NCAA Championships. An 11-time individual conference champion, Hartung also represented the United States as a two-time Olympian. Although he did not compete in the 1980 Olympics due to a U.S. boycott, Hartung was a member of the 1984 squad that won the first men’s gymnastics team Gold Medal in U.S. Olympic history. Hartung was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 2006, and he is also enshrined in the U.S. Gymnastics Hall of Fame. Hartung earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska in 1983 with a major in business administration. He returned to Nebraska as an assistant coach in 2006.
Penny Heyns, Women’s Swimming and Diving, 1993-96 (Amanzimtoti, South Africa)
Penny Heyns earned multiple All-America accolades all four years of her career as a Nebraska women’s swimmer. She capped her career by winning the 1996 NCAA 100-yard breaststroke title, the only NCAA title in program history. In her decorated career, Heyns was a 15-time All-American. She earned a pair of All-America accolades as a freshman at the 1993 NCAA Championships, before earning four All-America awards in each of her final three seasons. Heyns was also a 14-time conference champion who helped Nebraska to three consecutive conference titles. Internationally, Heyns was a three-time Olympian. Mere months after her decorated Husker career ended, Heyns won a pair of Gold Medals in unprecedented fashion at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. She became the first woman in Olympic history to win both the 100- and 200-meter breaststroke events at the same games and is the only female Nebraska student-athlete to win an Olympic Gold Medal. She won South Africa’s first Gold Medal in 44 years and is South Africa’s only double Olympic individual Gold Medalist. She held a total of 14 individual world records during her career; and more breaststroke world records than any other swimmer in history, male or female. Heyns was named the Female World Swimmer of the Year in 1996 and was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Florida in 2007. In her final Olympic appearance in 2000, Heyns took home the Bronze Medal in the 100-meter breaststroke. She won the award again in 1999, after setting 11 world records in a span of three months. During that time, Heyns simultaneously held five of the possible six breaststroke world records, a feat that had never been achieved in the history of swimming.
Karen Jennings, Women’s Basketball, 1990-93 (Persia, Iowa)
Karen Jennings was one of the top student-athletes in the history of collegiate women’s basketball. As a senior in 1993, Jennings was recognized as the nation’s best women’s basketball player and the sport’s top student-athlete. She won the 1993 Margaret Wade Trophy, presented to the nation’s outstanding player and was also the CoSIDA Women’s Basketball Academic All-American of the Year that same season. Jennings earned All-America honors in each of her final two seasons. In the classroom, Jennings is the only Husker women’s basketball player to be honored as the CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year, and she is one of only four student-athletes in the history of Nebraska Athletics to be a three-time, first-team Academic All-America honoree. In addition to being a three-time first-team CoSIDA Academic All-American, Jennings was twice recognized as the sport’s Academic All-American of the Year. In 2008, Jennings became the only female student-athlete at Nebraska to be enshrined in the CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame. A two-time Big Eight Conference Player of the Year, Jennings was also a three-time, first-team all-conference selection and the 1993 Big Eight Female Athlete of the Year. She finished her career with 2,405 points and 1,000 rebounds, including a school-record 48 points vs. Kansas State on Jan. 21, 1992. Jennings is the all-time leading scorer in the history of Nebraska women’s basketball, and she was the first Husker to total 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds. Jennings helped the Huskers to the first NCAA Tournament win in school history against San Diego on March 17, 1993. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Education with a major in health, physical education and recreation studies from the University of Nebraska in 1993.
Steven Jung, Men’s Tennis, 1986-89 (Hacienda Heights, Calif.)
Steven Jung is the only All-American and the only CoSIDA Academic All-American in the history of the Nebraska men’s tennis program. Jung earned All-America accolades as a senior in 1989, and he was a first-team Academic All-America selection that same season. Jung finished as the runner-up at the 1989 NCAA Singles Championship. He was a two-time NCAA Singles Championship qualifier, and teamed with his brother Stuart to qualify for the 1989 NCAA Doubles Championship. Jung won 114 matches in his career, the only Husker to record 100 victories. Jung also owns the No. 1 and No. 2 spots on Nebraska’s all-time season wins chart, including the only 40-win season in program history in 1989 when he won 44 matches. Jung earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska in 1989 with a major in finance.
Joe Kirby, Men’s Cross Country, 1987-90 (Jefferson City, Mo.)
The first Nebraska men’s cross country runner to earn multiple All-America awards, Joe Kirby led Nebraska to one of the best four-year stretches in program history. A member of four teams that qualified for the NCAA Championships, Kirby earned his first All-America honor as a sophomore in 1988. He repeated as an All-American in 1989, finishing 13th to help the Huskers to an eighth-place team finish, the first top-10 NCAA finish in program history. On the conference level, Kirby finished second at the 1989 Big Eight Championship and was fourth in 1990 en route to becoming one of only two three-time all-conference performers in program history. Kirby also added a district runner-up finish in 1988. On the track, Kirby was a two-time Big Eight steeplechase champion, earning All-America honors in the event in 1989 with a third-place finish at the national meet. He is also the Nebraska record holder in the 5,000-meter run (13:51.35). Kirby earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Nebraska in 1991 with a major in electrical engineering.
Christine Latham, Soccer, 1999-2002 (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)
Christine Latham was a three-time All-American who rewrote the Nebraska soccer record book. One of only two three-time All-Americans in program history, Latham earned All-America accolades in each of her final three seasons. She was the Big 12 Player of the Year in 2000 when Nebraska swept the conference regular-season and tournament titles, then repeated as the league’s player of the year in 2001. Latham helped the Huskers to two Big 12 regular-season championships, two conference tournament titles, four NCAA Sweet 16 appearances and one trip to the Elite Eight, matching the best finish in program history. During her decorated career, Latham became Nebraska’s all-time leader with 69 goals, 23 game-winning goals, 17 multi-goal games and 167 points. Latham also set Husker records for shots and shots on goal. Internationally, Latham was an active member of the Canadian National Team. At the 2003 Women’s World Cup, she scored three of Canada’s 10 goals, as the Canadians finished fourth, the country’s best finish. In the professional ranks, Latham was named the 2003 Rookie of the Year in the Women’s United Soccer Association, and she also played in the Women’s Professional Soccer league. Latham earned a Bachelor of Arts with a major in sociology from the University of Nebraska in 2005.
Liz (Mooney) Shaffer, Women’s Tennis, 1983-86 (Englewood, Colo.)
A four-year letterwinner for the Nebraska women’s tennis program, Mooney earned All-America honors in 1986. That season she teamed up with Cari L. Groce at No. 1 doubles to earn the first All-America accolades in program history. The duo also finished runner-up at the 1984 Big Eight Championships. Mooney was the first Nebraska women’s tennis player in the NCAA era to notch 50 singles wins, 50 doubles victories and 100 combined victories. She held Nebraska’s record for career doubles victories for more than a dozen years. Mooney earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in business administration from the University of Nebraska in 1986.
Merlene Ottey, Women’s Track and Field, 1980-84 (Hanover, Jamaica)
Merlene Ottey is the most decorated student-athlete in the history of Nebraska Athletics. Ottey won 14 individual national titles and earned 24 All-America awards, both of which are the most by any Husker student-athlete. Ottey won multiple NCAA titles in each of her five total seasons, including five combined indoor and outdoor titles in 1982 and four in 1981. She also earned multiple All-America accolades in each of her five seasons, with seven combined All-America awards in 1982, six in 1980 and five in 1981. Ottey was also a member of Nebraska’s indoor national championship teams in 1982, 1983 and 1984. She still holds Nebraska’s top indoor marks in the 55- and 200-meter dashes and the program’s top outdoor marks in the 100- and 200-meter dashes. Ottey’s collegiate honors are but a fraction of her amazing athletic accomplishments, as she is also the most decorated Olympian in the history of Nebraska Athletics. Ottey was a seven-time Olympian and a nine-time Olympic medalist, winning three Silver Medals and six Bronze Medals. She competed in more Olympic Games than any other track and field athlete in history (male or female) representing Jamaica six times and Slovenia once. Her nine Olympic medals are the most by any female track and field athlete in Olympic history. She won her final Olympic medal at age 40, making her the oldest track and field medalist (male or female) in Olympic history. Ottey also won the most medals in the history of the World Championships (14), including three golds. In her distinguished career, Ottey won a total of 29 medals between the Olympics, World Championships and World Indoor Championships. She was the first female to run the 60-meter dash in under 7.0 seconds and was the first female to run the 200-meter dash under 22.0 seconds. Ottey’s 200-meter dash indoor time of 21.87 in 1993 is still the world record, and she is the only female to break 22.0 seconds in the 200-meter dash indoors. Ottey earned a Bachelor of Science in Education with a major in art from the University of Nebraska in 1984.
Eric Piatkowski, Men’s Basketball, 1991-94 (Rapid City, S.D.)
One of three Nebraska men’s basketball student-athletes to have their jersey retired, Eric Piatkowski enjoyed an outstanding career on the collegiate, international and professional levels. Piatkowski earned All-Big Eight honors in each of his four seasons. After being an honorable-mention All-Big Eight selection as a freshman and sophomore, Piatkowski earned first-team accolades in both 1993 and 1994. In addition to his personal accolades, Piatkowski led Nebraska to the program’s best four-year run. Piatkowski helped Nebraska to three 20-win seasons and 85 total victories in his four seasons, the most wins in a four-year stretch in Husker history. Nebraska also advanced to the NCAA Tournament in each of Piatkowski’s four seasons, including earning the program’s highest seed (No. 3) in 1994. Piatkowski was instrumental in leading Nebraska to the 1994 Big Eight Tournament title, the only conference tournament title in program history. The Big Eight Tournament MVP, Piatkowski averaged 25.3 points in the tournament, including a school-record 42 points against Oklahoma. In his career, Piatkowski finished as the No. 2 all-time scorer at Nebraska with 1,934 career points. On the professional level, Piatkowski was the No. 15 overall pick in the 1994 NBA Draft, making him the second-highest draft pick in school history. He went on to enjoy a 14-year NBA career, the longest of any Husker. Internationally, Piatkowski won Gold Medals at the World University Games and U.S. Olympic Festival while playing at Nebraska. He is the only Husker to win a Gold Medal at either tournament and was one of only two Huskers to compete in either event. Piatkowski earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska in 1995 with a major in finance.
Adam Pine, Men’s Swimming and Diving, 1997-2000 (Ballina, Australia)
Adam Pine is the most decorated performer in the history of the Nebraska men’s swimming and diving program. A 19-time All-American, Pine earned the second-most All-America accolades of any male student-athlete in the history of Nebraska Athletics, behind men’s gymnast Jim Hartung. He earned at least four All-America awards every year of his career. Pine culminated his career by becoming the only NCAA champion in program history after winning the 100-meter butterfly at the 2000 NCAA Championships. Nebraska’s all-time leading point scorer at the NCAA Championships, Pine was also a four-time Big 12 Conference champion. Pine’s development at Nebraska helped him shine on the international stage, where he was a three-time Olympian. Only a few months after winning an individual national championship at Nebraska, Pine was a member of the Australian 4x100-meter freestyle relay team that won Gold at the 2000 Olympics. The only Nebraska men’s swimmer or diver to win an Olympic medal, Pine added a Silver Medal at the 2000 Olympics as a member of Australia’s 4x100-meter medley relay. Pine also competed in the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games, earning a Bronze Medal in 2008 with the 4x100-meter medley relay team. Pine earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska in 2001 with a major in business administration.
Shannon Pluhowsky, Bowling, 2001-02; 2004-05 (Phoenix, Ariz.)
Shannon Pluhowsky is one of the world’s top female bowlers and one of the best collegiate bowlers of all-time. Pluhowsky was a four-time All-American at Nebraska, and a three-time National Collegiate Bowler of the Year. The only Husker to earn multiple appointments as the National Collegiate Bowler of the Year, Pluhowsky was also the National Collegiate Rookie of the Year as a freshman in 2001. Her individual achievements helped Nebraska win three national championships in her four seasons. NU became the first team to win an NCAA bowling title at the inaugural NCAA Bowling Championship in 2004, when Pluhowsky was named the tournament’s most outstanding player. She led the Huskers to back-to-back NCAA titles in 2005. In her career, Pluhowsky boasted a school-record career average of 212.6. She appeared in 36 career events as a Husker, winning a Nebraska-record 12 individual titles. Pluhowsky finished in the top 10 in 30 of her 36 career events with 25 top-five finishes. Internationally, She has been a member of Team USA since her freshman season at Nebraska in 2001. In 2002, Pluhowsky was the Bowling World Cup Champion en route to being named the 2002 World Bowling Writers’ International Bowler of the Year. Pluhowsky won the Bowling World Cup again in 2004, becoming just the third bowler – and first in more than 20 years – to win multiple Bowling World Cups. A 26-time international medalist with more than 30 300-games to her credit, Pluhowsky was elected to the International Bowling Hall of Fame in 2011. Pluhowsky earned a Bachelor of Science in Education and Human Sciences from the University of Nebraska in 2005 with a major in family and consumer sciences.
Dave Rimington, Football, 1979-82 (Omaha, Neb.)
One of the most decorated players in college football history and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, Dave Rimington was the first Nebraska student-athlete to be enshrined in the CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame, earning the prestigious honor in 2004. The only two-time Outland Trophy winner in college football history (1981 and 1982), Rimington is one of just 11 players to win the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award in the same season, accomplishing the feat in 1982. For his play, Rimington was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1997. He has two awards named after him. In 2000, the Rimington Trophy was created in his honor and is presented annually to the most outstanding center in college football. The Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year was created in his and Orlando Pace’s honor by the Big Ten Conference in 2010. Rimington exemplified the Nebraska football program’s reputation for excellence in athletics and academics by earning multiple first-team All-America accolades on the field and in the classroom. On the field, Rimington earned first-team All-America honors in both 1981 and 1982. Rimington was a three-time first-team All-Big Eight selection, and in 1982 he became the only offensive lineman to be named the Big Eight Offensive Player of the Year. Rimington, whose No. 50 jersey is retired, also excelled in the classroom. A two-time, first-team CoSIDA Academic All-American, Rimington became just the second Husker student-athlete to be honored with an NCAA Top 10 Award, winning that honor in 1983, when it was awarded to a total of only five senior student-athletes nationally. Arguably the top college center of all time, Rimington was named the starting center on the All-20th Century Team by both the Walter Camp Foundation and Sports Illustrated. He was the No. 25 overall pick in the 1983 NFL Draft. Following a seven-year NFL career, Rimington returned to the University of Nebraska and earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1990 with a major in economics.
Sarah Sasse-Kildow, Women’s Golf, 1999; 2000-03 (Lincoln, Neb.)
Sarah Sasse is the only Nebraska women’s golfer to earn first-team All-America honors. A Lincoln native, Sasse was one of 11 first-team All-Americans in 2003, when she was also the Big 12 Golfer of the Year. Sasse won a school-record four tournament titles as a senior, including the Big 12 Championship. As a junior, she finished fourth at the conference tournament and eighth at the NCAA Central Regional. During her junior season, Sasse shot a 220 at the NCAA West Regional, the lowest regional score in program history. Sasse also impacted the program as a freshman, becoming the first Husker ever to shoot a round under 70. In her career, Sasse won six tournament titles while becoming the only Nebraska women’s golfer to compete in three NCAA Championships and the only Husker to post two top-50 finishes. Sasse was a three-time all-conference performer, and she also excelled in the classroom as a four-time, first-team academic All-Big 12 honoree. A 2003 NGCA Scholastic All-American, Sasse was also a 2000 World University Golf Championship runner-up. Sasse earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska in 2003 with a major in marketing.
Bill Scherr, Wrestling, 1981-84 (Mobridge, S.D.)
Nebraska wrestling’s first three-time All-American, Bill Scherr enjoyed tremendous individual and team success with the Huskers. Scherr won two Big Eight championships and one NCAA title while leading Nebraska to three consecutive top-10 finishes, a feat that has never been matched in the history of Husker wrestling. He ended his career as the program’s all-time wins leader, and his 133 career victories stood as the most at Nebraska for more than a decade. He went 36-1 en route to the 1984 NCAA title at 190 pounds, posting the best season winning percentage in program history at the time. Scherr won 38 matches as a junior – then a program record – and added 37 wins as a sophomore to become the first Husker with three 30-win seasons. His national championship as a senior keyed Nebraska to a fourth-place team finish at the NCAA Championships, then the highest finish in program history. A year earlier, Scherr helped Nebraska to 11 consecutive wins, the longest winning streak in Husker history. Beyond Nebraska, Scherr was a Bronze Medalist at the 1988 Olympics. Scherr earned a Bachelor of Science in Education with a major in social science from the University of Nebraska in 1985.
Richelle Simpson, Women’s Gymnastics, 2002-05 (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
From school records to national athletic and academic honors, Richelle Simpson did it all for the Nebraska women’s gymnastics program. In perhaps the greatest accomplishment of her outstanding career, Simpson became the only Husker women’s gymnast to earn first-team All-America honors on all five events in 2003, when she helped Nebraska to a fourth-place national finish, the best finish in program history. A two-time NCAA champion, Simpson totaled eight perfect scores in her career. She owns Nebraska’s top all-time score on the vault (10.0 three times), balance beam (10.0 vs. Oklahoma in 2003) and floor exercise (10.0 four times), while also setting the program’s top four all-around scores, including a school-record mark of 39.825 against Iowa State in 2003. The only Husker to score a perfect 10.0 on three different events, Simpson won two national titles and claimed nine All-America awards in her Nebraska career. In her second season at Nebraska in 2003, Simpson won NCAA titles in the all-around and floor exercise. Simpson was also crowned the 2003 Big 12 Gymnast of the Year, before an injury forced her to miss the 2004 season. She returned in 2005 to become Nebraska’s first AAI Award winner, an honor annually given to the nation’s top gymnast for athletic, academic and community achievement. Simpson was unable to compete at the 2005 NCAA Championships – missing out on adding to her All-America total – but she was rewarded for her performance in the classroom as a second-team CoSIDA Academic All-American. Simpson was also named the 2005 Big 12 Female Sportsperson of the Year and earned an NCAA Top 10 Award. Simpson was one of 10 national finalists for the 2004-05 NCAA Woman of the Year Award. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Nebraska in 2005 with a double major in international studies and French.
Lori Sippel, Softball, 1985-88 (Stratford, Ontario, Canada)
The most dominant pitcher in Nebraska softball history, Lori Sippel excelled athletically and academically for the Huskers during her storied career. The first NU pitcher to earn All-America accolades, Sippel was a two-time All-American. She racked up 73 victories, a .760 winning percentage, 695.1 innings, a 0.54 ERA, 838 strikeouts, 39 shutouts, 80 complete games, 16 saves, six no-hitters and one perfect game, which all stood atop the Husker career charts until 2000. Sippel still holds Nebraska’s all-time record in ERA, saves, no-hitters and perfect games. The first four-time, first-team all-conference selection in program history, Sippel was a finalist for the 1988 Honda Award, presented to the nation’s top collegiate softball player. She was named the 1988 CoSIDA Softball Academic All-American of the Year, the only Husker to earn that honor. Sippel’s pitching prowess helped lead Nebraska to a 151-49 record in her four seasons, totaling four Big Eight regular-season championships, four conference tournament titles and two trips to the Women’s College World Series. Her No. 16 jersey is one of four retired jerseys in program history. Following her Husker career, Sippel was one of the sport’s top international pitchers. A 2006 International Softball Federation Hall of Fame inductee, Sippel was Team Canada’s ace at the 1996 Olympics. She then led Canada to a fourth-place finish at the 2008 Olympics as the Canadians’ head coach. Sippel earned a Bachelor of Science in Education with a double major in coaching and special education-mild/moderately handicapped from the University of Nebraska in 1988. She immediately entered the coaching profession upon graduation, and Sippel has spent the past 26 seasons as a Nebraska assistant coach, serving as the Huskers’ associate head coach since 2003.
Fran (ten Bensel) Benne, Women’s Cross Country, 1989-92 (Arapahoe, Neb.)
Fran ten Bensel earned All-America honors in three of her four seasons competing for the Nebraska women’s cross country team. The only three-time All-American in program history, ten Bensel is also Nebraska’s only conference champion and the Huskers’ lone district or regional champion. In 1992, ten Bensel won the District V meet to lead Nebraska to the district title. She then went on to finish ninth at the 1992 NCAA Championships, the second-highest finish in school history. In 1991, ten Bensel won the Big Eight individual title to lead the Huskers to a team conference championship. She finished 17th at the 1991 NCAA Championships, the third-highest finish in program history. In her first appearance at the NCAA Championships, ten Bensel earned All-America honors as a sophomore with a 36th-place finish at the national meet. She helped Nebraska to three consecutive top-20 national finishes from 1991 to 1993, marking the best three-year stretch in program history. On the track, ten Bensel was a five-time All-American and six-time Big Eight champion. A 1993 University of Nebraska graduate, ten Bensel earned a Bachelor of Journalism with a major in advertising.
Amanda (Trujillo) Scrivner, Rifle, 2000-03 (Brush, Colo.)
Amanda Trujillo excelled in both smallbore and air rifle in her career as a four-year letterwinner for the Nebraska rifle program. Trujillo earned All-America accolades in both disciplines each of her four seasons, the first Husker to accomplish that feat. She finished her career as an eight-time All-American, earning the maximum number of All-America accolades. Trujillo was the air rifle runner-up at the 2001 NCAA Championships, one season after she finished seventh in the smallbore competition. Trujillo was the first Husker to post a top-10 finish in both disciplines. Her shooting at the NCAA Championships helped the Huskers to back-to-back top-10 finishes in 2000 and 2001, including a third-place finish in 2000. Trujillo also set a Nebraska record for the highest air rifle season average (391.33 in 2000-01) under the previous scoring system. In the classroom, Trujillo was an eight-time member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll. Trujillo earned a Bachelor of Nursing from the University of Nebraska in 2003 with a major in nursing.
Allison Weston, Volleyball, 1992-95 (Papillion, Neb.)
A member of Nebraska’s first national championship team, Allison Weston put together one of the most decorated careers in the storied history of Husker volleyball. Weston was the AVCA Co-National Player of the Year in 1995, when she led Nebraska to a 32-1 record that culminated with the Huskers’ first national title. Weston was also honored as a first-team All-American in 1995, her third consecutive season earning first-team All-America accolades. The first three-time, first-team All-American in program history, Weston ended her career with a school-record 1,778 kills, a total that currently ranks second in Husker history. She still holds the Nebraska record for most kills in a four-set match with 37 against Colorado in 1994. Weston averaged 5.27 kills per set in the NCAA Tournament, the only Husker to average more than 4.65 kills per set in the postseason. Her performance helped Nebraska to a 110-14 record and three Big Eight titles in her four seasons. Weston was also an excellent student. She was a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American, earning second-team accolades in 1994 and first-team honors in 1995. One of seven Huskers to have her jersey retired, Weston was also a two-time Big Eight Player of the Year. Following her illustrious Nebraska career, Weston joined the U.S. National Team. She competed in the 2000 Olympics, serving as team captain for the fourth-place American team. Weston earned a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources from UNL with a major in fisheries and wildlife in 1997.