Rochester, MN –
The Minnesota College Athletic Conference (MCAC) announced its newest class of Hall of Fame inductees. The 2021 MCAC Hall of Fame class is comprised of one former coach and 13 former student-athletes who made significant contributions and experienced incredible success at their member MCAC colleges.
The MCAC has a proud and time-honored history, dating back to the first season in 1966. Throughout this time, the MCAC Hall of Fame, along with the conference membership, has recognized and highlighted student-athletes, coaches, administrators, media members and those individuals in the community who have contributed to the success of the organization.
MCAC Hall of Fame inductees are nominated by member college athletic or student service administrators and approved by the MCAC General Assembly at the spring MCAC meeting. Student-athletes become eligible for nomination five years after the conclusion of their participation at a Minnesota College Athletic Conference member college.
Read on for more information about each inductee to the 2021 Hall of Fame class. The complete MCAC Hall of Fame list is available at: https://mcac.prestosports.com/information/MCAC_Hall_of_Fame
The 2021 MCAC Hall of Fame Inductees
Rob Schoenrock, Hibbing Community College, Student-Athlete: Playing basketball for Hibbing Community College during the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons, Rob Schoenrock helped his Cardinal team win 34 games and claim back-to-back division titles, along with a second-place finish in the Region XIII Tournament. Schoenrock earned NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American and All-Region XIII honors in 1995, MCAC All-State in 1994 and 1995, and MCAC North All-Division in 1994 and 1995. Shooting 52% from the field during his two-year career, Schoenrock totaled 667 points, 404 rebounds, and 73 blocked shots as a Cardinal. After leaving Hibbing, Schoenrock went on to start at center for the University of Minnesota and helped them win the NIT Championship in 1998.
Nick Theising, Hibbing Community College, Student-Athlete: While helping to lead his Hibbing Community College basketball team to back-to-back MCAC Northern Division titles in 1994 and 1995, Nick Theising played in 49 games (team was 34-15 in those games) scoring 971 points, had 267 rebounds, and shot 77% from the free throw line. He was named a 1995 NJCAA All-American and All-Region XIII member, as well as All-Division for the MCAC North and MCAC All-State in both 1994 and 1995. Theising's 1995 Cardinal team finished second in the Region XIII Tournament.
Dwayne Walters, Hibbing Community College, Student-Athlete: From 1992-1994, Dwayne Walters excelled in baseball for Hibbing, earning NJCAA and ABCA All-American honors in 1994. He was named All-Region XIII, MCAC All-State, and to the MCAC Northern All-Division Team in 1993 and 1994. Walters was a member of the USA JUCO All-Star Team in 1994 that defeated Japan in a 5-game series. He was the only NJCAA DIII player to be part of that team and was named the MVP of the series. During his 1994 campaign at Hibbing, Walters was ranked first in the nation in home runs with 15, 3rd in the nation in strikeouts per innings pitched (81 SO in 63 IP), and 6th in the nation for RBI with 47. Throughout his two years as a Cardinal, Walters pitched in 143 innings, striking out 178 batters and acquiring a 2.61 earned run average. His record was 15-5 from the mound with 4 saves. He was also a prolific hitter, putting together a .380 batting average and getting 79 hits in his 208 at-bats. In the 66 games that Walters played in while at Hibbing, he led his team to a 43-23 record.
Laurie Larson, Itasca Community College, Student-Athlete: Competing in both softball and basketball while at Itasca from 1994-1996, Laurie Larson earned many accolades, primarily in softball. Larson has the privilege of being named the first ever NJCAA All-American for Itasca softball when she earned a spot on the 1st Team in 1996. Throughout her softball career, Larson compiled a batting average of .429 and struck out only four times in two years. She stole 49 bases and helped put together a team record of 52-19 throughout her two-year career. Larson earned MCAC Northern Division 1st Team, MCAC All-State 1st Team, and All-Region XIII honors in both years of competition. After using up her eligibility at Itasca, Larson went on to play softball at UWS, but her career was cut short by a cancer diagnosis in 1998. After surgery and many rounds of treatment, Larson recovered and did not let her experience negatively affect her. As a survivor, Larson thrives in her own life and uses her story to positively impact the lives of others regularly.
Dan Huntley, Rainy River Community College, Coach: From 1994-1999, Dan Huntley coached men's hockey at Rainy River Community College, winning the 1999 NJCAA National Hockey Championship. He was named NJCAA National Coach of the Year that same year. Coach Huntley led his Voyageurs program to the NJCAA Frozen Four in 1996 and he was named NJCAA Region XIII Coach of the Year in 1996, 1998, and 1999. During his time at Rainy River, Huntley coached 12 NJCAA All-Americans and acquired a record of 78-40-4. Since leaving Rainy River, Coach Huntley has seen plenty of success, being inducted into the NJCAA Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2015 and most recently leading his University of Mary (Bismarck, ND) team to the 2021 ACHA National Championship title.
Erin Aker, Rainy River Community College, Student-Athlete: As a dual sport athlete in basketball and volleyball in 2002 and 2003, Erin Aker continues to hold multiple records at Rainy River. Aker holds volleyball records for career kills at 1116, single match kills (33), kills in a season (649), career blocks (254), blocks in a season (165), and ace serves in a season (75). She earned NJCAA All-American 1st Team honors in 2003 and 2nd Team honors in 2002. MCAC Northern Division 1st Team, MCAC All-State 1st Team, All-Region XIII, and Academic All-State are additional awards Aker won while competing for the Voyageurs. Aker led the Rainy River volleyball squad to their first ever NJCAA National Tournament in 2002 where the team earned a national runner-up finish and Aker was named to the NJCAA All-Tournament Team.
Freya Peterson Dick, Rainy River Community College, Student-Athlete: Setting for the Voyageurs volleyball team during the 2001 and 2002 seasons, Freya Peterson Dick claimed NJCAA 1st Team All-American honors and was named to the NJCAA All-Tournament Team, while also taking home the MCAC Northern Division 1st Team and MCAC All-State 1st Team awards. Dick continues to hold the Rainy River record for assists in a season with 1210 and in a career with 2208. She was one of the leaders on the 2002 NJCAA National Tournament team that finished 2nd in the nation.
Jasmine Draper, Rainy River Community College, Student-Athlete: The Voyageurs record holder for digs in a volleyball career at 1070, Jasmine Draper was named NJCAA All-American Honorable Mention as a volleyball player at Rainy River. During 2014 and 2015, Draper also earned MCAC Northern Division 1st Team, MCAC All-State 1st Team, All-Region XIII, and NJCAA D3 National Player of the Week honors.
Autumn Raeker Nelson, Rainy River Community College, Student-Athlete: From 1993 to 1995, Autumn Raeker Nelson participated in basketball and volleyball for the Voyageurs and helped lead the basketball squad to the NJCAA National Championship in 1995. She earned NJCAA All-American basketball honors in 1994 and 1995 and was named to the MCAC Northern Division 1st Team, MCAC All-State 1st Team, and All-Region Team for basketball as well. In volleyball, Nelson earned MCAC Northern Division 1st Team, MCAC All-State 2nd Team, and Academic All-State honors.
Rachel Olsonawski Hagen, Rainy River Community College, Student-Athlete: Helping her Voyageurs basketball team win the NJCAA National Championship, Rachel Olsonawski Hagen was named an NJCAA All-American in 1995. During her career from 1993-1995, she also earned MCAC Northern Division 1st Team and MCAC All-State 1st Team honors in basketball, as well as the Academic All-State award as a volleyball athlete for Rainy River.
Steph Tangen Ruegemer, Rainy Raiver Community College, Student-Athlete: During her volleyball and basketball career at Rainy River from 1997-1999, Steph Tangen Ruegemer earned NJCAA 1st Team All-American honors in volleyball, and MCAC All-State 1st Team and MCAC Northern Division 1st Team honors in basketball. Ruegemer also earned All-Region XIII, MCAC All-State 1st Team, and MCAC Northern Division 1st Team in volleyball.
Carlea Staehnke, Rainy River Community College, Student-Athlete: Participating in both volleyball and basketball while at Rainy River in 2003 and 2004, Carlea Staehnke earned NJCAA 1st Team All-American honors in volleyball and holds the Voyageurs record for most ace serves in a career with 125. She also was named to the MCAC Northern Division 1st Team, MCAC All-State 1st Team, All-Region XIII, and Academic All-State during her two-year career.
Katie Carlson Uttke, Rainy River Community College, Student-Athlete: As a two-sport athlete at Rainy River from 2000-2002, Katie Carlson Uttke earned NJCAA All-American honors in volleyball in 2000 and 2001, and in basketball in 2001 and 2002. She also was named MCAC Northern Division 1st Team, MCAC All-State 1st Team, and All-Region XIII in both sports. Uttke holds the Rainy River volleyball record for career kills with 1116.
Lisa Klemetsen Wicklund, Rainy River Community College, Student-Athlete: In 1995 and 1996, standout volleyball player Lisa Klemetsen Wicklund earned NJCAA All-American Honorable Mention honors while competing as a Voyageur. She also was named MCAC Northern Division 1st Team, MCAC All-State 1st Team and All-Region. Her academic prowess earned her the Academic All-State award too.
The Minnesota College Athletic Conference is the organizational body for NJCAA-affiliated two-year technical and community college athletic programs in the Minnesota State Colleges & Universities system, as well as select member colleges in North Dakota and Wisconsin. The mission of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference is to advance intercollegiate athletics by providing an engaging and supportive environment for the success of our student-athletes and competition among member institutions. The MCAC is committed to the guiding principles of encouraging the development and success of student-athletes, promoting the integrity, honesty, and loyalty to member schools as well as upholding the sustainability of conference athletic programs.
This release is sponsored by:
OUR PURPOSE
The Marine Corps defends the people of the United States at home and abroad. To do that, we make Marines who win our Nation's battles and return as quality citizens.