Mavericks Shine on the Field and Off in 2010-11
Jun 3, 2011 | General
OMAHA, Neb. – The 2010-11 academic year brought profound change to University of Nebraska Omaha athletics but what didn't change was the high achievement of UNO student-athletes both in competition and in the classroom.
In their final year of Division II competition before a transition to Division I, the Mavericks won a third consecutive national championship in wrestling and won two more championships in the Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association. While doing so, they earned a collective grade-point average of better than 3.1.
UNO wrestlers earned their third straight NCAA championship and the sixth in the last eight years in March. Seniors Aaron Denson, Mario Morgan and Ryan Pankoke each won individual championships in their respective weight classes. That same month, triple jumper Nkeiruka Domike shattered every Division II record and went on to win the event at the NCAA indoor track and field championship.
Spring brought both warmer weather and two MIAA championships. In April, the UNO golf team earned its third straight league title while Dani Suponchick was the individual medalist in the championship for the second straight year. A month later, the UNO softball team brought home the hardware after beating Fort Hayes State, 2-1, in the championship game.
Six of UNO's 15 teams made appearances in the NCAA playoffs including a remarkable 22nd straight showing by the softball team.
The UNO hockey team returned to the NCAA playoffs for the second time in school history, the culmination of another sterling season under head coach Dean Blais. The Mavericks won more than 20 games for the fourth time in school history and finished third in their first year in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association after being picked to finish eighth in the preseason polls. The Mavs also drew four of the nine largest crowds in school history including a school record 15,137 to their game against Wisconsin on Feb. 11.
Blais was named the WCHA Coach of the Year for the third time in his career while softball coach Jeanne Scarpello earned the same award from the MIAA.
UNO athletes earned their share of accolades in 2010-11. Track's Heather Minssen was an indoor and outdoor All-American in the shot put while Domike, Anja Puc (800 meters), Kathie-Lee Laidley (high jump) and Maja Mihalinec (200 meters) won indoor All-American honors. Sami Spenner was an outdoor All-American in the heptathlon. Seven wrestlers were named coaches association All-Americans while Lindsey Slocum and Beth Haley both earned All-American status from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
Nineteen UNO athletes were named All-MIAA. In addition, baseball's Caleb Palensky and cross country's Katarina Zarudnaya were named Freshmen of the Year in their respective sports. Golf's Suponchick was the MIAA's Player of the Year while softball's Haley repeated as MIAA Pitcher of the Year and teammate Lauren Larson was the Defensive Player of the Year. Basketball's Torrian Harris was a member of the league's All-Defensive team.
Coming soon to omavs.com, we'll take a look at where UNO student-athletes come from and how well they did in the classroom.
