UMKC Athletics Announces 2009 Hall of Fame Class
9/26/2009 8:00:00 PM | General, Athletics
Kansas City, Mo. -- The UMKC Athletics Department unveiled its 2009 UMKC Athletics Hall of Fame class on Saturday night at the department's Kick-Off Party at Boulevard Brewery. The class consists of seven individuals, five former student-athletes, one former coach and one friend/supporter of the program.
The first inductee is former women's track and field standout Dee Dee Fortman. Fortman, who was a two-time NCAA qualifier for the 'Roos, was selected as the Mid-Con Indoor and Outdoor Athlete of the Year in 2000. During her career in Kansas City, she won a total of eight Mid-Con event titles, six of which came in the long and triple jump events. To this day, Fortman is the UMKC record holder in the indoor (40-11 3/4) and outdoor (42-5) triple jump, while also holding the top point total in the pentathlon (3,500).
The second member of the class, Michael Jackson, is the only men's basketball player in school history to be named the Mid-Con Player and Newcomer of the Year, as he earned the accolade during the same season in 2000. The three-time Mid-Con all-Conference selection (two-time first team) is the UMKC school record holder in career blocks (138), while also ranking fourth in scoring (1,443), fourth in field goals (558), fourth in free throws (324), fifth in steals (124), sixth in rebounds (489) and 20-point games (22), eighth in field goal percentage (.529) and eighth in free throw percentage (.770). Jackson scored in double digits in 80 career games, where he posted seven double-doubles.
Former women's basketball player Julie Nill is the third member of the Hall of Fame class. Nill was a two-time NAIA Honorable Mention all-America from 1982-84, while also being a three-time NAIA all-District 16 selection (1981-84). She also received the NAIA Frank L. Hesselroth Award, which was given for academic and community achievement as well as athletic endeavors.
Three-time First Team all-Mid-Con selection (1999-01) Amanda Rice of the softball program is the fourth former student-athlete in the class. Rice, who was a Mid-Con all-Tournament team honoree in 1999, is the UMKC career record holder in hits (201), doubles (47) runs batted in (97) and home runs (14). She also finished her career ranked second in putouts (219), fourth in games played (218), sixth in batting average (.309) and fifth in walks (40).
The fifth and final student-athlete in the class, Angelo Vasilescu of the men's tennis program, was both the Mid-Con Player and Newcomer of the Year in 1999. The three-time First Team all-Mid-Con selection led the Kangaroos to a pair of Mid-Con regular season titles (1999 and 2000). Vasilescu also guided UMKC to a pair of Mid-Con Tournament titles (1999, 2000), which led to the squad playing in a pair of NCAA Tournaments, including the program's first ever NCAA appearance in 1999.
Bill Ross, a former men's basketball and men's golf coach for the 'Roos, was the first men's basketball coach in school history during the 1969-70 season. Ross, who was selected to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2007, still has the third highest winning percentage and the fourth most victories in UMKC basketball history. Ross also coached the men's golf team for 35 years before retiring in 2003. He led the 'Roos to a pair of runner-up finishes at the Mid-Con Championships (1996, 2002) and he recruited and coached GCAA Honorable Mention all-America selection and 2008 UMKC Athletics Hall of Fame honoree Robert Russell.
Victor F. Swyden, a former Kansas City councilman and UMKC supporter, is the final inductee. Swyden headed a task force that guided the Kangaroos from the NAIA to NCAA Division I in the 1980's. He was also the recipient of the Golden Torch Award in 1993, which is one of the highest honors given by UMKC to an individual. Swyden is also the name sake of the Victor F. Swyden Athletics Training Facility, which opened in 1999.
The UMKC Athletics Hall of Fame weekend will take place on Jan. 21-23. The men's basketball team will play Western Illinois at 7 p.m. on the 21st followed by the official induction ceremony on Friday the 22nd. The weekend will then conclude with a UMKC-IUPUI doubleheader at Municipal Auditorium on Saturday, Jan. 23.
The first inductee is former women's track and field standout Dee Dee Fortman. Fortman, who was a two-time NCAA qualifier for the 'Roos, was selected as the Mid-Con Indoor and Outdoor Athlete of the Year in 2000. During her career in Kansas City, she won a total of eight Mid-Con event titles, six of which came in the long and triple jump events. To this day, Fortman is the UMKC record holder in the indoor (40-11 3/4) and outdoor (42-5) triple jump, while also holding the top point total in the pentathlon (3,500).
The second member of the class, Michael Jackson, is the only men's basketball player in school history to be named the Mid-Con Player and Newcomer of the Year, as he earned the accolade during the same season in 2000. The three-time Mid-Con all-Conference selection (two-time first team) is the UMKC school record holder in career blocks (138), while also ranking fourth in scoring (1,443), fourth in field goals (558), fourth in free throws (324), fifth in steals (124), sixth in rebounds (489) and 20-point games (22), eighth in field goal percentage (.529) and eighth in free throw percentage (.770). Jackson scored in double digits in 80 career games, where he posted seven double-doubles.
Former women's basketball player Julie Nill is the third member of the Hall of Fame class. Nill was a two-time NAIA Honorable Mention all-America from 1982-84, while also being a three-time NAIA all-District 16 selection (1981-84). She also received the NAIA Frank L. Hesselroth Award, which was given for academic and community achievement as well as athletic endeavors.
Three-time First Team all-Mid-Con selection (1999-01) Amanda Rice of the softball program is the fourth former student-athlete in the class. Rice, who was a Mid-Con all-Tournament team honoree in 1999, is the UMKC career record holder in hits (201), doubles (47) runs batted in (97) and home runs (14). She also finished her career ranked second in putouts (219), fourth in games played (218), sixth in batting average (.309) and fifth in walks (40).
The fifth and final student-athlete in the class, Angelo Vasilescu of the men's tennis program, was both the Mid-Con Player and Newcomer of the Year in 1999. The three-time First Team all-Mid-Con selection led the Kangaroos to a pair of Mid-Con regular season titles (1999 and 2000). Vasilescu also guided UMKC to a pair of Mid-Con Tournament titles (1999, 2000), which led to the squad playing in a pair of NCAA Tournaments, including the program's first ever NCAA appearance in 1999.
Bill Ross, a former men's basketball and men's golf coach for the 'Roos, was the first men's basketball coach in school history during the 1969-70 season. Ross, who was selected to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2007, still has the third highest winning percentage and the fourth most victories in UMKC basketball history. Ross also coached the men's golf team for 35 years before retiring in 2003. He led the 'Roos to a pair of runner-up finishes at the Mid-Con Championships (1996, 2002) and he recruited and coached GCAA Honorable Mention all-America selection and 2008 UMKC Athletics Hall of Fame honoree Robert Russell.
Victor F. Swyden, a former Kansas City councilman and UMKC supporter, is the final inductee. Swyden headed a task force that guided the Kangaroos from the NAIA to NCAA Division I in the 1980's. He was also the recipient of the Golden Torch Award in 1993, which is one of the highest honors given by UMKC to an individual. Swyden is also the name sake of the Victor F. Swyden Athletics Training Facility, which opened in 1999.
The UMKC Athletics Hall of Fame weekend will take place on Jan. 21-23. The men's basketball team will play Western Illinois at 7 p.m. on the 21st followed by the official induction ceremony on Friday the 22nd. The weekend will then conclude with a UMKC-IUPUI doubleheader at Municipal Auditorium on Saturday, Jan. 23.
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