Knox College revealed its new members of the Knox-Lombard Hall of Fame on Thursday, which includes three individuals — Becky Mowers Nelson ’04, Jason Maclin ’07 and Vernie Mendrek — and an entire team (the 1975-76 men’s swimming and diving team).
Induction into the Hall of Fame recognizes and celebrates the extraordinary athletic achievements of these individuals and team, as well as the indelible impact they have had on Knox College Athletics.
The ceremony will take place at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10. in the Lincoln/Skylight rooms of Seymour Union. Registration, which will open on Sept. 2 through the Knox College alumni website, is required to attend.
Becky Mowers Nelson ’04 — Volleyball, Softball
A standout two-sport athlete for the Prairie Fire, Mowers Nelson received All-Midwest Conference First Team accolades in both softball (as a first-year first baseman in 2001) and volleyball (as a senior in 2003). As a rookie on the diamond, she led the team in six offensive categories, setting the program’s single-season RBI record that stood for 18 years. Mowers Nelson then continued to shine throughout her career, collecting 85 RBIs that remains the team record 21 years later, and she still ranks among the top three in career hits, doubles and home runs as well. She was also the team offensive MVP as a sophomore as the Prairie Fire won a program-record 19 games, and the team defensive MVP as a senior captain.
On the court, Mowers Nelson was a two-time captain, earning team MVP honors both of those years. She set four single-season program records as a senior, including kills and digs, and still ranks among the top 10 on the season charts in seven statistical categories. On the career top 10 lists, her name is found in nearly every category, from kills, attempts, digs, service aces and blocks.
Mowers Nelson shined in the classroom as well, twice earning Academic All-Midwest Conference honors as well as National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Scholar-Athlete recognition as a senior.
Jason Maclin ’07 — Men’s Basketball
One of the most prolific scorers in Knox men’s basketball history, Jason Maclin ’07 just kept getting better and better during his career. As a sophomore, he earned All-Midwest Conference honorable mention while leading the league in free throws made and free throw percentage to go with his 20.4 points per game. Maclin essentially matched his output in his junior campaign, ranking among the top four in the conference in scoring at 19.1 ppg, 3-point percentage and free throw percentage to garner All-MWC Second Team honors and help the Prairie Fire qualify for the MWC Tournament. To conclude his career, he maintained his scoring (19.4 ppg) while boosting his work on the boards and his passing game to rank among the top five in the conference in both categories, carrying him to All-MWC First Team status.
Maclin finished his career fourth on the Knox career scoring list with 1,548 points at an average of 16.6 per game, and is one of the most accurate long-distance shooters in program history having connected on 183 3-pointers at nearly a 40 percent clip. His 81.0 percent accuracy at the foul line ranks him third in the Prairie Fire annals as well, and he is among the top 10 in assists and steals, demonstrating his well-rounded overall game.
Vernie Mendrek — Coach and administrator
An integral member of the athletics department for over three decades, Mendrek began her Knox career early in 1968 as the departmental secretary reporting to Dean Trevor, who was nearing the end of his 37-year term as athletics director. Then under Harley Knosher, she had a variety of jobs throughout his time as athletics director up to 2000 — administrative assistant, women’s tennis coach, women’s swimming and diving coach, physical education instructor for golf and assistant athletics director.
As the first women’s tennis coach from 1974-84, she guided the team to eight winning seasons, an overall record of 55-47 and a second-place finish twice at the Associated Colleges of the Midwest Tournament. Her stints as a coach and P.E. instructor were crucial to the establishment of women’s sports at Knox College.
1975-76 Men’s Swimming and Diving Team
Entering the 1975-76 season, the Knox men’s swimming and diving team already had a target on their backs having won the league championship the year before. The squad, coached by Van Steckelberg, recorded a perfect 9-0 dual meet record in the Midwest Conference and once again edged out Grinnell at the MWC Championship by a 393-379 margin.
Not only did the Prairie Fire break all three school relay records in the 400 free relay, 800 free relay and 400 medley relay, but they also toppled a pair of conference championship records in the process as well. The team’s Most Valuable Swimmer for the third straight year, Steve Varick ’76, set the 200 yard free record at the meet and was the anchor of the 800 free relay quartet (joined by Mike Muro ’77, Luke Hannon ’79 and Pete Mitchell ’78) that blew past the record Knox set in the event the year before by 12 seconds.
Knox had a number of individuals reach the podium, including victories for Muro in the 100 butterfly for the third consecutive year, and Jay Zimmerman ’76 in the 200 yard back. Finishing second were Muro in the 200 yard butterfly, Mitchell in the 200 yard IM and 400 yard IM, Varick in the 500 yard free and 1650 yard free, and Zimmerman in the 100 yard back.
