Press Release

May 2, 2006

2006 M-Club Hall of Fame Class Announced

MARYVILLE, Mo. -- The Northwest Missouri State athletic department announces the 2006 M-Club Hall of Fame class, which includes Marty Albertson (football/baseball), Julie Collins (neé Callahan) (women's tennis), Joe Hurst (men's basketball), Yasmine Osborn (women's tennis) and the 1987 men's and women's tennis teams. These individuals and the two tennis programs will be formally introduced into the M-Club Hall of Fame in a ceremony on Friday, Oct. 20 on the eve of the Northwest Football Homecoming contest.

"We are looking forward to having these outstanding student-athletes return to campus to join our select Hall of Fame inductees" said director of athleticsDr. Bob Boerigter.

Albertson was a four-time starter in both basketball and football from 1974-78. He was a First Team All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) pick at shortstop in 1978 and earned two First Team nods at both punter and safety in 1977. He helped lead the Bearcats to the NCAA Baseball Playoffs from 1975-78. Albertson played alongside Major League Baseball player Gary Gaetti on the 1977 Bearcat team. The Green City, Mo., native went on to play professionally in a New York-Pennsylvania Independent league. As a punter, Albertson finished his career third with a 38.1 yard average and fourth with 152 lifetime punts. In 1976, Albertson's 40.1 yard average ranked first in the MIAA. As a defensive back, Albertson tied for fifth all-time with 13 interceptions. He was part of the 8-2 conference championship team in 1974 for head coach Gladden Dye.

In her illustrious tennis career, Collins (1990, 93-93) became the first Northwest women's player to qualify for the NCAA Tournament and she did it three times (1990, 1992-93). The Fremont, Neb., native was the 1993 MIAA Most Valuable Player and was the league's No. 1 singles champion two times. Ranked #22 in 1993, Collins was part of the No. 1 doubles championship team as a senior. From 1992-93, she led the Bearcats to conference championships. Holding a 62-12 singles career record, Collins did not play in 1991 due to an injury. She held the career record for doubles wins at 61 for over 10 years before current senior Gena Lindsay has set the new mark.

A native of East Saint Louis, Ill., Hurst left Northwest in the top 5 in both career scoring (1,580 points) and rebounding (777) and set the all-time mark with 153 blocked shots. A letterwinner for four seasons from 1983-86, Hurst was mentioned on the All-MIAA First Team at forward twice. In team rankings, Hurst was first in scoring, rebounding, blocked shots and steals as a junior. Hurst led the league in blocked shots as a sophomore with 53, which also set a school single-season standard. As a sophomore, Hurst helped the Bearcats to a 24-7 record under head coach Lionel Sinn and an appearance in the South Central Regional.

Osborn played women's tennis from 1997-99 after she transferred from Kansas State University. The Lenexa, Kan., native earned All-American status in 1998. She won the MIAA No. 1 Singles Championship in 1997 and 1998 before taking second in 1999 due to an injury she suffered in the championship match. The Northwest record-holder with 27 singles wins and 28 doubles victories as a sophomore in 1997, Osborn was an All-American in 1998 after posting a 22-0 singles record. She was a member of three-straight Bearcat teams to advance to the NCAA Division II Tournament.

The 1987 men's and women's tennis teams were the first conference tennis teams to win the championship in the same season- that feat still stands today. The women's program went 15-2 overall and won its first of 10 MIAA titles with head coach Mark Rosewell at the helm. The Bearcats claimed five of six singles championships led by No. 1 singles netter Kelly Leintz. On the men's side, Heiko Struker (No. 1) was one of three singles winners in the MIAA Championship. Overall, the men's squad went 16-4 in dual matches. "Rosie," who was in his third season in 1987, was honored with MIAA Coach of the Year laurels for both the men and women.

Last year, the Hall of Fame class included former faculty athletic representative Dr. Virgil Albertini and administrator / coach Sherri Reeves along with the 1998 and 1999 NCAA Division II National Championship Football teams. With the 2006 class, the total of Hall of Fame individuals stands at 78 along with 34 teams to join the best in Northwest athletics. The first year for individual recognition was 1980 and teams were introduced beginning in 1989.