Emporia State University has 2 new inductees into the MIAA Hall of Fame, baseball player Keith Hernandez and the 1997-98 womens basketball team.
Keith Hernandez was the 2008 ABCA NCAA Division II baseball player of the year and first team All-American. As a senior he had a .462 batting average with 18 home runs and 80 RBI. He was also first-team All-MIAA and the MIAA Player of the Year. Hernandez, a catcher, led the conference in six offensive categories during the 2008 season as the Hornets won the MIAA regular-season title. His 18 home runs ranked fourth on the MIAA single-season chart at the time. As a junior in 2007, he hit .321 with 11 homers and 78 RBI. Hernandez led ESU to the NCAA Tournament both seasons he played and was an MIAA Scholar-Athlete and recipient of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll Award.
The 1997-98 womens basketball team finished the season with a 33-1. Their lone loss was to North Dakota in the NCAA DII Championship game. They led the nation in scoring at 91.3 points per game and scoring margin at +29.3 points per game. They were the MIAA regular season and tournament champions. They went 18-0 in White Auditorium to start an MIAA record 62 game home court winning streak.
The Hall of Fame inductions of individuals will be held at the annual MIAA Awards Ceremony at a time to be determined.
The teams will not be recognized at the MIAA Awards Ceremony, each institution will determine when the team is formally recognized and celebrated.
Other MIAA Hall of Fame Class of 2020 Inductees:
Dina (Wathan) Blevins – Pittsburg State
Volleyball Student-Athlete (2000-2003)
Robert Corn – Missouri Southern
Men’s Basketball Coach (1999-2014)
Venessa Lee – Pittsburg State
Women’s Track & Field Student-Athlete (2004-2009)
Tom Myers – Central Missouri and Pittsburg State
Baseball Coach (UCM 2008-14 & PSU 2016-18)
Caitlin (Pankratz) Peterson – Central Missouri
Volleyball Student-Athlete (2005-2009)
Tongula (Givens) Steddum – Missouri Southern
Women’s Track & Field Student-Athlete (1993-1995)
Tom Svehla – Official
Baseball, Basketball, and Football Official
Bill Titcomb – Official
Football and Men’s Basketball Official
Seth Wand – Northwest Missouri
Football Student-Athlete (1998-2002)
Legacy Inductee
Tammy Wilson – Central Missouri
Women’s Basketball Student-Athlete (1985-1989)
Class of 2020 Hall of Fame Teams
Below are teams that were selected as members of the 2020 MIAA Hall of Fame Class. Teams will not be recognized at the MIAA Awards Ceremony, each institution will determine when the team is formally recognized and celebrated.
2004 Pittsburg State Football Team
The 2004 Pittsburg State University football team posted a 14-1 record in finishing as the NCAA Division II National Runner-up.
Class of 2021 Hall of Fame Teams
Below are teams that were automatically inducted as the first members of the 2021 MIAA Hall of Fame class after winning National Championships during the 2015-16 season. Teams will not be recognized at the MIAA Awards Ceremony, each institution will determine when the team is formally recognized and celebrated.
2015 Northwest Missouri Football Team
The 2015 Northwest Missouri football team went undefeated to claim the program’s fifth National Championship on December 19, 2015.
2016 Lincoln Women’s Indoor Track and Field Team
The 2016 Lincoln Women’s Indoor Track and Field Team claimed the program’s fifth National Championship on March 12, 2015.
2016 Pittsburg State Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Team
The 2016 Pittsburg State Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Team won the first National Championship in program history on May 28, 2016.
Past Emporia State MIAA Hall of Fame inductees:
Class of 2019
Melissa Stevens – Softball (2003-06)
Michelle Stueve – Women’s Basketball (2004-08)
Class of 2017
Tyler Paul – Football (2000-04)
Class of 2015
Brian Shay – Football (1995-99)
2009-10 Emporia State Women’s Basketball Team
Class of 2014
Heather Leverington – Women’s Track & Field (1997-2002)
Class of 2012
Emily Bloss Carpenter – Women’s Basketball (1997-2001)
Deandra Doubrava McBride – Women’s Track & Field (1994-99)
