Four to be inducted into Nanook Hall of Fame Class of 2013
July 29, 2013
907-474-6805
The Alaska Nanooks department of athletics is proud to announce the four newest members of the Nanook Hall of Fame come this September as the sixth class comprises of Jamie (Beyerle) Gray, Carl Benson, Mike Curtin and Dr. Cary S. Keller.
The foursome will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Sept. 28 in a ceremony to take place in the Wood Center Ballroom on the campus of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The addition of the four now puts the list of Hall of Famers to 30. Ticket information will be released once it becomes available.
Jamie (Beyerle) Gray
A member of the Alaska rifle program from 2002-06, Gray has made her mark on the sport of rifle both collegiately and professionally. Last summer at the 2012 Olympics in London, she won gold after setting two Olympic records in the 50-meter three-position smallbore event in addition to her fifth-place showing in air rifle. She also was a member of the United States national team in 2008 for the Beijing games where she took fourth in air rifle and fifth in smallbore.
As a collegian, Gray was a member of three national championship teams for the Nanooks, helping the program claim the crown in 2003, 2004 and 2006. She was the NCAA individual air rifle champion in 2003 and the individual smallbore champion in 2006. She was a First Team All-American in smallbore and air rifle in 2003, 2005 and 2006 and also was award a First Team All-Collegiate Rifle Coaches each of her four years. Gray was named the university's Scholar-Athlete in 2006 and was two-time team captain in 2005 and 2006.
"Jamie brought a high level of visibility to UAF and Alaska athletics while participating in the Olympics in 2008 and 2012 and also at many world cups and other international events," nominator Randy Pitney said in his nomination. "This facilitated ease for the coaches while recruiting potential student athletes to UAF both nationally and internationally."
Carl Benson
Benson was an all-star swimmer for the Alaska men's swimming team from 1984 to 1986. At the 1986 NCAA Division II Championship, he produced two varsity-record swims, resulting in a pair of All-America accolades, as he turned in a third-place performance in the 100-yard breaststroke and a fifth-place showing in the 200 breast. Benson was also 13th in the 200 individual medley with a varsity-record swim to earn Honorable Mention All-America honors.
At the 1985 Championship, he was an All-American after taking eighth in the 100 breast with a program record. He was the team's Most Valuable Swimmer in 1985 and 1986 and the Male Scholar-Athlete as a senior. Benson, who has worked for several environmental companies working on air quality issues in Fairbanks, and his wife Anna Marie have two daughters who swim for a local club team.
Scott Lemley , the current head coach for the women's swim team, also coached Benson when he swam for the men's program. He touched on coaching him from the club and high school levels, to having him back on his college team after he transferred home to Alaska.
"He was one of the most complete swimmers that I've ever coached," Lemley said. "A lot of swimmers are good in one stroke and that stroke is freestyle and coached a fair number of sprinters. He didn't have a weak stroke. He was the varsity record holder in the 100 breast and the third-fastest swimmer in the nation in that stroke. He was also an extremely good butterflyer, backstroker and freestyler, which was also why he was an All-American in the IM."
Mike Curtin
Simply known to everyone in the athletic department as "MC", Curtin has been the head athletic trainer and strength and conditioning coach for the Nanooks for more than a decade and a half. Prior to his working for the Nanooks, Curtin was director of athletic training for four years at Sportsmedicine Fairbanks. Back in May at the Alaska Nanooks All-Sports Banquet, he was recognized and honored for his years of service to the student-athletes with both video and live in-person speeches from former Nanooks.
Curtin received a Bachelor's degree in Biology from UAF, a Bachelor's degree in athletic training and exercise science from Oregon State and a Master's degree in athletic training from Arizona.
"An alumni and an Alaskan, he has positively impacted our community and is now part of our tradition," former hockey player and nominator Efren Larranaga wrote.
"Bigger. Faster. Stronger. Without MC, UAF athletes would not be any of those things," Steph (Grindel) Stenvik, wrote. "His knowledge of weight training and power lifting is endless." She continued, "No team at UAF would reach the level of success they have, if it wasn't for MC's knowledge, motivation and caring. MC is a true asset to the athletic program at UAF."
Dr. Cary S. Keller
Dr. Keller has been an integral part of the Fairbanks sports medicine scene since arriving in Fairbanks in 1986, especially with the Nanooks where he has served as the team's physician for more than 20 years. In addition to his service as team physician, Keller has made numerous philanthropic commitments to the university and throughout the local community.
Because of Keller's efforts as head of the Alaska School Activities Association Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, Alaska now has a policy on student-athlete concussions. He also has a scholarship named for him, the Dr. Cary S. Keller Scholarship, which is awarded to student-athletes who have demonstrated perseverance, achievement and ability.
"Dr. Keller's passion for giving, service and education has led to inspiring others to make similar philanthropic commitments," Jake Poole, vice chancellor emeritus, said in his nomination.
"Dr. Cary Keller has an unparalleled impact on the University of Alaska Fairbanks, its student-athletes, athletics staff and coaches, the Fairbanks community and the state of Alaska," Poole wrote. "His unwavering passion to ensure the well-being of the students throughout the state is extraordinary and a role model for all."
About the Nanook Hall of Fame
Created in 2008, the Nanook Hall of Fame honors and preserves the memory of the men and women who, through their outstanding contributions both in intercollegiate athletics and community involvement, have brought honor and distinction to the University of Alaska Fairbanks. It exists to recognize not only outstanding contributions of student-athletes, but the contributions of coaches, administrators, athletics staff, community members and others who, in a positive way, have promoted the mission of the university and the Alaska Nanooks.
The Class of 2013 was selected by a nine-member panel consisting of former Nanooks and Hall of Fame members, from a list of 14 nominees. Sue Stanton (women's basketball),Tatiana Piatanova (volleyball), Milo Griffin (men's basketball), Bob Baker (skiing/running), Max Hoberg (swimming), Kelly Mansfield (rifle), Scott Keyes (hockey), Randy Pitney(rifle) and Mallory Larranaga (volleyball) were the voting members this year.
The panel also has five ex-officio members who do not vote: Gary Gray (athletic director), Joe Hayes (alumni director), Dani Sheppard (faculty athletic representative), Chris Brooks (media relations) and Mike Sfraga (vice chancellor).
Previous Nanook Hall of Fame Inductees
• 2008—Randy Pitney (rifle), Matt Emmons (rifle), Milo Griffin (men's basketball), Joe Tremarello (men's basketball, contributor).
• 2009—Tavis MacMillan (hockey), Mike Lessley (men's basketball), Dr. William R. Wood (men's basketball, contributor), Joe Nava (rifle), Carole Rollison Warner (rifle), Everad F. Horton (rifle).
• 2010—Stuart Watkins (rifle),Mallory (Bergstrom) Larranaga (volleyball), Harris Shelton (administrator), Melissa Mulloy-Mecozzi (rifle), Sigrid Aas (women's skiing), John Gilmore (administrator).
• 2011—Brad Oleson (men's basketball), Alan Cardwell (men's swimming), Steve Moria (hockey), Kelly Mansfield (rifle), Anne-Berit Smith (women's skiing), the 1993-94 rifle team.
• 2012—John Estle (skiing/running coach), Ellen Hannan (women's basketball), Pavla Havlova (women's running), Heather Harrison (women's volleyball).