Six named to 2010 Nanook Hall of Fame
July 19, 2010
907-474-6807
7/19/2010
Three women and three men have been named the 2010 inductees to the Nanook Hall of Fame, University of Alaska Fairbanks athletic director Forrest Karr announced Saturday.
This year’s inductees are former athletic director John C. Gilmore, former vice chancellor of student affairs Harris Shelton, and former student-athletes Sigrid Aas, Mallory (Bergstrom) Larranaga, Melissa Mulloy-Mecozzi and Stuart Watkins.
"We're grateful for the opportunity to celebrate the department's rich history," said Karr.
The induction ceremony will take place Sept. 25 at the Carol Brown Ballroom at the Wood Center. Tickets and pricing will become available in August.
Each inductee’s plaque will be added to the Hall of Fame display case at the Patty Center in time for the Nanooks’ volleyball match at 7 p.m. against Simon Fraser. Inductees will be in attendance at the match.
John C. Gilmore
John C. Gilmore served as Alaska’s athletics director from 1968-1982, making him the longest tenured athletics director in school history. He was originally hired as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences but quickly took over as director of physical education, recreation and athletics before becoming the athletics director.
When he arrived on campus, most athletic teams at Alaska were club teams and, aside from skiing, none competed in the NCAA. Gilmore led the transition into NCAA competition.
His firm belief in gender equality led to the expansion of women’s programs on campus, including the development of the women’s basketball team. His stance eventually led to the creation of the John C. Gilmore Award by the women’s swim team, which rewards the team member with the highest GPA during the season.
Gilmore also created the Arctic Swim Club to bring community swimmers young and old to campus to swim competitively. Before Gilmore, there was no age-group swimming at the Patty Center—a tradition continued today.
Harris Shelton
Harris Shelton served as vice chancellor of student affairs from 1974-1992. At the time, his office directly oversaw the athletic department and he took an active role in the everyday activities of the department.
Shelton defended the school’s athletic programs at a time of fiscal pressure. He took hockey off campus—first to the Big Dipper and later to the Carlson Center—at a time when its following was not near what it is today. Shelton also supported the hockey program’s move to the CCHA at a time when it was not guaranteed full membership in the name of expansion.
If not in the hockey team, Shelton’s impact can best be seen in the Student Recreation Center. He fully endorsed its construction to chancellor Patrick O’Rourke, and when the estimates came in millions of dollars over budget, Shelton lobbied in Juneau to raise the funds needed.
Mallory (Bergstrom) Larranaga
Mallory (Bergstrom) Larranaga played her record-setting volleyball career from 2001-2004. During that time, she amassed the Nanook career record for kills (1,363) and finished second in digs (1,269). She finished second in match kills (31) against Western Oregon in her senior season.
She finished fifth in GNAC history in career kills and points (1,543) and third in attack attempts (3,862). She set records in conference kills (1,110), points (1,250) and attack attempts (3,120). She is second in conference games played (277).
Larranaga was Alaska’s first volleyball All-American in 2003. She was a first team all-conference player in 2003 and 2004, a second team all-region player in 2004, and an AVCA selection in 2003 and 2004. She was named to the GNAC Academic Team in 2002 and 2004.
She is the first women’s volleyball player to be inducted into the Nanook Hall of Fame.
Melissa Mulloy-Mecozzi
Melissa Mulloy-Mecozzi was a four-time rifle All-American between 1997-2001. Her career at Alaska led to advanced competition on the Olympic level, where she finished 8th at the 2000 games in Sydney, Australia.
As a student, she was part of NCAA National Champion teams from 1999-2001. She was the USA Shooting National Champion in 2000, a UAF Female Scholar Athlete in 1999 and 2001, and the NCAA Alaska Woman of the Year in 2001.
Since college, she has continued shooting. She was a World Cup team member from 2000-2003, including a championship team in 2002. Her individual awards include the 2003 International Distinguished Award, silver medal at the 2003 Pan American Games and the 2004 Olympic Quota Place.
Mulloy-Mecozzi is the fifth rifle athlete to be inducted.
Stuart Watkins
Stuart Watkins was a four-time All-American shooter who attended the University of Alaska from 1960-1964. After a storied high school career, he joined the campus ranks and was named the first All-American in Alaska history in his freshman year.
Watkins followed by being named second team All-American in 1962 and first team in 1963 and 1964. He was a Collegiate National Champion in both small and large bore in 1963.
In 1969, Watkins was named National Air Rifle Champion and in 1971 he won a gold medal in the Pan-American Games.
Watkins has coached at the YMCA and high school levels, capped by a state championship in 1996 by Dimond High School’s (Anchorage) air rifle team. He is a life member of the National Rifle Association, National Education Association and the Military Marksmanship Association.
He is the sixth rifle athlete to be inducted.
Sigrid Aas
Sigrid Aas competed in cross-country skiing and running for Alaska from 2000-2004. In her senior season, she finished first at the NCAA Ski Championships in both the 15-kilometer classic and 5-kilometer freestyle events. She also led the team to its first CCSA Regional Championship.
As a runner, Aas placed third in the 5-kilometer and sprints at the 2003 USA National Championsips.
Aas was a five-time NCAA All-American and three-time GNAC Academic All-Star and the 2004 NCAA Woman of the Year. She graduated magna cum laude before moving back to her native Norway.
She is the first skier to be inducted into the Nanook Hall of Fame.