DRAGON ATHLETICS
News
Six athletes inducted into Dragon Hall of Fame
By: Glenn Tornell
Six athletes who charted memorable careers on and off the athletic field will be inducted into the Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragon Hall of Fame on Saturday, September 29.
Amy Gernand, Keith Haverland, Lyle Hornbacher, Ray Kavanagh, Scott Oliver and Marc Ryan will be honored by the Dragon Athletic Department at the 6 p.m. Dragon Hall of Fame banquet at the Courtyard by Marriott in Moorhead. For tickets, contact the MSUM Alumni Foundation at 477-2143
The selection increases to 134 the number of inductees in the Dragon Hall of Fame. The legendary Alex “Sliv” Nemzek was the charter member in 1961. A closer look at the induction class of 2007.
A Moorhead native, Gernand was decorated with NAIA All-American volleyball honors and NAIA District 13 laurels as a junior and senior. She was voted Most Valuable Player for the volleyball Dragons in 1991 and 1992 and helped MSUM advance to the 1992 NAIA National Championships. Gernand still ranks among Dragon career leaders in kills, 1107, and career hitting percentage, .265.
A long distance specialist from Farmington, Haverland collected five All-American certificates in track, including second in the mile relay and third in the distance medley relay at the 1985 NAIA Indoor, fifth in the 1500 at the 1984 NAIA Outdoor, second in the two mile relay and fourth in the 1000 at the 1984 NAIA Indoor. He earned 12 varsity letters in cross-country, indoor track and outdoor track and helped Dragons pocket 12 NSIC team titles during his stay at State.
A 1958 graduate of Moorhead State, Hornbacher was the centerpiece of successful Dragon golf teams from 1955-58 and captured numerous medalist honors. A two-time North Dakota match play champion, he was a five-time runnerup. Hornbacher was a National Publinx Qualifier in 1958 and 1962 and claimed club championships at Moorhead, Edgewood, Fargo and Oxbow Country Clubs. He coached Fargo South High School boys to four North Dakota State Championships and Bruin girls to two titles. Hornbacher played in 25 consecutive NDGA Match Play tournaments and 17 straight NDGA Senior tournaments.
A graduate of Appleton High School, Kavanagh was a three-year football starter at MSU Moorhead in the early 50s and also competed in baseball. He earned a B.S. degree in 1956 and was a member of the Owl Fraternity and M Club. He logged an outstanding high school coaching career at Roseau and Bemidji High Schools and also served as Activities Coordinator at BHS. Kavanagh was voted District 29 Football Coach of the Year in 1975 and was named to North staff for the 1976 Minnesota Shriners North-South game. He led the Lumberjacks to a 94-41 record in 14 years.
A native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Oliver is the boy’s hockey coach at Roseau High School and joined the Rams after a successful stay as Director of Athletic Fundraising, head football coach and head hockey coach at University of Minnesota, Crookston. Last spring he guided the Rams to the prestigious 2007 Minnesota State AA Hockey Championship. Oliver was elected football tri-captain at Moorhead State in 1982 and was a contributing member of NIC championship teams in ’81 and ‘82. He later coached Glyndon-Felton High School to the Minnesota State Class C football championship in 1985. Oliver led UMC to two national junior college hockey championships in 1993-94 and was saluted as NJC Hockey Coach of the Year both years.
A graduate of Rosemount High School, Ryan is currently the Associate Athletic Director at University of Minnesota. A track and cross- country standout at MSU Moorhead, Ryan earned NAIA All-American honors for a fifth place finish in the mile at the 1983 NAIA National Indoor and a second place finish in the two mile relay at the 1984 NAIA Indoor. He set a batch of records, including a distance medley mark of 9:49.94 that still stands. Ryan was a member of sports information staffs at Macalester College and Villanova before joining Gopher sports information department.
