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    Mark Palmer •

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    Stevens, Powers into UNI Hall of Fame

    Rich Powers, record-setting Panther wrestler from a quarter-century ago, and loyal wrestling supporter Sandy Stevens are among the members of the Class of 2016 Athletics Hall of Fame for the University of Northern Iowa, the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reported Saturday.

    Rich Powers
    Wrestling for the UNI Panthers from 1988-92, Rich Powers compiled a 134-25-1 record with 54 pins, placing him third all-time in program history. The native of Harvard, Ill. was a three-time NCAA Division I All-American at 177 pounds, placing as high as fourth at the NCAAs. Other career highlights for Powers include defeating Iowa State's Matt Johnson in the 1991 NWCA (National Wrestling Coaches Association) All-Star Meet, and being a four-time NCAA West Regional champ and two-time Outstanding Wrestler for that event. In May, Powers was hired as principal at Cedar Falls High School, the community that Northern Iowa calls home.

    Sandy Stevens is well known within the wrestling world well beyond the Northern Iowa campus as a highly respected wrestling event announcer and columnist for WIN (Wrestling Insider Newsmagazine). She is also a supporter of UNI athletics and most notably wrestling. A graduate of the State College of Iowa (previous name for UNI), Stevens served as the announcer at Panther meets and the NCAA Championships for 34 years, along with multiple world championships and two Olympics. She began the "Pledges for Pins" program at UNI in 2007, and the program has generated more than $132,000 from 17 states. Sandy and husband Bob "Bear" Stevens - a former Panther wrestler -- also created the Bear and Sandy Stevens Head Wrestling Coach Endowment that helps support the salary of UNI's head coach and have endowed a pair of wrestling scholarships. Sandy Stevens is a board member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and the UNI Foundation. She will be receiving the Dr. Jitu D. Kothari Meritorious Service Award.

    In addition to Powers and Stevens, others to be welcomed into the UNI Athletics Hall of Fame include former men's basketball star Ben Jacobson (not to be confused with the current men's basketball head coach by the same name), football standout Ray Pedersen, volleyball stars Kim Kester Tierney and Ellie Blankenship Regan, and the 1982 Panther softball team.

    The 2016 UNI Athletics Hall of Fame honorees will be officially inducted Saturday, Sept. 10 at 10 a.m. in the McLeod Center on campus. To RSVP for the ceremony, contact the UNI Athletics Office at (319) 273-2470.
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