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WALL OF FAME INDUCTEES ANNOUNCED2011-06-15

Huskie Athletics announced Wednesday the names of the six athletes, one builder and two teams that will be inducted into the University of Saskatchewan Athletic Wall of Fame on September 10, 2011 at TCU Place.

Jamie Epp (cross country/track & field), Dan Farthing (football), Kelsie Hendry (track & field), Mickey Jutras (wrestling), Kent Kowalski (soccer) and Jacqueline Lavallee (soccer/basketball) will be inducted into the athlete category. Massage therapist Al Bodnarchuk into the builder category, and 1996 Vanier Cup champion football team and the 1987-88 CIAU champion men’s volleyball team into the team category.

“This group of inductees has made big impacts on Huskie Athletics and its history,” said athletic director Basil Hughton. “Each have held records, been recognized on the national and international stage and have represented Huskie Athletics in a positive light throughout their careers and still to this day. We congratulate each one of them on their achievements and welcome them into an elite group of Wall of Fame members.”

Builder Category:
Al Bodnarchuk
Bodnarchuk’s involvement with Huskie Athletics began as a student trainer in 1981-82 working with basketball, football and track & field during his time as a University student. In 1984, Al began a stint of 18 years as head trainer with the Huskie track & field team. One of the best massage therapists in the country, Al has travelled as a member of Canada’s medical staff to the Commonwealth Games, eight World Athletic Championships and four Olympic Games – among other major events. He unselfishly gives his time to work as a massage therapist with football and track & field, as well as volunteering to teach new on field and clinical skills to Huskie Athletics student trainers. During his time with Huskie Athletics, Al has helped athletes win three Vanier Cup titles and three CIS Track & Field Championships.

Teams Category:
1996 Vanier Cup champion football team
During the 1996 Canada West football season, the Huskies took a bite out of their western opponents en route to a 7-1 record. In the postseason they attacked the rest of the country, winning the Vanier Cup with a 31-12 victory over St. Francis Xavier. To get to the Vanier Cup, they defeated the UBC Thunderbirds in the Hardy Cup 37-16 and the Guelph Gryphons 33-9 in the Churchill Bowl. Huskie players were well represented in awards categories winning five trophies at the Canada West level, three during Bowl games and had 11 all-stars and six All-Canadians.

1987-88 CIAU champion men’s volleyball team
The Huskies won the 1988 Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union (CIAU) to become the national university volleyball champions. The Huskies finished with a 15-1 Canada West record and did not lose a set within the conference after Christmas. They defeated the #1 ranked University of Manitoba Bisons 3-1 in the national final. In the season, the Huskies had five Canada West All-Stars in Brian Gavlas, Jerome Linnnell, Brock Blomquist, Darwin Daae and Brad Dusyk. Head coach Tom Graham was named Coach of the Year. At the CIAU Championship, Gavlas was named the tournament MVP and Daee and Dusyk were tournament all-stars. Gavlas and Linnell were also named All-Canadians.

Athlete Category:
Jamie Epp
For five consecutive seasons, Jamie Epp dominated distance running in both cross country and track & field being named a First Team All-Canadian eight times and a nine time Canada West All-Star. He won the 1,500-metre CIS race three times and the CIS 3,000-metres once. He was twice the CIS cross country champion – the first and only Huskie athlete to do so. He was also a member of the 2001-02 CIS champion Huskie men’s track & field team. He is decorated with awards winning the CIS Cross Country Athlete of the Year twice, the Canada West Male Track Athlete of the Year, as well as the E. Kent Phillips Trophy for Huskie Athletics Male Athlete of the Year. He has been a member of five national teams.

Dan Farthing
Dan Farthing played with the Huskie football team from 1987 to 1990 during that time he was named the Canada West and CIS Rookie of the Year in 1987, won a Vanier Cup in 1990 and won Canada West MVP in 1988. In the 1988 season, Dan led the conference and country in receiving with 756 yard. As well as winning MVP, Dan was named both an all-star and a CIS All-Canadian. He was drafted to the CFL in 1991 to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the first round, second overall - the second highest of any Huskie. Dan is third all-time on the Huskie Athletics career receiving yards with 2,120 and holds the Huskie record for most yards in a game with 259 in a 1987 game against Manitoba.

Kelsie Hendry
Five time Canada West champion and three time CIS champion in pole vault, Kelsie Hendry, raised the Canada West record four times and the CIS championship record three times. In her time with the Huskies, she was a member of four CIS championship teams and four Canada West championship teams. She was named the CIS track & field female athlete of the year three times, a three time Canada West Female Performer of the Meet and a three time Huskie Athletics Female Athlete of the Year. Kelsie has competed internationally throughout her career including at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Mickey Jutras
Mickey Jutras won five Canada West medals and three CIS medals in his five year career from 1999 to 2003. Competing in the 65-kg weight class, Mickey won no less than a silver medal in his time in the Canada West and was named the Canada West Most Outstanding Male Wrestler in 1999-2000 after a gold medal performance. In 2002, Mickey won gold in the weight class at both the Canada West and CIS Championships. He finished his career winning the CIS R.W. Pugh Fair Play Award and the Huskie Athletics Rusty McDonald Cup. During his time with the Huskie wrestling team, Mickey also had success with the Saskatoon Hilltops as a defensive back winning Canadian junior titles in 2001 and 2002.

Kent Kowalski
Playing for the Huskies at keeper from 1988 to 1992, Kent Kowalski put himself in the national spotlight and turned heads even when the team wasn’t showing success in the standings. In the four year span, the Huskies won just six games yet Kent was given both the lone Canada West All-Star spot and CIAU All-Canadian spot at keeper in 1990. He was also a Canada West All-Star in 1989. Kent went on to play with the Winnipeg Fury in the professional Canadian Soccer League for three years, winning a championship in 1992. He has gone on take an assistant coach role with the team for 13 years and is a master’s record holder in pole vault. He becomes the first Huskie men’s soccer player to be inducted into the U of S Athletic Wall of Fame.

Jacqueline Lavallee
Jacqueline Lavallee quickly became a two-sport star at the University of Saskatchewan. She played for the women’s soccer team from 1996 until 2001, was a three-time Canada West all-star midfielder and an All-Canadian in 1999. In basketball, she also played five seasons, was a three-time Canada West All-Star and an All-Canadian in the 2001-02 season. In her senior year, she was second in Canada West scoring and third nationally. She finished her career as one of nine Huskie athletes all-time with 1,000 or more points. She was a regional recipient of the Tom Longboat award, recognizing outstanding aboriginal ability in 2000, and the national Sylvia Sweeney award in 2002. She played internationally for Canada at three tournaments, twice at World University Games. In 2011-12, Jacquie will enter her ninth season as an assistant coach with the Huskie women’s basketball team and is currently the Cadet National team head coach.

The University of Saskatchewan Athletic Wall of Fame began in 1984 at the time of the University’s 75th anniversary. In this induction, 75 athletes, builders and teams were inducted from an athletic period that began in 1911. More inductions occurred in 1987, 1994, 2001 and 2007.

In 2011, the Athletic Wall of Fame Ceremony will help kick off the Centennial Celebrations on September 10, 2011. The event will cap off a week of activity during Huskie Week – September 6 to 11.

Tickets for the Wall of Fame Ceremony are $75 each or $600 for a table of eight.

Purchase tickets or learn more about the U of S Athletic Wall of Fame.