Marian Magazine - Marian High School

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Marian High School Holds Second Annual Athletic Hall of Fame Induction
Individual athlete honors: Mikki Denney Wright ’92, Dr. Roberta Vasko Kraus ’71 and Renee Saunders ‘95
It was a night of honor and pride, inspiration and heart-felt appreciation. On
August 30, 2010, more than 200 guests gathered in Marian’s Student Center for
the second annual Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony. It
turned out to be a night rooted in the Marian tradition of empowered leaders.
This year’s inductees included individual athletes Mikki Denney Wright ’92, two-time state
champion varsity soccer player, current head coach of women’s soccer at the University of
Minnesota and one of the brightest minds in college soccer today; Renee Saunders ’95, four-year
varsity volleyball player, three-year varsity basketball player, the 1995 Omaha World-Herald and
Lincoln Journal Star Athlete of the Year and now the head coach for South High School’s Varsity
Volleyball Team; and all-around Marian athlete and now renowned sports psychologist Dr.
Roberta Vasko Kraus ’71.
Also honored was the 2000 State Championship Basketball Team: Sarah Mancuso Billesbach ’01,
Jaime Miller Burke ’00, Mandy Cyr ’01, Michaela Wuebben Doyle ’00, Anna Jones Goeschel ’00,
Liz Greisch ’02, Andrea Lightfoot ’03, Meghan Martin ’02, Amy Sibbernsen McLeay ’00, Jessica
Denis-Him Neddenriep ’01, Stephanie Patton ’01, Laura Spanheimer ’01 and Katie Stanzel
Wright ‘01. This team averaged 69.6 points a game and gave up only 42.1 for an average winning
margin of 27.5 points per game. Athletic Director Jim Miller claims this was one of the best
teams he has ever coached at Marian.
Members from Marian’s 2000 State Champion
Basketball Team with Coach Jim Miller
Honored coach, Mark Laughlin with (from left to
right) daughters Jen Laughlin ’86 with sons Nick and
Tom, daughter Jane Laughlin ’95, wife Sue Laughlin,
and daughter Kelly Laughlin Jeffreys ’92 with husband
Jason
Finally, former five-time state championship
soccer coach Mark Laughlin and patron Paul
Simon, were also honored. Laughlin laid the
foundation for Marian’s exemplary soccer
program, and Simon was the driving force
behind building the Marian Softball Field.
Miller was the Master of Ceremonies for
the event. He spoke of each inductees’
contribution to Marian athletics and
to their continued dedication to a life
that exemplifies Marian’s mission and
commitment to excellence. Each individual
honoree accepted an engraved plaque and
members of the 2000 State Championship
Basketball Team were given replicas of their
state medal.
To read more about this year’s honorees go to
www.marianhighschool.net/alumnae/news
and check out more photos from the night in
Marian’s online photo gallery.
To nominate an athlete for the 2011 Athletic
Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, simply
choose “Athletic Hall of Fame Nomination
Form” from the Quick Links drop-down
menu on the home page.
Honored patron Paul Simon and wife Laurie