SectionsUniversity honors six inductees
Tyler Thompson
Issue date: 2/9/10 Section: Features
|
The six 2009-10 inductees are former soccer coach Frank Dinka (1967-1986), football standout Jeremy Hoog (1994-97), track standout Verneta Lesforis (1997-99), Lady Bear post player Roshonda Reed (1995-99), volleyball standout Amy Russell McNew (1990-93) and Charlie Spoonhour, men's basketball assistant coach from 1969 to 1972 and head coach from 1983 to 1992.
Frank Dinka
Dinka has been known as the "father" of the soccer program, as he forged the sport on the Missouri State campus for more than a decade prior to it becoming a part of Missouri State intercollegiate athletics.
"His first love was the game of soccer," Sally Dinka, Frank's wife said. "He would use his own money to help fund the program and would even bring the players' laundry home with him."
Dinka operated the program with little university resources for travel, officiating and equipment. He started the club sport in 1967.
Along with coaching the team, Dinka also kept his full-time teaching career going as well.
His teams posted winning records 12 of 14 seasons on the club level.
"I want to thank you for this wonderful honor that has been given to my husband," Dinka said.
Dinka also aided in the development of the Springfield YMCA Youth Soccer Program.
He taught at Missouri State until he retired in 1996 and passed away Oct. 6, 2005.
Jeremy Hoog
Hoog played for coaches Jesse Branch and Del Miller. He was a four-year starter at the quarterback position.
"I just want to thank everyone involved," Hoog said. "It's great to be back at Missouri State."
Hoog's career .546 pass completion percentage ranks among the Bears' all-time top 10 in the category, and he passed for over 2,100 yards his final two seasons.
His best performance came against Liberty, where he threw for 375 yards during the 1994 campaign.
He threw for over 300 yards in a single game four times in his career.
Hoog, who received a degree in biology, now lives in Bloomsdale, Mo. and works as a senior research technician at the Washington University Medical School in St. Louis.
Verneta Lesforis
Lesforis transferred to Missouri State from Castries, St. Lucia prior to her sophomore season.
She was a three-year standout as a sprinter and jumper from 1997-99.
Including relay events, Lesforis was a 16-time MVC champion and was unbeaten in her career in the 400-meter run in league championship competition, coming out victorious in the event six times.
"Transferring to Missouri State was the best decision I've ever made," Lesforis said.
She also had top three-finishes in the league in the 200-meter dash, long jump and 1,600 meter relay.
Lesforis competed in the 400-meter run for St. Lucia in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.
She also represented St. Lucia in the 1999 World Championships in Germany and the 1999 Pan American Games in Canada. She won
Be the first to comment on this story