The University of Central Missouri athletic department is proud to announce the next class to be inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame. This year’s class features eight former student-athletes. The 2021 Hall of Fame ceremony is scheduled for Feb. 27, 2021.
According to UCM, The 2021 class includes three from the Early Era and five from the Modern Era. From the early era are Shari Behlman (volleyball, 1983-86), Larry Hawks (baseball, 1989-90) and Alvin Johnson (football, 1986-88). Our five inductees from the modern era are Paula Harris (volleyball, 2008-11), Julie Ireland (soccer, 2012-15), Paul Kaiser (football, 1993-97), Caniggia Raynor (Mules track and field, 2014-16) and Heavin Warner (Jennies track and field, 2011-16).
Shari Behlman (Volleyball, 1983-86)
Behlman was one of the earliest All-Americans in Jennies Volleyball history, earning one as a senior in 1986. She also was a two-time All-Conference selection and made the 1986 All-Region Tournament team. For her career, Behlman is still among the Jennies leaders and is the UCM record-holder with a .436 hitting percentage in 1986. She hit .315 for her career with 1175 kills and her 178 service aces are fifth at UCM. Behlman was a member of the Jennies 25-year Silver Anniversary team and the 50-year Gold Anniversary team, selected in 2019.
Larry Hawks (Baseball, 1989-90)
Larry Hawks was one of the best two-way players in Mules Baseball history. He ranks among the Mules’ all-time leaders in pitching appearances, saves, triples, and put outs. In his career, he played catcher, first base, third base, and relief pitcher. He still holds the school single-season record with a 0.89 ERA in 1990. He is 10th in team history in career saves with 12 and his seven saves in 1990 are just outside the top-10. Hawks was an All-American at two positions, making the First Team as a first baseman in 1990 and Third Team catcher in 1989. In addition to being an All-American at first base in 1990, he was the MIAA Pitcher of the Year. Following his time at UCM, Hawks went on to play professionally in the San Diego Padres organization.
Alvin Johnson (Football, 1986-88)
Alvin Johnson was a two-time All-American and three-time All-MIAA selection as a wide receiver He set the Mules single-game record catching 14 passes against South Dakota in 1988 which is still tops today. For his career, Johnson caught 145 passes for 2,353 yards which are both still second all-time in Mules history. Johnson also caught 18 touchdown passes which is still fifth. When he graduated, Johnson held the UCM career reception, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns record. He was the Mules first 1,000 yard receiver going for 1,080 during his first All-American season in 1987.
Paula Harris (Volleyball, 2008-11)
Paula Harris is a two-time All-American, one of 22 multiple All-Americans in Jennies Volleyball history. She made the All-MIAA all four years at UCM, twice making the First Team. Harris still has the Jennies Volleyball record for career points with 1,885. She landed 1,599 kills which is sixth in Jennies history and had 10+ kills in 107 matches. For her career, Harris averaged 3.78 points per set which is also in the UCM top-10. Not only was Harris adept at landing kills, she is also seventh all-time at UCM with 457 blocks. While at UCM, Harris helped the Jennies to three straight MIAA Championships and back-to-back regional championships. Harris was included on the Jennies 50-year Gold Anniversary Team selected in 2019.
Julie Ireland (Jennies Soccer, 2012-15)
One of the most prolific scorers in Jennies Soccer history, Ireland was a four-time All-American, three-time All-Region and three-time All-MIAA honoree, also named the MIAA Player of the Year in 2015. Ireland is seventh all-time at UCM with 35 career goals and 81 career points. She helped the Jennies to six MIAA Championships and two regional titles. She is one of four Jennies to lead the Jennies in goals in back-to-back years doing so in 2013 and 2014. Ireland led the MIAA in goals in 2013 and was second in the league in 2014. As a senior she was selected as the Dr. Peggy Martin Award winner in 2015.
Paul Kaiser (Football, 1993-97)
Paul Kaiser remains third at UCM career-passing yards with 7,233. He is still third in career touchdown passes with 58, and third in career total offense 7,553 yards. In 1995, Kaiser threw 24 touchdown passes, which is still eighth all-time for a single-season in Mules history. Kaiser was a three-time All-MIAA selection and an All-American in 1995. Hew as the first Mule to ever attempt 900 pass attempts and held the Mules career passing yards record for 13 years. When he graduated, Kaiser was the Mules all-time passing yards and passing touchdowns leader.
Caniggia Raynor (Mules Track and Field, 2014-16)
Though he spent just two years at UCM, Cannigia Raynor left as one of the most decorated. A five-time All-American, national champion and six-time All-American, Raynor left his mark on the UCM throwing program. At UCM, Raynor holds the school record in the hammer throw, which is also the national record for his home country of Jamaica. Raynor is also second all-time at UCM in the weight throw and the discus. He qualified for nationals six different times and came out with five All-American awards and a National Championship in the discus in 2015. In two years, Raynor was never beaten in the MIAA, winning MIAA titles in each event entered. He was the Vernon Kennedy Award winner in 2016.
Heavin Warner (Jennies Track and Field, 2011-16)
The NCAA Division II all-time record holder in the hammer throw, Warner won three straight hammer throw national championships and finished her career with 10 All-American awards between the hammer throw, shot put, weight throw and discus. Her three straight hammer throw national titles was the first three-peat in UCM Track and Field history. She is the Jennies all-time record holder in five throwing events (hammer throw, discus, weight throw, indoor and outdoor shot put). Warner still holds the top-seven hammer throw marks in Division II. In 2016, she placed fifth at the US Olympic Trials in the hammer throw and was sixth at the US Championships in 2017. Was the Dr. Peggy Martin Award winner as a senior as the top female student-athlete at UCM and a finalist.