Spring 2018 SMU Announces 2018 Athletics Hall of Fame In this issue Class 2018 Hall of Fame Class SMU and SMU Athletics, in conjunction with the SMU Announced Lettermen’s Association, have announced the newest class of the SMU Athletics Hall of Fame. The 2018 in- Swim & Dive Host AAC ductees include: Janielle Dodds, Denny Holman, Wes Champs Hopkins, Hank Kuehne, Cheril Santini, and Clyde Carter. Football Announces 2018 These athletes will be recognized at the annual Hall of Recruiting Class Fame banquet and induction ceremony on Friday, May 4 at Moody Coliseum. Jerry LeVias Mustang Football Golf Classic - Dodds was a four-time All-Conference honoree and two time All-America Honorable Mention Register Today! selection. She holds the SMU career record for points (1,861) and rebounds (974). As a senior, she led the Mustangs to the 2008 NCAA Tournament and a 24-9 record. That season, she was Ponies in the Press named the Conference USA Tournament MVP after leading SMU to a 73-57 win over No. 18 UTEP in the championship game In Memoriam Holman helped the Mustangs to three straight Southwest Conference titles and NCAA Tourna- Upcoming Dates and ments, including a regional final appearance as a senior in 1967. He was named SWC Player of Events the Year in 1967, also earning all-conference and all-district selections. The Mustangs went 54- 25 during his seasons on the Hilltop with a 33-9 league record. Holman went on to play profes- Renew your membership! sionally for the Dallas Chaparrals Hopkins was an All-Southwest Conference safety on the 1981 and 1982 football national cham- pionship teams. He had 14 career interceptions, including a league-leading six picks in 1982. He had an SMU-record four interceptions in a game against Houston in 1981. Hopkins was a sec- ond-round pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1983 NFL draft, and played 11 seasons for the franchise. He was a Pro Bowl selection in 1985 and was the 1988 Ed Block Courage Award re- Spring Sports are Underway! cipient. Visit smumustangs.com for Kuehne was a three-time All-American from 1996 to 1999. He won the 1998 U.S. Amateur up-to-date schedule championship and was the 1996 Southwest Conference individual champion. Kuehne represent- information for all sports. ed the United States as an amateur on the 1998 Eisenhower Trophy team and in the 1998 and 1999 Palmer Cups. He went on to play 11 years on the PGA Tour with eight top-10 finishes, in- Need tickets? cluding runner-up marks at the 2003 Shell Houston Open and 2005 John Deere Classic. He also collected four career professional victories. Login to your account to purchase or check out SMU’s Santini was a ten-time All-American and two-time NCAA Champion in 1-meter diving, winning official ticket reseller, the national title in 1992 and 1995. She swept the Southwest Conference championship on 1- Vivid Seats. meter over her four years, while winning the 10-meter crown in 1992 and 3-meter title in 1993. Following the 1995 season, she was awarded the NCAA's Top VII Award. Santini was also a three-time Academic All-American. In 1994, she was named one of Glamour magazine's "Top Ten College Winners." Did you know? The Carter played football and basketball on the Hilltop, earning All-America honors on the gridiron in SMU Lettermen’s 1934. As a tackle, he led SMU to an 8-2-2 record as a senior in 1934. On the hardwood, Carter Association is on guided the Mustangs to a 14-3 record to capture the 1934-35 Southwest Conference Champion- ship. Facebook! Tickets for the ceremony and banquet can be purchased online here. For additional information on purchasing tickets Follow us here to stay in touch! to the SMU Hall of Fame Banquet, please call 214-768-4314 or email Jeff Lockhart at [email protected]. Mark your calendar for upcoming events and dates this spring! SMU Class of ‘15 —Holly Verner Equestrian During her time on the Hilltop, Holly pursued a degree in Markets and Culture UEC Championships at Dallas Equestrian Center. Dallas Texas. March 30-31 and excelled in varsity tennis on full scholarship. During her college career she Football attained a 11-5 record in singles matches and her rec- Annual Spring game/ Lettermen’s Mixer: Saturday, April 14, 10am, Ford Stadium ord-breaking doubles record of 26-7. After graduation Hall of Fame Banquet: Friday May 4, 6pm, Moody Coliseum she worked as an assistant account executive at Jerry LeVias Annual Golf Classic: Cowboys Golf Club in Grapevine June 1. (8am shotgun start) Maroch Partners in Dallas, before returning to California to pursue her passion for tennis. Holly is currently train- Men's Tennis ing at the Riviera Country Club, and in October of last SMU vs. Wichita State at SMU Tennis Complex. Dallas TX. April 6. 4:30 pm year she earned two title wins in six tournaments in SMU vs. UT Arlington at SMU Tennis Complex. Dallas, TX. April 8. 5 pm Southern California. Holly’s commitment to her sport shows tremendous gains in her fitness and mental SMU vs. Tulsa at SMU Tennis Complex. Dallas, TX. April 13. 4:30 pm training to play her way up the WTA rankings and con- American Athletic Conference Men’s Tennis Championships at SMU Tennis Complex. Dallas, tinue her dream to play at the professional level. To TX. April 19-22 move through the rankings her success is determinant Women's Tennis upon her performance at the Women’s Open later this summer. SMU vs Houston at SMU Tennis Complex. Dallas, TX. April 7. 12 pm SMU vs. UNT at SMU Tennis Complex. Dallas, TX. April 12. 5 pm To learn more about Holly and support her passion for tennis, visit her website at SMU Vs. ULM at SMU Tennis Complex. Dallas, TX. April 14. 12 pm makeachamp.com/hollyverner . American Athletic Conference Women’s Tennis Championships at SMU Tennis Complex. Dallas, TX. April 18-21. Men’s Soccer Players selected in 2018 MLS Draft SMU Hosts AAC 2018 Swim & Dive Championships SMU’s Michael Nelson and Mauro Cichero were selected in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft in Janu- ary. Nelson was selected 20th overall by the Houston Dynamo and Cichero was picked 29th overall by FC Dallas. This year marks the eighth time the Mustangs have had multiple picks in the MLS SuperDraft. Nelson earned his third consecutive American Athletic Conference Goal- keeper of the Year honor after helping the Mustangs secure the 2017 American athletic Confer- SMU hosted the 2018 American Athletic Conference Swim & Dive Championships ence regular season and tourna- this past February at the newly built Robson & Lindley Aquatics Center and Barr- ment titles. This year Nelson McMillion Natatorium. Competing against the Mustangs were Cincinnati, Connecti- recorded a 17-3-1 record and 84 cut, East Carolina, Houston, and Tulane. percent saving percentage. Dur- ing his time at SMU, he recorded For the Women’s team, SMU has won 17 of the last 22 conference championships. a 47-20-7 record between the The Mustangs have also earned 21 individual and 14 relay championships in four posts, with 27 career shutouts, seasons as part of the American. The women’s team faced tough competition and 272 saves. placing fourth at the 2018 Championships trailing behind Houston, Cincinnati and East Carolina. Cichero, the 2017 American Athletic Conference Midfielder of the Year On the Men’s side, SMU has won 41 conference championships since the 1946-47 and first-team all-conference selec- season and have earned runner-up honors at each of the four American Athletic tion, helped the Mustangs win the Conference Championships. The men’s team has 28 individual; AAC champion- American regular season and tourna- ment with nine goals and seven as- ships and eight relay wins. The team placed third this year trailing behind Cincin- sists this year. He was named a nati and East Carolina. Hermann Trophy semifinalist for the second time in his carrier and earned 69 points including 24 career goals and 21 assists. Cichero will be join- ing fellow teammate Jordan Cano in the MLS who signed with FC Dallas on January 11. The Mustangs finished the season with a record of 17-3-1 and ranked No. 8 in the United Soccer Coaches’ Poll. After winning the American Athletic Conference Regular Season and Tournament titles, the team advanced to the third round of the NCAA tournament. SMU Football NSD 2018 The SMU football program and Head Sonny Dykes Sonny Dykes and Mustang Fans celebrated the incoming announced on February 7th the addition of 12 recruiting class with a Signing Day Celebration on student-athletes to the 2018 Mustang signing class. The February 7th in Dallas and special events in Houston and 12 student-athletes join seven previously-signed Mus- San Antonio. Most of the new class will arrive on campus tangs, who committed to the program on Dec. 20, Early for the Summer I session beginning at the end of May, Signing Day. but a few players have enrolled this spring. The mustangs held strong to its claim of Texas pride, Fans eager to kick off the next season of Mustang SMU once again signed majority Texas players. Mus- Football should save the date for the 2018 Spring Game, tangs also arriving on the Hilltop hail from Louisiana and which will be held on Saturday, April 14th. Washington D.C. For full information on the 2018 signing class, including New Mustangs arriving on the Hilltop in 2018 include: player bios and highlight videos, visit Signing Day Central.