FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Five individuals and one team will make up the fourth class of the Nanook Hall of Fame it was announced today by director of athletics Forrest Karr.
Alan Cardwell (swimming, 1970-73), Kelly Mansfield (rifle, 1996-2000), Steve Moria (hockey, 1983-85), Brad Oleson (basketball, 2002-05), Anna-Berit (Nilsen) Smith (cross country/ski, 1985-89) and the 1993-94 rifle team were chosen by the Nanook Hall of Fame Selection Committee to be enshrined in 2011. Nominations were accepted through April 30.
“The Nanook Hall of Fame induction ceremony is one of the most enjoyable things we get to do each year,” said Karr. “It's heartening for our staff and student-athletes to celebrate the department's rich history.”
The 2011 class will be inducted on Saturday, September 24 at 10:30 a.m. with an induction brunch at the Wood Center Carol Brown Ballroom. The current list of inductees into the Nanook Hall of Fame now stands at 21.
“We're looking forward to spending time with the inductees as well as their friends and family in September,” said Karr.
As a dual-sport athlete for the Nanooks from 1985-89, Anne-Berit (Nilsen) Smith was instrumental in establishing a new standard of performance for the UAF ski team. The Snoqualmie, Wash., native excelled on the Nordic trails and earned back-to-back NCAA All-American honors in 1986 and 1987 by placing sixth and third respectively in the NCAA Championships. In addition to her unrivaled individual performances, Smith was the leadoff skier for the 1987 UAF relay team that finished third in the 1987 NCAA Championships. Although she was not eligible for the 1988 US Olympic Team, that did not prevent her from finishing in the top four three times at the Olympic Team Trials. After concluding her collegiate career, Smith was the recipient of the NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship – an award that is bestowed upon student-athletes who excel academically and athletically.
One of the last great athletes to swim for the Nanook men's swim team, Alan Cardwell distinguished himself as one of the best swimmers to don the UAF colors. Through the course of his three-year career, Cardwell accumulated a staggering nine individual and five team All-American honors. Cardwell left UAF when the swimming program was disbanded but went on to earn his bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Oregon in 1974 as well as a Masters of Business Administration in Finance in 1979. His passion for the sport continued far beyond his days as a legendary competitor. In 1982 he was awarded the American Swimming Coaches Association Certificate of Excellence while serving as the chairman of Oregon Swimming. From there, he served on the Technical Planning Committee for North Carolina Swimming from 1986-89. During his tenure he was selected as a coach for a USA Swimming national team training camp in 1987. A Level IV Coach in the American Swimming Coaches Association, Cardwell is a part-time coach with Wave Aquatics and works with children ranging in age from nine to 14. He has continued swimming and in the summer of 1995 he set a world record in the 800 meter freestyle for the 40-44 year old age group with a time of 9:17.93.
The UAF rifle team has long been defined as a program that is committed to excellence and championship caliber squads. From 1996-2000 Kelly Mansfield did more than her part to affirm this claim. Mansfield enjoyed her two finest seasons in 1999 and 2000. In 1999 she became third marksman ever – and the only woman – to win NCAA individual championships both in smallbore and air rifle. She also helped the Nanooks to a 1999 NCAA team championship. Mansfield repeated as the individual champion in air rifle in 2000 and also assisted the team in earning their second consecutive title. Mansfield earned eight NRA All-American awards in her career as well as two Redfield Trophies and four NRA Intercollegiate Rifle Team Trophies. Mansfield also excelled in the classroom, earning the UAF Scholar Athlete Award in 2000 and a spot on the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association All-Academic Team that same year. Her career went on to include two stints with the USA Shooting Team as they competed for the World Cup in Munich, Germany (1999) and in Milan, Italy (2000). Mansfield earned her Bachelor's degrees in biological sciences and journalism from UAF in 2002 and she recently completed her Masters degree in Fisheries in 2010.
For nearly two decades, the UAF rifle team has been synonymous with championships. That distinction began when the 1993-94 rifle team, under the tutelage of Nanook Hall of Famer Randy Pitney, secured the program's first national championship. The 1993-94 squad began a championship run that has resulted in 10 NCAA Championships.
Arguably the greatest hockey player to ever put on a Nanook sweater, Steve Moria has enjoyed a career that has spanned five decades. From 1982-85, Moria was one of the most talented competitors in all of college hockey, collecting 109 points during the 1984-85 season, a record that still stands as the second most points in a season in NCAA history. The 1986 All-American still holds claim to many of the Nanook's hockey records including most goals in a game (four), most assists in a game (five) and most points in a game (seven). After his illustrious college career, Moria spent two seasons with the New Haven Nighthawks of the AHL before taking his talents overseas. Beginning in 1987, he began playing with the Fife Flyers of the British Hockey League – the most competitive hockey league in the United Kingdom. Moria's greatest statistical year occurred in 1989-90 when he amassed 245 points in just 40 games for the Cardiff Devils. Over his career, Moria has recorded over 2,500 points and was inducted into the Fairbanks Hockey Hall of Fame in 2005.
Brad Oleson is unquestionably one of the school's greatest athletes of all time. After going 4-23 in the 2001-02 season Oleson came in and almost immediately began the rejuvenation process for the Nanooks. The product of North Pole began his career by stunning the college basketball landscape in helping the Nanooks upset Division I Weber State 77-65 en route to the 2002 BP Top of the World Classic title. Oleson took home MVP honors and led the squad in scoring, rebounding and assists during the tournament. Oleson's career kept improving and by the time it was finished the 6-3 guard had been named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005. Over his three-year career as a Nanook, Oleson received nine GNAC Player of the Week nods, led the league in steals from 2003-05 and was the GNAC leader in scoring from 2004-05. Oleson also led the Nanooks to a pair of NCAA Division II Elite Eight appearances and helped the Blue and Gold to a 64-24 record during his career. After UAF, Oleson took his career to the professional level, spending the 2005 season with the Dodge City Legend of the USBL before taking his career overseas. From 2005-08 he played with Rosalia de Castro of the Spanish LEB League before his breakthrough signing with Fuenlabranda of the Spanish ACB League, which is considered by many to be one of the best and most elite basketball leagues in the world. Oleson currently plays for Caja Laboral as one of only two players from the United States on the roster.
