University of Minnesota Athletics
Blank Inducted Into
10/10/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MINNEAPOLIS - The University of Minnesota "M" Club, one of the nation's oldest varsity letterwinner organizations, today inducted latest class of inductees into the club's Hall of Fame. Kari Blank, a Gopher softball player from 1988-92, was announced as one of the 14 newest members. The "M" Club Hall of Fame ceremony will take place in the DQ Club Room at TCF Bank Stadium October 9 at 6 p.m
Blank joined seven other Minnesota softball players in the hall of fame: Judy Knight (1978-81), Barbara Drake Lindgren (1984-87), Denise Erstad Falls (1974-78), Gretchen Larson (1980-83), Shelly Medernach (1976-79), Rachel Nelson Olson (1993-97), and Mary Owen (1976-79).
"Those who were inducted into the Hall of Fame tonight are an elite group that stands out among more than 5,000 student-athletes who have competed at Minnesota in our history," said George Adzick, "M" Club director and three-time Gopher letterwinner. "We're proud of all they accomplished and what they each contributed to the legacy of Gopher Athletics. It is our privilege to honor them with induction into our Hall of Fame."
The 13 inductees honored with Blank Thursday night were Laura Halldorson (women's hockey head coach), Quincy Lewis (men's basketball), Pat Micheletti (men's hockey), Tanya Schuh (women's swimming), Bernie Zeruhn (men's swimming), Bill Light (football), Keita Cline (men's track and field), George Tuck (men's basketball), Frank McCormick (baseball head coach and former Director of Athletics), Bob Hanning (men's gymnastics), Nicole Branagh (volleyball), Jim Hill (men's swimming), and Ken Haycraft (football).
Including this year's class, The "M" Club Hall of Fame now has 320 members representing student-athletes from 27 different varsity sports, as well as coaches and administrators.
Blank, a 1995 inductee of the Minnesota Softball Hall of Fame, became the school's third All-American in 1991 when she earned Co-Big Ten Player of the Year honors. She became the first player in school history to be named to three All-Big Ten teams, receiving a second-team nod in 1989 and first-team accolades in 1991 and 1992.
She was named the team's most valuable player in 1989 and 1991.
With Blank leading the charge, the 1991 Gophers earned their third Big Ten regular-season title and reached the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history, posting a team-record 48 wins that still stands. Blank drove in Minnesota's first-ever run in the national tournament, a tally that stood as the game-winning run against Texas A&M, giving the school its first victory in the event.
That season, Blank hit .335 and set a Gopher single-season record with 43 runs batted in.
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