Lonnie and Lynne Burnett Event Center | Mobile, Ala. - The University of Mobile Athletic Department officially inducted the Hall of Fame Class of 2025 at the third annual Hall of Fame Banquet on Tuesday, March 25, with five outstanding individuals being honored.
The 2025 Class included Jackie Law (Women's Soccer), Nina Wathne (Women's Soccer), Dencho Vassilev (Men's Soccer), Terri McCormick (Softball), and MaryAnn Jennings (Softball).
Each of the inductees were presented with an award for their accomplishments and gave speeches about the impact that the University of Mobile has had on them, while also reminiscing about their favorite memories from their time at the university. Four of the five inductees from this year's class were inducted based on their time as an athlete at the University of Mobile, while MaryAnn Jennings was the only one inducted as a former coach.
In addition to the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, the University of Mobile Athletic Department announced the senior awards with four current student-athletes being recognized. The Hall of Fame Banquet was emceed by Shawndell Hope, Assistant Director of Sports Information and Media Relations, while Athletic Director Sally Shouppe and University of Mobile President Dr. Charles Smith both gave remarks throughout the evening.Â
Jackie Law, Women's Soccer
Jackie Law came to the University of Mobile in 1997 where she was a member of the women's soccer team from 1997-2000. Jackie was a First-Team All-Conference selection during all four of her years at UM as well as a First Team All-Region selection in 1997. Additionally, she was a two time NAIA All-American selection in both 1997 and 1998.
She was a key player for the 1997 Mobile Women's Soccer team that won the NAIA National Championship, claiming the tournament mvp award as well as being named to the All-Tournament team.
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Nina Wathne, Women's Soccer
Nina Wathne was a member of the University of Mobile Women's Soccer team from 1996-1997. During her time at Mobile, she was a First Team All-Conference selection in 1996, a First Team All-Region selection in 1996 and 1997, and was named the Conference Player of the Year in 1997. In both 1996 and 1997, Nina made the NAIA All Tournament Team and was named as an NAIA All-American.
In 1997, Nina capped off her time at UM with a fantastic season which resulted in her being named the NAIA Player of the Year after her contributions helped lead the Rams to the 1997 NAIA National Championship title.
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Dencho Vassilev, Men's Soccer
Dencho Vassilev was a member of the University of Mobile Men's Soccer team from 1992-1994. Dencho collected numerous honors during his time at UM, having been named to the First Team All-Conference and Conference All-Academic teams each year as well as being a First Team All-Area Seven selection in 1992 and 1993. Dencho was named an NAIA All-American in 1992 and 1993, and NAIA Scholar Athlete in 1993 and 1994, and was the 1993 NAIA National Tournament MVP while also being selected to the All-Tournament team that year.
Dencho was a key player for the Mobile Men's Soccer team in it's early years as he helped them to their first ever Conference Regular Season title in 1993, a NAIA National Tournament semifinal appearance in 1993, and a runner up finish at the 1994 NAIA National Championship Tournament.
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Terri McCormick, Softball
Terri McCormick was a member of the University of Mobile Softball team from 1993-1998. During that time, she was a First Team All-Conference selection in 1993, 1994, 1996, and 1997. In 1996 she was selected to the All-Region team and she received Conference All-Academic Team honors on multiple occasions. She was named the Conference Player of the Year in 1994 and again in 1997 while being named as an NAIA All-American in 1994, 1996, and 1997. During her time as a player at Mobile, the Rams achieved several top ten finishes in the NAIA Softball National Tournament.
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MaryAnn Jennings, Softball
MaryAnn Jennings was the first head coach for the University of Mobile Softball team, holding the position from 1990-2001, working alongside Mike Jacobs to form the inagural team at Mobile. During her tenure as head coach, the team made eight NAIA National Tournament appearances while she was named the Conference Coach of the Year in 1994, 1997, 1998, and 2000. She coached eighteen All-Americans, six Academic All-Americans, one NAIA Pitcher of the Year, and two Venezuelan Olympic team players. Her record as the head coach stands at 523-194-1 which puts her as the winningest head coach in Mobile Softball history.
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2024-25 Senior Awards
Following the induction ceremony for the Hall of Fame Class of 2025, Athletic Director Sally Shouppe presented this years senior awards, featuring male and female senior student-athlete of the year, university champion of character, and university scholar-athlete of the year. The winners and their respective awards are listed below.
- 2024-25 Female Student-Athlete of the Year - Dazsha Dean Middleton, Indoor/Beach Volleyball
- 2024-25 Male Student-Athlete of the Year - Emilio Cazares, Men's Soccer
- 2024-25 University of Mobile Champion of Character - Bryce Eddington, Baseball
- 2024-25 University of Mobile Scholar-Athlete of the Year - MacKenzie White, Women's Basketball
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About the University of Mobile
The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are: Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.
For information about the University of Mobile, areas of study, admissions and more, visit umobile.edu, connect with UM on social media @univofmobile, or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.
