NMU Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2014
Courtesy of NMU Athletics
MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan University Sports Hall of Fame will induct four new members on Saturday April 26 in the Great Lakes Room of the University Center. The event will once again be held in conjunction with the Student-Athlete Awards Banquet. The dinner begins at 6 p.m. and the program at about 7 p.m.
The four inductees are Linsey Weier Dehlin, Nordic skiing and cross country; John Lehtinen, team physician; Shana DeCramer Ojala, women’s basketball; and Tuomas Tarkki, hockey.
Dehlin competed at NMU from 2002-2007 and was both an NCAA Champion and an Olympian during her time as a Wildcat student-athlete. She won the 2008 NCAA National Championship in the 15K classic race and was third in the 5K freestyle earning All-America honors for both races. She also had All-America performances in 2004 in the 15K classic, 2005 in the 5K classic and 2006 in the 5K classic. Dehlin was a member of the 2002 and 2006 U.S. Olympic Teams.
Lehtinen has served as the team physician for Wildcat intercollegiate athletics for nearly 30 years. He is the medical director for sports medicine and substance abuse at Marquette General Hospital, and was the recipient of the NMU President’s Award for Distinguished Citizenship in 1999. Lehtinen served as the head physician for the 1996 Summer Olympics and has worked other World Games and Olympic events.
Ojala was a member of the NMU women’s basketball during the 1995-96 and 1996-97 campaigns. Ojala led the Wildcats to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament in 1995-96, her first year with the squad. That same year, she paced the team with 474 points. In 1996-97, she had a team-high 532 points and went on to be selected a first-time All-American, the the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year and first-team GLIAC All-Conference.
Tarkki was a goalie for the NMU hockey team from 2001-2005. In 2005, he was one of three finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, given to the best NCAA Division I college hockey player in the nation. That year, he was named a second-team All-American by the American Hockey Coaches Association and the USCHO.com, as well as being chosen the CCHA Player of the Year and a first-team All-CCHA pick. He finished his career at the top of the NMU record books in save percentage (.924) and goals against average (2.24).
The event is open to the public and tickets must be purchased in advance through the Superior Dome Ticket office or online at<http://www.nmu.edu/tickets> . Tickets must be purchased in advance.