UNO Athletic Hall of Fame 2015
Three former Maverick greats were inducted into the UNO Athletics Hall of Fame during the annual UNO Alumni Night of Honor Nov. 4 at the Thompson Alumni Center. Inductees were Dr. J.D. Naig (wrestling), Pinar Saka (track & field) and Jenni Upenieks (softball).
Established in 1975, the Hall of Fame honors former athletes, coaches, administrators and others who have made lasting contributions to Maverick Athletics. With the 2015 class, membership in the UNO Athletics Hall of Fame grew to 111 individuals.
J.D. Naig — Wrestling
J.D. Naig was a three-time national champion and finished his career at UNO in 2007 with a 140-26 career record, the sixth-most wins in school history. Wrestling at 165 and 174 pounds during his career, the native of Emmetsburg, Iowa, won national titles in 2005, 2006 and 2007. He had finished third as a freshman, making him one of just 11 Mavericks ever to be named a four-time All-American. Naig’s 43 career falls are tied for seventh in school history, and he also was a two-time Academic All-American. In 2007, Naig was named Outstanding Wrestler of the NCAA Division II National Tournament with a final record of 42-7.
Pinar Saka — Track & Field
Pinar Saka was an eight-time All-American and twice a national champion while competing for the UNO track & field team from 2006 to 2010. The native of Istanbul, Turkey, won the 400 meters and was a member of the winning 4 x 400 meter relay at the 2009 NCAA Indoor Championship. That same year she helped UNO win the MIAA Indoor Championship and was MVP. She was the South Central Region Track Athlete of the Year and USTFCCCA Division II Track Athlete of the Year. In all, Saka was a six-time conference champion. She owns four individual school records and was part of four school-record relay teams. She later became the first Turkish woman to compete in the Olympics in the 400 meters, competing in London.
Jenni Upenieks — Softball
Jenni Upenieks played for the UNO softball team from 1994 to 1997, finishing high on several career batting charts. She was a four-time all-North Central Conference player as a center fielder and was a second-team All-American in 1996 and a first-team pick in 1997. The native of Urbandale, Iowa, stands fifth in career RBI with 143 and third in runs scored with 182. Upenieks led the Mavericks to four straight national tournament appearances and 194 victories during her career. UNO finished third twice, fifth and second during that period.