Induction Ceremony - February 23, 2008

NJCAA Division II Men's Cross Country National Championship Team (2001-2002)

The second Men’s Cross-Country team in Rend Lake College history began its season with a most unlikely 1-2-3-4 individual sweep as the only Juco entry in a 13-team field of four-year rivals in the Hanover (IN) College Invitational; Medalist Ian Hornabrook and the Warriors checked in with 19 points, compared to 77 for second-place Bellarmine (KY). “The greatest team race I have ever been a part of,” Coach Brent McLain said.

⭐ That no doubt left an impression on NJCAA voters, who made RLC the No. 1 team in the country in Division II.

⭐ The Fall 2001 campaign ended on an even higher note as the Winged Warriors became the first team in college history to capture an NJCAA National Championship, earning National Coach of the Year distinction for McLain. Freshman Hornabrook (Queensland, Australia) was the individual winner over the 8,000-meter East Lansing, MI, course, followed closely by third-place David Diaz (Sophomore / West Frankfort) as First-Team All-America honorees. Soph Daniel Nalley (Benton) in 11th and Freshman Will Siemers (Bensenville) in 14th rated Third-Team All-America as the Warriors placed 1-3-11-14-36 (injured Freshman Robert Duncan / Seipio, IN) to claim the crown, 55-76, over runner-up Paradise Valley C.C. (AZ) in a 14-team field. Even if Duncan had not been able to finish on a bad leg, the Warriors would have won thanks to either Soph Tim Koch (Mt. Vernon) or Freshman Eric Baker (Mt. Vernon) in 41st and 43rd, respectively.

⭐ “Unbelievable,” McLain described the feeling afterward. He was forced to fight back tears of joy. “I was so happy for the team. They wanted it. And they worked hard to achieve it. It is a great day for us . . . an outstanding accomplishment for our school and our program.”

⭐ FYI, the 1-2-3-4 sweep in Hanover included Diaz second, Duncan third and Nalley fourth, with :22 separating the top four. Siemers was ninth.

⭐ The 19-year-old Hornabrook, 53rd in the 2001 World Junior Championships, was RLC’s top runner in every fall event, including a 21-34 Region XXIV title over Danville Area (2. Diaz; 4. Nalley; 6. Siemers; 8. Duncan).

⭐ McLain & Co. prepared by competing against first-rate four-year programs – runner-up to the hosts at the Eastern Illinois Open; 10th behind winner Northern Arizona in the Indiana State Invite, and eighth in the 15-team SIUC Saluki Invitational won by Indiana State.

⭐ PICTURED (L-R): Assistant Coach Roger Smith, Siemers, Diaz, Koch, Duncan, Hornabrook, Nalley, Baker, Soph Brett Smith (Benton), Freshman Emmanuel Wilbourn (Centerville) and McLain.

Wayne Arnold | Coach and Sports Professional (1963-Present)

“I was just doing my job,” explained the humbled honoree when informed in Fall 1995 a facility on-campus was to be named the Wayne Arnold Aerobics Super-Circuit Fitness Center. But many duties he performed were not part of any job descriptions during five years at Mt. Vernon C.C., 22 years before retirement from Rend Lake College and 17 years (and counting) after that by the Health, P.E. and Recreation Instructor and Department Chair . . .

⭐ Two seasons as the second Basketball Head Coach for the MVCC Warriors; he also started the baseball program and was Head Coach in 1963-64 and 1964-65.

⭐ Eight years as Women’s Softball Assistant under Jim Waugh and David Ellingsworth (1991-99, including NJCAA National Tourney). Men’s Basketball Assistant under Waugh (1969-71) and Baseball Assistant for Mike McClure (1978-79).

⭐ He kept the scorebook or clock for Men’s Basketball from 1974-87 and for the Lady Warriors since then.

⭐ The campus fitness guru, now 76, maintained team records and volunteered his services for the SICC and Region, junior high state tournaments, Special Olympics and Senior Olympics.

⭐ He was an early advocate for the Aquatics Center and is recognized as Father of both the Fitness Center and the Sports Hall of Fame.

⭐ Bonnie native, Sesser H.S. grad and longtime Mt. Vernon resident received the Faculty Excellence Award for 1988-89. He and his wife, Ailene, are parents of a son, Gary, and grandparents of Lydia Arnold.

Elizabeth Kasey | Women's Golf (1999-2001)

NJCAA Second-Team All-America honors as a freshman in Spring 2000. Panama City Beach product placed ninth overall (out of 73) with rounds of 88-81-89-80–338, an unbelievable 27 strokes lower than her nearest teammate even though the first Women’s Golf squad in school history finished sixth-in-the-nation in Shawnee, OK (coincidentally, 27 better than Region XXIV runner-up and seventh-place John A. Logan).

⭐ Spring MVP finished fourth (tied) in five-team McKendree Invite at 85-81–166 and captured medalist honors at six-team JAL Tourney with 80-83–163 in last two spring outings prior to NJCAA Finals.

⭐ Two-time All-Region honoree returned as a sophomore to national finals with a 356 total (30th); her score was second-best for No. 7 Lady Warrior squad that improved 37 strokes over previous year.

⭐ While helping squad claim two Region XXIV crowns, 5-foot-4 standout finished fourth as a freshman (85-89–174) and third as a soph (84-88–172).

⭐ All-tourney at 18-team Illinois Wesleyan Invite (18th) and RLC Mary M. O’Neal Classic (5th) in Fall 1999; McKendree (medalist) and Embry-Riddle (3rd) in Spring 2001.

⭐ Starred for Arkansas Tech last two years.

⭐ Returned to assist Coach Cindy Corn in 2004-05 when team was fourth in NJCAA Championships.

⭐ Member of LPGA and current Club Teaching Pro in Florida hometown.

Mark S. Kern | Rend Lake College President (1991-Present)

The fifth full-time President (and longest-serving) was the first college employee recognized for 35 years of service in 2004. During his 17-year tenure as chief administrator, Warrior / Lady Warrior programs expanded threefold, from five teams to 15 in addition to competitive dance and cheer squads.

⭐ RLC gained national attention with four NJCAA Championships (Men’s Cross-Country), six runner-up finishes (four in Men’s Indoor Track / Field, two in Men’s Golf) and 27 other Top Ten showings.

⭐ The college boasted six Academic Teams of the Year with GPAs of 3.0 or higher in both 2004-05 and 2005-06, topped by 21 Academic All-Americans.

⭐ Record enrollments, innovative educational programs and campus growth are his legacies, including the sports-related Aquatics Center; Hitting Zone; outdoor track; Learning Enhancement Center; Walls of Fame / Honor; bicycle-walking trail, and RLC Golf Outlet.

⭐ Kern joined the RLC faculty in 1968-69 and helped start the Ag program; he also introduced Advisory Councils, Cooperative Education and Community Ed.

⭐ He served previously as Dean of Instruction / College Dean, Dean of Community Services and Department Chair.

⭐ The athletic-minded inductee played basketball for Rich Herrin at Benton H.S. and was a first-rate softball pitcher. Four of his five children were collegiate athletes. Kern operates a 660-acre beef cow farm in Snowflake and received the 2001 Statewide Commercial Producers Award.