By Alex Boggis, UT Martin Assistant Sports Information Director
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – The 2022-23 academic year marked the 75th anniversary of the Ohio Valley Conference, which began in 1948 and currently ranks as the eighth-oldest Division I Conference.
As part of the celebration of the storied accomplishments of the League, a Committee working in conjunction with current and former schools, captured the “best-of-the-best” in each sport and celebrate the top athletes in league history with 75th Anniversary Teams across all OVC sports. A similar listing was compiled during the 40th and 50th anniversaries of the league.
The Skyhawks had five honorees on the 75th Anniversary Teams including three UT Martin Hall of Fame inductees with Katie Behrens, Mariah Klenke and Dani Myrick joining the list along with recent standout Erica Myers. The list was rounded out by former Skyhawk head coach Phil McNamara.
Katie Behrens (2004-07)
Behrens joins the list after becoming the only Skyhawk in program history to earn All-OVC accolades in all four seasons and is one of only eight players in school history to earn All-OVC first team honors twice in a career. The Sioux Falls, SD native led the team in scoring in each of her final two seasons and helped pace UT Martin to its first 10-win season in program history while also garnering All-OVC Tournament honors in 2007. Inducted into the UT Martin Hall of Fame in 2016, she ranks in the top-five in school history in games started (73), points (55), goals (22) and shots (244).
Mariah Klenke (2011-14)
Klenke was a two-time All-OVC first team honoree and the 2012 OVC Tournament MVP (one of only two players in school history to hold that title). The Highland, Ill. native was an important member of a program that won four combined OVC titles in a three-year span, leading the Skyhawks to their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2011. A 2022 UT Martin Hall of Fame inductee, she still ranks first in UT Martin history in saves (346) and victories (43) while ranking second all-time with 21 shutouts.
Erica Myers (2017-21)
Myers was a three-time All-OVC selection in her decorated career for the Skyhawks while also earning OVC All-Tournament honors during her 2021 campaign. The Holland, Ohio native helped lead the team to two OVC regular season titles in 2018 and 2021 while earning six OVC Goalkeeper of the Week selections. Following her five-year career, she finished as the program record-holder for matches played by a goalkeeper (82), minutes played (7467:51) and shutouts (23) while ranking second in saves (334) and victories (41).
Dani Myrick (2002-05)
Myrick’s presence is still felt throughout the Skyhawk soccer record book, as she is the career leader in points (91), goals (35), assists (21) and game-winning goals (eight). A three-time All-OVC honoree, Myrick also is the record holder for points in a single season (39 as a freshman in 2002) and points in a single match (eight in 2002) while she was the first player in program history to rack up two career hat tricks (both in 2002). The Midwest City, Okla. native was the first soccer player enshrined into the UT Martin Athletics Hall of Fame.
Phil McNamara (2010-22)
McNamara was at the helm of the most decorated era of Skyhawk history, leading the program to four OVC regular season championships in 2012, 2013, 2018 and 2021 while also punching the program’s first two tickets to the NCAA Tournament in 2011 and 2012. A three-time OVC Coach of the Year, McNamara compiled a 119-100-27 record over the course of 13 seasons while boasting a 68-43-12 record against OVC opponents. He also oversaw 60 All-OVC honorees – including 25 first team selections.
Below is a listing of the top women’s soccer student-athletes and coaches in OVC history.
Women’s Soccer
Natalia Ariza, Austin Peay (2010-13)
Tatiana Ariza, Austin Peay (2010-13)
Katie Behrens, UT Martin (2004-07)
Devon Bissell, Eastern Illinois (1999-01)
Sarah Broadbent, Austin Peay (2002-05)
Jill Burns, Tennessee Tech (2002-05)
Rebekah Clay, Murray State (2005-08)
Jade Flory, Morehead State (2013-14)
Julie Garst, Belmont (2017-21)
Beth Guccione, Southeast Missouri (1999, 2001)
Jenny Hamilton, Southeast Missouri (1999-02)
Tara Isbell, Murray State (2007-10)
Mariah Klenke, UT Martin (2011-14)
Cara LeMaster, Eastern Illinois (1999-02)
Beth Liesen, Eastern Illinois (2000-03)
Mackenzie Litzsinger, SIUE (2017-21)
Kelli McCoy, Tennessee Tech (1998-00)
Erica Myers, UT Martin (2017-21)
Dani Myrick, UT Martin (2002-05)
Kari Naerdemann, Tennessee Tech (2015-18)
Jennifer Pelley, SIUE (2012-15)
Lindsay Pickering, Southeast Missouri (2005-07)
Crystal Royall, Samford (2001-04)
Lindsay Shanks, Samford (2001-04)
Harriet Withers, Murray State (2014-17)
Coaches of Note
Steve Ballard, Eastern Illinois
Derek Burton, SIUE
Jeremy Groves, Murray State
Warren Lipka, Morehead State
Phil McNamara, UT Martin
Heather Nelson, Southeast Missouri
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information