The Southeast Missouri State University's athletic department will be inducting its newest members into the Hall of Fame. This year's inductees include Mary Kate Farrington, Donald Metz, Angel Rubio, the Rust Family, Derek Winans and the 2000 volleyball team.

A committee comprised of five members chooses the new inductees to enter the Hall of Fame.

"There is an opportunity for our fans and alums to nominate members through our website or phone calls to the office," athletic director Mark Alnutt said. "Then this group (the committee), they review all the nominations and they put forth a list of who they recommend that go into the Hall of Fame."

Alnutt and university president Kenneth W. Dobbins go over the selections and make the final approval.

"I never have any concerns," Alnutt said about the committee's selections.

Rex Rust, Co-President of Rust Communications is humbled by the induction of his family.

"It's such an honor to be a part of the university," Rust said. "I'm a big believer that athletics is one of the best classrooms in preparation for life."

The Rust family has been long-time boosters to Southeast and have been a huge supporter for the athletic department. The company's newspaper, the Southeast Missourian, which is partnered with the Arrow, and its radio stations, SEMO ESPN Sport's Network, provide coverage to fans and alumni who are in the area and across the country.

Both he and his brother, Jon, also co-president, grew up watching Southeast sports with the campus basically being in their backyard.

"My brother and I had the benefit of having great facilities around," Rust said. "We would ride our bikes down to the tennis court and play tennis."

The 2000 volleyball team was the most successful team in the history of Southeast by going a remarkable 16-0 in the conference.

Southeast was able to knock off North Carolina in five sets in the first round of the NCAA tournament and they are the only Southeast team to advance to the second round. The team lost to Florida in the second round bringing an end to its season.

"I don't think people realize that they beat North Carolina," former coach Cindy Gannon said. "A team that was ranked all year long in the Top 25 and they knocked them off in the tournament."

Gannon pointed out that they were one of the last 32 teams playing in the entire country; a feat that they should all be proud to have.

Krista Haukap, who was the OVC Player of the Year, will be inducted into the hall of fame for a second time. During the match against North Carolina in the tournament, Haukap had 36 kills, which is a single game record that still stands today. Haukap also holds the record for career kills at 2,070 and also total attempts at 4,291.

Mary Kate Farrington was the first gymnast in school history to score a perfect 10 in an event. Farrington is also the only gymnast to have scored a perfect 10 in two different events. She received a 10 on the vault on March 24, 1995 and also on March 18, 1997. Then, she received a perfect 10 on the floor exercise on March 11, 1997 and March 14, 1997.

"Having perfect 10's which is very hard to achieve at the collegiate level," Alnutt said. "It's good to have someone representing women's gymnastics."

Donald Metz was a two sport athlete while at Southeast from 1967-1970. Metz led the basketball team in scoring during his freshman year. Metz was named captain and Most Valuable Player of the 1970 baseball team and batted .330 in his career at Southeast.

Angel Rubio was a very successful football player during the 1993-1997 years. Rubio is the all-time career leader in sacks and tackles for loss. Rubio was drafted in the seventh round of the 1998 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Derek Winans entered the top 10 in numerous categories during his basketball playing career at Southeast from 2001-2005. Winans was named the OVC Freshman of the Year in the 2001-2002 season.

Winans was of the best shooters in history of Southeast, being third in career field goals made and second in career 3-point field goals made. He is also fifth all-time in scoring at 1,505 points scored. Winans finished with 153 steals, which is tied second all time at Southeast.

The recognition of the inductees will be during halftime of the men's basketball game on Jan. 16. The women's team will play at 5:30 p.m. and the men play at 7 p.m. both against Tennessee Tech.