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Tracy Rietzke

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Rockhurst announces 2022 Hall of Fame class

Tracy Rietzke guided the Hawks to 1,105 wins in volleyball over 32 seasons.
Rockhurst Athletics will honor a group of seven outstanding individuals and one team with induction into its Athletics Hall of Fame February 12.

The 2022 Hall of Fame class includes six former student-athletes, one former coach and one team. The inductees include: Cindy Cernech-Hamilton (women's basketball), Diego Gutierrez (men's soccer), Aaron Hill (men's basketball), Kecia Jennings (volleyball and women's basketball), Kim Martin Noergaard (women's basketball), Al Payne (men's basketball), Tracy Rietzke (volleyball and women's basketball coach) and the 1973 men's soccer team.

"We are excited to welcome this outstanding class into the Rockhurst Athletics Hall of Fame," said RU Director of Athletics Kristy Bayer. "I would like to thank our Hall of Fame Committee for their assistance. Each of these inductees has made a lasting impact on Rockhurst University, and we look forward to welcoming them back to Kansas City in February."

Official induction ceremonies will take place on Saturday, February 12, with a reception and ceremony on the Rockhurst campus. The inductees will also be recognized at halftime of the men's basketball game against the University of Indianapolis prior to the induction ceremony.

CINDY CERNECH-HAMILTON – Women's Basketball (1990-95)
Cernech-Hamilton was a four-year standout for the Hawks, helping Rockhurst win 105 games and play in three NAIA national tournaments under coach Tracy Rietzke. She led Rockhurst to a 24-7 record in her senior year while earning NAIA All-American honors in 1994-95. The Omaha, Nebraska native ranks ninth in career points (1,249) and 12th in career rebounds (508) at Rockhurst. Cernech-Hamilton graduated from Rockhurst with a psychology degree. She is a science teacher and assistant principal at St. Celestine School in the Chicago area.

DIEGO GUTIERREZ – Men's Soccer (1994-96)
One of the top midfielders in school history, Gutierrez was a two-time NAIA All-American in 1994 and '95. He helped lead the Hawks to a 44-9-1 record in his two seasons and a pair of NAIA national tournament appearances while scoring 35 goals. He went on to play 13 seasons in Major League Soccer with Chicago and Kansas City. Gutierrez graduated with a psychology degree and later earned a master's degree in business from Rockhurst. He is currently an assistant professor of management and marketing in the Helzberg School of Management at Rockhurst.

AARON HILL – Men's Basketball (2004-10)
Hill ended his outstanding career at Rockhurst ranked fifth in career scoring with 1,786 points while breaking the school record for career 3-point field goals made (344). He was a two-time All-American guard and played on two NCAA Tournament teams. As a junior in 2008-09, he averaged 20 points per game and was named the Player of the Year in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Hill was a two-time All-GLVC First Team selection and was named to the school's All-Century Team earlier this year. A First Team CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2010, Hill graduated with an accounting degree and earned his master's in business administration from Rockhurst.

KECIA JENNINGS – Volleyball & Women's Basketball (2002-06)
A four-year standout in volleyball, Jennings played on four NCAA Tournament teams and helped lead the Hawks to a 123-35 record under coach Tracy Rietzke. She was named an All-American setter by the American Volleyball Coaches Association in her senior year in 2005 and finished her career with 4,367 assists. In her junior year in 2004, she was honored as the Heartland Conference Player of the Year. She also was played three seasons on the women's basketball team. A two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American, Jennings graduated with a degree in biology.

KIM MARTIN NOERGAARD – Women's Basketball (1994-98)
Martin Noergaard ranks as one of the most prolific scorers in school history. The Wichita, Kansas native was an NAIA All-American forward and was named the Midwest Region Independent Player of the Year in her senior year in 1998. She ended her career with 1,643 points, which ranks fourth in the school record books. She averaged 20.3 points in her senior season, leading the Hawks to a 24-7 record under coach Maryann Mitts. The Hawks posted a 92-27 in her four years and played in three NAIA national tournaments. Martin Norgaard currently lives near Copenhagen, Denmark.

AL PAYNE – Men's Basketball (1963-66)
A three-year starter at Rockhurst, Payne helped the Hawks capture the NAIA national championship in 1964 in Kansas City. As a junior in 1964-65, he earned Honorable Mention All-American honors. He ranks 12th in career scoring with 1,370 points and is second in career rebounds with 1,097 caroms at Rockhurst. He also holds the school record for rebounds in a season (414). Payne was selected to the school's All-Century team earlier this year. He graduated with a business degree and currently lives in southern California.

TRACY RIETZKE – Volleyball & Women's Basketball (1988-2020)
Rietzke is one of the most accomplished coaches in the history of intercollegiate women's volleyball. He retired in 2020 as the fourth winningest coach in all NCAA levels with 1,277 victories. Rietzke guided the Hawks to 1,105 wins and 18 national tournament appearances over 32 seasons. He was named the USMC/AVCA Division II National Coach of the Year in 2019 after leading the Hawks to the national tournament semifinals for the second time in three seasons. He also took the Hawks to five NAIA national tournaments and won 206 games as the women's basketball coach from 1988-96. Rietzke was named to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2020.

1973 MEN'S SOCCER TEAM
Under the guidance of legendary head coach Tony Tocco, the 1973 men's soccer team posted a 10-3-2 record and was the national runner-up in the NAIA national tournament. The Hawks outscored their opponents 51-11 while collecting six shutouts. Rockhurst blanked Eastern Connecticut and Erskine in the national quarterfinals and semifinals before falling to Quincy in the championship game in Florissant, Missouri.
 
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