The University of Akron Athletics
Akron’s Stevi Large Gruber Inducted into MAC Hall of Fame
June 01 | Track & Field
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CLEVELAND– University of Akron alumna Stevi Large Gruber (women's track & field) has been named one of six members of the 2020 Class inducted into the Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame, the MAC announced on Monday.
Joining Gruber in the 2020 MAC Class are Ball State's Bryan Bullington (baseball), Central Michigan's Margo Jonker (softball), Miami's Wally Szczerbiak (men's basketball), Ohio's Ellen Herman-Kimball (volleyball), and Toledo's Briana Shook (women's track & field).
"I am truly humbled to be inducted into the MAC Hall of Fame," Gruber said. "To be recognized for all my accomplishments, along with all the other MAC inductees, it's truly amazing. It means so much to me, and I am very honored that now my kids can see that if you work hard and push yourself, you can achieve great things!"
"What a deserving honor for Stevi," said UA track & field head coach Dennis Mitchell. "I will never forget that stormy, rainy, tornado warning day in Arkansas, where she herself was a tornado spinning herself through adversity to victory. Great job!"
Gruber is the second Zip to be inducted into the MAC Hall of Fame. She joins former national champion Christi Smith (women's track and field) who was UA's first athlete– male or female – inducted into the MAC Hall of Fame in 2013.
"We have such a storied history within our Conference and it is important to honor and celebrate the accomplishments of our former students, coaches and administrators, specifically these six individuals, and their achievements during their time competing in the Mid-American Conference," said Dr. Jon Steinbrecher, MAC Commissioner. "We are honored to welcome this year's class to the Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame. The Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame is a testament to the achievements of those that have competed and served in this great Conference."
Gruber became just the third individual national champion in University of Akron history. As a senior, Gruber shattered her own school and Mid-American Conference record twice in the hammer throw on June 12, 2009, en route to national champion honors at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship.
A four-time first-team All-American, Gruber held school records in the hammer, indoor and outdoor shot put, discus, and weight throw. She had also held the MAC's all-time and championship records in weight throw and hammer at the time of her graduation. As a junior, Gruber was the 2009 NCAA runner-up in weight throw.
In her collegiate career (2006-09), Gruber captured nine MAC championships as an individual and became the first female in league history to complete a career sweep in a field event, winning the hammer throw all four times.
Gruber was a two-time team captain and three-time Most Valuable Performer on a team that achieved perfection; sweeping the conference's indoor and outdoor championships each season from 2006-09. Her team was the first in MAC history to win four straight indoor titles or had a run of six consecutive championships (indoor and outdoor).
Gruber was UA's Female Athlete of the Year in three consecutive seasons from 2007-09. She was also a two-time Academic All-MAC honoree. Gruber earned her bachelor's degree in child and family development in December 2008. Gruber was inducted into Akron's Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.
She attended Sheridan High School where she sets records in shot and discus and placed second at the state meet her senior year in the shot put.
Gruber and her husband Christian, an Akron football alumnus (2006-09), reside in Lancaster, Ohio, with their three children–Landon (4), Emmarie (2), and Knox (4 mos.).
ABOUT THE MAC HALL OF FAME
The MAC Hall of Fame was approved by the MAC Council of Presidents in 1987. The charter class was inducted in 1988 and subsequent classes were added in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1994. After six induction classes, the MAC Hall of Fame maintained 52 members until it was reinstated in May of 2012. This year's class brings the number of MAC Hall of Fame inductees to 102 individuals from 15 classes.
CLEVELAND– University of Akron alumna Stevi Large Gruber (women's track & field) has been named one of six members of the 2020 Class inducted into the Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame, the MAC announced on Monday.
Joining Gruber in the 2020 MAC Class are Ball State's Bryan Bullington (baseball), Central Michigan's Margo Jonker (softball), Miami's Wally Szczerbiak (men's basketball), Ohio's Ellen Herman-Kimball (volleyball), and Toledo's Briana Shook (women's track & field).
"I am truly humbled to be inducted into the MAC Hall of Fame," Gruber said. "To be recognized for all my accomplishments, along with all the other MAC inductees, it's truly amazing. It means so much to me, and I am very honored that now my kids can see that if you work hard and push yourself, you can achieve great things!"
"What a deserving honor for Stevi," said UA track & field head coach Dennis Mitchell. "I will never forget that stormy, rainy, tornado warning day in Arkansas, where she herself was a tornado spinning herself through adversity to victory. Great job!"
Gruber is the second Zip to be inducted into the MAC Hall of Fame. She joins former national champion Christi Smith (women's track and field) who was UA's first athlete– male or female – inducted into the MAC Hall of Fame in 2013.
"We have such a storied history within our Conference and it is important to honor and celebrate the accomplishments of our former students, coaches and administrators, specifically these six individuals, and their achievements during their time competing in the Mid-American Conference," said Dr. Jon Steinbrecher, MAC Commissioner. "We are honored to welcome this year's class to the Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame. The Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame is a testament to the achievements of those that have competed and served in this great Conference."
Gruber became just the third individual national champion in University of Akron history. As a senior, Gruber shattered her own school and Mid-American Conference record twice in the hammer throw on June 12, 2009, en route to national champion honors at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship.
A four-time first-team All-American, Gruber held school records in the hammer, indoor and outdoor shot put, discus, and weight throw. She had also held the MAC's all-time and championship records in weight throw and hammer at the time of her graduation. As a junior, Gruber was the 2009 NCAA runner-up in weight throw.
In her collegiate career (2006-09), Gruber captured nine MAC championships as an individual and became the first female in league history to complete a career sweep in a field event, winning the hammer throw all four times.
Gruber was a two-time team captain and three-time Most Valuable Performer on a team that achieved perfection; sweeping the conference's indoor and outdoor championships each season from 2006-09. Her team was the first in MAC history to win four straight indoor titles or had a run of six consecutive championships (indoor and outdoor).
Gruber was UA's Female Athlete of the Year in three consecutive seasons from 2007-09. She was also a two-time Academic All-MAC honoree. Gruber earned her bachelor's degree in child and family development in December 2008. Gruber was inducted into Akron's Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.
She attended Sheridan High School where she sets records in shot and discus and placed second at the state meet her senior year in the shot put.
Gruber and her husband Christian, an Akron football alumnus (2006-09), reside in Lancaster, Ohio, with their three children–Landon (4), Emmarie (2), and Knox (4 mos.).
ABOUT THE MAC HALL OF FAME
The MAC Hall of Fame was approved by the MAC Council of Presidents in 1987. The charter class was inducted in 1988 and subsequent classes were added in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1994. After six induction classes, the MAC Hall of Fame maintained 52 members until it was reinstated in May of 2012. This year's class brings the number of MAC Hall of Fame inductees to 102 individuals from 15 classes.
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