UNI Athletics announces upcoming jersey retirement ceremonies

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- The UNI Athletic Department on Thursday announced the formal jersey retirement of iconic Panther athletes for nine of its sport programs, as well as six of its formerly sponsored teams.

Northern Iowa will celebrate the jersey retirements of Kurt Warner (football) on Sept. 12, Molly Lembezeder (women's swimming & diving) on Sept. 26 and Anne Marie Witko (soccer) on Oct. 11 as part of the fall 2026 sports season.

The Panthers will also celebrate jersey retirements during homecoming weekend at UNI's All-Sports Reunion on Saturday, Oct. 10 for Joey Woody (men's cross country/track & field), Paige (Knodle) Bohannon (women's cross country/track & field) and Nancy Land (women's tennis).

Additionally, UNI Athletics also announced its jersey retirement honorees for six sports no longer sponsored by the university, including Duane Josephson (baseball), Penny Wilson (women's gymnastics), Jesus Vasquez (men's gymnastics), Diane Braun (women's field hockey), Jacob Stall (men's swimming & diving) and Randy Krejci (men's tennis). These six athletes will be celebrated at UNI's All-Sports Reunion as part of homecoming weekend on Saturday, October 10.

Jordan Weber (men's golf) and Hannah Bermel (women's golf) will be honored on Saturday, Oct. 31 at the Panthers' home football game vs. Indiana State.

Due to scheduling conflicts, Panther volleyball's honoree, Molly O'Brien, will be celebrated with her jersey retirement ceremony in 2027.

"The jersey retirement program has allowed us to continue celebrating the best of the best of UNI Athletics," said UNI Director of Athletics Dr. Megan Franklin. "This slate of retirements this fall solidifies the importance of celebrating in this sesquicentennial year, the student-athletes who defined excellence for their teams and continue to be aspirational to student-athletes competing with UNI across their chests."

UPCOMING JERSEY RETIREMENT EVENTS

Kurt Warner (Football) | Sept. 12 vs. Drake
Molly Lembezeder (Women's Swimming & Diving) | Sept. 26 - Purple & Gold Intrasquad
Joey Woody (Men's Cross Country/Track & Field) | Oct. 10 (All-Sport Reunion)
Paige (Knodle) Bohannon (Women's Cross Country/Track & Field) | Oct. 10 (All-Sport Reunion)
Nancy Land (Women's Tennis) | Oct. 10 (All-Sport Reunion)
Duane Josephson (Baseball) | Oct. 10 (All-Sport Reunion)
Penny Wilson (Women's Gymnastics) | Oct. 10 (All-Sport Reunion)
Jesus Vasquez (Men's Gymnastics) | Oct. 10 (All-Sport Reunion)
Diane Braun (Women's Field Hockey) | Oct. 10 (All-Sport Reunion)
Jacob Stall (Men's Swimming & Diving) | Oct. 10 (All-Sport Reunion)
Randy Krejci (Men's Tennis) | Oct. 10 (All-Sport Reunion)
Anne Marie Witko (Soccer) | Oct. 11 vs. Valparaiso
Jordan Weber (Men's Golf) | Oct. 31 (UNI Football Game vs. Indiana State)
Hannah Bermel (Women's Golf) | Oct. 31 (UNI Football Game vs. Indiana State)
Molly O'Brien (Volleyball) | TBD (2027)

Launched during the 2025-26 school year, UNI's jersey retirement program includes plans for future recognition as deemed appropriate by a selection committee and head coaches. It does not retire any numbers from current circulation. UNI Athletics will continue to recognize teams and individuals as part of its annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

To honor exceptional athletes, the UNI Athletic Department has established the following criteria for retiring athletic jerseys:

They should have achieved notable individual accolades, such as school, regional or national records, All-American or all-conference status.
Most valuable player/athlete or post-conference competition.
The athlete's influence should extend beyond their school playing career resulting in inspiration for future generations.
The athlete must have demonstrated exemplary sportsmanship, character and leadership.
Their performance must have positively impacted their team's success.
The athlete's active involvement in community service or outreach is preferable, including earning popularity and connection with fans and the citizenry.
Post-athletic contributions to the school, community or sport following their playing career.
Selections are determined by the Intercollegiate Hall of Fame Committee with support from current/former head coaches of each sport.

Earlier this year, UNI retired the jerseys of Bill Smith (wrestling), AJ Green (men's basketball), Jacqui Kalin (women's basketball) and Patty Stockman (softball).

Members of the evaluating committee that determines jersey retirements includes chairwoman and UNI Director of Athletics Dr. Megan Franklin, Vice Chair Noreen Hermansen, UNI Faculty Athletics Representative Elaine Eshbaugh, Ron Steele, Jim Kelly, Chris Kleinhans-Schulz, Stan Lorenz, Jim Miller, Dave Peters, Steve Gearhart, Nancy Justis, Scott Peace and Joel Wauters with input from UNI head coaches.

KURT WARNER (Football)
A 2017 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Warner's jersey will be retired on Saturday, September 12 in a pregame ceremony prior to UNI football's home opener against Drake. The ceremony will also coincide with his simultaneous induction into the UNI Athletics Hall of Fame.

Warner played 12 years as a professional quarterback with a legendary story to become one of the NFL's greatest undrafted players in arena football, NFL Europe and the NFL.

The 1993 Gateway Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year with the Panthers, Warner was among the NFL's most efficient players at the turn of the century, quarterbacking the iconic "Greatest Show on Turf" offense with the St. Louis Rams to a Super Bowl championship in 1999 and an NFC title in 2001. He would later help lead the Arizona Cardinals to its first-ever Super Bowl appearance in 2008.

Since his retirement from professional football in 2009, Warner, the 2008 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, has served as an analyst for NFL Network, while also supporting children, special-needs individuals and single parents through various philanthropic endeavors.

MOLLY LEMBEZEDER (Women's Swimming & Diving)
A record breaking and program defining swimmer, Molly Lemezeder will be honored with her jersey retirement on Saturday, Sept. 26 during UNI's annual Purple and Gold Intrasquad Scrimmage.

The Dubuque, Iowa native spent four years as part of the Panther program from 2014 to 2018, rewriting team history under coaches Doug Humphries and Nick Lakin. A three-time All-MVC performer, Lembezeder captured nine conference titles during breakout sophomore and junior seasons with the Panthers, including back-to-back titles in the 50 and 100-yard freestyle and 200 and 400-yard freestyle relays in both 2016 and 2017, as well as a MVC title in the 200-yard medley relay as a sophomore. Her speed as a sprinter and mid-distance freestyler helped Northern Iowa to consecutive third place team finishes at the 2017 and 2018 MVC Championships, the two best finishes for the program in team history.

Lembezeder finished her collegiate career with eight school records, including the 500, 100 and 200-yard freestyle, and the 200 and 400-yard freestyle and medley relays. She remains a part of UNI's current school record in the 800-yard freestyle relay to this day.

She was also recognized as a three-time MVC First Team Scholar-Athlete (2016-18) and a four-time conference swimmer of the week during her career.

JOEY WOODY (Men's Cross Country/Track & Field)
Arguably the greatest hurdler in the history of UNI track and field, Joey Woody will be recognized during UNI's All-Sports Reunion on Oct. 10.

An Iowa City native, Woody was a four-time All-American who captured the 1997 NCAA outdoor title in the men's 400-meter hurdles, just one of four Panthers to win a national championship in track and field. He qualified and earned First Team All-American status in 1994 and 1995 in the event, and also placed fifth in the 800 meters at the 1996 NCAA Indoor Championships.

An eight-time All-MVC Team honoree, Woody won eight individual conference titles during his career in the 1990s, becoming the only four-time outdoor champion in the 400-meter hurdles (1993-95, 1997), as well as three titles in the 110-meter hurdles (1994-95, 1997) and an indoor title in the 800 meters in 1995. He was named the men's MVP of the MVC Outdoor Championships three times in his career (1994-95, 1997).

Woody finished his Panther career the holder of six school records, four of which still stand as of today with the indoor 600 and 800 meters, plus the outdoor 110 and 400-meter hurdles. His 1997 MVC record time of 48.18 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles also still stands to this day.

Following his collegiate years, Woody won a gold medal title for Team USA in the 4x400-meter relay at the 1999 World Championships in Greece and helped set a world record in the 4x800-meter relay the following year, while also narrowly missing out on qualifying for the 2000 Olympics in the 400-meter hurdles.

After serving as an assistant coach at UNI from 1997 to 2002, Woody, a 2009 UNI and 2012 MVC Hall of Fame inductee, continued coaching at the University of Iowa in 2006 and was named Director of Track and Field/Cross Country in 2014. As the leader of the Hawkeyes, his programs have captured 75 Big Ten Conference event titles, four men's team titles and one NCAA individual championship. He has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year four times and USTFCCCA Regional Coach of the Year six times.

PAIGE (KNODLE) BOHANNON (Women's Cross Country/Track & Field)
One of the most decorated female track and field athletes in UNI history, Paige (Knodle) Bohannon will be celebrated on Oct. 10 at UNI's All-Sports Reunion.

A three-time NCAA All-American from Byron, Illinois, Knodle placed 17th in heptathlon with All-American Honorable Mention recognition in 2013 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. She would take fourth the following season, as well as eighth in the event in 2016. Knodle also qualified in the pentathlon for the 2016 NCAA Indoor Championships, placing 13th overall.

Elected four times as a team captain, Knodle was widely recognized as one of the Missouri Valley Conference's top performers, being named MVC Most Valuable Athlete of the Meet three times, including twice during the outdoor season. She also earned Most Outstanding Track Athlete honors, as well as Most Outstanding Field Athlete recognition two times each during her career.

Winning her first individual conference championship as a sophomore in the javelin, Knodle won a total of six MVC titles, taking home gold in the 2014 MVC heptathlon competition. During her senior season in 2016, she won three events at the conference championship meets, including the pentathlon, 100-meter hurdles and 400-meter hurdles. Knodle finished her career holding school records in seven events, as well as two conference records in the pentathlon and heptathlon. A decorated student in the classroom, she also was named an MVC Scholar-Athlete in 2016.

Following her graduation from UNI, Knodle, a 2023 UNI Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, spent a season coaching at Iowa State before joining the track and field staff at Iowa, specializing in coaching multi-event athletes, hurdles and vertical jumps.

NANCY LAND (Women's Tennis)
A native of West Des Moines, Iowa and a product of Valley High School, Nancy Land was UNI women's tennis' first, and only, National Tournament Qualifier. She will be recognized with her jersey retirement on Oct. 10 at the UNI All-Sports Reunion.

Land came to UNI from Valley High School, where she won three Sectional and District Championships (1979-81). Her freshman year was the most dominant in her career, as she qualified for the AIAW Division II National Tournament in the third flight. She became UNI's first women's tennis athlete to qualify for a National Tournament. The freshman posted an 18-8 singles record, including four wins at No. 1 singles, en route to her postseason appearance.

Land continued a dominant career for the Panthers, as she finished her time at UNI with 84 singles victories, the most in program history. That mark stood for over 20 years, until 2008. She also finished her time in the Purple and Gold with the fourth-most single-season singles victories (28) her senior season (1984-85). At the time of her graduation, Land set the program record for career doubles victories with 81. That mark was passed just one season later by three-season teammate Maria McDonald (1982-86).

DUANE JOSEPHSON (Baseball)
Duane "Josie" Josephson, a two-sport athlete for the Panthers best known for his skills on the baseball diamond, will be honored at UNI's All-Sports Reunion on Oct. 10.

A New Hampton, Iowa native, Josephson attended the then-State College of Iowa (SCI) from 1960 to 1965 and was the first player in school history to be named All-American in baseball, as well as becoming the first to hit ten home runs in a single season. His ten round-trippers in 1964 led the nation.

His career stats at UNI include a .365 batting average, including a .455 average in conference play, 20 home runs and 75 RBIs in 57 games. He committed just one error in his entire UNI career and helped lead SCI to the NCAA Tournament and three conference championships.

Josephson was also known for his talents on the basketball court. He finished his career with 913 points and led SCI in scoring his junior and senior years and was a two-time all-conference guard.

Following graduation in 1965, Josephson pursued a career in professional baseball. Despite being hampered by injuries, he played from 1965 to 1970 with the Chicago White Sox, and from 1970 to 1972 for the Boston Red Sox. He was named the all-star catcher for the Southern League in 1965 and for the Pacific Coast League in 1966.

Josephson was named MVP for the Pacific Coast League in 1966 and was an American League All-Star in 1968 with the White Sox. He finished his major league career with a batting average of .258 with 23 home runs and 164 RBIs in 470 career games. He appeared in 470 games.

A 1987 UNI Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, Josephson passed away in 1997.

PENNY WILSON (Women's Gymnastics)
Despite being a newcomer to college gymnastics, Penny Wilson, who will be celebrated at UNI's All-Sports Reunion on Oct. 10, left a record breaking mark on the Panther women's program in her lone season competing at UNI in 1980-81 under coach Carrie Regier.

The Waterloo, Iowa native who began her gymnastics career after taking a tumbling class in junior high bounced back from early season injuries during her freshman season to score 30+ points in five different all-around competitions. At the 1981 NCAA regional meet, Wilson narrowly missed qualifying for the national championships in the all-around after posting a career-best score of 32.95 points, while also breaking individual program records in the floor exercise (8.65), balance beam (8.65) and vault (8.45).

Northern Iowa, which discontinued gymnastics following the 1980-81 season, took fifth at the 1981 NCAA regionals, its best ever team finish, while Wilson's fifth place individual showing was also a program-best.

JOSE VASQUEZ (Men's Gymnastics)
The first All-American gymnast in team history and a two-time NCAA qualifier, Jose Vasquez will be recognized during the Oct. 10 UNI All-Sport Reunion.

An Omaha, Nebraska native, Vasquez competed for the Panthers from 1976 to 1980 under coach Godfrey "Garf" Stych and helped make an impact early in his college career. After helping UNI to a North Central Conference (NCC) team runner-up finish during his freshman season, Vasquez was part of Northern Iowa's 1978 conference championship team, setting the stage for his first of two NCAA Division II Championship appearances, taking ninth place in the floor exercise, the best finish ever by a UNI gymnast at the national meet.

During his junior season of 1978-79, Vasquez set new school records in the floor exercise and rings during the regular season and qualified for his second NCAA Division II Championship meet, hosted by UNI in the UNI-Dome with a 14th place showing on home turf. He also qualified for the AAU National Gymnastics Meet in 1980.

DIANE (BRAUN) Eckhardt (Women's Field Hockey)
A three-sport athlete and field hockey standout for the Panthers in the 1970s, Diane (Braun) Eckhardt will be celebrated during the UNI All-Sport Reunion on Oct. 10.

The Fredericksburg, Iowa native began her college career at UNI in the fall of 1972, playing not just field hockey, but basketball and softball for the Panthers. In 1973, she was selected to the All-Iowa College Team and to the third-team Midwest Hockey Association squad as a goalkeeper. A year later, she was once again selected as a member of the All-Iowa College Team and named to the second-team Iowa All-Star squad, which participated in the Midwest Field Hockey Tournament.

The 1974 field hockey squad was also chosen to compete in the National Field Hockey Tournament. Braun came back in 1975 to help lead the field hockey team to a state title and again gathered honors, being named to the first-team Midwest I squad.

During the winter months, Braun played a key role as a forward for UNI women's basketball under head coach Wanda Green. She played on the UNI State Tournament Team all four years and notably scored 34 points in a Feb. 1975 win over Buena Vista.

In the spring, softball filled Braun's time as the Panthers' catcher, helping UNI win back-to-back state titles in 1975 and 1976 with appearances in the AIWA Women's College World Series.

Following graduation, Braun served as a graduate assistant in the physical education department and as assistant coach for softball under head coach Jane Mertesdorf, which included Northern Iowa's 1997 national championships. She would go on to coach softball, basketball and volleyball at various levels.

JACOB STALL (Men's Swimming & Diving)
Jacob Stall, arguably the best freestyle sprinter in UNI men's swimming and diving history, will be honored at UNI's Oct. 10 All-Sports Reunion.

A Bettendorf, Iowa native, Stall swam for the Panthers from 1994 to 1998 under coach Jim Hall, among the final swimmers and divers to train and compete in the old East Gym Pool. A two-time First Team All-MVC performer, Stall finished his career with six school records at the time of his graduation, including the 50, 100 and 200-yard freestyle races, as well as the 200 and 800-yard freestyle relays and the 400-yard medley relay.

He earned Male Swimmer of the Meet recognition at the 1996 Midwest Classic Championships, and also earned an MVC Men's Swimmer of the Week honor early in his senior season.

Stall currently resides in North Carolina where he serves as an Assistant Rating Knowledge Manager with the U.S. Coast Guard.

RANDY KREJCI (Men's Tennis)
Cedar Rapids native Randy Krejci compiled impressive records while playing tennis for Northern Iowa from 1973-1976. He will be recognized with his jersey retirement on Oct. 10 at the UNI All-Sports Reunion.

He began his collegiate tennis career in 1973 and became a primary reason for the team's success. He participated in the NCAA Tournament each of his four years on an individual basis as well as at the team level. He won the North Central Conference singles championship every year, and the conference doubles championship three years.

At the time of his induction into UNI's Hall of Fame in 1994, Krejci held career records for winning the most singles matches in a season (37) and career (139). He also had accumulated the most doubles victories (106) and consecutive doubles victories (35) while compiling a .863 career winning percentage. In 1975, he was named an Outstanding College Athlete of America, which is awarded nationally by sports information directors. The following year, he earned his bachelor of arts degree from UNI in physical education and health.

After graduation, Krejci began teaching at McKinley Junior High School in Cedar Rapids and started officiating high school basketball, football and volleyball games. He moved to Kennedy High School in 1979, where he coached tennis and volleyball. Krejci returned to UNI for a master's degree in 1983, and two years later was named an Outstanding Young Man in America as a faculty member of Kennedy High School. In 1987, the Mississippi Valley Conference named him Coach of the Year, and he also was given an award for conducting an exemplary program at Kennedy.

ANNE MARIE WITKO (Soccer)
The first goalkeeper in program history, Witko will be celebrated with her jersey retirement on Sunday, October 11 during homecoming weekend prior to the Panthers' home tilt against Valparaiso.

A member of Northern Iowa's first four seasons of play from 2000 to 2003, Witko was a three-time All-Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) performer, becoming the program's first athlete to earn First Team All-MVC honors, as well as MVC All-Freshman Team recognition in the inaugural season in 2000.

Contributing to 22 team victories, Witko set school records with 6,430 career minutes in net, as well as 14 career shutouts, including five during her senior season. She remains UNI's all-time leader in saves (602) and single-season minutes in goal (1,774), and is one of seven Panther goalkeepers all-time to average less than two goals allowed in a career.

JORDAN WEBER (Men's Golf)
One of the top men's golfers in program history, not only at UNI, but on the professional golf circuit, Jordan Weber will be recognized with his jersey retirement on Oct. 31 during UNI football's home game against Indiana State.

A Bernard, Iowa native, Weber is UNI's only men's golfer to qualify for the NCAA Regional Tournament in program history. A two-time All-MVC selection, Weber was selected for postseason competition following a 2007-08 season that saw the senior post a stroke average of 71.5 over the year, with eight rounds in the 60s, including a low of 64 at the Agua-Caliente Invitational in Palm Desert, Calif. Nov. 11. He also had one victory, earning medalist honors at the John Dallio Memorial in Chicago, Ill., Oct. 1-2.

After a couple brief stints on some smaller tours after graduation, Weber found a love for simulator golf and went on to play in the NEXT Golf Tour, a tournament played on Trackman Simulator software. The NEXT Tour exists to "help provide elite players an opportunity to earn income and develop their brands as professional golfers, create a tech-forward environment that encourages serious competition, entertainment and fun engagement and to serve as a supplement to established pro golf tours."

Weber claimed the top spot on the season finale of the NEXT Tour in late March and topped the Order of Merit, which included a hefty pay out as well as three Challenge Tour exemptions and a start on the DP World Tour this summer, two of the top-tier professional tours in Europe.

HANNAH BERMEL (Women's Golf)
Among the most successful women's golfers and student-athletes at UNI, Hannah Bermel will be recognized with her jersey retirement on Oct. 31 during UNI football's home game against Indiana State.

A Cedar Falls native, Bermel played five seasons for the Panthers from 2017 to 2022 and left her mark not only as a talented golfer, but one of the program and Missouri Valley Conference's (MVC) most decorated student-athletes. Graduating from UNI with degrees in communication disorders and gerontology, Bermel was the first women's golfer to be named MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team four times in the history of the conference. Additionally, she was named the winner of the MVC's Elite 17 Award in 2019, given to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average competing in the conference championship event.

On the course, Bermel's career average round score of 77.76 helped her standout as one of the program's best as the first Panther to earn four First Team All-MVC honors in team history. A four-time MVC Golfer of the Week honoree, she led Panther golfers in 17 of her 38 career tournaments played, finished in the top-ten individually in 13 tournaments and also captured three individual tournament titles (2019 MVC Preview, 2019 Creighton Classic, 2021 Indiana State Spring Invite).

UNI tied its all-time best team performance at the MVC Championships with Bermel on the roster with runner-up showings in 2019 and 2021, and also captured five team tournament championships. Her senior season also included a career-best round of 69 at the 2022 Jackrabbit Invite.

Bermel, who will be inducted into the UNI Athletics Hall of Fame this September as its Merlin Taylor Academic Award winner, currently serves as an assistant golf coach for UNI alongside her father, head coach John Bermel.

MOLLY O'BRIEN (Volleyball)
One of UNI's most dominant volleyball players, Molly O'Brien will be celebrated with her jersey retirement on a date to be determined in 2027.

A middle blocker from 2000 to 2003, O'Brien established herself as a driving force behind four MVC regular season and three MVC Tournament championships teams, including appearances in four NCAA Tournaments and Sweet Sixteen runs in 2001 and 2002.

Northern Iowa's all-time leader in kills (1,779), points (2,264.5) and matches played (138), O'Brien, a 2010 UNI Athletics and 2013 MVC Hall of Fame inductee, was a four-time all-conference athlete, earning MVC Player of the Year honors three consecutive years (2001-03), as well as AVCA All-District recognition.

Named to the MVC's All-Centennial Team in 2006, O'Brien also finished her career as UNI's all-time leader in career blocks (711) and block assists (653). Her single-season and junior class record 595 kills from the 2002 season still stand as records to this day, as do her single season blocks, block assists and points records.

UNI Athletics action can be followed all year long on social media on Facebook (UNI Athletics), X (@UNIAthletics) and on Instagram (@uniathletics). Schedules and rosters, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.

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