Wright, Wubbels inducted into NWU HOF

Two former Sunland athletes were among six student-athletes inducted into the Nebraska Wesleyan University Athletic Hall of Fame Saturday.

Beatrice's Bobby Wright and Firth Norris Heather Wubbels were both honored as members of the Hall of Fame's Class of 2007.

Inductions were made to the Nebraska Wesleyan University Athletic Hall of Fame Saturday as part of the school's homecoming activities.

NWU's Athletic Hall of Fame has recognized the outstanding contributors of former student-athletes by inducting teams and individuals, as well as other strong supporters of the athletic program, since 1970.

A former professional football player, Wright was one of the most formidable running threats to ever set foot in NWU's Abel Stadium.

The Beatrice native made a name for himself as a Plainsman from 1988-91 and went on to play in the Canadian and Arena Football Leagues.

An honorable mention NAIA All-American in 1991, Wright rushed for eight touchdowns and gained 1,138 yards on the ground, which was the school's second-highest single-season rushing total at the time. His best single-game rushing performance came against Midland Lutheran College in 1991 when he ran for a career-high 247 yards.

Wright still ranks third all-time at NWU in career rushing yards with 2,184 (5.59 per carry) and seventh in scoring (23 touchdowns, 138 points).

The Plainsmen were crowned NIAC champions in three of Wright's four seasons and made three NAIA playoff appearances (1988, 1989 and 1991).

Wright was a first team All-NIAC selection as both a junior and senior. He played in the 1991 Blue-Gray All-Star Classic and was invited to the NFL combine.

The NFL Draft Report rated him the sixth best running back in the country, and the Denver Broncos signed Wright as a free agent for the 1992 season. He spent the 1993 season as a member of the Hamilton Tiger Cats in the Canadian Football League and played for the Milwaukee Mustangs of the Arena Football League in 1994.

Wubbels was an accomplished point guard for the Plainswomen basketball team from 1989-93.

A four-year letterwinner, Wubbels led the team in assists every season she played and finished her career as Wesleyan's leader with 328 assists and 193 steals. She still ranks second on both all-time charts.

Wubbels' best statistical year was the 1990-91 season when she averaged 10.5 points and 3.9 per game. Her 103 assists as a sophomore established a single-season record at NWU. She also set a Wesleyan single-game record with 15 free throws made in a 1991 game against Teikyo Westmar University.

In the final game of her career, Wubbels recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 assists, which tied the team mark for assists in a single game.

Wubbels was statistically consistent, averaging better than 9.5 points and 3.7 assists per game as both a junior and senior when she garnered All-NIAC honorable mentions. She also received honorable mention from the Omaha World-Herald as a junior.

In addition to her success on the basketball court, Wubbels was also a member of the Nebraska Wesleyan softball team in 1990 and 1991.

On the NWU softball charts, she still ranks among the leaders in career sacrifice flies (fourth) and single-season putouts (seventh).

Other members of the 2007 Hall of Fame class included Michelle Forsberg, Lincoln, Class of 1995, softball; Jay Spearman, Sutton, Class of 1995, basketball; Steven Taylor, Omaha, Class of 1989, football; and Joni Westland Scheef, Waverly, Class of 1996, track and field.