DURANGO, Colo. — Skyhawk fans have picked the first six players on Fort Lewis College's All-Century Team, which will be honored as part of the 2011 Athletic Hall of Fame breakfast and induction ceremony at 9 a.m. on Sunday, September 18, 2011, in the Student Union Ballroom.

A series of online polls at www.goskyhawks.com allowed fans to choose their favorite men's basketball, women's basketball, men's soccer, women's soccer, volleyball, and football players in school history.

“The people have spoken,” said Assistant Director of Athletics for External Operations and Communications Chris Aaland, who chairs the Hall of Fame Selection Committee. “We were excited to give them the opportunity to select part of the All-Century Team. And they chose wisely! These six individuals truly elevated FLC athletics during their respective careers.”

Fan favorites included: John Cunliffe (men's soccer), Hayley Hollenga (women's soccer), Abby Jackson (women's basketball), Mark Meng (football), Steve Schutz (men's basketball), and Nicole Schwab (volleyball).

Cunliffe (2003-06) is one of the greatest men's soccer players in NCAA Division II history. The three-time All-American ranks among NCAA-II career leaders in assists (fourth, 62), total points (sixth, 212), and goals (11th, 75). The striker was drafted seventh in the first round of the 2007 Major League Soccer entry draft after being chosen as the NCAA Division II Player of the Year in 2006 and Most Outstanding Offensive Player of the NCAA Final Four in 2005. In 2008, he was picked as Most Valuable Player of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference All-Century Men's Soccer Team. The three-time RMAC Player of the Year led the Skyhawks to the 2005 NCAA Division II title and a runner-up finish in 2006. He has played two seasons in the MLS (one with Chivas USA, the other with the San Jose Earthquakes) and is continuing his professional career in his native England.

Hollenga (2007-present) is the only second team All-American in FLC women's soccer history and the Skyhawks' career leader in scoring (88 points) and assists (22). She also needs just one more goal (she currently has 33) to share FLC's career goal-scoring output. Last season, she became the first female athlete in school history to appear in Sports Illustrated's “Faces in the Crowd” after scoring four game-winning goals in a five-game span. She has also been on the roster of more FLC teams that advanced to the NCAA playoffs than any other athlete in school history (three basketball tournaments from 2008-10 and three soccer tournaments in 2007, '09, and '10). Hollenga, a starting forward who returns for her final season at FLC this fall, is the only current student-athlete to be chosen by the fans.

Jackson (2007-11) led the Fort Lewis women's basketball team to unprecedented achievements during her career. The Skyhawks went 117-15 during her four years (.886), winning three RMAC regular season crowns, one RMAC postseason title, four NCAA II playoff berths, and a nationally-televised spot in the 2010 NCAA-II championship game. The two-year starting point guard is FLC's career leader in victories (117), assists (389), and three-point field goals (225). She was a three-time All-RMAC and three-time RMAC All-Academic performer who capped her career with a nod on the All-Central Region second team.

Meng (2007-08) was a linebacker and punter who received first-team All-America and RMAC Defensive Player of the Year awards for the Skyhawk football squad. He also appeared in the 2009 Valero Cactus Bowl, the official NCAA Division II all-star game. He led the nation in tackles as a senior (138) after ranking second in NCAA-II as a junior (120). Meng was also a two-time All-RMAC and two-time All-Colorado selection. He returned to his alma mater in 2010 as linebackers coach and film coordinator.

Schutz (1993-96) is the only current FLC Athletic Hall of Famer among the six individuals chosen by fans to the All-Century Team (the Hall of Fame requires a minimum 10-year waiting period before a student-athlete can be considered). Inducted in 2003, the four-year starting center still ranks among Skyhawk career leaders in blocked shots (second, 195), field goals (second, 626), scoring (third, 1,569), free throws (fourth, 317), and rebounds (fifth, 447). Schutz was a two-time member of Successful Farming magazine's All-America Farm Team, which included players who grew up in farming or ranching background and excelled in athletics and academics. He was also a member of the All-North Central Region squad.

Schwab (2004-07) was a two-time All-America third team selection who was chosen as the RMAC and Southwest Region Player of the Year as a junior and a senior. She also earned the RMAC's All-Academic Player of the Year award as a senior and was FLC's lone representative on the RMAC All-Century Volleyball Team in 2008. During her final year as a Skyhawk, she led her team to a share of the RMAC championship. The four-year staring middle blocker also led FLC to back-to-back NCAA-II playoff berths — the only two NCAA tournament appearances in the 41-year history of the Skyhawk volleyball program.

The remainder of the All-Century Team will be announced tomorrow. Members of the All-Century Team will receive commemorative Fort Lewis College Centennial medallions.

In addition to the All-Century Team, the Sept. 18 ceremony will also feature the induction of the Hall of Fame Class of 2011, which was announced on July 28. FLC's newest Athletic Hall of Famers include Richard Bent (football, 1973-76), Steve Berglund (men's soccer, 1997-2000, and football, 2001), John Chisholm (football, 1972-75), and David Shrum (gymnastics, 1963-67).

Festivities will kick off with a breakfast buffet, followed by: presentation of medallions to the six All-Century Team members as chosen by the fans; induction of the Hall of Fame Class of 2011; and presentation of medallions to the other 94 members of the All-Century Team as chosen by the Hall of Fame Selection Committee. Those being honored at the ceremony will also be recognized during home athletic events throughout the weekend of Sept. 16-18.

Cost for attending the Hall of Fame induction ceremony and brunch is $15 per person (honorees are admitted free courtesy of the Skyhawk Booster Club). To RSVP, contact Aaland at (970) 247-7381 or aaland_c@fortlewis.edu no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, September 12, 2011.

The event is part of Fort Lewis College's Centennial celebration, which has taken place throughout the year. Visit http://www2.fortlewis.edu/centennial/home.aspx to find out more.