Five standout performers will be recognized as the newest members of the Midland University Warrior Athletic Hall of Fame during a ceremony Friday, September 23rd at the Fremont Golf Club. The event is part of Midland’s Homecoming celebration.

Virgie Bullie ‘x88 (Track & Field), Whit Smith ‘08 (Track & Field), Rich Ray ‘10 (Broadcasting), Erin McCarthy ‘12 (Bowling), and Doug Harrington ‘91 (Football) will be the newest inductees into the HOF. The Hall of Fame Banquet will also include presentation of the Petrow and Bracker Awards for Outstanding Male and Female Athletes. Honorees are Miguel Abete (Tennis) and Ally Conybear (Hockey).

Virgie Bullie ‘x88

Bullie is one of the most decorated athletes to come through the Warriors track and field program. She was a six-time NAIA All-American during the 1984-85 seasons. Bullie was part of two NAIA Indoor Distance Medley Relay championship teams, while also earning four individual All-American honors during both the indoor and outdoor seasons. Bullie’s name still remains atop the Midland all-time leaderboard in three indoor events; the 55-meter dash (7.04 seconds), the 300-meter dash (36.07) and the 400-meter dash (56.70), as well as three outdoor events; the 100-meter dash (11.66), the 200-meter dash (24.24) and the 400 (56.54). She was also part of the Sprint Medley relay squad that still holds the top indoor mark at 4 minutes, 21.94 seconds. Bullie currently lives in Park Forest, Illinois and works as a business integration specialist for her own company. Bullie has one daughter, Talisa. 

Midland Memory - I’ll never forget the look on Coach (Jim) McMahon’s face when I won the 100 meter championship my freshman year. Midland track and field gave me the confidence I needed to succeed in life.

Whit Smith ‘08

Smith became one of the top high jumpers in the nation during his time with the Warriors. A six-time All-American, he claimed six NAIA championships during both the indoor and outdoor seasons from 2002-04 and also earned six Great Plains Athletic Conference championships during that time. His personal best outdoor mark of 7 feet, 3 inches holds the top spot on the Midland all-time leaderboard while his jump of 7-1 is tied for the second best indoor mark. Smith and his wife, Sarah (Rogers, a Midland alum) currently live in Tekamah, Nebraska and are the parents of three children; Christopher, Keegan, and Connor. Smith works as a maintenance technician at Mid-America Computer Corp. in Blair, Nebraska.

Midland Memory - I met my wife my freshman year at Midland, and made several lifelong friends. Jim McMahon and Justin Horner were coaches that truly cared how you did on and off the field.

Rich Ray ‘10

Ray has been the voice of Midland athletics for three decades. Ray served as the Sports Director for KHUB Radio for more than 25 years and has broadcast more than 3,000 events at both the high school and collegiate levels during his career. He was named the Media Person of the Year in 2009 by the Nebraska Coaches Association. Ray’s career highlights include broadcasting a wide variety of Warrior sports and being able to call several Warrior contests at national tournaments. Ray resides in Fremont and continues to broadcast home games for Midlandathletics.com, while also serving as the Director of Broadcasting/Media Relations for the Fremont Moo baseball team. Ray has two sons, Brock and Jacob. 

Midland Memory - Broadcasting the Midland games and watching the student-athletes graduate and develop into adults is rewarding. The conversations I’ve had over the years with so many great coaches at Midland will always be special.

Erin McCarthy ‘12

McCarthy was a catalyst for the Warrior women’s bowling team, pacing the squad to a runner-up finish in the USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships in 2012. McCarthy was named the tournament’s most valuable player. McCarthy joined the Professional Women’s Bowling Association tour in 2015 and has racked up two tournament titles during that time. Her greatest achievement on the lanes came this past June when she captured the title at the U.S. Women’s Open. McCarthy lives in Elkhorn and is an acute care nurse with Methodist Hospital. 

McCarthy and her fiance, Megan Myers, will marry in September and McCarthy will become the stepmother to Atley and Zane.

Midland Memory - I will always reminisce on the memories that were created while being on the bowling team. There was a genuine camaraderie developed between the players and many of us keep in close contact to this day.

Doug Harrington ‘91

Harrington shined as a running back in Coach Don Watchorn’s high-powered wishbone offense in the late 1980s. “Smooth” Harrington was a two-time All-Nebraska Iowa Athletic Conference performer in 1987 and 1989 and finished his career with nearly 4,000 all-purpose yards, including more than 2,300 on the ground, to go along with 24 career touchdowns. He was a key figure on the 1987 team that finished the season 7-2 and ranked 16th in the nation, earning a spot in the NAIA playoffs. That team, which was inducted into the HOF in 2017, averaged 269.5 yards rushing per game, ninth in the nation. Harrington currently resides in Waukegan, Illinois. He has one child (DaQuoiya) and two grandchildren. 

Midland Memory - All my coaches challenged me to be a better football player and Mrs. (Joanne) Bracker challenged me in the classroom. Midland helped develop me into the man I am today.

Bracker Award - Ally Conybear 

Conybear was a second-team WMCH All-conference performer for the Warriors’ hockey team during the 2021-22 season. Along with being a top flight defender, Conybear also finished third on the squad in assists and was fourth in points scored. Conybear was recognized as a member of the WMCH All-Tournament squad.

Petrow Award - Miguel Abete

Abete was recognized as the GPAC’s Men’s Tennis Player of the Year for the second consecutive season in 2022, leading the Warriors to another appearance in the NAIA National Tournament. Abete was unbeaten in conference play in singles and went 19-5 on the year. He also went 6-2 in doubles matches, including a perfect 5-0 mark in GPAC play.