UWEC Athletics Hall of Fame
Mallory McKinney was a two-time NFCA second-team All-American, a two-time conference pitcher of the year and played on the 2007 Blugold team that finished third in the NCAA tournament. McKinney holds most of the major school pitching records and was a two-time WIAC pitcher of the year. Additionally, the Champlin Park High School (MN) graduate also ranked fourth in Blugold career home runs and RBI at the time of her induction and finished with a .340 career batting average. In 2022, McKinney still held the conference record for career wins with 77. She also held the school single season wins record with 26. In addition, she held the school single season and career records for games pitched (39/127), strikeouts (183/590), shutouts (13/33), saves (3/7) and low ERA (0.72/1.14). Besides being named an NFCA Second Team All-American in both her freshman and junior seasons, she was an NFCA All-Great Lakes Region first, second or Third Team pick all four seasons as a Blugold. She was a three-time All-WIAC First Team pick and three-time team MVP in addition to serving as team captain as a senior. During McKinney’s career, the Blugolds won three regular season conference titles and two conference tournament crowns. The Blugolds advanced to the NCAA championships twice with McKinney, finishing as regional runner-up in 2006 and third place at nationals in 2007. The Blugolds were 134-48 overall and 49-13 in conference play during McKinney’s career.
McKinney graduated from UWEC with a degree in early childhood special education. She received a teaching license in emotional and behavioral disorders and a master’s degree in special education from Bethel University. McKinney began her career as a paraprofessional in a charter school for students with autism. She was promoted to a teacher for four years. In 2018, she moved to the Anoka Hennepin School District where she became a special education lead teacher. She has also been a site lead for one of the extended school year sites in the district for five years. At the time of her induction, she was the mother of one child.
