Hall of Fame
Emily Yanero ’98 was inducted into the 22nd Hall of Fame Class in 2012. A three-sport standout while in a Gator uniform, Yanero earned recognition as a volleyball, basketball, and tennis student-athlete from her coaches and the Atlantic Women’s College Conference (AWCC) during her career.
A four-year member of the volleyball team, Yanero received Notre Dame’s Coaches Award in 1994 and 1996, and was an AWCC First-Team selection in 1995, 1996, and 1997. She was a captain for the 1996 and 1997 volleyball squad and the team’s Most Valuable Player in 1997. She is tied with three other Gators for a program-high 30 kills in a match, which she did in 1997 against Mary Baldwin College.
Yanero made transitioning from volleyball to basketball season look easy, continuing to lead her teams by example and on the floor for three seasons. She received several all-tournament team honors, including Notre Dame’s own tip-off tournament in 1994, 1995, and 1997; the Montclair State and Gettysburg tournaments and was a tri-captain during her senior campaign.
During the 1995-1996 season, Yanero received Notre Dame’s Coaches Award and was an AWCC First-Team selection, while she was the team’s Most Valuable Player in 1997-1998, and named an AWCC First-Team selection for the second time in her basketball career. She holds the season and career records for field goal percentage with 47.6% (1997-1998) and 44.5% (career). She is also ranked in the top ten in several categories, including sixth in points (983), eighth in assists (183), and seventh in steals (185).
On the tennis courts, Yanero continued to excel, finishing the 1996 season 8-0 with doubles partner Maureen Ritcey. Yanero and Ritcey are ranked third all-time with their career 15 doubles wins. Her 39 career doubles wins has her ranked among Notre Dame’s best players, while her 21 singles victories has her ranked sixth all-time. She was a team co-captain in 1998, and earned All-AWCC First-Team honors in 1998 after being named the conference’s Most Outstanding Player in 1997. She was also the team’s Most Valuable Player in 1997.
Yanero’s top athletic recognition came in 1998, when she was named the NCAA Woman of the Year award winner for the state of Maryland.
After graduating from Notre Dame in 1998 with an individual program degree, Yanero moved to Boston and received a Master's Degree in Graphic Design from Boston University. She worked for an IT consulting company for five years, but after getting her dog, Yogi, and learning about learning about natural and raw diets for pets, decided to pursue a career in the natural pet food industry. Yanero moved to Boulder, Colorado in 2004 and soon after began working as a Territory Sales Manager for Nature's Variety. In 2007, Yanero received the Nature's Variety Award of Excellence and in 2009 was honored with an award for Innovation at the company. Yanero continues to travel all over the Rocky Mountain Area to work with retailers, veterinarians, and pet owners who are looking for healthy food for their cats and dogs.
For the past two years, Yanero has participated in the Iron Girl Sprint Triathalon in Boulder, and also spends her time hiking, doing yoga, playing Scrabble, volunteering at the local humane society, and coaching the fierce “Snow Owls,” second grade girls basketball team.
