For the first time in six years, St. Thomas’ Alumni Association and Athletics Department introduced 13 new members to its Athletic Hall of Fame Thursday.
The 2013 inductees came together from a variety of athletic teams in the James B. Woulfe Alumni Hall for the ceremony. Eight sports were represented, with softball and track and field each having four members inducted. Of the 13 new members, eight are women.
President Julie Sullivan and Athletic Director Steve Fritz were both in attendance honoring the new inductees.
Fritz said St. Thomas started introducing new members every three years dating back to the 1970s. But because of on-campus construction projects in recent years, St. Thomas had not inducted any new members in six years.
“This time it got delayed because of the new buildings,” Fritz said. “It’s a large group because of that. We had some catching up to do.”
For the first time, the 2013 Hall of Fame class features more women than men. Sullivan said she admired all the inductees.
“I am so impressed by the importance that each of you placed on the values of the student-athlete experience,” Sullivan said.
Fritz and Sullivan stressed the fact that the inductees weren’t just great athletes, but great students who strengthened the St. Thomas community.
“There’s something that sets them apart from just the average kind of player or team member,” Fritz said. “Isaac Roosevelt on basketball … while he didn’t play for any national team, he was a two-time first-team All-American. That’s pretty hard to do.”
Sullivan praised the work of the inductees’ coaches, many of whom are also St. Thomas Hall of Fame members. For Sullivan, it was the coaches who passed on Tommie traditions, lessons of teamwork, leadership, discipline, respect and integrity.
“Athletics builds community among the students on our campus,” Sullivan said. “It helps build school spirit, and it gives us reasons like tonight to come together and celebrate.”
Speaking candidly about her past, Sullivan said, “My only regret is I wasn’t here to see them play.”
The new Hall of Fame members will be introduced at halftime during Saturday’s Tommie-Johnnie football game.
The 2013 Hall of Fame inductees are:
Jake Barkley– football, 2003
Jane Gibbs Becker– volleyball, 2004
Nicole Conway– softball, 2006
Roman Cress– track and field, 2003
Michelle Wong DenHartigh– softball, 2005
Carrie Embree– softball, 2007
Kristal Grigsby– track and field, 2006
Andrew Hilliard– track and field, 2003
Janet Nagle– softball, 2006
Steve Pignato– baseball, 1997
Issac Rosefelt– basketball, 2007
Tessie Thompson– soccer, 2003
Diane Loughlin Urick– track and field, 1989
Joey Anderson can be reached at ande9008@stthomas.edu.