Latest class officially inducted for UEÂ
The 43rd class of the University of Evansville Athletics Hall of Fame was officially inducted on Saturday evening at Ridgway University Center on the UE campus.
Five individuals along with the 1958-59 National Championship men’s basketball team were inducted.
Beginning the evening was women’s tennis record holder Kate Chybowski. The program’s all-time leader in singles and overall match wins was named an All-MVC player on three occasions and garnered ITA All-America Scholar-Athlete honors in 2010.
“I had three coaches when I was here and learned a lot of different styles here,†Chybowski said. “I want to thank all of my professors who helped me to balance my biology major and tennis and help me to advance in my career. I am honored to be a part of this class that includes a championship team and several great athletes.â€
Jamie Davison was one of two former student-athletes on the evening to be inducted after moving onto a professional career. The 3-time All-MVC player was also the 2001 MVC Rookie of the Year and moved onto play softball at the next level following her time at Evansville.
“I am incredibly honored to be inducted today. UE is an incredible university, my five years at UE were some of the best years of my life,†Davison said. “When your batting average is settled and your recognition has been handed out, the most important thing is the journey that you went on and the friendships were made.â€
Another student-athlete to enjoy a professional career was baseball star Willie Glen. In 2014, Glen had his jersey retired by the Gary RailCats. At UE, he became the first player in MVC history to record at least 20 wins and 20 saves.
“This is a great event and an honor to be part of. You dream as a kid of having the ball in your hand with a chance to get the final out, but you do not dream of this,†Glen said. “I was on teams that were under .500 and threw the ball that got the final out to win the league championship, no matter what, you always remember your teammates.â€
The leading scorer in program history – Kayla Lambert – was voted into the HOF in 2015, but received her induction this year due to the birth of her daughter last year. She left the program as the top scorer in MVC history and was the 2008 league Player of the Year.
“This is such an incredible honor, I am overwhelmer,†Lambert said. “It is an honor to be here seven years later with my family, husband and my daughter and is such a sweet way to end my soccer career. There is no better way to complete it. All of the experience I received here and traveling all of the world with my teammates was an incredible experience.â€
Terra May was a 2-time MVC Defensive Player of the Year (1996, 97) and led the squad to league championships in both seasons. She was also named to the MVC All-Centennial Team.
“This is surreal, I am dumbfounded that it happened to me,†May said. “Women’s soccer is everything to me and it has been for a long time. I have to thank the female student-athletes who came before me for fighting for the opportunity to compete at this level.â€
Rounding out the night was the induction of the 1958-59 men’s basketball team, who won the first of five National Championships that the program would enjoy. The team went 21-6 over the course of the season and is the third UE athletics team to be inducted. Coached by Arad McCutchan, team members included: Hugh Ahlering, Harold Cox, Walter Deal, Larry Erwin, Harold Halbrook, Tom Hamilton, Mel Lurker, Harold Malicoat, Tom Mulherin, Jim Nossett, Ken Reising, Bob Reisinger, P.M. Sanders, Ed Smallwood, Bill Thurneck and Dale Wise.
Speaking on behalf of the squad was All-American Hugh Ahlering.
“On behalf of the teammates in attendance and those who could not be here, I would like to thank the UE Athletics Hall of Fame committee and the University of Evansville for inducting our team into the Hall of Fame,†Ahlering said.
The group will be recognized at Sunday’s men’s basketball game against Illinois State, which starts at 3 p.m. inside the Ford Center.
