Four individuals and two teams will be honored at several events on the first weekend of February during celebrations for the 2017 Newman University Athletic Hall of Fame.
Former Newman student-athletes Curtis Chenoweth, Stephanie (Huckaby) Lykins and Molly (Deering) Alvarez, booster Mike Rodee, the 1999-2000 Men’s Basketball Team and the 1997 Men’s Golf Team will make up the Class of 2017, Newman’s seventh Hall of Fame class.
In addition, Tarcisia Roths, ASC will be the recipient of the 2017 Thomasine Stoecklein, ASC Spirit Award.
The weekend festivities begin Friday, Feb. 3 with the Alumni and Hall of Fame Social in the Tarcisia Roths, ASC Alumni Center from 7 to 11 p.m. The Newman basketball teams host Rogers State in a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 4 beginning with the women’s game at 1 p.m. at Fugate Gymnasium. The 2017 inductees will be introduced at halftime of the men’s game.
The celebration continues into the evening, with a cocktail hour at 5 p.m. followed by the Hall of Fame Banquet and Induction Ceremony at the Dugan-Gorges Conference Center.
Tickets for Saturday evening’s ceremony are $25 for an individual, or $200 for a reserved table for eight guests. For more information, and to make your reservations today, visit http://nu-hof2017.eventbrite.com.
Read about the Class of 2017 inductees below:
Curtis Chenoweth
Wrestling
Chenoweth had an outstanding freshman season, after qualifying in High School all four years at the State championships. With a record of 36-5, and a NAIA national championship in his weight class of 174 pounds, he was the first Newman wrestler to win a national championship. The wrestling team placed 12th overall in the 2006 championships.
Stephanie (Huckaby) Lykins ’96
Women’s Volleyball
Lykins was a starting outside hitter and starter for four seasons as a Jet, and was named the Best Defensive player her freshman year, as well as District 10 player of the week and All-District honorable mention. In 1994 and 1995, Stephanie was first team all-conference and MCAC conference Player of the Year. Leading the team with kills, she was named the KNC Most Valuable Player in 1995.
Molly (Deering) Alvarez ’04
Softball
A standout pitcher at Wichita Northwest High School, Alavarez made a big impact her freshman year, earning first-team MCAC all-conference pitcher, as well as the conference Newcomer of the Year in 2001. Her senior year, the team won the conference tournament, with Molly pitching 17 innings without giving up a run, while batting .500 from the plate.
1997 Men’s Golf Team
This team of five golfers achieved a ninth-place finish in the NAIA national tournament. The team was led by coach Mark Joliffe and assisted by Jim Wurbs and Darren Copp. Team members include Glen Hageman, Jeff Schoo, Brent Kaylor, Mark Mattox, and Joey Todd.
1999-00 Men’s Basketball
This team, led by Coach Mark Potter, won 20 games in a row and were undefeated in the MCAC conference in only their second year back as a program at Newman. Ranked 13th in the nation, the Jets advanced to the NAIA national tournament, winning their first game. Two members, Marlon Sears and Ed Wills, were named All-America.
Team members: Mike Abasolo, David Allenbach, Chris Boyce, Tolanda Charles, Stan Dohm, Joey Fox, Ron Johnson, Matt Long, Chris O’Hara, Adam Price, John Rapp, Corey Rooney, Marlon Sears, Edward Wills. Coaches: Mark Potter, Dan Cosgrove, Rory Hamilton, Jerome Haden.
Mike Rodee,
South Central Sealing & Paving
Booster
Rodee and his South Central Sealing & Paving company have provided the donation of time, labor and financial gifts to Newman Athletics over many years, including concrete work for the outdoor fields and funding for the indoor scoreboard. Mike is also seen at the work table of the indoor sports of basketball and volleyball, in which he donates his pay back to the Andy Rodee Endowed Scholarship at Newman University.
Tarcisia Roths, ASC
2017 Thomasine Stoecklein, ASC Spirit Award
Sr. Tarcisia has been a constant voice for the Jets, staying up on all the latest scores and accomplishments. As President of Newman from 1991 to 2000, she was instrumental in getting the basketball program returned to athletics once again, and even wrote the fight song that we still use today. A member of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ since 1948 and a graduate of Sacred Heart College, Tarcisia has also been a professor, registrar and academic dean. She has served on the Newman Athletic Club board for many years, and is an advocate for athletics and a Jet through and through.
