Athletics Hall of Fame Introduces Class of 2011

MOUNT PLEASANT – Central Michigan University's Athletic Hall of Fame is set to induct six individuals and one team this fall as the Class of 2011.   The 28th class in the hall's history includes Chippewa standout student-athletes Reggie Allen (football; 1995-98), Eli (Barnes) Beshear (softball; 1996-99), Nicole Bills (gymnastics; 1997-2000), Chris (Cooper) Gaudard (women's track and field/cross country; 1985-89), Greg Richardson (men's track and field; 1996-2000), John Rollins (wrestling; 1958-61), and the 1976 Chippewa field hockey team coached by Mary Bottaro.

"It is always a great opportunity to look back and celebrate the accomplishments of our former student-athletes," said Director of Athletics Dave Heeke. "This event is important for not only our alumni, but for all current Chippewa student-athletes and staff, as these inductees have exhibited what it means to represent CMU both during and after their time on campus. They are an important piece of our championship culture and we are looking forward to recognizing them on one of the biggest nights of the year."

A formal induction ceremony is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 30 in McGuirk Arena. The event begins at 7 p.m., and is free to attend. The inductees also will be recognized during halftime of the football game on Saturday, Oct. 1, when the Chippewas host Northern Illinois at 3:30 p.m.

"We are now able to showcase our premier student-athletes in CMU's newest premier facility - the Events Center and McGuirk Arena," said Heeke. "As we move this event onto campus, we can provide access to more friends and family of the inductees and encourage more University, community and current student-athlete support for the event than in the past."

The CMU Athletic Hall of Fame began in 1984 and the current roster now includes 172 individuals and three teams.

To be eligible for induction, the following must hold true for athletes: one becomes eligible 10 years after their final season; one must earn two letters in one sport or one or more in two sports; or brought recognition to the school by his or her athletic endeavors; and an outstanding career as an athlete must be continued in the individual's profession or occupation.   For induction as faculty/staff: a person becomes eligible five years after leaving his or her coaching position or athletic-related administrative position.

Selections are made by the CMU Athletic Hall of Fame Board of Directors.

	Reggie Allen — Football (1995-1998) Two-time first team All-MAC receiver (1996, '98) who earned second team honors in 1997 ... held CMU records for career receptions (192) and receiving yards (3,242) with both marks ranking second in MAC history ... tied for the CMU career touchdown receptions record with 19 and single-season TD receptions with nine in 1996 ... ranked fifth nationally in receiving yards per game (122.9), ninth in receptions per game (6.6) and 11th in all-purpose yards (165.4) in 1996 ... led the MAC in receptions in 1996 with 6.6 per game ... had a career-best 229 yards receiving against Bowling Green in 1996 ... also returned kickoffs ... was on the Buffalo Bills practice squad for two years and was allocated to the Amsterdam Admirals in NFL Europe ... played in the Arena Football League with the Buffalo Destroyers and Chicago Rush ... native of Flint, Mich., where he attended Beecher High School ... currently living in Atlanta, Ga., where he is a business owner and real estate investor.

	Eli (Barnes) Beshear — Softball (1996-99) Three-time first team All-MAC selection in the outfield and three-time selection to the all-tournament team at the MAC Championships ... ended her career as CMU's career record holder for games played (235) and RBI (125) and tied for the home run record with 16 ... held the CMU season record for home runs with eight as a senior ... four-year starter ... the only year she did not earn All-MAC honors was her junior year when she moved to catcher to fill a team need ... first team All-Great Lakes Region as a senior ... ranked second on CMU's single-season RBI list with 43 in 1999 ... led team in RBI during three of her four seasons ... member of two MAC championship teams, two MAC Tournament champion teams and three teams that played in the NCAA Tournament ... invited to a USA Softball national team tryout ... originally from Montrose, Calif., where she prepped at Crescenta Valley High School ... family includes husband, Matthew, and children Kendall, Grant and Cameron ... currently living in Allen, Texas where she cares for her family.

	Nicole Bills — Gymnastics (1997-2000) First gymnast in school history to qualify for the NCAA Championships in 1999 ... first team All-MAC in 1997 and 1999 and second team in 1998 ... MAC champion on the balance beam as a junior and finished second in the all-around and tied for second in the floor that year ... held the CMU record on the beam with a 9.925 ... tied for MAC runner-up on the beam as a freshman ... member of three MAC championship teams and two teams that won National Invitational Tournament titles ... helped CMU to its first ever NCAA Regional team appearance in 1999 ... named to the NACGC Scholar-Athlete Team all four years ... invited to the 1999 World University Games Trials ... native of Bay City, Mich., where she attended Garber High School ... currently living in Charlotte, N.C., where she is a vice president at Bank of America.

	Chris (Cooper) Gaudard — Track and Field/Cross Country (1985-89) First All-American in program history with an eighth-place finish in the 5000m at the 1987 NCAA Outdoor Championships ... twice named first team All-MAC in cross country with finishes of third and fifth, respectively, in 1986 and '87 ... still holds the top cross country time in CMU history after clocking 17:14 at the NCAA District meet in 1986 ... still holds the school records in the indoor 3000m (9:34.7) and 5000m (17:01.3) and outdoor 3000m (9:27.3) and 5000m (16:01.3) ... also held CMU records for indoor three mile and outdoor 10,000m ... named Academic All-MAC during both cross country (1986, '87) and track (1987, '88) ... originally from Richland, Mich., where she prepped at Gull Lake High School ... family includes husband, Gary, and children Patrick, Paige and Pete ... currently lives in Hickory Corners, Mich., where she teaches physical education at Parchment Middle School and coaches the high school cross country team.

	Greg Richardson — Track and Field (1996-2000) Two-time All-American in the hurdles ... placed third in the 110m hurdles at the 1999 NCAA Outdoor Championships and seventh in the 60m hurdles at the 2000 NCAA Indoor Championships ... won the 1999 MAC outdoor championship in the 110m hurdles with a MAC-record time of 13.60 ... was MAC runner-up three times in photo finishes and placed third another two times ... still holds school records in the 60m hurdles (7.76) and 110m hurdles (13.59) ... native of Lansing, Mich., who prepped at Everett High School ... family includes daughters Tatayanna and Tamara ... currently living in Lansing, Mich., where the third-degree black belt is the chief instructor at Victory Martial Arts.

	John Rollins — Wrestling (1958-61) Won national NAIA titles at 137 pounds in both 1959 and 1961 ... was national runner-up in 1960 ... first All-American in the program's history and still remains one of only four three-time All-Americans in Chippewa annals ... two-time team MVP and once most improved ... twice named team captain ... held school records for consecutive dual meet wins (34), fastest pin (19 seconds) and team points in a career (159) ... won an IIAC title in 1961 and finished runner-up in 1959 and '60 ... tallied 63 career wins ... originally from Battle Creek, Mich., where he prepped at Battle Creek Central High School ... family includes children Chalice, Rhonda and Richard, along with eight grandchildren ... currently lives in Lansing ... member of the Michigan High School Coaches Hall of Fame and Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame ... coached Lansing Everett to a state title in 1965.

	1976 Field Hockey Team Placed fifth nationally at the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) National Field Hockey Championships ... finished the year 20-1-1 ... went 4-1 at nationals, losing to Virginia in the first round and defeating Southern Connecticut, 3-1, in the fifth-place match ... team won state and regional championships for the second straight year ... CMU outscored its opponent 88-14 on the season with 12 shutouts ... the 20 victories still stand as a school record.
	Head Coach: Mary Bottaro Kathy (Adams) Farrell - Stanton, Mich. Connie Anderson - Sparta, Mich. Pam (Byron) Bisbee - Detroit, Mich. Julie DeCaire - Ishpeming, Mich. Kelly Gordon - Ann Arbor, Mich. Diane Holmes - Onaway, Mich. Karen (Karner) Michalak - Bay City, Mich. * Maureen McLaughlin - Dearborn, Mich. Marilyn Misner - Auburn, Mich. Jackie Neil - Stanton, Mich. Donna Provenzola - Detroit, Mich. Barb Putney - Benzonia, Mich. Sue Roegner - Detroit, Mich. Lu (Schaar) Kandt - Birmingham, Mich. Jan Zygmontowicz - Detroit, Mich. Athletic Trainer: Twilda Treadway-Dillmon Member of the CMU Athletics Hall of Fame as a student-athlete or coach *Member of both the CMU Athletics and Mid-American Conference Halls of Fame.

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