CMU to Host 2026 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Friday at 6 p.m.

Friday, October 16

Mount Pleasant, Mich.

6 p.m.

Central Michigan University

2026 Marcy Weston CMU Athletics Hall of Fame Celebration

CMU to Host 2026 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Friday at 6 p.m.

10/14/2026 9:18:00 AM | Football, General, Our Stories

Hall of Fame Class of 2026 Announcement Amy Backus Story Ken Ealy Story Jim Hornak Story Kaitlyn McIntyre Story Brittany Petzold Story

Hall of Fame ceremony will take place Friday night at McGuirk Arena at 6 p.m.; Admission is free and open to the public; six former Chippewas will be inducted into the Marcy Weston CMU Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026.

By: Greg Hotchkiss

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.—Six former Central Michigan student-athletes will be honored as Marcy Weston CMU Athletics Hall of Fame inductees when Central Michigan University hosts its 2026 annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony Friday evening at McGuirk Arena. The formal event will begin at 6 p.m. ET and is free and open to the public.

Central Michigan Athletics' 2026 Hall of Fame Class includes:

Women's Basketball player Amy Backus (1975-79), Vermillion, Ohio | Bio Link
Wrestler David Bolyard (2002-05), Akron, Ohio | Bio Link
Football player Ken Ealy (1988-91), Ellenwood, Ga. | Bio Link
Men's Soccer coach and CMU administrator Jim Hornak (1978-91), Alpena, Mich. | Bio Link
Volleyball player Kaitlyn McIntyre (2011-14), Beaver Dam, Wis. | Bio Link
Gymnast Brittany (Franklin) Petzold (2011-14), Shelby Township, Mich. | Bio Link

Voice of the Chippewas Adam Jaksa will serve as emcee for the formal program, which includes interviews with each of the inductees. CMU President Neil MacKinnon and Zyzelewski Family Vice President/Director of Athletics Amy Folan will both speak and make appearances. The event will be livestreamed at this link and fans can also follow the event live on CMU's Athletic Twitter account.

In addition to Friday's induction ceremony, the inductees will also be honored at CMU's home football game on the following day, Saturday, Oct. 17 against rival Western Michigan at Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Kickoff for the annual Battle for the Victory Cannon Trophy game is set for 1:30 p.m. ET.

"We are extremely proud and honored to introduce these great Chippewa athletes into our hall of fame," said Folan. "Each inductee had a fantastic collegiate career at Central Michigan; not only as athletes, but as students as well. This group represents the best of all Chippewa athletes."

The inductees were announced in a press release on July 30, 2026.

—CMU—