CLEVELAND, Ohio - Four former Cleveland State student-athletes were inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday night in a ceremony at the Wolstein Center.
Joining the Hall of Fame were
Joining the CSU Athletics Hall of Fame were Nickole Kennedy (volleyball; 2003-05), Grace Luginbuhl (softball; 2003-06), Kevin Parrish (baseball; 1986-89) and Pieter Pelser (swimming; 2003-06).
Kennedy was a three-year standout on the volleyball court for the Vikings after transferring from Youngstown State where she played as a freshman. In 2005, Kennedy became just the second player in program history to earn All-America honors, earning honorable mention accolades from the AVCA. In addition, she was a first team AVCA All-Midwest Region pick and the Horizon League Player of the Year. She finished her senior year with 417 kills, while hitting .318 to help CSU to an 11-3 league record, the first winning league season in school history.
A two-time first team All-Horizon League selection (2004, 2005), Kennedy is among the CSU career leaders in block assists (6th/332), points per set (7th/3.53), hitting percentage (8th/.272), total blocks (8th/351) and kills per set (9th/2.99).
Luginbuhl was one of the top softball student-athletes to come through Cleveland State. She was a three-time all-league selection, earning second team honors as a sophomore and first team accolades as a junior and senior. As a junior in 2005, Luginbuhl was a first team all-league selection as both a pitcher and designated player. She was the Horizon League Pitcher of the Year in 2005 and 2006, also earning second team NFCA All-Great Lakes Region honors.
In 2006, Luginbuhl became the first female student-athlete from CSU to receive the Horizon League's Cecil N. Coleman Medal of Honor, given to the individual that demonstrates achievement in academics, athletics and community service each year. It is the league's highest honor. Luginbuhl, who holds the school record for career relief appearances (67) and saves (6), also excelled in the classroom, earning first team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV honors in 2004 and 2006 and second team honors in 2005.
Parrish was one of the top pitchers to come through the CSU baseball program, earning all-conference honors in 1988 and 1989. He holds the CSU career record with 27 complete games and shares the program record with 22 wins. Parrish, who compiled a career record of 22-17 with a 3.27 earned run average, appeared in 48 career games with 36 starts, striking out 181 batters. He ranks fourth in school history in innings pitched with 257.
As a freshman in 1986, Parrish won nine games, tied for the third most in a single season at CSU, and posted a 2.77 ERA with nine complete games. His outstanding freshman season helped Parrish earn preseason All-American honors and preseason conference player of the year accolades in 1987. Parrish, who did not allow a home run in 69 innings pitched as a senior in 1989, was drafted by the New York Yankees in 1987.
Pelser was one of the top swimmers to come through the CSU program, earning Horizon League Athlete of the Year honors in 2005 when he helped the Vikings to a runner-up finish at the league championship. The following year, Pelser was instrumental in helping CSU win the conference title.
A four-time league champion in the 200 backstroke and three-time league champion in the 100 backstroke, Pelser set the school record in the 200 back in each of his four years at CSU. His record time of 1:47.72 set in 2006 was broken last season. He also set the 100 back school record five times, including a school record time of 48.58 that was also broken last year. Pelser was a member of CSU's 400 medley relay team that won league titles in 2004, 2005 and 2006.
