Kent State Enshrines Eight Into Varsity ?K? Hall Of Fame
2/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | General
KENT, Ohio - The Kent State University Varsity “K” Athletics Hall of Fame saw its ranks swell to 253 members with the induction of its 31st class of honorees Friday night in the Kent Student Center Ballroom.
Comprised of Aja Farris (women's track & field, 1999-02), Andy Harmon (football, 1987-90), Denae Jones (softball, 1997-00), Derek Kish (men's gymnastics, 1989-93), Andrew Mitchell (men's basketball, 1999-02), Becky Neglia (volleyball, 1995-98), Rick Rembielak (baseball head coach, 1994-04) and Brent Thompson (wrestling, 1998-01), the members of the Class of 2009 were each bestowed with the KSU Athletic Department's highest honor during the two-hour ceremony.
In addition, John Farrell (Distinguished Alumnus) and Greg Jarvie (Honorary Varsity “K”) received special recognition for their contributions and accomplishments.
“Each year the Varsity 'K' Hall of Fame ceremony is one of the highlights of the university calendar for me personally,” KSU Athletic Director Laing Kennedy said. “It's always so pleasing to see the number of previous Hall of Fame inductees, families and members of the community that come out to support this special event each year.
“This year's class is a particularly diverse group, as we have an member of our Elite 8 men's basketball team, a track & field All-American, student-athletes who have won multiple conference championships and the winningest coach in school history - many of whom were on campus during my 15 years in Kent. It's brings a lot of personal meaning when you realize that you were part of the Kent State story for a number of the inductees.”
The weekend concludes on Saturday (Feb. 14), with a reception for the inductees, their families and invited guests prior to the Class of 2009 being honored at halftime of the men's basketball game with Central Michigan, which is slated to tip at 7:00 p.m. in the M.A.C. Center.
The Varsity “K” Athletics Hall of Fame was started in 1979 with the induction of the original 13-member charter class. The Hall of Fame honors men and women whose exceptional performance on the athletic fields and, in later years on other fields, merits special recognition from their alma mater.
2009 Kent State Varsity “K” Athletics Hall of Fame Biographies
Aja Farris, '02Women's Track & Field
Farris capped her distinguished career off in fine fashion, earning All-America honors with a fifth-place finish in the 400-meter hurdles at the 2002 NCAA Outdoor Championships. The Columbus, Ohio, native was a six-time Mid-American Conference champion, winning titles in the 100-meter hurdles, the 400-meter hurdles and the 60-meter hurdles, as well as being a member of three different first place relay teams. Named the Athlete of the Meet at the 2002 Outdoor MAC Championships, she was a team captain in 2000 and 2002 and still holds seven different Kent State records.
Andy Harmon, '91
Football
A native of Centerville, Ohio, Harmon was a unanimous first team All-Mid-American Conference selection in 1990 after garnering honorable mention accolades in 1988. The standout defensive lineman finished his career with 248 tackles and currently ranks second in Kent State annals in sacks (18) and sixth in tackles for loss (36). The winner of the Jack Lambert Cup as KSU's most improved defensive player in spring practice in 1990, he played for the Philadelphia Eagles for eight seasons from 1991-97 after being drafted in the sixth round. His senior season was one to remember as Harmon registered 94 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and nine sacks.
Denae Jones, '00
Softball
Jones was a first team All-Mideast Region and All-Mid-American Conference selection in 1999 as she led the Golden Flashes to a 34-18 mark and the MAC East Division title. At the time of her graduation, the Sparks, Nev., native held the Kent State career records for RBI (117), runs (116), home runs (26), triples (18) and walks (79), in addition to setting five single season marks. She was also successful in the classroom as well, garnering second team Academic All-District honors in 1999 and a pair of Academic All-MAC selections. A team captain in 2000, she was a three-time MAC Hitter of the Week for her career.
Derek Kish, '94
Men's Gymnastics
One of the preeminent men's gymnasts in Kent State history, Kish led the Flashes to three Great Lakes League titles and two National Independent team championships. A five-time individual league champion, the Doylestown, Ohio, native twice won titles in the still rings and parallel bars in addition to claiming the 1990 all-around championship. A team captain in 1993, he was a three-time NCAA Championships qualifier and a 10-time NCAA East Regional qualifier, in addition to earning top honors on the rings at the 1992 and 1993 National Independent Championships.
Andrew Mitchell, '01
Men's Basketball
A native of Detroit, Mitchell was a captain on the 2002 Mid-American Conference championship team that advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time in the history of the program. A first team All-MAC selection as a team captain in 2002, he ranks first all-time at Kent State in games started (130) and second in minutes (3,982), while compiling 1,533 points and 413 assists to rank fifth in both categories for his standout career. An honorable mention All-MAC pick in 2001, Mitchell helped the Flashes to three NCAA Tournament berths and had his number retired on Feb. 3, 2003.
Becky Neglia, '00
Volleyball
Neglia garnered first team All-Mid-American Conference honors in 1997 after earning second team accolades the year before. A two-time first team Academic All-MAC honoree, the Battle Creek, Mich., native was a five-time MAC Player of the Week during her career in addition to playing her way onto the MAC All-Tournament Team in 1997. Kent State's career leader in hitting percentage (.291) and block assists (372), Neglia was also the career leader in kills (1,533) at her time of graduation and ranks among the MAC career leaders in kills (7th), block assists (12th), total blocks (22nd) and attack attempts (26th).
Rick Rembielak
Baseball - Coach
Rembielak concluded his tenure as head baseball coach at Kent State as the winningest coach of any sport in Golden Flashes history, compiling a 373-251-1 (.598) record during his impressive 11-year run - including a stunning 200-100 (.667) mark against Mid-American Conference opponents. A three-time MAC Coach of the Year, the Cleveland native directed the Flashes to four MAC regular season titles, three tournament championships and four NCAA Regional appearances. Rembielak surpassed Danny Hall (current Georgia Tech coach) for the most wins in the program's history with his 209th victory April 9, 2000 against Toledo. His teams averaged 34 wins a season, including a pair of 40-win campaigns (1995 & 2000), while the 2001 squad won a pair of postseason games for just the second time in school history en route to advancing to the NCAA Regional final. Now entering his fifth year as the head coach at Wake Forest, Rembielak has guided the Demon Deacons to 120 victories and a berth in the 2007 NCAA Regionals.
Brent Thompson
Wrestling, '01
A native of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Thompson has the distinction of being one of just four four-time champions in Mid-American Conference history. Named team captain in 2000 and 2001, he posted an 81-27 career record en route to making four consecutive appearances at the NCAA Championships. Thompson was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the 2001 MAC Tournament, an honor achieved just three times previously by Kent State wrestlers. The MAC Co-Freshman of the Year in 1998, he earned his first conference crown at 118 pounds before moving up to 125 for his final three seasons.
Distinguished Alumnus
John Farrell, '52
A 1952 graduate of Kent State's College of Business Administration, Farrell was a captain of the track team under head coach Joe Begala. A Canton native, he went on to a successful career as vice president of sales for the Massillon Container Company. Farrell has spent the better part of his adult life supporting Kent State athletics. He first joined the Golden Flashes' athletic development committee in 1963, served as a board member of KSU's National Alumni Association from 1971 through 1976 and is currently an active member of the National Athletic Development Council. John and Joyce (his wife of 55 years whom he met at Kent State) have given more than $1.5 million to their alma mater, including funds to benefit the renovation of the George L. Jenkins Academic Resource Center.
Honorary Varsity “K” Member
Greg Jarvie, M.Ed. '90
An integral part of the Kent State campus for more than 20 years, Jarvie earned his Master's in Higher Education Administration from KSU in 1990. He was appointed the University Student Ombuds in 1997 before also assuming the title of Dean of Students a year later. In 2007, he was promoted to his current role of Associate Vice President and Dean of Students for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs. A tireless advocate for Kent State's students, he is a strong believer in public higher education and has been actively involved at the university, state and federal level on issues and initiatives related to student access, success and overall retention. Jarvie resides in Brimfield with his two daughters, Margaret (a Kent State student) and Emily.
