Varsity "K" Hall of Fame Announces 2019 Class
7/8/2019 9:44:00 AM | General
KENT, Ohio – Kent State recently announced its 2019 Varsity "K" Athletics Hall of Fame class consisting of eight members to be introduced as part of the 41st induction ceremony on Oct. 26.
Joining the Hall of Fame are Debbie Bell (field hockey, 2008-11), Scott Miller (men's soccer, 1974-77), Kristin Peters (gymnastics, 2005-08), Nate Reinking (men's basketball, 1993-96) Jackie Rodgers (women's track & field, 2002-06), Greg Rohan (baseball, 2005-09) and Ryan Yip (men's golf, 2003-06).
Herb Page will become the first person to be inducted into the Varsity "K" Hall of Fame as both an athlete (1985) and a coach (2019).
In addition to the inductees, four other awards will be presented. The 1984 men's golf team will receive the Team of Distinction honor. George Jenkins will be recognized as Distinguished Athletic Alumnus. Jack Schiller will be the 2019 Varsity "K" Person of the Year, and Bill and Eddye White will be this year's Honorary Varsity "K" Members.
Bell shattered the career goals record at Kent State with 97 (previous record was 65). She was a three-time All-MAC First Team selection and earned NFHCA All-America honors in 2010. Bell was named MAC Freshman of the Year in 2008 and earned all-region honors in all four seasons. She helped the Flashes to three MAC regular season titles and two NCAA appearances.
Miller is Kent State's career leader in goals (41), assists (13) and points (54). He was a three-time Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association All-Ohio selection. A team captain, Miller also earned All-MAC honors in 1975 after leading the conference in scoring.
Peters was a MAC champion on both bars and beam in back-to-back seasons (2007-08). A three-year co-captain, she was named MAC Specialist of the Year in 2007 and was a two-time All-MAC First Team selection. Peters helped Kent State capture three MAC regular season titles and a pair of crowns at the MAC Championships.
Reinking graduated as the Flashes' career leader in three-point field goals and ranked fifth in career scoring. He was a two-time All-MAC choice and was the first Kent State player to earn NABC All-District honors in 1996. Now the head coach of the Canton Charge, Reinking played professionally in Europe for 15 seasons and competed for Great Britain in the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Rodgers earned All-America honors at both the indoor and outdoor NCAA Championships, placing fifth in the outdoor pole vault in 2005 and seventh in the indoor pole vault in 2004. She placed in the top three at the MAC Championships on six occasions, earning two titles. Rodgers later competed for national teams in both track & field and bobsled.
Rohan was the 2008 MAC Player of the Year, earning Collegiate Baseball All-America honors. He was a three-time All-MAC selection, earning first team accolades in 2007 and 2008. Rohan finished his career ranked in Kent State's top five in home runs (48) and runs batted in (182), and was taken in the 21st round of the MLB draft by the Chicago Cubs.
Yip earned All-MAC First Team honors in each of his four seasons and helped the Flashes to three conference titles. He was the medalist at the 2005 MAC Championship and was a two-time all-district team selection. Yip graduated with the fifth-best career stroke average (73.80) in Kent State history.
Page recently announced his retirement after 41 years as men's golf coach. His storied career as head coach includes 17 NCAA Championship appearances with four top 10 finishes, 28 NCAA Regional appearances, 90 team tournament titles and 23 MAC Coach of the Year honors.
The 1984 men's golf team earned Page his first of 23 Mid-American Conference titles as head coach. The Golden Flashes won four tournament titles that season and advanced to the NCAA Championships.
This year's ceremony will take place in the Student Center Ballroom and is scheduled for Oct. 26 at 10 a.m. The 2019 class will also be recognized that day during Kent State's football game against Miami. Tickets are $25 for adults. Children 10 and under are $10 and 3 and under are free. For reservations, go to www.kentstatesports.com/2019HOF. Contact Brian Grubich with questions at 330-672-8399 or bgrubic1@kent.edu.
