Kent State Announces 2024 Varsity K Hall of Fame Class
11/22/2024 2:00:00โฏPM | Baseball, Football, General, Men's Basketball, Softball, Women's Golf, Wrestling, Women's Track & Field, The Golden Flashes Club, Varsity "K" Hall of Fame
KENT, Ohio โ Kent State has announced the eight-member 2024 Varsity K Athletics Hall of Fame class, which will be honored as part of the 45th induction ceremony on Feb. 1, 2025.
Joining the Hall of Fame are Chris Baker (men's ice hockey, 1982-86), Jessica Carmichael (softball, 2008-11), Dior Delophont (women's track & field, 2013-16), Josée Doyon (women's golf, 2012-16), Kyle Hallock (baseball, 2008-11), Eugene Jarvis (football, 2006-10), Eric Lauer (baseball, 2014-16) and Ian Miller (wrestling, 2011-16).
Baker was a two-year captain and was named the team's Most Valuable Defenseman as a freshman in 1983. He is Kent State's all-time leader in assists with 107, while ranking second in total points (184) and goals (77). Baker helped lead the program from six wins in his freshman season to 21 wins as a senior.
Carmichael was a two-time All-MAC selection during her career, including first team honors in 2010. Among the top sluggers in Golden Flashes history, she set the career records for home runs (36) and RBIs (132) and currently sits third in both categories. Carmichael helped Kent State capture two MAC regular season titles and was a key member of the 2008 team that won a program record 46 games and reached the championship round at NCAA Regionals.
Delophont earned seven All-American honors, including four first-team accolades, in her eight NCAA Championships appearances. Her best showing was a third-place finish in high jump at the 2014 Indoors. Delophont was named MAC Most Valuable Performer five times while leading the Flashes to five conference titles. She accumulated 12 individual conference crowns in the high jump, long jump and triple jump deserving her career and still shares the Kent State records for indoor high jump (6'-1.5") and outdoor triple jump (43'-6").
Doyon earned All-MAC First Team honors four times and was key member of four MAC Championship-winning teams from 2013-16. As a junior in 2015, she was named MAC Golfer of the Year and was the MAC Championships individual medalist, one of three tournament victories that season.
Hallock was part of pitching staffs that helped Kent State make three NCAA appearances and capture two MAC regular season championships from 2008-11. He earned All-American honors from Collegiate Baseball and CollegeBaseballInsider.com in addition to being named MAC Pitcher of the Year in 2011 after ranking in the top-30 nationally in both wins (10) and ERA (1.95). Hallock was selected in the 10th round of the 2011 MLB Draft and reached the AAA level before beginning a career in coaching. He was named 2024 MAC Coach of the Year after leading Bowling Green to its first conference title in 15 years.
Jarvis served as a four-year captain and earned All-MAC accolades twice, including first team honors in 2007 when he set the program's single-season rushing record with 1,669 yards and totaled 13 touchdowns and nearly 2,000 all-purpose yards. He ranks third in Flashes history in rushing yards (3,721), fourth in all-purpose yards (4,698) and sixth in touchdowns (30).
Lauer became just the second Consensus First Team All-American in Kent State history in 2016, also earning Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Year, College Baseball Hall of Fame Pitcher of the Year, and MAC Pitcher of the Year honors in the same season. The lefty set the program with a remarkable 0.69 ERA, the lowest by a Division I starting pitcher in nearly 40 years. Lauer posted a 10-2 record that season and threw a no-hitter at Bowling Green. He was drafted 25th overall by the Padres in the 2016 MLB Draft by the Padres and pitched six seasons in the majors for San Diego and Milwaukee.
Miller is the only Kent State wrestler to ever post three top-six finishes at the NCAA Championships, placing fourth in 2014, fifth in 2015 and sixth in 2016. A four-time national qualifier, he won two MAC titles at 157 lb. and one at 149 lb. His 128 career wins are tied for the third most in school history.
Two historic teams will be recognized as Teams of Distinction during this year's ceremony. The 1998-99 Men's Basketball team made the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance and set the standard of excellence for each team that has followed the past 25 seasons. The 2008 Softball roster featured several Varsity K Hall of Fame members and posted a record-setting 46-win campaign that ended in the championship round at the NCAA Ann Arbor Regional.
Additional honorees for the 2024 class include Dr. Barry Franklin (Distinguished Athletic Alumnus), Mindy Aleman (Honorary Varsity K), Nicole and Michael Awad (Varsity K Person of the Year) and Dr. William Pakan (Rudy Bachna Memorial Award).
This year's ceremony will take place in the Student Center Ballroom and is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 1 at 9 a.m. Tickets for the event are $50 for adults and $25 for children 12 and under. Children 3 and under are free. For reservations, visit http://www.kentstatesports.com/HOF.ย Contact The Golden Flashes Club with questions at 330-672-2078 or thegoldenflashesclub@kent.edu.
2024 Varsity K Hall of Fame Inductees
Chris Baker, Ice Hockey
Jessica Carmichael, Softball
Dior Delophont, Women's Track & Field
Josée Doyon, Women's Golf
Kyle Hallock, Baseball
Eugene Jarvis, Football
Eric Lauer, Baseball
Ian Miller, Wrestling
Honorees
Teams of Distinction: 1998-99 Men's Basketball. 2008 Softball
Distinguished Athletic Alumnus: Dr. Barry Franklin
Honorary Varsity K: Mindy Aleman
Varsity K Person of Year: Nicole and Michael Awad
Rudy Bachna Memorial Award: Dr. William Pakan
