Kent State Announces 2025 Varsity K Hall of Fame Class
10/31/2025 5:00:00 PM | Baseball, General, Men's Basketball, Softball, Women's Basketball, Women's Golf, Women's Soccer, Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field, The Golden Flashes Club
KENT, Ohio — Kent State has announced the nine-member 2025 Varsity K Athletics Hall of Fame class, which will be honored as part of the 46th induction ceremony on Feb. 28, 2026. The class includes two Olympians, one NCAA national champion and five All-Americans.
Joining the Hall of Fame are Maddy Grimm (softball, 2014-17), Jimmy Hall (men's basketball, 2015-17), Jenna Hellstrom (women's soccer, 2013-16), Reggie Jagers III (men's track and field, 2013-17), Larissa Lurken (women's basketball, 2014-17), Terry Nesbitt (men's gymnastics coach, 1979-91), Wad Phaewchimplee (women's golf, 2014-17), Ted Rose (baseball, 1995-96) and Danniel Thomas-Dodd (women's track and field, 2013-17).
Grimm owned one of most powerful swings in MAC softball history and sits third in the conference record book in home runs (69) and RBIs (192), as well as fifth in slugging percentage (.760) and runs scored (172). After leading the Flashes to back-to-back regular season championships in 2015 and 2016, she helped them win the MAC Tournament and return to the NCAA Tournament in 2017. That same season, she made history as the first student-athlete to be named MAC Player of the Year and receive the prestigious Nan Harvey Award. Grimm was selected in the fifth round of the 2017 NPF Draft by the Akron Racers and currently plays for the Atlanta Smoke of the Pro Fastpitch League, earning Championship Series MVP honors this past summer.
Hall was named All-MAC First Team in each of his three seasons on the hardwood and left his mark all over the Kent State record book. He is the all-time leader in field goals made (672) and ranks second in rebounds (867) and fourth in points (1,683). Hall scored a single-season record 683 points during his senior year and helped the Flashes reach the 2017 NCAA Tournament with an all-tournament team performance during the MAC Tournament. Following a successful seven-year professional career overseas, he joined the Canisius coaching staff under Varsity K Hall of Famer Jim Christian.
Hellstrom rewrote the women's soccer record book with 107 points, 37 goals, 33 assists and 17 game-winning goals during her career. She made history as the program's first All-American in 2016 after leading the Flashes to their first MAC Tournament title and NCAA Tournament appearance. A two-time All-Great Lake Region First Team selection and two-time MAC Offensive Player of the Year, Hellstrom ranked in the top-25 nationally in both points and assists during her junior and senior campaigns. Her five-year professional career was highlighted by a stint with the NWSL's Washington Spirit in 2020 and being selected as a member of Team Canada for the 2019 FIFA World Cup.
Jagers III was a three-time All-American, including a pair of top-seven NCAA finishes, during his career. He beat his own discus school record with a throw of 205'-1" in his final competition at Kent State to place second at the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Championships, his best finish in five nationals appearances. A two-time MAC Championships Most Outstanding Field Performer, Jagers III captured four individual conference titles in three different events (discus throw, hammer throw, weight throw). He represented Team USA at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and is a two-time USATF national champion.
Lurken concluded her standout career with one of the best individual seasons in school history. In addition to breaking the NCAA single-season record for made free throws (280), the 2017 MAC Player of the Year set Kent State records for total points scored (752) and points per game (23.5) while leading the Flashes to a 13-win improvement and MAC East Division title. She was named CoSIDA Academic All-America Second Team the same season and ranks in the top-10 in program history in career points (1,652) and scoring average (14.6).
Phaewchimplee had one of the most impressive freshman seasons by a Kent State student-athlete in any sport, earning WGCA All-America honorable mention accolades after tying for 28th at the 2014 NCAA Championships. She earned individual qualification to nationals after winning the NCAA Central Regional. Phaewchimplee was a four-time All-MAC First Team selection and helped the Flashes to MAC titles in all four years. She owns the second lowest 18-hole and 72-hole performances in program history.
Nesbitt guided the men's gymnastics program for 12 seasons and was named NCAA East Region Coach of the Year in 1990 after the Flashes captured the National Independent Championships title. He also led Kent State to five Great Lakes Intercollegiate Gymnastics League championships. The team set several program records and finished No. 17 in the nation during Nesbitt's final season in 1991.
Rose compiled an impressive 18-3 record and earned All-MAC honors in both of his seasons at Kent State. He earned ABCA All-America Third Team honors in addition to being MAC Pitcher of the Year in 1996 after becoming just the second hurler in program history with a 10-win season. Rose went the distance in eight of 15 starts and recorded 66 strikeouts during his senior campaign. He was selected in the 14th round of the 1996 MLB Draft and reached the AAA level with the Cincinnati and Cleveland franchises.
Thomas-Dodd made history as Kent State's first female individual national champion, winning shot put at the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Championships. She had two previous national runner-up finishes and was an eight-time All-American overall. Thomas-Dodd was twice named Great Lakes Region Field Athlete of the Year and is the MAC record holder in three events — indoor shot put (59'-4"), outdoor discus throw (194'-7") and outdoor shot put (58'-1.75"). She has represented Jamaica at three Olympic Games and has captured silver at two IAAF World Championships.
The 1999 Women's Golf team has been selected as the Team of Distinction and will be recognized during this year's ceremony. With a 25-stroke margin of victory at the inaugural MAC Women's Golf Championships, this team set the standard for a program that has won 26 consecutive conference titles.
Additional honorees for the 2025 class include Kristine Slam (Distinguished Athletic Alumnus), Larry Amar (Honorary Varsity K), Mark Wise (Varsity K Person of the Year) and Dave Segen (Rudy Bachna Memorial Award).
This year's ceremony will take place in the Kent State Student Center Ballroom and is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 28 at 9 a.m. Tickets for the event are $60 for adults and $35 for children 12 and under. Children 3 and under are free.
For reservations, visit https://kentstatesports.com/2025HOF. Contact The Golden Flashes Club with questions at 330-672-2078 or thegoldenflashesclub@kent.edu.
2025 Varsity K Hall of Fame Inductees
Maddy Grimm, Softball
Jimmy Hall, Men's Basketball
Jenna Hellstrom, Women's Soccer
Reggie Jagers III, Men's Track & Field
Larissa Lurken, Women's Basketball
Terry Nesbitt, Men's Gymnastics Head Coach
Wad Phaewchimplee, Women's Golf
Ted Rose, Baseball
Danniel Thomas-Dodd, Women's Track & Field
Honorees
Teams of Distinction: 1999 Women's Golf
Distinguished Athletic Alumnus: Kristine Slam
Honorary Varsity K: Larry Amar
Varsity K Person of Year: Mark Wise
Rudy Bachna Memorial Award: Dave Segen
Players Mentioned
