TGFC - Hall of Fame Members - Class of 2015
Jess Bechard
Bechard earned All-MAC First Team honors in both 1998 and 1999 and helped the Flashes to a MAC regular season championship in 2000. He was also named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association All-Mideast Region Second Team in 1998 and 1999. Â Bechard finished his career as Kent State's all-time leader in hits, runs scored, runs batted in and total bases. Â He is still the Flashes' career leader in doubles.
Julian Edelman
Edelman was a three-year starting quarterback at Kent State and a captain on the 2008 team. Â He still holds Kent State single-season record for total yards (3,190) and is among the Flashes' career leaders in both passing yards (4,997) and rushing yards (2,483). The New England Patriots chose Edelman in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft. Â Over the last two seasons, Edelman has caught 197 passes for the Patriots, helping New England to a Super Bowl XLIX victory this past February. Â
Kimberley Hamilton
Hamilton was a two-sport standout in softball and track & field. Â In softball, she was named to the All-MAC First Team in 2006 and 2007. Hamilton was a part of MAC tournament title teams in 2006 and 2008, which included an appearance in the NCAA Regional finals. Â She is Kent State's career leader in runs scored and is among career leaders in home runs and stolen bases. She then went on to become a MAC Champion in javelin and an All-American after placing fifth in NCAA Track & Field Championships. Still competing today, she finished third at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials.
Kira Meixner
Meixner was a key member of four MAC Championship-winning teams (2005-08), earning MAC Golfer of the Year honors in 2008. The Medalist at the 2007 MAC Championships, she was a three-time member of the MAC All-Tournament Team and was a four-time Golf Coaches Association of America All-American Scholar. Meixner earned second-team Academic All-District honors in 2008. She is third in career tournament wins at Kent State (4) and had 15 Top-10 finishes.
Jermail Porter
Porter became Kent State's first All-American in 23 years, placing sixth at the NCAA Championships in 2009. He was also a MAC champion and MAC Wrestler of the Year in 2009, helping the Flashes to a conference regular season title. Â Porter was named MAC Freshman of the Year in 2006 and earned a spot on the Amateur News Freshman All-America Team. Â He was a four-time MAC finalist and a three-time qualifier for the NCAA Championships. Porter ranks in Kent State's Top 10 for career wins and pins.
Brittney Robinson
Robinson helped the Kent State softball team to three MAC East Championships, a MAC regular season title and a MAC tournament crown as both a pitcher and key hitter in the lineup. Â A two-time All-MAC First Team selection, she was named MAC Pitcher of the Year and MAC Tournament MVP in 2006. Robinson holds both the Kent State and MAC records for most strikeouts in a season (423). She also holds the Kent State record for wins in a season with 31. Â After her college career, Robinson competed for the Akron Racers.
Nick Saban
Saban was a member of the 1972 MAC champion football team as a safety. He earned three letters in football (1970-72) and one in baseball (1972). Saban was a graduate assistant coach and defensive assistant for the Flashes from 1973-76. Â In his first head coaching job at Toledo, Saban led the Rockets to a MAC championship in 1990. He went on to coach Michigan State, LSU, Alabama and the Miami Dolphins. As a head coach, Saban has won four national championships and two AP National Coach of the Year honors.Â
Tom Varner
Varner was a three-time Great Lakes League champion in 1984 in the pommel horse, rings and the all-around. He was a three-time letterwinner and captain on the 1985 team. Varner was the team's most valuable gymnast in 1984 and 1985, helping the Flashes to a pair of Great Lakes team titles.
