University of St. Thomas Athletics
Inductees announced for Athletics Hall of Fame on 50th anniversary
8/12/2024 9:36:00 AM | Athletics, Men's Hockey, Men's Track & Field, Softball, Women's Basketball, Women's Hockey
2024 class includes four individuals, one team that span three decades
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The University of St. Thomas Athletics Hall of Fame will celebrate its 50th anniversary this fall with four individuals and one team joining the Hall.
Five decades after the charter class of 1974 was inducted, the 2024 class will be recognized on campus Saturday, November 9 including a wall unveiling ceremony, halftime recognition at Tommie Football, dinner and induction ceremony.
The 2024 inductees represent five different Tommie sports programs across three different decades:
- Eyo Ekpo (Men's Track & Field, 2010-13)
- Drew Fielding (Men's Hockey, 2011-15)
- Becky Kilpatrick Alexander (Women's Hockey, 2002-06)
- Coach: John Tschida (Softball, 2001-21)
- Team: 1990-91 Women's Basketball (NCAA Champions)
Ceremonies
The 2024 Hall of Fame event will be held in the James B. Woulfe Alumni Hall on Saturday, November 9. The inductees will be celebrated during halftime at the Tommies' home football game against Drake.
Tickets can be purchased this fall on TommieSports.com.
St. Thomas Athletics Hall of Fame
Click HERE to view more information about the St. Thomas Athletics Hall of Fame selection process
Click HERE to view the St. Thomas Athletics Hall of Fame
St. Thomas inducted Hall of Fame members every three years since its first induction class in 1974. The inductions and ceremonies shifted to an annual selection process starting with the 2022 class.
The overall Tommie Athletics Hall of Fame now includes 228 individuals and five teams.
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2024 St. Thomas Athletics Hall of Fame Inductees
Eyo Ekpo, Men's Track & Field (Class of 2013)
2012 NCAA runner-up in triple jump and overall a seven-time All-American (all top-six national placings) in jumps events… a 12-time individual conference champion… a 2012 CoSIDA Academic All-America… is MIAC's lone athlete, indoors or outdoors, to win Conference Athlete of the Year four consecutive seasons (indoors, 2010-13) in 27-year history of the awards… won MIAC Outdoor Athlete of the Year as a freshman in 2010… helped Tommies claim seven of a possible eight MIAC team championships, and helped team finish fifth at 2012 NCAA Indoor Championships… ranks second on St. Thomas indoor program all-time list in both triple jump and high jump, and ranks third on St. Thomas outdoor program list in both triple jump and high jump… Tommie bests of 50-feet-5.25-inches in triple jump, 6-10.75 in high jump and 22-11.75 in long jump… was voted university's 2013 Tommie Award winner for outstanding senior.
Drew Fielding, Men's Hockey (Class of 2015)
First male goalie inducted into St. Thomas Athletics Hall of Fame… Sid Watson winner as DIII National Goalie of the Year… 2014-15 first-team All-American, MIAC Player of the Year and CoSIDA Academic All-American… as a junior in 2013-24 was second-team All-American, conference Co-Player of the Year, and finalist for National Player of the Year… three-time All-MIAC (2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15), and also was honorable mention all-conference as a freshman in 2011-12… helped team claim three championships… St. Thomas Career: 83 games, .933 save %, 1.66 goals-against average, 52-22-8 won-loss-tie record, and recorded 20 shutouts.
Becky Kilpatrick Alexander, Women's Hockey (Class of 2006)
First goalie inducted into the Hall of Fame in women's hockey program history after previously being recognized as the program's first All-America honoree… a two-time ACHA Division III first team All-American (2003-04, 2004-05), also received three All-MIAC awards… helped teams that won two regular-season and one playoff championship in the MIAC and also took second in the conference playoffs three other seasons… finished second nationally in save percentage (.947) and GAA (1.12) in 2004-05, and fifth all-time in MIAC history in save percentage (MIAC games)… recorded five shutouts and finished 11-2-2 with a 1.12 GAA and a .947 save percentage in 2005... went 9-3-2 with two shutouts, a 1.71 GAA and a .935 save percentage in 2004.
John Tschida, Softball (2001-21)
Currently the winningest coach in NCAA Softball history (active or retired, all divisions) with a .816 winning percentage (1,079-243 record over 30 seasons)… led the Tommie program for 21 seasons, 2001-2021 (the final 21 years of DIII era)… winningest coach in program history with 803 victories… led the Tommies to back-to-back national titles in 2004 and 2005, plus an NCAA runner-up finish in 2006, and a third-place NCAA finish in 2014… teams at St. Thomas appeared in 19 of a possible 20 NCAA playoffs, including 17 in a row from 2004-2021, then reached the eight-team national tournament eight times… teams collected 31 MIAC championships, (16 regular season, 15 playoffs)… two-time National Coach of the Year, 13-time MIAC Coach of the Year, voted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Hall of Fame in December 2016… named the Division III Midwest Regional Coaching Saff of the Year by the NFCA three times in his last eight seasons here… St. Thomas teams won 15 of the 17 contested MIAC Playoff titles with a 51-6 all-time record in the conference postseason, and won 93 percent of their games against conference opponents and more than 70 percent of its MIAC and NCAA postseason games… coached 35 players to All-American honors at St. Thomas, as well as three National Player of the Year honorees, and his athletes received 17 CoSIDA Academic All-America honors… including the 1995-2000 years plus 2022-24 seasons as head coach at St. Mary's, he's now starting his 31st season as a college softball head coach in fall 2024… first coach to win NCAA Softball team championships at two different universities.
1990-91 Women's Basketball Team
The 1990-91 Tommies won the NCAA Division III national championship under then Head Coach Ted Riverso… the first of seven Final Four trips for St. Thomas Women's Hoops in its NCAA DIII era… the lone St. Thomas NCAA championship in any sport won on campus, captured in old Schoenecker Arena… that team title came in just the 14th season of women's athletics at St. Thomas… St. Thomas would go on to post the best record in Division III women's hoops during the 1990s… Riverso posted a 15-year record of 337-80 (.754 win clip) with the Tommies… St. Thomas defeated Muskingum (Ohio) in the championship game, 73–55, to claim the Tommies' first Division III national title in any indoor sport… capped a 29-2 season with five NCAA tourney victories, all at Schoenecker Arena… finished 19-1 in MIAC play and won the third conference title in the 14-year history of the program… after a season-opening road loss at DII Mankato State, the Toms won 29 of their last 30 games and outscored teams by an average of 21 points per game in their 5-0 run through the NCAA tournament… won their final 13 games of the season, and the 1991-92 St. Thomas team followed up with a 27-0 start for a 40-game win streak, which was then a new D III record... the two-year run also included the Tommies' 34-game victory streak against MIAC teams.
Follow Along
For more information on St. Thomas Athletics, follow along on X, Instagram and Threads at @TommieAthletics
-- St. Thomas Athletics --
Five decades after the charter class of 1974 was inducted, the 2024 class will be recognized on campus Saturday, November 9 including a wall unveiling ceremony, halftime recognition at Tommie Football, dinner and induction ceremony.
The 2024 inductees represent five different Tommie sports programs across three different decades:
- Eyo Ekpo (Men's Track & Field, 2010-13)
- Drew Fielding (Men's Hockey, 2011-15)
- Becky Kilpatrick Alexander (Women's Hockey, 2002-06)
- Coach: John Tschida (Softball, 2001-21)
- Team: 1990-91 Women's Basketball (NCAA Champions)
Ceremonies
The 2024 Hall of Fame event will be held in the James B. Woulfe Alumni Hall on Saturday, November 9. The inductees will be celebrated during halftime at the Tommies' home football game against Drake.
Tickets can be purchased this fall on TommieSports.com.
St. Thomas Athletics Hall of Fame
Click HERE to view more information about the St. Thomas Athletics Hall of Fame selection process
Click HERE to view the St. Thomas Athletics Hall of Fame
St. Thomas inducted Hall of Fame members every three years since its first induction class in 1974. The inductions and ceremonies shifted to an annual selection process starting with the 2022 class.
The overall Tommie Athletics Hall of Fame now includes 228 individuals and five teams.
--
2024 St. Thomas Athletics Hall of Fame Inductees
Eyo Ekpo, Men's Track & Field (Class of 2013)
2012 NCAA runner-up in triple jump and overall a seven-time All-American (all top-six national placings) in jumps events… a 12-time individual conference champion… a 2012 CoSIDA Academic All-America… is MIAC's lone athlete, indoors or outdoors, to win Conference Athlete of the Year four consecutive seasons (indoors, 2010-13) in 27-year history of the awards… won MIAC Outdoor Athlete of the Year as a freshman in 2010… helped Tommies claim seven of a possible eight MIAC team championships, and helped team finish fifth at 2012 NCAA Indoor Championships… ranks second on St. Thomas indoor program all-time list in both triple jump and high jump, and ranks third on St. Thomas outdoor program list in both triple jump and high jump… Tommie bests of 50-feet-5.25-inches in triple jump, 6-10.75 in high jump and 22-11.75 in long jump… was voted university's 2013 Tommie Award winner for outstanding senior.
Drew Fielding, Men's Hockey (Class of 2015)
First male goalie inducted into St. Thomas Athletics Hall of Fame… Sid Watson winner as DIII National Goalie of the Year… 2014-15 first-team All-American, MIAC Player of the Year and CoSIDA Academic All-American… as a junior in 2013-24 was second-team All-American, conference Co-Player of the Year, and finalist for National Player of the Year… three-time All-MIAC (2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15), and also was honorable mention all-conference as a freshman in 2011-12… helped team claim three championships… St. Thomas Career: 83 games, .933 save %, 1.66 goals-against average, 52-22-8 won-loss-tie record, and recorded 20 shutouts.
Becky Kilpatrick Alexander, Women's Hockey (Class of 2006)
First goalie inducted into the Hall of Fame in women's hockey program history after previously being recognized as the program's first All-America honoree… a two-time ACHA Division III first team All-American (2003-04, 2004-05), also received three All-MIAC awards… helped teams that won two regular-season and one playoff championship in the MIAC and also took second in the conference playoffs three other seasons… finished second nationally in save percentage (.947) and GAA (1.12) in 2004-05, and fifth all-time in MIAC history in save percentage (MIAC games)… recorded five shutouts and finished 11-2-2 with a 1.12 GAA and a .947 save percentage in 2005... went 9-3-2 with two shutouts, a 1.71 GAA and a .935 save percentage in 2004.
John Tschida, Softball (2001-21)
Currently the winningest coach in NCAA Softball history (active or retired, all divisions) with a .816 winning percentage (1,079-243 record over 30 seasons)… led the Tommie program for 21 seasons, 2001-2021 (the final 21 years of DIII era)… winningest coach in program history with 803 victories… led the Tommies to back-to-back national titles in 2004 and 2005, plus an NCAA runner-up finish in 2006, and a third-place NCAA finish in 2014… teams at St. Thomas appeared in 19 of a possible 20 NCAA playoffs, including 17 in a row from 2004-2021, then reached the eight-team national tournament eight times… teams collected 31 MIAC championships, (16 regular season, 15 playoffs)… two-time National Coach of the Year, 13-time MIAC Coach of the Year, voted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Hall of Fame in December 2016… named the Division III Midwest Regional Coaching Saff of the Year by the NFCA three times in his last eight seasons here… St. Thomas teams won 15 of the 17 contested MIAC Playoff titles with a 51-6 all-time record in the conference postseason, and won 93 percent of their games against conference opponents and more than 70 percent of its MIAC and NCAA postseason games… coached 35 players to All-American honors at St. Thomas, as well as three National Player of the Year honorees, and his athletes received 17 CoSIDA Academic All-America honors… including the 1995-2000 years plus 2022-24 seasons as head coach at St. Mary's, he's now starting his 31st season as a college softball head coach in fall 2024… first coach to win NCAA Softball team championships at two different universities.
1990-91 Women's Basketball Team
The 1990-91 Tommies won the NCAA Division III national championship under then Head Coach Ted Riverso… the first of seven Final Four trips for St. Thomas Women's Hoops in its NCAA DIII era… the lone St. Thomas NCAA championship in any sport won on campus, captured in old Schoenecker Arena… that team title came in just the 14th season of women's athletics at St. Thomas… St. Thomas would go on to post the best record in Division III women's hoops during the 1990s… Riverso posted a 15-year record of 337-80 (.754 win clip) with the Tommies… St. Thomas defeated Muskingum (Ohio) in the championship game, 73–55, to claim the Tommies' first Division III national title in any indoor sport… capped a 29-2 season with five NCAA tourney victories, all at Schoenecker Arena… finished 19-1 in MIAC play and won the third conference title in the 14-year history of the program… after a season-opening road loss at DII Mankato State, the Toms won 29 of their last 30 games and outscored teams by an average of 21 points per game in their 5-0 run through the NCAA tournament… won their final 13 games of the season, and the 1991-92 St. Thomas team followed up with a 27-0 start for a 40-game win streak, which was then a new D III record... the two-year run also included the Tommies' 34-game victory streak against MIAC teams.
Follow Along
For more information on St. Thomas Athletics, follow along on X, Instagram and Threads at @TommieAthletics
-- St. Thomas Athletics --
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