Lindenwood University's fourth Athletic Hall of Fame class will have 13 members, including eight former student-athletes, one coach, one meritorious service honoree, and three teams.
The student-athletes in the class of 2010 are Dawn Cameron (softball), Jenifer Dykes (women's soccer), Matt Hopkins (men's golf), Debbie Johnson (women's soccer), Jason Micek (men's golf), Daniel Odom (men's basketball), Michelle Patrico (softball), and Katie Pizzardi (women's basketball).
Also included in the hall of fame class are Fern Bittner (former Director of Horsemanship), Dr. Harlen C. Hunter (meritorious service), the 1977-78 men's basketball team, the 1999-2000 women's basketball team, and the 2004 men's soccer team.
The 2010 induction ceremony will take place during Lindenwood's Homecoming on Oct. 15-16. The class will be honored at a banquet and induction ceremony that Friday evening. The next day, the inductees will receive recognition during the Homecoming parade and football game.
The Lindenwood Athletic Hall of Fame was created in 2007 to honor the people who have helped make the school's athletics department one of the most successful programs in the nation.
For information about the induction ceremony and tickets, please contact
Jane Baum at jbaum@lindenwood.edu or 636-949-4427.
2010 Inductees:
Fern Bittner, Equestrian
Fern Bittner, a Professor Emerita of Lindenwood, served as the Director of Horsemanship at Lindenwood from 1954-80.
Bittner helped increase the interest in horsemanship at Lindenwood and managed the Beta Chi program for nearly 30 years. The Beta Chi program was comprised of a large numbers of Lindenwood students whose interest in the program led to a new 40-stall stable being built on campus in 1968.
Throughout the years, Bittner helped students in the horsemanship department exhibit their horses at area shows, including an annual spring show sponsored by Lindenwood's Beta Chi chapter. After the new stables were built, the Missouri Horse Shows Association awarded the stables second place in the High Point Stable contest, and Lindenwood received the Horse Show of the Year award. The equestrian program was of great importance to Lindenwood for many years, and the impact that Bittner had on her students and the program were profound.
Dawn Cameron, Softball
Dawn Cameron was a pitcher on the Lindenwood softball team from 1999-2002. She was a NAIA All-American and named to the NAIA All-Tournament team in 2000.
Lindenwood won 135 games during Cameron's four years, won two HAAC Championships, and advanced to two national championship events. In her freshman season, she was named the HAAC Newcomer of the Year and helped Lindenwood finish ninth at nationals. The next season, she was named the conference Pitcher of the Year and second-team All-American as the Lady Lions finished fifth at nationals. As a senior, Cameron was named first-team all-conference and all-region.
Jenifer Dykes, Women's Soccer
Jenifer Dykes was a three-year captain and two-time All-American for the Lindenwood women's soccer team from 1989-1992.
Dykes led Lindenwood to 59 victories, three national tournament appearances, including a third-place finish in 1989 and fifth-place showing in 1989. As a freshman, she was the team Offensive Player of the Year for the Lady Lion team which went 23-1. The next season, Dykes was team MVP, a first-team All-American, and was named to the national all-tournament team. As a senior, she was a first-team all-region and All-American selection.
Dykes played softball for two seasons and earned all-conference and all-region honors.
Matt Hopkins, Men's Golf
Matt Hopkins was a four-time all-conference and all-region men's golfer for Lindenwood from 2002-05. He helped the team win four conference championships and participated in four national tournaments.
Hopkins had 24 top-ten finishes and won three tournaments during his career. As a freshman, he was the regional individual champion and led Lindenwood to a regional championship. The next year, Hopkins helped the team repeat as regional champions. In 2005, Hopkins finished in the top 15 at the national tournament and was named to the All-American team. He set a course record that year with a six-under-par 66 at the national championships.
Dr. Harlen C. Hunter, Meritorious Service
Dr. Harlen C. Hunter was a major contributor of both his time and money to Lindenwood University and the school's stadium is named in his honor.
Hunter founded the St. Louis Orthopedic Sports Medicine Clinic in Chesterfield in 1979. In 1988, his contributions led to a significant renovation of Lindenwood's stadium, including a new playing surface. This was the first step to making the stadium one of the top venues at this level.
Hunter also volunteered his time as team physician and orthopedic surgeon for Lindenwood from 1988-99. During that time, he provided physicals, weekly visits, and game coverage for Lindenwood athletes.
Debbie Johnson, Women's Soccer
Debbie Johnson was the first All-American in Lindenwood athletics history. She was a member of the women's soccer team from 1984-87.
After missing her first season with an injury, Johnson scored seven goals and earned honorable mention all-district honors in 1985. Her top season came as a junior when she was named a first-team All-American. That year Lindenwood advanced to the national tournament for the first time. She led the Lady Lions to another double-figure win season as a senior in 1987. In her three seasons of action, Lindenwood compiled a record of 38-15-4. She was once named the school's Female Athlete of the Year.
Jason Micek, Men's Golf
Jason Micek was a member of the Lindenwood men's golf team from 2000-03. He was a four-time all-conference performer, including winning medalist honors at two HAAC Championships.
Micek led Lindenwood to three HAAC team titles and won the conference meet as a junior and senior. He was all-region three times, was regional co-medalist in 2001, and helped the Lions win four regional titles. Micek competed in four national tournaments and earned All-American honors in 2003 after a top 15 finish.
Daniel Odom, Men's Basketball
Daniel Odom was a member of the Lindenwood men's basketball team from 1974-77 and was a three-time first-team all-conference selection.
Odom started 104 of 105 games during his career and finished with 1,679 points and 1,501 rebounds. He was a team co-captain his first three years and was a unanimous all-conference selection in 1976 and 1977. As a senior, Odom averaged over 20 points a game and was selected to the first-team conference all-tournament squad.
Odom also played baseball for four years, soccer for one season, and was Lindenwood head men's basketball coach for one year.
Michelle Patrico, Softball
Michelle Patrico was a four-year starter on the Lindenwood softball team from 1998-2001.
Patrico earned All-American honors during the 2000 season. She was also a four-time all-region pick and a four-time first-team all-conference selection. She was named Regional Player of the Year and HAAC Player of the Year during her career, and was team captain as a senior. Patrico helped the Lady Lions reach three national championship events, finishing fifth in 1998 and 2000, and ninth in 1999. In her four seasons, Lindenwood went 140-60-1. At the time of her graduation, Patrico held two NAIA National Tournament records.
Katie Pizzardi, Women's Basketball
Katie Pizzardi was a four-year starter for some of the top women's basketball teams in program history from 1998-2002.
Pizzardi scored 1,174 points throughout her career and was one of the top three-point shooters in program history with 163. She played in 127 games and also collected 236 assists and 219 made free throws. In 1998-99, Pizzardi helped lead Lindenwood to 23 wins and an appearance in the national tournament. The next season, Lindenwood set a school record with 30 wins and advanced to the NAIA Quarterfinals. She won multiple all-conference honors including a first-team selection.
1977-78 Men's Basketball Team
The 1977-78 men's basketball team was one of the most successful squads during the early years of the Lindenwood athletics department.
The Lions won their final 11 regular season games and were ranked ninth in the country. At the conference tournament, Lindenwood lost in the first-round but bounced back for two wins to capture the consolation bracket. After that was the regional final, where it took a last second shot to keep Lindenwood out of the national tournament.
The Lions finished one of the most exciting seasons in program history with a record of 22-8.
1999-2000 Women's Basketball Team
The 1999-2000 women's basketball team set a school record for wins and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NAIA National Tournament.
The Lady Lions opened the season with nine straight wins and won the regular season HAAC Championship with a 14-4 mark. In the postseason, Lindenwood won the HAAC Tournament and its first two games at the national tournament, before its run came to an end in the quarterfinals.
Jaime Bonney was named an All-American and HAAC Player of the Year. Amy Chase and Katie Cannon were first-team all-conference selections, and Donna Simon and Katie Pizzardi were honorable mention all-conference.
2004 Men's Soccer
The 2004 men's soccer team won the NAIA National Championship, the first in program history.
The Lions received an at-large bid into the national tournament and were the three seed. Lindenwood outscored its four opponents by a 9-1 margin at nationals. Two of its shutouts came in 1-0 victories in the semifinals and finals. The championship game win came over Auburn Montgomery when Milivoje Cecaric scored the game's only goal in the 61st minute.
Ignacio Novas was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, and goalie Edin Sabic was the Outstanding Defensive Player. Martin Barreiro joined Novas and Sabic on the all-tournament team, and Novas, Barreiro, and Andres Sanchez were honorable mention All-Americans.
Lindenwood finished the season with a 19-3-1 overall record.
