BOURBONNAIS, IL. – After a four-year hiatus, the Olivet Nazarene University Athletic Hall of Fame will induct its newest class on Saturday, February 11, as announced by Director of Athletics Mike Conway on Friday.
The 2022 inductees are Betsy (Hetrick) McDonough (women’s soccer), Tone Marshall (men’s basketball), Hannah Gardner (softball), Andrew Fischer (men’s swimming), Megan (Gullickson) DeBetta (women’s volleyball), Aaron Larson (men’s basketball), Michelle (Davis) Pruneda (women’s soccer) and the 1974-75 Men’s Basketball team.
The 33rd class of inductees will take their place among the ONU all-time greats during the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday, Feb. 11 in Chalfant Hall at 6 p.m., in conjunction with the home basketball doubleheader. Per tradition, the class will also be introduced during halftime of the men’s basketball game vs. Trinity Christian.
Attendance will be $25 per guest. Honored inductees plus two guests, along with their presenters and one guest, will be admitted at no cost. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., with dinner set to begin at 6:15 p.m. If you plan on attending the event, please click HERE to purchase your tickets in advance.
Betsy (Hetrick) McDonough – Women’s Soccer
The most prolific scorer in ONU women’s soccer history, McDonough is the all-time leader in goals scored (68) and total points (155) for the Tigers. She was named a Second Team Women’s Soccer All-American in 2015 after receiving All-America honorable mention in both 2013 and 2014.
In addition to being a three-time first team all-conference selection, McDonough was named the 2015 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) Player of the Year after she totaled 29 goals and 62 points in a single season. McDonough was a part of two ONU teams that qualified for NAIA National Tournaments, including the 2012 team that went 11-0 in CCAC play and reached the NAIA Tournament Finals.
Tone Marshall – Men’s Basketball
Marshall was named a Third Team Men’s Basketball All-American in 2012 after receiving All-America honorable mention in 2011. A three-time first team all-conference selection and the 2009 CCAC Freshman of the Year, Marshall is one of just two players to record more than 1,500 points and 500 assists at ONU, with the other being legendary coach and player Ralph Hodge. Marshall is 15th on the school’s all-time scoring list with 1,534 points and fifth in career assists with 554. He is also third in both career steals (180) and made three-pointers (241).
After graduating from Olivet Nazarene University in 2012, Marshall remained at ONU as a graduate assistant coach for two seasons, helping the Tigers reach back-to-back NAIA National Tournaments in 2015 and 2016. He currently serves as the university chaplain for Olivet Nazarene University.
Hannah Gardner – Softball
The most decorated player in ONU softball history, Gardner led the Tigers to three regular season titles, three conference tournament championships and four NAIA World Series appearances. During her senior season in 2014, Gardner won her second-consecutive CCAC Player of the Award and was named the NAIA Player of the Year, the only Tiger in program history to receive the honor.
In addition to being a first team all-conference selection all four years and the 2011 CCAC Freshman of the Year, Gardner was also a three-time NAIA All-American, earning second team honors in 2012 before being named to the first team in 2013 and 2014. She finished her career as the school’s all-time leader in RBIs (316), homeruns (48), total bases (593), and slugging percentage (.774), records that still hold to this day. Gardner currently serves as the head softball coach for ONU.
Andrew Fischer – Men’s Swimming
A member of the inaugural ONU swim team, Fischer immediately launched the Tigers into national relevancy. After a third-place team finish at the NAIA National Championships in their first-ever season and runner-up finishes the following two years, Fischer took the Tigers to the top in his senior season, capturing the program’s first national title in 2016.
During his freshman year in 2013, Fischer won national titles in the 200 freestyle, the 500 freestyle, and the 1650 freestyle. He also set seven school records during his freshman season. Fischer finished his career as a 14-time NAIA All-American.
Megan (Gullickson) DeBetta – Women’s Volleyball
A native of Bourbonnais, Illinois, DeBetta has played the most games ever for the ONU women’s volleyball team. She played in 671 games for her hometown team throughout her career, which culminated in a Third Team Women’s Volleyball All-America selection in 2006 after receiving All-America honorable mention in 2005.
DeBetta, a three-time first team all-conference selection, currently holds the school record for career service aces with 334 in her four seasons played. She also racked up 2,353 digs in her career, which was the program record until broken in 2018. DeBetta also totaled 5,455 career assists, good for third on the school’s all-time assists list.
Aaron Larson – Men’s Basketball
A three-time first team all-conference selection and the 2013 CCAC Freshman of the Year, Larson made ONU men’s basketball history as the first player to earn three NAIA All-America designations. After receiving an honorable mention in 2014, he was named a Third Team All-American in 2015 and a Second Team All-American in 2016.
Throughout his career, Larson led the Tigers to back-to-back NAIA National Tournaments in 2015 and 2016 and claimed the CCAC regular season and tournament crowns in 2015. He is fourth on the school’s all-time scoring list with 2,132 points and sixth in career rebounding with 971 boards. Larson’s #24 jersey was retired in the fall of 2020, one of only five players to receive the honor.
Michelle (Davis) Pruneda – Women’s Soccer
A three-time all-CCAC selection and an NAIA All-American Honorable Mention in 2008, Pruneda was one of the top scorers in ONU women’s soccer history. She finished her ONU career with 62 goals, which was the top mark in program history until McDonough surpassed her in 2015, while also helping the Tigers reach their first-ever NAIA National Tournament in 2010.
Pruneda now currently sits second all-time in goals scored and third overall in total points with 137. She is one of just three players in ONU history to record over 20 goals and 50 points in a single season when she netted 24 goals and tallied 52 points during the 2008 campaign.
The 1974-75 Men’s Basketball Team
Led by head coach C.W. Ward and assistant coach Frank Wilson, the 1974-75 ONU men’s basketball team was a force to be reckoned with. The Tigers posted a 30-4 overall record in the 1974-75 season, which was the best record in program history for 45 years. The historic season was capped off with a national championship as the Tigers went on to win the NCCAA National Tournament, becoming the first Olivet Nazarene University athletic program to win a national title.
On the court, the 1974-75 Tigers were led by senior guard Ralph Hodge, who would go on to coach the ONU men’s basketball team for 39 years. He was joined by fellow senior Dan Fowler, along with Ted Allen, Gerald Steagall, and Jim Shoff in the starting lineup. The championship roster was rounded out by Odell Barry, Steve Harris, Dan Beam, Dave Skelton, Denny Owens, Sam Harris, Fred Fullerton and Ron McLean.
For more information about the athletics program, contact Evan Wild, Sports Information Director, ewwild@olivet.edu.
— Shared from ONU Tigers—
