July 9, 2015

DEKALB, Ill. - The 32nd induction class in the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame has been selected, the seven-member class is set for induction on Friday, October 9, in conjunction with the October 10 football game against Ball State.

The 2015 induction class includes: Dr. Lou Jean Moyer (Women's Athletics Pioneer, 1962-92; Volleyball Coach, 1970-74, Sandy Menard (Women's Gymnastics, 1995-98), Charmonique Stallworth (Women's Basketball, 1992-96), Bob Gregolunas (Football, 1973-75), Michael Turner (Football, 2000-03), Ben Heizer (Wrestling, 2001-04) and Scott Owen (Wrestling, 1999-2003).

"I am excited to announce the 2015 NIU Athletics Hall of Fame Class," said Rodney Davis, chairman of the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame selection committee and a 2007 Hall of Fame Inductee. "These Inductees join a host of extraordinary Hall of Fame members who have contributed significantly to the advancement of Huskies Athletics. The Hall of Fame committee went through the grueling process of finding our top former student-athletes and we are thrilled to have come up with this group. Please come out and join us on this special night. This will surely be an event to remember."

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place at 7 p.m., in the Duke Ellington Ballroom in the Holmes Student Center on Friday, October 9. Admission is free of charge but tickets are required. For information about tickets please contact halloffame@niu.edu.

Dr. Lou Jean Moyer (Women's Volleyball Coach & Women's Athletics Pioneer)
The first head coach in the history of NIU Volleyball, Lou Jean Moyer led the Huskies to a 75-43 record in five seasons from 1970-74, including 26 wins during the 1973 season. In addition to coaching, Moyer served in a number of leadership roles in the growth of women's collegiate athletics. Dr. Moyer was President of the National Association for Girls and Women in Sports (NAGWS) and served on the Executive Board of the Association of Intercollege Athletics for Women (AIAW) where she represented Region 5. With the AIAW, Dr. Moyer served as Ethics and Eligibility Chair.

A long-time member of the NIU faculty, a physical education scholarship within the College of Education is named in Moyer's honor.

Sandy Menard (Women's Gymnastics)
The 1998 Mid-American Conference Uneven Bars champion, Sandy Menard is the only Huskie women's gymnast to earn a bid to the NCAA Championships. Menard twice competed at NCAA Regionals, helping the Huskies make their second-ever trip as a team in 1995, while competing individually in 1998. Menard achieved a mark of 39.40 in the all-around at the 1995 Midwest Individual Championships, a mark that was then a school-record and still ranks tied for second-best in NIU history. In 1996, Menard scored a 9.925 on the vault, a score that remains a school record today.

Charmonique Stallworth (Women's Basketball)
The 13th-leading scorer in NIU Women's Basketball history, Charmonique Stallworth scored 1,415 points during her four-year Huskie career. A member of three NCAA Tournament teams during her career at NIU (1993, '94 and '95), Stallworth holds the NIU record for field goals in a game with 19 made baskets against Milwaukee on March 2, 1996, scoring 40 points, one shy of the school single-game record.  

As a senior in 1995-96, Stallworth averaged 23.1 points, the second-highest single-season average in NIU history, and grabbed 7.8 rebounds per contest while earning First Team All-Midwestern Collegiate Conference honors.

Bob Gregolunas (Football)
The only Huskie ever to lead NIU in passing and tackles in two separate seasons, Bob Gregolunas quarterbacked NIU to a winning season in 1973 before switching over to linebacker for his senior season in 1975. Upon moving to the defensive side of the ball, Gregolunas led NIU in tackles and became the first player in program history to be named to the All-MAC First Team. Gregolunas was a team captain and team defensive MVP in 1975 before being selected in the sixth round of the 1976 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.

Michael Turner (Football)
NIU's career leader with 6,038 all-purpose yards, Michael Turner earned All-America honors from Football Digest, The Sporting News and CNN/Sports Illustrated in 2002 and AP, CNN/Sports Illustrated and Sporting News All-America honors in 2003. Turner ranks second in NIU history with 4,941 rushing yards, including 1,915 during the 2002 season, the fourth-best single-season total in school history.

A two-time First Team All-MAC honoree, Turner went on to be drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the fifth round of the 2004 NFL Draft and was a two-time Pro Bowler with the Atlanta Falcons.

Ben Heizer (Wrestling)
Ben Heizer claimed three Mid-American Conference titles and earned All-America honors twice during his outstanding wrestling career at NIU. A three-time NCAA qualifier at 184 pounds (2002, '03 and '04), Heizer earned sixth-place at the 2003 NCAA Championships and took second in 2004, finishing the 2003-04 season with a record of 30-2.

Heizer won the MAC crown at 184 pounds in 2002, '03 and '04, helping the Huskies to second place finishes in the MAC in each of those three seasons.

Scott Owen (Wrestling)
A two-time All-American and three-time Mid-American Conference champion, Scott Owen posted an outstanding 116-22 overall record on the mat as a Huskie. After reaching the NCAA Championships at 141 pounds in 1999, Owen returned to the championship three-times at 157 pounds (2001, '02 and '03), earning a fifth-place finish in both 2002 and 2003.

Owen won individual MAC championships at 157 pounds in 2001, '02 and `03 and helped lead the Huskies to second place finishes in the MAC in 2002 and 2003.