CLEVELAND, Mississippi – Ten standout Statesmen and Lady Statesmen highlight the 2015 Delta State University Sports Hall of Fame induction class, released Wednesday, Aug. 19 by the Department of Athletics on behalf of the Hall of Fame selection committee. This year's class includes Matt Miller (BB), Tom Hostetler (BB), Randy Greirson (FB), Greg Walker (FB), Pam Taylor (WBB), Shelley Murrell (WBB), Laura Simpson (SB), Phillip Wiggins (SWD), Cagri Sapmaz (SWD) and Sam Dunning (Golf).
 
This year's ceremony will also feature the presentation of the Distinguished Statesman Award and Alumni Coaches Hall of Fame induction. John Crawford, a former catcher for DSU baseball, was named the recipient of the 2015-2016 Distinguished Statesman Award, while Robert McGraw (Football) and Janna Lyons-Thompson (Women's Basketball) will be inducted into the DSU Alumni Coaches Hall of Fame.
 
The ceremony will be held on Friday, Nov. 6 at the Bologna Performing Arts Center as part of the annual Delta State University Alumni Gala. The event is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. and tickets will go on sale later this fall.

The Delta State University Sports Hall of Fame was established in 1971 to recognize former student-athletes who made significant contributions to intercollegiate athletics while attending or coaching at Delta State.  Each year the DSU Sports Hall of Fame inducts a minimum of three and a maximum of 10 new members at its annual ceremony held during Homecoming Week festivities. Selections are made each year from nominations submitted to the Hall of Fame Committee. Anyone may nominate a student-athlete at any time throughout the year. A complete list of criteria is listed below the inductees bios.  
 
SAM DUNNING – MEN'S GOLF
In his 26th and final season as the head coach of Statesmen golf, Dunning guided DSU four tournament wins, saw Reed Lindsey and Chad Cupples earn All-GSC honors, while Brad Thornton was selected to the prestigious Collegiate Golf Coaches Association Academic All-America squad. Delta State finished third in the GSC Men's Golf Championships, while Lindsey received an at-large berth into the NCAA Division II South/Southeast Regional in Dade City, Florida.

Dunning, a member of the Professional Golf Association, is widely known across the state of Mississippi for his knowledge of the sport and his commitment to collegiate golf, having coached at Delta State for 26 years.

In Golf Digest's annual "College Golf Guide" the Statesmen placed tenth in all of NCAA Division II, giving national recognition of Coach Dunning's efforts here in the Delta. DSU was the highest-ranking Division II institution in player development and player improvement.

He has led the Statesmen twice to the NCAA National Championship Tournament in 2005 and 2014. Dunning was named GSC Coach of the Year in 2005-2006 following a memorable run to the GSC team title. His legacy runs deep within the program, having coached 13 NCAA Academic All-Americans, six NCAA DII All-Americans, four individual GSC Champions, and many All-GSC golfers. His 2005 Statesmen captured a school record seven team en route to a berth in the NCAA Division II Golf Championships.

Dunning served as President of the Mississippi Chapter of Professional Golfers Association from 1985-1986. He was also the Gulf States Section President of the Year from 1990-1992. In 1986, he was awarded PGA Mississippi Professional of the Year, while earning Gulf States Section Professional of the Year laurels in 1987 and 1992. Dunning was also enshrined into the Gulf States PGA Hall of Fame in 2008.
 
RANDY GRIERSON – FOOTBALL
Randy Grierson was a standout offensive lineman for the Statesmen from 1997-2000, leading Delta State to the 2000 national title with a 14-1 record. The Pascagoula, Mississippi native was a two-time All-Gulf South Conference selection at center and was twice named to the GSC's All-Academic Team.
 
With Grierson at center, the Statesmen won their first-ever GSC crown in 1998, and two years later capped a memorable campaign by defeating Bloomsburg University in the national championship game.
 
Grierson, who served as an assistant coach for the Statesmen from 2001-06, received his bachelor's degree in education in 2000 and went on to earn his doctorate in educational leadership from Delta State in 2005.
 
He is currently serving as principal at Cleveland's East Side High School. He is married to Jennifer (Hengst). The couple has one son, Austin and one daughter, Mimi.   
 
TOM HOSTETLER - BASEBALL
Tom Hostetler played baseball for coach Dave "Boo" Ferriss during the 1986 and 1987 seasons. In 1987, Hostetler was named to the American Baseball Coaches Association's All-America Team and All-Gulf South Conference squad after tossing 10 complete games. He was named DSU's Most Outstanding Pitcher in 1986 and 1987.
 
Following the 1987 season, Hostetler was drafted by the San Francisco Giants and embarked on a nine year professional career that included a stop with the Oakland Athletics organization.
 
Hostetler posted a 45-22 record with a 3.01 ERA during his professional career.
 
MATT MILLER – BASEBALL
Matt Miller, an American Baseball Coaches Association All-American, played baseball for the Statesmen and former head coach Bill Marchant in 1995 after transferring from Mississippi Delta Community College. In 28 appearances, Miller recorded nine saves and finished the year with a 0.36 ERA.
 
His nine saves rank second in single-season school history, while his 0.36 ERA is still the best single-season ERA in the program's tradition-rich history.  Miller's 28 appearances were a school record when he completed his career.
 
Miller made a name for himself in Major League Baseball, after signing as a free agent with the Texas Rangers. From 2003-07, the righthander pitched in the majors, posting a 6-1 record with a 2.72 ERA in 106 career innings.    
 
SHELLEY MURRELL – WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Shelley Murrell played basketball for two years at Delta State under legendary head coach Lloyd Clark. Murrell was a member of the 1991-92 NCAA Division II national championship team, Delta State's last national title in women's basketball. That season the Lady Statesmen defeated Bentley (Mass.) 68-66 in the semifinals and North Dakota State on its home court 65-63 to win the school's sixth national championship.
 
Murrell helped lead the 1991-92 team to a 30-4 record with an 11-1 mark in Gulf South Conference action. Murrell ranks eighth in the DSU record book with 89 career blocked shots.
 
CAGRI SAPMAZ - SWIMMING
Cagri Sapmaz, who specialized in the backstroke, competed for the Statesmen at three NCAA Championship meets. The Izmir, Turkey native finished 11^th in the 100-Backstroke at the 2003 NCAA Championships, before turning in his best individual performance at the 2004 Championships, in which he finished fourth in the 100-Backstroke and fifth in the 200-Backstroke.
 
He helped the Statesmen to three top 10 relay finishes at the NCAA Championships in 2003, 04 and 05.
 
Sapmaz capped off his career by helping the Statesmen with a pair of fifth place finishes in relay events and a ninth place finish in the 100-Backstroke at the 2005 NCAA Championships.
 
He represented Turkey and Delta State in 2003 and 2005 at the World University Games. He was also a two-time College Swim Coaches Association Academic All-American and three-time All-NSISC selection.
 
LAURA SIMPSON - SOFTBALL
Laura Simpson, a two-time All-Region (1997,99) and three time All-GSC (1997,98,99) selection for Lady Statesmen softball, closed her career as one of the program's most productive hitters of all-time. The hard-hitting Simpson finished in the top-10 in school-history in multiple categories, including doubles (2^nd/48), career batting average (4^th/.355), hits (6^th/200), RBIs (5^th/132), home runs (9^th/16) and games played (11^th/194).
 
She also ranks second in single-season history with a .423 batting average and 12^th with 69 hits. Simpson earned first team All-GSC honors in 1997 and 1999.
 
PAM TAYLOR – WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Pam Taylor played for coach Lloyd Clark and the Lady Statesmen basketball team from 1988-1991, leading Delta State to the 1989 and 1990 NCAA Division II national championships. She also helped the Lady Statesmen capture the 1988-89 Gulf South Conference title.
 
Taylor scored 1,094 points in her four year career, which ranks 30^th on the DSU's all-time points list. She is tied for fifth on the school's all-time assists list with 467 and ranks 11^th in steals (209).  
 
GREG WALKER – FOOTBALL
Greg Walker was a standout running back for the Statesmen from 1990-1994. The back was a two-time All-Gulf South Conference selection and a 1993 C.M. Frank All-American. As a senior in 1993, Walker led the GSC in rushing with 1,394 yards and nine touchdowns, while averaging 139.4 yards per game.
 
Over the course of his career at DSU, Walker rushed for 2,069 yards, ranking seventh on the career chart. He still holds the DSU and GSC record for rushing yards in a game with 316 on 42 carries versus the University of West Alabama. 
 
PHILIP WIGGINS – SWIMMING
Phillip Wiggins, who specialized in freestyle events, was a two-time team captain for coach Ronnie Mayers and the Statesmen swim team. With his help, DSU claimed a record-setting victory in the 800-Freestyle relay at the 1994 NSISL Championships, which was one of just two victories for the Statesmen at the meet. 
 
Wiggins also helped DSU claim numerous top-five finishes in relay events. The Cleveland native was a member of three record setting relay teams during his time as a Statesman.
 
JOHN CRAWFORD – DISTINGUISHED STATESMAN AWARD
John Crawford is the 2015-2016 recipient of the Distinguished Statesman Award. Crawford was a two-time All-American catcher for coach Dave "Boo" Ferriss from 1977-78. Following the 1978 season, the Houston, Mississippi native was drafted by the Detroit Tigers and spent several years in their organization.
 
In 1999, Crawford was inducted into the Delta State University Sports Hall of Fame and following the 2006 season, he and his family donated the lead gift to build the Robert L. Crawford Center. The multipurpose building serves as the entranceway to Ferriss Field.  

Crawford is a successful businessman in Starkville. His wife, Beth, is also a graduate of Delta State. They have three daughters.
 
ROBERT McGRAW – ALUMNI COACHES HALL OF FAME
Robert McGraw served as head coach of Delta State football from 1974-1977, posting a 22-19-1 overall record. While at DSU, McGraw, who spent three seasons as an assistant coach on Horace McCool's staff, coached 17 All-Gulf South Conference selections and four NAIA All-Americans.
 
McGraw graduated from DSU in 1961 with a bachelor's degree in education. He later earned a master's degree in education in 1970. Prior to serving as a coach at Delta State, McGraw made a name for himself as a junior college coach at Mississippi Delta Community College and Holmes Community College.
 
McGraw also spent time as head coach at Hazelhurst High School and Moorhead High School during his career.
 
JANNA LYONS-THOMPSON – ALUMNI COACHES HALL OF FAME
Janna Lyons-Thompson was a four-year letter winner and three-year starter at point guard for the Lady Statesmen basketball program from 2000-2004, playing for coaches Lloyd Clark and Sandra Rushing. A student of the game, Lyons-Thompson developed as a player each year while becoming a leader on and off the court.
 
As a senior in 2002-2004, Lyons-Thompson guided the Lady Statesmen to an 18-8 record and a berth in the postseason. In 26 games, starting 23 at point guard, Lyons averaged 8.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists.
 
Lyons-Thompson and the Lady Statesmen went 24-6 during her junior year and Clark's last a head coach. She averaged 5.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per game for Delta State.
 
After graduation, Lyons-Thompson embarked on a remarkable high school coaching career in Mississippi. In her brief time as a head coach, she has led Horn Lake High School to three Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A state championships.

HALL OF FAME CRITERIA
The following criteria are used to select inductees each year:
1. Recipient shall have been out of school a mimimum of 10 years.
2. Consideration shall be given to the number of sports in which he/she participated and excelled.
3. Accomplishments after graduation may be considered.
4. Support of Delta State University and DSU Athletics after graduation may be a factor.
5. A minimum of three and a max of 10 inductees shall be selected each year, of which one may be deceased.
6. Inductees must be able to attend the induction, unless deceased.  If they cannot attend, they will be honored the following year.
7. If the inductee's contribution to intercollegiate athletics was as a coach, his/her achievements must be significant.
8. Members of the Athletic Alumni Association are eligible to nominate prospective inductees.
9. If a nominee is not selected the year he/she is nominated, their name shall be retained for future consideration.
10. The selection committee shall select one alternate each year who will automatically be inducted the following year.

For more on the DSU Sports Hall of Fame, please contact Ronnie Mayers at (662) 846-4300.