CLEVELAND, Miss. - A "dandy" dozen former Statesmen and Lady Statesmen are set to be inducted into the Delta State University Athletics Hall of Fame as part of Hall of Fame Weekend on Saturday, Sept. 29, as announced by the selection committee on Monday, Aug. 20. This year's class represents the best of what Delta State Athletics has to offer on and off the field. The 2018 Induction class includes Ken Baker (Track & Field), Londale Bankston (Football), Weenonah Montgomery Dearing (Women's Tennis/Basketball), Scott Eyster (Football), Rodney Francis (Men's Basketball), Jay Hale (Men's Golf), Jasper Johnson (Men's Basketball), Trey LaBella (Men's Swimming & Diving), Leslie Pourciau Patten (Softball), Mike Rosamond (Baseball), Jennifer Rushing (Women's Basketball) and Marcus Van Every (Baseball).      

"Induction into the DSU Sports Hall of Fame is the highest honor a student-athlete or coach can receive and we are honored to welcome 12 deserving members to this year's class," Ronnie Mayers, director of athletics, said. "We will honor this year's group as part of Hall of Fame Weekend on September 29."

DSU Athletics will also present Dr. Bob Ferguson (Football) with the prestigious Distinguished Statesman Award. The award is presented annually by the DSU Athletic Alumni Association to a former Delta State University Statesmen or Lady Statesman who has distinguished themselves through contributions to the programs in which a situation, institution, or movement has been changed for the better because of that person's participation.

The 2018 Coaches Hall of Fame also includes a pair of inductees, Barbara Varner (Tennis) and Dominic Bevelaque (Football | 1949-52). Coach Varner was a pioneer, as Delta State's first female tennis coach. Coach Bevelaque enjoyed a distinguished career as a football coach across many levels. A special feature on our Coaches Hall of Fame inductees is coming next week to GoStatesmen.com.

This year's class will be inducted during a special halftime ceremony during Delta State's football game with West Florida on Saturday, Sept. 29. All 12 inductees and Dr. Ferguson will be available to the fans during a special meet and greet prior to the game. More information on the weekend's activities will be available prior to the event. 
 
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 12 new members at its annual ceremony held during Hall of Fame Weekend 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.

Ken Baker -  Track and Field - 1975-1978

• A four-year member of the Statesmen Track and Field team
• Threw the javelin for Coach Reggie Barnes
• Career Best Throw of 224 Feet
• NCAA Division II Track and Field All-American in the javelin
• Had a 3.16 GPA at Delta State

 
Londale Bankston -  Football - 1985-88

• Running back for Jim "Red" Parker (1985-87) and Don Skelton (1988)
• 1988 Associated Press Honorable Mention Little All-American
• 1987, 1988 All-GSC First-Team
• Rushed for a then DSU record 1,120 rushing yards in 1987
• Set a then school record 3,180 career rushing yards
• Set a DSU career record for rushing attempts (598) and yards per rush attempt (5.2)
• Set the DSU career scoring (156) and total yards from scrimmage (3,693)
• Ranks in the top five for total touchdowns scored (26)
• Signed as a free agent with the New England Patriots in 1989
• Voted "Best Offensive Player" by the DSU Coaching Staff in 1987
• Won the Charles S. Kerg Award as the Top Male Senior Student-Athlete in 1989

Weenonah Montgomery Dearing – Women's Tennis/Women's Basketball  - 1930-1931

• Played on the 1930-31 Lady Statesmen Tennis team
• Won 1931 Mississippi doubles tennis title, the first state title for any sport at DSU
• 1931 Doubles National Champions
• 1930 City and State of Mississippi Mixed Doubles champion with partner Billy Priester
• Member of the 1930-31 Women's Basketball team
• Basketball teammates with Legendary Women's Basketball Coach Margaret Wade
• Women's Basketball team was known as the "Rabbit Foot Squad"
• Women's Basketball Won the 1931 Mississippi Valley and Mississippi State championships

Scott Eyster -  Football - 2003-2006

• Did not miss a start at quarterback in 45 career games for Head Coach Rick Rhoades
• GSC Team of the Decade for 2000-2009
• 2004, 2005, 2006 All-American
• Four-time All-GSC (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006) selection
• 2007 GSC Commissioners Trophy winner
• 2003 GSC Freshman of the Year
• 2005, 2006 GSC Offensive Player of the Year
• Set DSU & GSC career records for total offense (14,342), passing yards (13,889), pass attempts (1,644), and total touchdowns (128)
• Statesmen Led NCAA DII in passing yards per game (338.4) in 2004
• Joel Williams Named DII Offensive Coordinator of the Year in 2004
• Tossed a DSU career record 116 touchdowns, ranking 2^nd in the GSC record book
• Ranks 6^th in the NCAA DII record books in career total offense
• Ranks 11th in the NCAA DII record books in career touchdown passes
• 2004, 2005, 2006 GSC All-Academic Team
• 2005 Harlon Hill Finalist, finished 7^th in final voting
• Threw a DSU single season record 36 touchdowns (2006)
• Ranks second on the single season charts with 3,926 passing yards and 3,979 total yards (2004)
• Four-time C-Spire Conerly Trophy Finalist

 
Rodney Francis – Men's Basketball - 1997-99

• Played for Head Coach Steve Rives
• 1998, 1999 All-GSC Second-Team
• 1999 GSC All-Academic Team
• 1999 GSC Academic Honor Roll
• Led Statesmen to a 22-7 regular season record
• Led Statesmen to a 9-3 GSC record
• 1998-99 GSC Tournament runner-up finish
• 1998-99: Averaged 10.7 points, 5.3 rebounds 3.4 assists, 1.5 assists per game
• Knocked down 45.1 percent of his field goal attempts
• DSU's 22 wins was the third consecutive 20-win season

Jay Hale - Men's Golf - 1999-2003

• Played four years for Head Coach Sam Dunning
• 2001 GCAA All-South Region
• 2001 All-GSC First-Team, 2002 All-GSC Second-Team
• 2001, 2002 GSC All-Tournament
• 2001, 2002 GSC All-Academic Team
• 2001, 2002 Academic All-American
• Helped the Statesmen finish 6^th at the 2001 NCAA Regional
• The Statesmen finish 3rd at the 2001 GSC Tournament
• The Statesmen finished 8^th at the 2003 NCAA South/Southeast Regional
• The Statesmen claimed 5^th place at the 2003 GSC Tournament
• Captured three individual tournament championships during his career
• 2001 Spring MVP, 2002 & 2003 Statesmen MVP
• 2003 Statesmen Award

Jasper Johnson – Men's Basketball - 2005-2006

• Played for Head Coach Steve Rives
• Only Statesmen To Win the C-Spire Bailey Howell Trophy (2006)
• 2006 Daktronics/Basketball Times DII Player of the Year
• 2006 GSC Player of the Year
• 2006 NABC & Daktronics All-American First-Team
• 2006 All-GSC First-Team
• 2006 GSC Tournament Most Valuable Player
• Led Statesmen to a 26-1 Record in 2006
• 2005-06: Average 20 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.3 steals, 2.5 assists per game
• Averaged 33 minutes and shot 55.5 percent from the field
• Led Statesmen to the 2006 GSC Tournament title & NCAA Regional Berth 

Trey Labella – Men's Swimming and Diving  - 1994-1997

• Four-year letterman for the Swimming and Diving team for Coach Ronnie Mayers
• 1996, 1997 NSISC 50 Free champion and 1995 NSISC 50 free runner up
• 1996, 1997 NSISC 200 & 400 Free relay and 200 Medley relay NSISC champions
• 1997 NCAA All-American on the 200 & 400 Free Relays and 200 & 400 Medley Relays
• 1997 Statesmen Award and DSU Swimming MVP High Point
• Three-time All-NSISC 50 &100 Free, 100 Butterfly, 200 & 400 Free relay and the 200 Medley relay teams
• Clocked a 21.27 to set a 1995 DSU 50-free record which was bettered numerous times until 1997 
• Won the Charles S. Kerg Male Top Senior Student-Athlete Award
• Mississippi State records in the 50 &100-meter Freestyle in 1997
• Four-Time NSISC All-Academic Team and 1997 Academic All-American
• Posted Top 8 finishes in the 100 Free and 100 Butterfly at NSISC Championships in 1997
• 1994 Omicron Delta Kappa Freshman of the Year
• Ronnie Mayers and Wayne Blansett pinned Labella as a USAF Second Lieutenant 5/3/97

 
Leslie Pourciau Patten – Softball - 2001-2003

• Played outfield for Head Coach David Kuhn
• 2002 NFCA All-South Region
• 2001, 2002, 2003 All-GSC selection
• 99 career stolen bases ranks 3rd all-time in DSU history
• 88.3 career stolen base percentage, stealing 99-of-112 bases
• Tied for 5th on the DSU single season records with stole 37 bases in 2002
• Ranks 6th on the DSU single season records with stole 36 bases in 2003
• 114 career runs scored ranks 8^th all-time at DSU
• Finished with a .327 career batting average
• 2002: hit .351 with 70 hits, 44 runs scored, 37-of-45 stolen bases
• 2003: hit .305 average with 41 hits, 51 runs scored, 36-of-37 stolen bases 

Mike Rosamond -  Baseball - 1971-74

• Shortstop for Head Coach Dave "Boo" Ferriss
• Held the school record with 10 career triples which are tied for 4^th all-time
• 1972 All-GSC
• 1972 .321 BA, 25 RBIs, 35 runs, 6 doubles, 3 triples, 3 HR, 9 SB (13 Attempts) in 35 games
• Helped the Statesmen to 86-55 four-year record, a .601 win percentage
• 1974 Delta State N.L. Cassibry Most Valuable Player
• Houston Astros Southern States Scout from 2002-2012
• Signed DSU Shortstop Edwin Maysonet in 2003

Jennifer Rushing – Women's Basketball - 2004-2008

• Played for Head Coach Sandra Rushing
• First Lady Statesman to win the C-Spire Gillom Trophy (2008)
• 2010 GSC First-Team All-Decade
• 1,329 career points ranks 20th all-time at DSU
• 343 career steals ranks second all-time
• 1,096 career field goal attempts ranks 9^th in DSU History
• Four-time All-GSC selection (2005-2008)
• 2007, 2008 WBCA, Daktronics All-American First-Team
• 2007, 2008 NCAA All-South Region
• 2007, 2008 GSC Player of the Year
• 2005 GSC Freshman of the Year

 
Marcus Van Every - Baseball - 2000-2001

• Played first and third base for Head Coach Mike Kinnison
• 2001 ABCA All-American and All-Region
• 2000, 2001 All-GSC
• 2001 NCAA South Central Region All-Tournament
• 2000 Ferriss Sportsmanship and Statesman Award winner
• Ranks 4^th in school history with a .395 career batting average
• Hit .381 with 22 doubles, 75 runs scored, 81 RBIs in 2001
• 81 RBIs ranks fourth on the DSU single season RBIs list
• 22 doubles and 76 runs scored are tied for 5^th in a single season
• Hit 14 home runs in 2000
• 2001 Academic All-American and Academic All-GSC

HALL OF FAME CRITERIA
Nominations shall be submitted to the Director of the Alumni and Foundation or to the Director of Athletics throughout the year, beginning in the fall.  

The following criteria are used to select inductees each year:
1. Recipient shall have been out of school a minimum of 10 years.
2. Consideration shall be given to the number of sports in which student-athlete 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 seven 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.