The Missouri Western State University Athletics Hall of Fame Committee is excited to announce the 2012 inductees.  This year’s class includes; Bob Alcorn – Men’s Basketball, Jerris Evans – Football, Brice Garnett – Men’s Golf, Lisa Hughes – Women’s Basketball, Tony Williams – Football and the 1993-94 Women’s Basketball Team.

Jerris Evans · Football · (1998-2001)

Jerris Evans was a stand-out athlete on the offensive side of the ball for the Missouri Western football team throughout his career (1998-2001) as a Griffon. Evans holds almost every Griffon receiving record which includes; most receptions in a game with 13 against Truman State on November 10, 2001, most receptions in a season with 73 in 2001 and most receptions in a career with 200. He also holds the record for most receiving yards in a career with 2,928.

His freshman campaign was cut short due to a thumb injury.  He returned strong as a sophomore tallying 50 receptions for 707 yards and seven touchdowns.  He had 71 catches for 1,077 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior and 73 catches for 1,041 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior. He also had 44 punt returns for 469 yards (10.66 yards per punt return) and one touchdown in his career and 12 kickoff returns for 266 yards (22.16 yards per kickoff return). Evans tallied five 150-yard receiving performances with his best coming on November 3, 2001 when he had 13 receptions for 197 yards and a touchdown against Truman State. He caught 10 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown on November 14, 1999 against Northwest Missouri State University.

In 2001, Evans was named the MIAA’s Offensive MVP and was named first team All-MIAA. He is still the only Griffon to earn MIAA Offensive MVP honors. He was also named to the Don Hansen Football Gazette All-America second team in 2001.

Tony Williams · Football · (1994-1997)

Tony Williams was one of the best running backs to wear the black and gold (1994-1997). He currently holds records for most rushing touchdowns in a career (34), most rushing yards in a game (283) against Missouri-Rolla in 1996 and most rushing yards in a career with (3,396).

In 1995, Williams had an outstanding season rushing for one yard shy of 1,000 finishing with 999. In 1996, he rushed for 1,597 yards and 17 touchdowns. In his freshman campaign in 1994 he rushed for 338 yards with a season high 86 yards and two touchdowns against the Washburn Ichabods on October 22 in Topeka, Kan. Before his senior season was cut short due to a knee injury, Williams rushed for 462 yards averaging 154 yards per game in the three games he played. He rushed for over 150-yards seven times in his career which included three being for over 200 yards. His high was 283 yards on 37 carries with three touchdowns against Missouri –Rolla on November 16, 1996.

Brice Garnett · Men’s Golf · (2003-2006)

Brice Garnett is the most decorated golfer to ever play at Western (2003-2006). Originally from Gallatin, Mo., Garnett was a three time NCAA Division II All-American (2004, 2005 and 2006). He was a four time NCAA Division II All-Region and All-MIAA player (2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006). He was the MIAA Tournament Champion three times (2004, 2005 and 2006) and was the NCAA Division II Super Regional Champion twice (2004 and 2005). In 2006 he was named the first ever MIAA Player of the Year.

While playing for the Griffons he won 12 career tournaments which included six in a row. In 2005 he placed 4th at the NCAA Division II National Championships in Savannah, Ga. and in 2004 he placed 62nd at the National Championships in Deland, Fla.

Garnett also excelled in the classroom graduating Cum-Laude in 2006 with a degree in business finance. He was the MWSU Male Student –Athlete of the Year twice (2005 and 2006) as well as a finalist in 2006 for the Ken B. Jones MIAA Student-Athlete of the Year. He was a three time MIAA All-Academic performer (2004, 2005 and 2006) as well as earning the Financial Executive Institute award in 2006.

Garnett is playing professionally on the Nationwide Tour which is one step below the PGA Tour. He has also played on the Adams Golf Pro Tour and the EGolf Professional Tour. On the Nationwide Tour he has played in 31 events making 16 cuts. He has placed in the top 10 twice and top 25 six times. He won his first ever professional event playing on the EGolf Professional Tour. He won the River Hills Classic in June 2011 at the Palisades Country Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. Garnett recently qualified for the 2012 US Open by winning the Springfield, Ohio sectional qualifier on Monday, June 4. Garnett shot a 36-hole total of 9-under par in the victory. The US Open will be played June 14-17 at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, Calif.

Bob Alcorn · St. Joseph Junior College Men’s Basketball Head Coach · (1959-1966) · St. Joseph Junior College Men’s Basketball Player · (1951-1952 and 1954-1955)

Bob Alcorn a native of St. Joseph helped put the Griffons on the basketball map.  He began his career as a player at St. Joseph Junior College during the 1951-52 season. During his freshman campaign, the team went 14-7. He averaged 18.7 points per game including a 30 point outing against Fairbury-Nebraska. For his efforts he was named first team All-Junior College Conference.  After a stint in the military, he returned for his sophomore season in 1954 averaging an outstanding 23.6 points per game with a 43 point game against Trenton Junior College. He was named first team All-Junior College Conference as well as Honorable Mention All-America.

After completing his playing career at Northwest Missouri State, Alcorn returned to SJJC to begin his coaching career in 1957 as an assistant. He held that roll until 1959 when he took over the head coaching position. He was the head coach until 1966 when he resigned to remain employed by the St. Joseph School District. His best season came in the 1961- 62 season when his team went 19-5 including sweeping the season series with Hannibal and Southwest for the first time in a single season.

Lisa Hughes · Women’s Basketball · (1986-1990)

Lisa Hughes was one of the most talented offensive players to ever play for the Missouri Western Women’s Basketball team (1986-1990). Hughes holds or has held numerous Griffon records. She holds career records for rebounds (1,002), field goals made (691), field goals attempted (1,498) and free throw attempted (570). She previously held records for most points scored (1,750) and free throws made (367). She is second on the list in those two categories.

During her senior campaign she was named First Team All-MIAA averaging 17.0 points per game and snaring 8.9 rebounds. She had 31 assists, 27 blocked shots and 46 steals. She guided her team to a 19-10 overall record and 10-6 MIAA record in Missouri Western’s first season as a member of the MIAA.

As a junior Hughes was an All-CSIC First Team selection averaging 15.9 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. As a sophomore she was an All-CSIC and All-District 16 First Team selection. She averaged 17.0 points and averaged 9.8 rebounds per game. As a freshman she played in 33 games with 13 starts. She averaged 10.2 points per game and 7.5 rebounds. She also led the team with 46 blocked shots.

She had a career-high 29 points against Northwest Missouri State on December 9, 1987 and a career best 19 rebounds at Avila University on December 11, 1987.

1993-1994 Women’s Basketball Team

The 1993- 94 Griffon Women’s Basketball team finished with a 29-3 record which was the most wins in a season at the time and eighth season with 20 or more wins up to that point.  Jeff Mittie guided the team in his second season to the school’s first ever NCAA Division II Elite Eight appearance they defeated Missouri Southern 75-73 in the South Central Regional Championship Game.

The Griffons were led by the MIAA’s Most Valuable Player Tonya Foster to go along with Freshman of the Year, Amy Towne. The Griffons went 16-0 in MIAA play earning the outright MIAA Regular Season Title.

Jeff Mittie earned MIAA Coach of the Year honors while Foster was named First Team All-MIAA. Lashon Egans and Kelly Williams were Second Team All-MIAA selections while Jennifer Schaal earned Honorable Mention honors. Academically, Schaal and Williams were named to the MIAA All-Academic Team.

2012 Wendy’s Hall of Fame Weekend Schedule of Events:

Reception: Friday, September 28 – 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM – Fulkerson Center on the campus of Missouri Western University

Induction Ceremony Brunch: Saturday, September 29 – 11:00 AM-1:00 PM – Fulkerson Center.

If you would like to attend the Induction Ceremony Brunch please RSVP to 271-4481 by September 21. Cost of the brunch is $20.00.

— MWSU Sports Information —