ST. JOSEPH – Seven former Missouri Western student-athletes will be inducted into the Missouri Western State University Athletics Hall of Fame on September 30, 2016.

The class of 2016 includes: Michael Cobbins (football), George Hayward (meritorious service), Jill Johnson-Brock (women’s basketball), Eric Keeler (men’s basketball), Sherri Lang-Pendergras (volleyball), Eric McDowell (football) and Lindsey Predovich-Christenson (softball). All seven will be officially inducted during a banquet on Sept. 30, 2016 and will receive their rings during a ceremony at halftime of the Oct. 1 football game against Northeastern State. More information on the Hall of Fame banquet will be released at a later date.

Michael Cobbins
Football (2003-06)
Cobbins was a three-time first team All-MIAA defensive lineman for the Griffons. He was also named honorable mention All-American by Don Hansen Football Gazette in 2005 and 2005 and D2Football.com in 2006. He ranks second all-time at Missouri Western with 50 career tackles for loss; fifth with 20.5 sacks and is tied for seventh with 240 total tackles. Cobbins was a captain on the Griffon Football team for three seasons including Missouri Western’s first-ever Division II Playoff team in 2006.

George Hayward
Meritorious Service
Hayward lettered three times on the football team between 1970 and 1974 and once on the baseball team. After graduating with a bachelor of science in education from Missouri Western, Hayward went on to spend 42 years as a football official. He got his start in the regional college ranks, moving from Division II to Division I in 1984. In 1991, Hayward began his 25-year run as an NFL official, which included 23 playoff games, four league championship games and Super Bowl XLI. In all, Heyward worked 425 NFL games before retiring after this past season. Throughout his career, Hayward has continued to serve as an ambassador for Missouri Western State University and has been a longtime member of the Gold Coat Victory Club.

Jill Johnson-Brock
Women’s Basketball (2004-08)
The former Jill Johnson was a four-year standout for the Griffon Women’s Basketball program, earning All-MIAA honors three times. She was a second team selection in 2008 and 2007 and an honorable mention pick in 2006. She was also named to the MIAA All-Academic team each of those three seasons by also earning at least a 3.5 GPA in addition to being named All-MIAA on the court. In 2008 she was also named second team Daktronics All-South Central Region. She ranks fifth all-time at MWSU with 1,472 career points. Her 330 made free throws are fourth all-time at MWSU and her 734 career rebounds are sixth.

Eric Keeler
Men’ Basketball (1995-97)
Keeler was an integral part of beginning an unprecedented run of success for the Griffon Men’s Basketball program. Following the 1996-97 season, he was named first team All-MIAA and second team NABC/Sears All-South Central Region. He was also named honorable mention All-MIAA after the 1995-96 season. He led the team in scoring both seasons, averaging 14.8 points per game in 1995-96 and 18.2 in 1996-97. Keeler finished third in the MIAA that season with 4.9 assists per game and 2.0 steals per contest. He also helped lead that team to the NCAA Division II Tournament.

Sheri Lang-Pendergras
Volleyball (1997-98)
The former Sheri Lang was a member of the 1997 and 1998 Griffon Volleyball teams that went a combined, 46-21, the last back-to-back 20-win seasons for the program before 2014-15. Lang was named first team All-MIAA both seasons and the MIAA Commissioner’s Academic team following the 1998 season. She led the team in kills both seasons, with 486 in 1997 and 464 in 1998. Her 3.66 kills per set in 1998 rank third all-time at Missouri Western.

Eric McDowell
Football (2000-03)
McDowell transformed from walk-on to All-American at defensive end, eventually breaking the career sacks record at Missouri Western. The Savannah, Missouri native earned first team All-MIAA honors in 2001 and 2003 and was also a second team Don Hansen All-American both seasons. McDowell was also named honorable mention All-MIAA in 2002 and was twice named All-Region. His 15 sacks in 2003 are still a record at Missouri Western. He held the career sacks record with 24.5 until David Bass broke the record in 2012. His 41 career tackles for loss are fourth all-time at Missouri Western.

Lindsey Predovich-Christenson
Softball (2004-07)
The former Lindsey Predovich was a dual-threat player for the Griffon Softball team and a member of the program’s first-ever NCAA Regional qualifier in 2006. Predovich was a two-time first team All-MIAA selection, as a designated player in 2004 and a utility player in 2006. She was named MIAA Freshman of the Year in 2004 after earning MIAA Player of the Week honors twice, once as a pitcher and once as a DP/P. In 2005 and 2006, Predovich was also named second team NFCA All-Region as a designated player. Her name appears all over the Griffon Softball record book as the program’s career leader in games played (238), games started (236) at bats (751) and RBIs (164). Her 252 career hits, 56 career doubles and 383 total bases are second all-time at MWSU. In the circle, Predovich ranks second all-time with 545 strikeouts. She won 54 career games, good for fourth all-time at Missouri Western and her 14 career shutouts are sixth most in MWSU history.

— MWSU Athletics —