Pittsburg State University Athletics will honor and enshrine this year's Hall of Fame Class on Friday in a ceremony that is free and open to the public.
The event will take place at the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts, 1711 S. Homer, at 6 p.m. A reception will follow. The ceremony also will be live streamed at
pittstate.tv.
The Class of 2024 is headlined by a cast of decorated athletes:
John Brown (2011-13), a three-time NCAA Division II All-America wide receiver in football;
Amanda Davied (2000-03); a record breaking guard in women's basketball;
Jeremy Jackson (2008-10), a four-time All-American hurdler in track & field;
Mickey Nichol (2003-04), an All-American outfielder in baseball;
Mark Smith (2004-08), a two-time All-America quarterback in football; and
Travis Stepps (1997-2001), a two-time All-America cornerback in football.
Roddy Gaynor (1980-81), a three-time NAIA All-America middle distance runner in track & field, and
Gary Wilson (1963-66), an NAIA All-America selection as a running back in football for the Gorillas, will be inducted in the Hall of Fame's "Legacy" category.
The Legacy category, created in 2005, focuses solely on individuals who completed their athletic eligibility 30 years or prior from the current calendar year in an attempt to bolster the school's rich heritage from earlier years.
The Hall of Fame Class of 2024 also will be recognized at halftime of the Gorillas football game next Saturday (Oct. 5) against MIAA rival Missouri Western State University.
2024 Hall of Fame inductee profiles:
John Brown, Football, 2011-13~ Three-time NCAA-II All-American, 2011-13 (Consensus AA in 2012-13)
~ MIAA All-Conference, 2011-13 (1st, WR/AP, '12-13; 2nd, WR, '11)
~ MIAA Special Teams MVP, 2012-13
~ NCAA-II Special Teams POY, 2012-13 (Don Hansen)
~ Set PSU career records with 185 receptions for 3,387 yards & 34 TDs
~ Selected 91st overall (3rd Rnd) in 2014 NFL Draft by Arizona Cardinals
~ Nine-year NFL veteran playing for the Cardinals (2014-17), Baltimore Ravens (2018), Buffalo Bills (2019-2020, 2022), Las Vegas Raiders (2021), Denver Broncos (2021), Jacksonville Jaguars (2021) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2021)
~ Made 321 receptions for 4,790 yards and 32 touchdowns
Amanda Davied, Women's Basketball, 2000-03~ Three-time MIAA All-Conference (H.M., '01; 2nd, '02; 1st, '03)
~ Scored 1,229 points in 109 career games (11.3 ppg) – ninth-highest scoring total in school history at the time (currently 13th all-time)
~ Set & still holds PSU record for career assists (553)
~ Set PSU single season assists record (157), currently ranked No. 3 all-time
~ Set PSU career free throw percentage record (.844, 313-371), currently No. 2 all-time
~ Set PSU single season free throw percentage record (.897, 113-126), currently No. 3 all-time
~ Ranks 5th all-time at PSU in career steals (195)
~ Serving in her sixth season as head coach of the PSU women's basketball program & her 20th year as a staff member
Jeremy Jackson, Track & Field, 2008-2010~ Four-time NCAA-II All-American: 60m Hurdles (2nd, 7.87, 2008; 1st, 7.83, 2010); 110m Hurdles, (3rd, 14.07, 2009; 2nd, 14.10, 2010)
~ Captured one national championship (60mH) & two national runner-up finishes (60mH & 110mH)
~ Seven-Time All-MIAA Performer - 3-Time MIAA Champion: 60mH, 2008, '10; 110mH, 2010; 4-Time MIAA Runner-up
~ Set school record in the 60m hurdles (7.83), currently ranked No. 4 all-time
~ Posted fourth fastest 110m hurdles time in school history (13.95), currently ranked No. 9 all-time
~ Made 96 tackles (44 solo) in two seasons as a linebacker in football ('07, '09)
Mickey Nichol, Baseball, 2003-05~ NCAA-II All-America, 2005 (3rd team, OF, ABCA)
~ MIAA All-Conference, '03, '05 (1st, OF, '05; 2nd, OF, '03)
~ MIAA co-Offensive Player of the Year, 2005
~ .407 career batting average with 19 HRs and 96 RBIs in 100 games
~ .459 BA with 59 runs scored, 14 HRs and 56 RBIs, 2005
~ 2005 BA (.459) ranks 2nd on single-season records chart
Mark Smith, Football, 2004-08~ Two-time NCAA-II All-American, 2007-08 (HM, QB, '07-08)
~ MIAA All-Conference, 2007-08 (1st, QB, '07; H.M., QB, 08)
~ Passed for 5,190 yards and 40 TDs - ranks 6th all-time at PSU in career passing yards
~ Rushed for 2,364 yards and 29 TDs - ranks 2nd among QBs and 16th all-time at PSU in career rushing yards
~ Rushed for a PSU quarterback record 212 yards vs. Neb.-Omaha in 2008 NCAA-II playoffs
~ Compiled a 24-6 (.800) career record as PSU's starting QB
~ Serving in his first year as an assistant coach in Pitt State football program
Travis Stepps, Football, 1997-2001~ NCAA-II All-American, 2000-01 (2nd, DB, 2001; 2nd, DB, 2000)
~ MIAA All-Conference, 1997-98, 2000-01 (1st, DB, 2000-01; H.M., DB, 1997-98)
~ Made 28 career pass break-ups – 2nd highest total in school history at the time (currently No. 4)
~ Made 35 career passes defended – 2nd highest total in school history at the time (currently No. 4)
Legacy category
Roddy Gaynor, Track & Field, 1980-81~ Three-time NAIA All-American: 1,000m (4th, 2:15.65, '80; 3rd, 2:15.06, '81); 880 yds (4th, 1:55.26, '81)
~ CSIC All-Conference, 800m (5th, '80; 2nd, '81)
~ Set PSU indoor record in the 600 yard run (1:13.14)
Gary Wilson, Football/Track & Field, 1963-66~ NAIA All-American, 1966 (H.M., RB)
~ CIC All-Conference, 1966 (1st, RB)
~ Amassed 1,382 career rushing yards and 167 career points
~ Six-time All-CIC track & field athlete, 1963-65
~ CIC Champion in 330-yard intermediate hurdles, 1965
