Six former student-athletes will be inducted into the Valparaiso University Athletics Hall of Fame on February 23 as members of the Class of 2008.

            This year’s class features athletes from various Crusader athletic programs over the years.  Don Bielke (1955) was the Indiana Collegiate Conference Most Valuable Player in basketball during the 1952-1953 season and the second player from Valpo to be drafted into the NBA.  Jeanette Gray (2003) also played on the hardwood for the Crusaders, and ranks among the top-five in school history in points, rebounds, and steals.  Lori Moore (2003) was a four-time All Mid-Continent Conference selection in soccer, and holds the school record for goals scored and career points.

            Stephanie (Schuricht) Pequette (1996) was a two-time First Team All Mid-Con volleyball player who holds the school and Mid-Con record with 4,993 career assists.  Casey Schmidt (1994) was a two-time All Mid-Con selection in basketball and holds the school’s single season free throw percentage record.  William Wilke (1971), a former Crusader cross country and track and field athlete, has been selected to the Hall of Fame in the distinguished achievement category after leading Portage High School to five state championships as the head cross country coach.

            The Valparaiso University Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Banquet will be held on Saturday, February 23 at the Strongbow Inn Banquet Center in Valparaiso.  The banquet is tentatively scheduled for late afternoon, but is contingent upon the men’s basketball game time for the ESPN Bracketbuster on that day, which will be announced in early February.  The cost of the banquet is $30 per person and reservations can be made by calling Sharon Jackson at (219) 464-5471 or (800) 803-7184 ext. 72.  The deadline for purchasing tickets is February 15.  The inductees will also be recognized at halftime of both the men’s and women’s basketball games on the same day.