Wheaton, Ill. - The Wheaton College Athletics Department will induct six individuals into the
Hall of Honor during the October 4th Homecoming weekend festivities. This years inductees are
Kerry (Cole) Ryan (Women's Basketball);
Rob Hamann (Men's Basketball);
Tim Hardy (Football);
Jerry Hawkes (Football);
Bob Oury (Wrestling) and
Drew Pearson (Football). The 2004 Wheaton women's soccer team, the 2004 NCAA Division III Champions, will also be inducted into the Hall of Honor this fall. The team will be inducted and recognized on August 30 as part of the Bob Baptista Invitational.
Founded in 1976, the Wheaton College Athletic Hall of Honor is dedicated to recognizing former players, teams, and coaches who have made a significant contribution to Wheaton athletics. Wheaton recognizes athletics as an integral part of the educational program of the college; its nominees have proven to have learned valuable lessons in discipline, sacrifice, perseverance, cooperation, and commitment.
There will be a reception for this year's three inductees following the football game on October 4 (approximately between 4-5 PM) in the lobby of King Arena at the Sports and Recreation Complex on the Wheaton campus.
Kerry (Cole) Ryan '99 Littleton, Colo.
Women's Basketball
Degree: CommunicationsKerry Cole imprinted her name all over the Wheaton College women's basketball record books in her four-year career. She was a key part of the program's success in the late 1990's as the Crusaders made four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and won the 1999 CCIW Championship under Kerry's leadership.
An All-American in 1998-99 Kerry was named the 1999 CCIW Most Outstanding Player and earned All-CCIW recognition all four years she was at Wheaton. Her 1,305 points is still fifth in school history and she is second all-time in steals with 311. Kerry is Wheaton's all-time assists leader with 463 and she is also third all-time in free throws (301).
Kerry recalls of her playing career at Wheaton, "My time as a basketball player at Wheaton taught me that living out your Christian faith in spite of difficult circumstances is a mark of mature Christian character. Life rarely works out how you plan or hope but I was fortunate to witness in the lives of some people close to me the steadfastness and perseverance that is required to remain faithful and press on in spite of heart wrenching situations. I am grateful to have known wonderful, resilient women at Wheaton who were examples of what it truly means to be committed to Christ."
Kerry and her husband Tim live in Littleton, Colorado with their three children: Caleb (10); Emily (8) and Madelyn (5).
Rob Hamann '99 Arlington Heights, Ill.
Sports: Men's Basketball and Baseball
Degree: Physical ScienceRob Hamann was a two-sport standout in his four years at Wheaton. He earned All-American recognition on the basketball court and set records as a pitcher on the baseball diamond.
As a senior in 1999, Rob led Wheaton to a CCIW Men's Basketball Championship as he earned CCIW Co-Player of the Year honors on the court. He earned DIIINews Second Team All-American recognition in 1999 and he was an honorable mention All-American honoree in 1998. Hamann was a three-time First Team All-CCIW pick on the court, earning the recognition in 1997, 1998 and 1999. He scored 1,494 career points which is still 14
th all-time in school history and was 11th at the time of his graduation. Rob is ninth all-time with 682 career rebounds, which was seventh at the time of his graduation and his 162 career three-pointers was sixth at the time of his graduation, as was his 261 assists.
A standout pitcher for Wheaton in baseball, Rob posted a 1.29 ERA in 1997, a mark that is the second-lowest single-season ERA in school history. He recorded 14 career wins in his tenure on the mound, the sixth-most in school history and he is ranked seventh all-time in innings pitched. Rob was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 21
st round of the 1999 Major League Baseball (MLB) draft. He spent five seasons in the Blue Jays' organization, reaching as high as AAA. Rob compiled a 21-20 record with 17 saves and a 3.95 ERA in his professional career at the A, AA, and AAA levels.
Rob currently serves as a science teacher and varsity baseball coach at Leyden High School in Franklin Park, Illinois. He and his wife Kelly live in Arlington Heights, Illinois with their three children: Mary (8); J.P. (6) and Libby (3).
Tim Hardy '99Lawrenceville, Ga.
Sport: Football
Degree: Business/EconomicsTim Hardy played quarterback for the Wheaton football program in the late 1990's. Tim was a Third Team All-American as a senior in 1998, also earning the 1998 CCIW Offensive Player of the Year award. Tim received a NCAA Postgraduate scholarship in 1999 for his work on the field and in the classroom.
Tim's 6,044 career passing yards is fifth all-time in school history and the mark was third at the time of his graduation. He is sixth all-time in total yards (6,044 yards). Tim led Wheaton and the CCIW in passing in both 1997 (1,348) and 1998 (1,974) and was the CCIW leader in total offense in 1997 (1,533) and 1998 (2,139). Tim passed for 462 yards against Illinois Wesleyan in an effort that is still the sixth-highest single-game passing total in CCIW history and his 4,961 career yards in CCIW games is the eight-highest total in conference history.
Tim reflects on his time as a player at Wheaton, "My time at Wheaton was marked by two things: powerful relationships with teammates and coaches, and the culture of Wheaton Football that passionately pursues excellence. The quality of any experience is a direct function of the quality of the relationships and my Wheaton Football experience was filled with some amazing people. From the leadership of Coach J.R. Bishop and Coach
Mike Swider to the dozens of incredible men who I had the privilege of playing with, the people involved in my Wheaton Football experience marked me forever. The coaching staff of strong and godly men invested into my life in a way that still affects me today."
Tim later joined the Wheaton coaching staff following his graduation. He would later go on to serve as a high school head coach, currently serving as Head Football Coach at Greater Atlanta Christian School (Ga.). Tim and his wife Lindsey reside in Lawrenceville, Georgia with their three children: Jackson (12); Will (10) and Anna Leighton (8).
Jerry Hawkes '98Arlington, Texas
Sport: Football
Degrees: Communications and Biblical StudiesJerry Hawkes was a four-year letterwinner at defensive back in his time at Wheaton. In 1998 he earned Second Team All-American recognition at safety from Football Gazette, also earning First Team All-CCIW recognition in 1998.
Jerry recorded 10 career interceptions, including three returned for touchdowns. He also added a touchdown on a blocked field goal as a freshman in 1995. He was a three-time CCIW Defensive Player of the Week in his career and was twice named a Football Gazette national defensive Player of the Week.
Jerry recalls of his time at Wheaton, "Wheaton football was instrumental in shaping my life. I learned to push my body and my mind to its outer limits. I learned that you can love God, have integrity and win in life. There is no point in cutting corners. You can be successful and love God."
Jerry is currently the Athletic Director and Head Football Coach at Pantego Christian Academy in Arlington, Texas. He and his wife Melissa have two children: Isabella (5) and Micah (2).
Bob Oury '60Sport: WrestlingDuring his collegiate wrestling career Bob Oury rarely faced defeat, in fact he only recorded five losses in his collegiate career and only once in a dual match. He was a part of successful Wheaton programs under coach George Olson.
Oury compiled a 45-5 overall record in his collegiate wrestling career, including a 30-1 record in dual matches over that time. He was a two-time College Conference of Illinois (CCI) Champion and finished second once. He earned a Wheaton Invitational championship in his career and also had a second-place finish. Oury also took second place on two occasions at the nationally competitive Case Invitational and recorded the most pins on the team in both his junior and senior seasons.
Bob reflects, "For sure I liked the idea of the referee raising my hand and not the other guy. I liked the three or four hours before the match when I would be by myself; thinking, meditating, praying. I would remember my good moves and how I was going to do them. I don't ever remember thinking how I could prevent getting pinned. The focus was how I could keep the other guy busy on defense with my best moves while he was trying to keep from getting pinned. I don't ever remember being discouraged, hurt, or even tired during a match;well, tired maybe once. I remember Wheaton football coach Harv Chrouser, friend of the family since I was in Wheaton Christian grammar school, and that he believed in me. Wrestling was challenging and demanding. It was your game to "win" or "lose" and how much fun it was to win.
Drew Pearson '99Newton Square, Pa.
Sport: Football
Degree: CommunicationsA four-year letterwinner at defensive end, Drew Pearson was a Second Team All-American selection on the inaugural D3football.com All-American Team in 1999. Drew led Wheaton's defense with 19 tackles for lost yardage (-92 yards) as a senior in 1999. He served as a team captain and was recognized as Team MVP in his senior season as he recorded 11 quarterback sacks (-77 yards), the fourth-highest single-season sack total in school history. Drew's 22 career sacks was the third-highest total in school history at the time of his graduation and is currently fifth in the program's record books.
Drew recalls, "Coach Swider and the football coaches instilled Biblical truths that continue to carry me today. The first is teamwork: 'never make decisions based upon what's best for me but rather what's best for us; I have applied it to marriage and organizations . The second truth is toughness: 'when you get knocked down, get up' .Proverbs 24:16 states 'for the righteous falls seven times and rises again,but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.' I've learned to trust Jesus and repent when I'm not knocked down by circumstances or sin."
Drew currently serves as Head Football Coach and Bible teacher at Delaware County Christian School in suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He and his wife Cindy have five children: Zach (9); Nate (7); Luke (5); Sarah Kaye (3) and Joy (1).
