General | 8/14/2023 12:00:00 PM

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  Methodist University Vice President and Director of Athletics Dave Eavenson is pleased to announce four new inductees and a team of distinction into the Methodist University Athletics Hall of Fame. The Class of 2023 is comprised of Julia (Best) Emery '01, Eirik Nordseth '15, Jake Smerka '17, Jasmine Stephens '12, and the men's tennis teams from the 1991 & 1992 seasons.

Best was a three-time Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (DIAC) Softball First-Team All-Conference infielder, 1999-2001, and a two-time All-Region player (2000 & 2001). Following a pretty good freshman campaign, Best produced one of the greatest single-season hitting performances in Methodist history during her second season as a Monarch. In 44 games, she led the nation with 80 hits and recorded MU single-season records in batting average (.510), runs batted in (53), and doubles (29). After two more impressive seasons, Best finished her career with 206 hits, a .410 batting average, 116 RBIs, and a school record 56 doubles. Mainly well known for her presence at the plate, she also pitched for the Monarchs. In her four years, she had a 3.99 career earned run average through 187 innings, collected 18 wins, and struck out 62 batters.
 
Nordseth was a four-year standout for the Methodist men's soccer program from 2011-15. The 2015 Third-Team All-American was also a four-time First-Team USA South All-Conference selection, including being named the 2011 USA South Rookie of the Year at forward. He led the Monarchs to two conference tournament titles and two NCAA appearances, in 2012 & 2015. He was also named to the conference's All-Tournament team on three occasions and was named the Most Valuable Player twice. At the conclusion of the 2015-16 athletic season, Nordseth was voted as the athletic department's MU Mason Sykes Cup winner, which is bestowed upon the school's top student-athlete each academic year. In 77 career contests, he scored 63 goals and accumulated 140 points, both of which are program records, while chipping in on 14 assists.
 
Smerka, a three-time Southeast Independent Lacrosse All-Conference pick from 2015-17, was a key member of the early years of Methodist men's lacrosse, including being an original student-athlete on the very first team in 2014. During his senior year (2017), he helped lead the Monarchs to a 15-3 record and claimed the SEILC Conference Championship. He was also named the SEILC Offensive Player of the Year, the Methodist Senior Male Athlete of Year, and the MU Mason Sykes Cup winner in 2017. Following his playing career, he ranks second all-time in points (198) and goals (139) and third in assists (59). He also holds the second-best & third-best single-season marks in the categories of points and goals.
 
Stephens was a four-time First-Team USA South All-Conference player, one of two Monarchs to do so in program history, as a member of the Methodist women's lacrosse team from 2009-12. The 2009 USA South Rookie of the Year was an offensive catalyst for the Monarchs during her time in the Green and Gold. In 54 career games, she scored 188 goals -- second most in school history -- and accumulated 206 points, the fourth-best mark. Her 215 draw controls, including a career-high 91 in 2012, rank second-best in program history as well. She is also still tied for the most caused turnovers in a game with eight.

The men's tennis teams of 1991 and 1992 left a legacy at Methodist worthy of being immortalized as a team of distinction.

The 1991 Monarchs won the Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference team title with a program-best 21-1 record. Head Coach Pete Kendall was named the DIAC Coach of the Year along with several members of the team picked as All-Conference selections, including Jeff Hawes and Jonathan Terry who were picked in both singles & doubles.

The 1992 Methodist team once again claimed the DIAC team title following a season that saw them go 17-5. Just like his team, coach Kendall picked up another Coach of the Year accolade. Highlighting this team were First-Team All-Americans Chip & Chris Collins. The Collins twins were also named to the All-Conference doubles team, as the Monarchs swept the category that season -- Collins at No.1 spot, Hawes/Mark Fabers at No.2, and Terry/Matt Hill at No.3. Additionally, Terry, Faber, and Hill made All-Conference honors in singles as well.
 
In that two-year span, these men's tennis teams produced a program-best 38-6 record and were both selected to the USA South 50th Anniversary Team back in 2013. 
 
The Class of 2023 brings the Hall of Fame to 109 members. The induction ceremony is scheduled to take place on Friday October 27, 2023 at 6:30 pm on the campus of Methodist University as a part of homecoming weekend.