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 2024 is comprised of Kaitlin (Flaherty) Bisplinghoff '11, James Green '84, Ruth Keegan '95, Max Reber '14, and the softball teams from the 1999 & 2000 seasons.
Flaherty was a four-year standout for the Methodist women's tennis program from 2008-11. The two-time USA South Player of the Year was also a four-time USA South First Team All-Conference selection – one of two women's tennis athletes to accomplish this feat in school history. Named the 2008 USA South Rookie of the Year, Flaherty led the Monarchs to four conference regular season titles, three conference tournament titles and three NCAA appearances. She was also a part of the 2011 Methodist squad that not only finished with an overall record of 25-2 – the most victories in a single-season – but also went on a 25-match win streak, the longest streak in program history. Following her senior season, she was recognized as MU's Senior Female Student-Athlete of the Year. In her career, she compiled a 74-17 record in singles play and a 75-13 record during doubles action. Her 75 doubles victories are the most by a tennis student-athlete in program history, while her 74 singles wins rank third all-time.
Green was a four-year starter for the Methodist men's basketball team from 1980-1984, as he played in 100 out of a possible 101 games during that time. The two-time DIAC All-Conference performer led the Monarchs in scoring three out of four years, and his 1,679 career points are currently the second-most points scored by a player in program history. No other men's basketball student-athlete at Methodist has recorded more made field goals in their career than Green, as his 715 field goals (at a 48.2% shooting clip) still hold the top-ranked mark of the school. Some of his career stats include 530 rebounds, 249 made free throws, 221 assists and 142 steals, which are the seventh-most takeaways all-time.
Keegan, a four-time DIAC First Team All-Conference pick from 1992-95, was a key member of the Methodist women's soccer team that won three conference titles and made three NCAA appearances. In 1995, she was named the league's Player of the Year as a defender, and she was recognized as a Second Team All-American that led her team to a national championship berth, which is still the only time Methodist has played in the title game. Following the contest, she was one of four Monarchs to be named to the 1995 NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Final Four All-Tournament Team.
Reber was a three-time USA South All-Conference player as a member of the Methodist football team from 2011-14. The prolific dual-threat quarterback rewrote all Monarch – and some conference – passing records during his tenure. He stills ranks second all-time at Methodist in pass completions (663), passing yards (8,868), passing touchdowns (81), pass completion percentage (59.3), passing yards per game (239.7), and total offensive yards (10,324). Throughout his career, Reber was responsible for 94 TDs (81 passing & 13 rushing) and 279.0 total yards of offense per game – both of which are school records – and he still owns several single-season passing records: 2,998 passing yards, 28 passing TDs, a 65.9 pass completion percentage, 3,642 yards of total offense, 31 total TDs responsible for, and 364.2 total yards of offense per game. His final two marks within the program's record book include a top-10 spot in career rushing with 1,456 rushing yards and a single-game record for slinging six touchdowns in one contest – a feat he managed twice during the 2014 season. For his accomplishments on the gridiron, Reber was named MU's 2014 & 2015 Sykes Cup winner, becoming the fifth Methodist student-athlete at the time to win multiple Sykes Cups in a career. He was also bestowed the honor of MU's Senior Male Student-Athlete of the Year in 2015.
The 1999 Monarchs go down as the first-ever softball squad to appear in the NCAA tournament in program history after winning the Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular-season title with an overall record of 32-12. Additionally, the team finished with a spotless 10-0 mark in league play, becoming just the second team in the history of DIAC softball to go undefeated within the conference. Following the regular season, Methodist not only filled up the First Team All-Conference list with a league-high six selections, but also took home the DIAC's three major awards: the Coach of the Year title awarded to Ron Simpson, the Player of the Year honor earned by Heather Hugus, and the Rookie of the Year award presented to Adrienne Midgley.
The team's success continued with the 2000 Methodist softball group as they claimed a share of the DIAC regular season championship after going 28-15-1 overall with a 10-2 record in league action. This time they also won the DIAC tournament title, which guaranteed the Monarchs a second consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament. During postseason award time, Methodist had four student-athletes make the All-Conference teams including three first teamers in Julia Best, Connie Francis and Hugus, who was named Co-Player of the Year as well. The same trio also garnered All-Region accolades as the Monarchs totaled four honors.
The Class of 2024 brings the Hall of Fame to 113 members. The induction ceremony is scheduled to take place on Friday, October 18, 2024 at 6:30 pm on the campus of Methodist University as a part of homecoming weekend.
