The newest Northern Kentucky Hall of Fame class features Bryan Jackson, Eva Broeg, Michael “Walt” Kelsey, Mark Welage, Jessica Buroker, Rick Meyers and the 2008 women’s basketball national championship team and is set for induction during ceremonies on Feb. 8, in conjunction with homecoming weekend and a men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader.
“The Hall of Fame provides a great opportunity to recognize and honor those individuals and teams who have made exceptional contributions to the achievements and honor of Northern Kentucky University in athletics,” said director of athletics Ken Bothof. “We are excited to welcome this exceptional group of people to the highest honor given in athletics.”
Jackson’s name is littered throughout the baseball record books. The outfielder graduated with a .386 career-batting average after belting 204 hits, totals that currently rank No. 6 and No. 9 all-time, respectively. Jackson also ranks second in stolen bases (66), fourth in runs scored (155) and ninth in slugging percentage (.594). A third-team ABCA All-American nod capped Jackson’s career in 1989.
A four-year starter for the women’s soccer team, Broeg helped Northern Kentucky make a name for itself on the national landscape from 1998-2001. The Norse won four-consecutive Great Lakes Valley Conference titles and appeared in the NCAA tournament the final three seasons, reaching the Final Four all three years. The 2000 team led by Broeg reached the national championship game.
Individually, Broeg earned All-GLVC and National Soccer Coaches Association of America all-region as a senior, while also garnering GLVC all-academic accolades all four years.
Kelsey has etched his name in the men’s basketball annals, playing more minutes (3,861) and averaging more minutes-per-game (33.6) than any other Norse in program history. His 285 made threes rank third all-time, and his 81.3 percent free-throw percentage is 10th-best.
However, Kelsey’s most notable record is a 50-point performance against Indianapolis on Jan. 2, 2004. He earned Great Lakes all-region second team and All-GLVC second team as a junior and honorable mention as a sophomore and senior. Kelsey was a standout in the classroom as well, garnering academic All-GLVC honors four times and was twice tabbed as the men’s basketball GLVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
After spending his entire four-year career as Northern Kentucky’s No. 1 golfer, Welage graduated as one of the most decorated Norse of all-time. Welage carded a 174 in the 1996 GLVC Championship to claim the individual title and earn GLVC Player of the Year honors. He was consistent from the onset, earning All-GLVC, NKU all-academic and academic all-GLVC each of his four years on campus. Under Welage’s leadership, Northern Kentucky reached the 1996 DII National Championships, where it finished 12th.
Buroker was a member of the volleyball team from 1997-2000, helping the program to four-consecutive GLVC Championships and four-straight NCAA Great Lakes Regional Tournaments. Under Buroker’s leadership, the Norse advanced to the Elite Eight twice and made one appearance in the Final Four.
Buroker was named to the NCAA Regional Tournament Team three times and became the program’s first American Volleyball Coaches Association First Team All-American in program history. She was also a two-time all-conference first team and four-time GLVC all-academic honoree.
Meyers dedicated his career and much of his life to Northern Kentucky. After serving as a student sports information director for the Norse from 1972-77, Meyers became the first full-time SID in program history upon graduation. He spent 10 years promoting NKU athletics, winning 14 College Sports Information Directors of America awards, before moving to the Northern Kentucky University media relations office in 1986. Meyers also assumed the role as the Great Lakes Valley Conference SID in 1988 and served for 17 years in that capacity.
The GLVC inducted Meyers into its Hall of Fame in 2009.
The 2008 Northern Kentucky women’s basketball team overcame a 12-point deficit to defeat South Dakota to win the NCAA National Championship for the second time in program history. NKU closed the season by winning 10 of its final 11 games en route to a 28-8 overall record and the championship. Angela Healy was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
The formal induction ceremony will be held on homecoming weekend. The basketball doubleheader will be played on Saturday, Feb. 7, with the induction on Sunday, Feb. 8.
From NKU Athletics