GRANTHAM, Pa. - On Friday afternoon, Messiah Athletics announced the 2022 induction class for the Messiah Hall of Honor. After missing the last two years due to the COVID Pandemic, Messiah is pleased to announce the class of 2022: Brian Hoyt '79, Ben Martin '88, and Cathy (Hevener) Erickson '92, Stef (Rowe) Moore '08, JD Binger '09, Kristen (Bates) Arnold '10, Julie (Barton) Pachella '11.
The seven-member class will be the largest Messiah has even inducted in a single year. Previously, the largest classes included five members in both 1995 and 2019.
The induction banquet will take place on Friday, Feb. 4, 2022 on campus.
Below is a quick bio for each of the individuals being inducted in the Class of 2022:
Brian Hoyt '79 - Men's Basketball
The list of Messiah basketball players to ever score 2,000 career points consists of just one name, Brian Hoyt. A four-year member of the Falcons, Hoyt played in 108 career games, averaging 18.9 points per game for a total of 2,037 career points. A 1979 graduate of Messiah, Hoyt did his damage without the assistance of a three-point arc, scoring a program record 928 field goals during his career along with 181 free throws.
During Hoyt's senior season, he helped lead one of the most successful teams in Messiah men's basketball history. Serving as a captain during the 1978-79 season, Hoyt and the Falcons accumulated a record of 26-5 en route to a National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) District II Championship and a Regional Runner-Up finish. Their 26 victories are the most in a single-season in Messiah men's basketball history.
Ben Martin '88 - Men's Soccer
Messiah men's soccer's first-ever All-American, Ben Martin helped lay the foundation for years of sustained success for the program. Playing an integral role in Messiah's defense, Martin earned First Team All-Conference honors during his junior and senior season. During his senior season of 1987, Martin claimed First Team All-Region honors as well as the program's first-ever All-American nod with a Third Team honor.
During his four years in Grantham, Martin helped Messiah to an overall record of 54-17-4, with the Falcons advancing to the Final Four for the first time in program history in 1986. While primarily a defender, Martin did record nine career goals, including the fifth-fastest hat trick in men's soccer history. Against York on Sept. 12, 1985, he scored three goals in a 12:46 span.
Cathy (Hevener) Erickson '92 - Softball
Cathy (Hevener) Erickson was the first Messiah Softball player to be recognized outside of the conference, earning All-Region honors for her stellar play at the hot corner in the 1992 season. Durring her career, Erickson earned a trio of First Team All-Conference honors at third base in addition to her First Team All-Region honor during her senior season. Erickson's career numbers are some of the best in program history. She holds the highest career slugging percentage in program history with a mark of .760, as well as the second highest batting average (.465), on-base percentage (.503), and total triples (15).
In 1991, Erickson put together her best all-around season with a .567 batting average and .872 slugging percentage, both the highest single-season marks in program history. That season she also had a hit in all 26 of Messiah's games, collecting a total of 55 on the year. During her career, Erickson helped Messiah to a pair of MAC Northwest Division Championships (1990 and 1991) and a MAC Runner-Up finish in 1990). Following her playing career, Erickson served as an assistant coach for two seasons.
Stef (Rowe) Moore '08 - Women's Soccer
A two-time First Team All-American, Stef (Rowe) Moore helped the Messiah women's soccer team to four-straight Final Fours, including the program's first National Championship in 2005. Splitting her time between the midfield and forward positions, Moore netted 61 career goals and finished her career with 138 career points, placing her in the top-10 in Messiah women's soccer history of both categories.
Moore was named the 2006 Conference Player of the Year and was a three-time First Team All-Conference honoree, picking up three All-Region honors as well. She would hear First Team All-American accolades during the 2006 and 2007 seasons. During her four years with the Falcons, Messiah held an astounding 83-5-4 overall record, losing just one regular season game during her career.
JD Binger '09 - Men's Soccer
One of the best defenders to wear a Messiah uniform, JD Binger remains the only Messiah men's soccer defender to be named a National Player of the Year, earning his honor in his senior season. A two-time First Team All-American, Binger helped Messiah to a trio of National Championships during his four years in Grantham. During his four-year career, Messiah posted an astounding 88-6-4 overall record, advancing to the Final Four in every season.
Binger became the fourth-ever Messiah men's soccer player to be named the National Player of the Year, earning the honor in 2008. He was also a three-time First Team All-Conference honoree while earning three All-Region accolades as well (two First Team and a Third Team). While primarily a defender, Binger netted seven career goals, including a pair of assists. His 94 career games played are tied for the 10th most in program history.
Kristen (Bates) Arnold '10 - Women's Track and Field
One of, if not the most decorated individual track and field student-athlete to ever compete for the Falcons, Kristen (Bates) Arnold was a three-time National Champion that still holds six school records (four indoor and two outdoor). She claimed all three of her National Championships during her senior season of 2010, winning the 55m Hurdles and Pentathlon at the Indoor National Championships and the 100m Hurdles at the Outdoor National Meet. A 46-time All-Conference performer, Arnold won 29 different MAC Championship Events during her time in Grantham.
Among her gaudy list of accomplishments, Arnold was an 11-time All-American, claiming six indoor honors and five outdoor honors. She was part of seven team Middle Atlantic Conference Championships and single-handedly placed Messiah in the top-15 nationally at the National Championships on three different occasions.
Julie (Barton) Pachella '11 - Field Hockey
A two-time National Player of the Year, Julie (Barton) Pachella commanded the midfield during a stellar three-year career for the Messiah field hockey team. As a sophomore transfer to Messiah, she scored 28 goals and assisted on 45 tallies during her three years with the Falcons. In addition to her two National Player of the Year honors, Pachella was named First Team All-Conference, First Team All-Region, and First Team All-American in each of her three seasons with the Falcons.
During her time with the Falcons, Messiah held an overall record of 58-6. Pachella helped the Falcons to three Conference Championships and a trio of Final Four appearances, including a pair of National Runner-Up finishes in 2009 and 2010. The Messiah field hockey record book is littered with her name with her 45 career assists ranking third in program history and her 101 career points the 16th most for the Falcons.
