GRANTHAM, Pa. - On Friday, Feb. 3, 2023 the Messiah Athletics department inducted seven new members into the Messiah Hall of Honor as part of the Class of 2023. The seven-member class included, Kevin Dennstaedt '04 (men's lacrosse), Eli (Cook) Henninger '06 (women's basketball), Chris Heisey '07 (baseball), Ashley Mowery '10 (field hockey), Amanda Naeher '11 (women's soccer), Erin (Hench) Musau '11 (women's soccer), and Jerry Stonge (administration).
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See below for each of the complete words that their coaches and teammates submitted about the Class of 2023.
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Kevin Dennstaedt '04 – Men's Lacrosse
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- 2004 Honorable Mention All-American
- Four-time First Team All-Conference
- Member of Conference Championship teams in 2001 and 2004
- Currently top-10 in program history with 306 ground balls (third), 183 points (fifth), 125 goals (fifth), 323 face off wins (sixth), a .573 face off percentage (ninth), and 58 assists (10th)
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From Jerry Standford:
Kevin Dennstaedt is currently listed as a Top 10 Career Leader in (7) of the (10) statistical categories for field players in the men's lacrosse program at Messiah. While that is certainly an impressive feat, the fact that this was accomplished from the midfield position is even more remarkable.
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Kevin was a First Team All-conference selection in each of his four seasons, and part of a freshman class that helped win the program's first MAC Championship, along with the first bid to the NCAA Tournament.
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Even considering all his individual awards and achievements, what I remember most about Kevin was what a great teammate he was. He was a fantastic leader, a servant, a friend, and a great encourager to everyone he was around. He had the ability to have fun with everything he did, and it was contagious, even during hard workouts or while shoveling a foot of snow off the turf field so we could practice. He possessed incredible athleticism along with a competitive drive that was all but impossible to match, but somehow, he maintained the presence of one of the most humble people you may ever meet.Â
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From Reed Horanburg:
Kevin is an excellent representation of Messiah Men's Lacrosse and the power it can have on people's lives. Kevin's raw skills on the lacrosse field were incredible, but it was just as amazing to watch him mature as an always welcoming friend and selfless leader. Not only did he help lead his team to their only two MAC championships (with many entries in the record books), but chose to stay deeply connected to the team for (almost) 20 years as a mentor, coach, and leader in the Messiah lacrosse community. We appreciate all he has given to the team, school, and sport. Thank you Kevin!
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Eli (Cook) Henninger '06 – Women's Basketball
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- 2006 d3hoops.com Second Team All-American
- 2005 Conference Player of the Year
- 2006 MAC Senior Scholar Athlete and CoSIDA First Team Academic All-American
- Member of three Conference Championship teams with a career record of 102-14
- Currently sits in eighth place in program history with 1,354 points and 772 rebounds
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From Katie Powell:
Our creative God is a great gift giver. Among His many blessings, He made Eli tall, fast, and quick with her hands. In college, every stride down the court seemed effortless. Each jump shot arched gracefully. The coaches recognized her natural abilities early during freshman year---but Eli also devoted herself to multiplying God's good gifts. It has been said that "character trumps talent." Talent alone cannot produce greatness; moreover, talent is meaningless without discipline and moral character. During four seasons of collegiate basketball, Eli embodied integrity. She worked hard, always. She honored her teammates, always. She fulfilled her commitments, always. As Christian athletes, we understand that God's gifts are most fully developed and enjoyed when we glorify the Gift-Giver. I personally commend Eli for honing her gifts as act of worship. Every point scored, rebound grabbed, shot blocked, and assist made was turned back to praise. Congratulations to Eli, and as she would have it, even greater thanks and praise to God!
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From Mike Miller:
It is obvious that Eli had great individual numbers and teams she played for had great success or she would not be here tonight. But what you do not know, Eli came into the program with a great 15 foot jump shot and an endless motor. Eli spent her time at Messiah improving on every aspect of her game. Eli became more physical and aggressive. Her ball handling improved exponentially and she worked very hard to be a great individual defensive player. Eli was always in the right place to help teammates. This allowed her teammates to be more disruptive because they knew Eli was willing and waiting to help. Eli is unique, she came in as a good player with an upside. She left a great player and is being honored tonight because of it.
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Chris Heisey '07 – Baseball
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- 2005 Third Team All-American – First national honor in program history
- Three-time First Team All-Conference
- 2004 Conference Rookie of the Year – 2006 Conference Player of the Year
- Member of 2005 Conference Championship Team
- Program record holder for batting average (.405), home runs (23), extra base hits (71) and total bases (294)
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From Robert Revercomb:
As a parent and as a coach, I often tell my own kids and other student athletes to find a good friend. Find someone who wants to work hard and improve. Find someone who pushes you to always do your best, even when you might not want to. Find someone who holds you accountable to do the right thing in sports and in life. I look back at my college experience, Chris is that good friend.Â
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Chris always puts 100% in everything he does and he makes others want to do the same.
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It's easy to do what's right when there is someone looking over your shoulder, when someone is telling you what to do and making you do it. It's easy to try hard and look good in that moment. What's hard is doing what's right and what needs to be done when no one is around. That's Chris.
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I hope my kids have friends like that. I hope they can all play on teams with players and coaches like that; go to a school with teachers and administrators like that; and have community leaders like that.
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God-given talent, with Christian character, work ethic and heart. That's the Chris Heisey I know.
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Ashley Mowery '10 – Field Hockey
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- Three-time All-American – 2007, 2008, and 2009
- Four-time All-Region
Starting goalkeeper on three Final Four teams in 2006, 2008, and 2009
- Member of NCAA Division III Nation Runner-Up teams in 2006 and 2009
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From Jan Trapp:
How would I describe Ashley Mowery
Hard working -even in practice
Highly competitive
Fierce competitor
Always gave 100%
Take charge (in her circle!)
BIG personality
Obviously, this is why she garnered so many All American Goalkeeper awards
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Ashley does well at anything she puts her mind to.
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Ashley comes from a great family. She has had wonderful role models – Mom, Dad, Grandmom, Granddad. Ashley certainly has lived up to her family's tradition of excellence.
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From Jen Jacobs:
As I reflect on Ashley Mowery's career as a four year starting goalkeeper of (then) MCFH, the thought that keeps coming to the forefront of my mind is-
I feel sorry for all of Ashley's opponents.
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I feel sorry that they had to repeatedly face a fierce competitor and dominant athlete like Ashley. Game after game opponents had to watch her take the field, ready to lead Messiah's defensive charge. Opponents couldn't miss her obvious poise and physical strength, her booming voice (cue: "Hey, I'm fired up! - You fired up?!"), or the resounding three BOOMS as she smacked her leg guards with her stick at the start of each game. If they weren't convinced at the start of the game, they would soon learn that it would not be easy to get the ball past her. Opponents needed to bring their absolute best, and even then, their absolute best rarely got the best of her. Ashley Mowery was a goalkeeping force to be reckoned with. She was, indeed, the "BIG BLUE WALL."
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Beyond that, though, I feel sorry for all of Ashley's opponents in another way.
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I feel sorry that her opponents never had the opportunity to be Ashley's teammate. They were never able to know Ashley as her fellow Messiah players and coaches did in the day to day, month to month, off-season, pre-season, in season daily grind. Her opponents missed what we shared in and celebrated: Ashley's unbeatable work ethic, her compulsion to analyze her game and continually improve, her ability to push through pain and fatigue and big emotions for "one more!" - whether that "one more" was a shot, a drill, a defensive corner or one more game. Her opponents missed the amazing mix of leadership, drive, humor, passion and authentic, loyal friendship that Ashley brought to her team-- consistently, admirably, and effectively.
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I feel sorry for them, yet so grateful for us. We had the privilege of being a part of MCFH in the seasons of Ashley Mowery's goalkeeping domination.
We are so grateful today to have the opportunity to remember that dominance and to celebrate her accomplishments and lasting contributions to this program.
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Amanda Naeher '11 – Women's Soccer
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- Two-time NCAA Division III National Player of the Year – 2008 and 2010
- Three-time First Team All-American
- Two-time Conference Player of the Year
- Most goals (108) and points (252) in Messiah women's soccer history
- Member of NCAA Division III National Championship teams in 2008 and 2009
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From Amy Haller:
Coach Frey would give a little talk at residence camp to the girls who were interested in knowing more about the college recruiting process. He would talk about the process and specifically how it worked at Messiah. He would emphasize the importance of recruiting the RIGHT player, end of story. A plater who was selfless, committed, driven, passionate, and Christ centered. All of which described Amanda then as a player and Amanda now as a teacher, coach, and friend.Â
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When I think back on my years at Messiah most of those memories include Amanda. Particularly on the field, she was my go-to. She played center mid on the same side as I played wing. In a bind I could bank on her sprinting over to help bail me out. I knew I could knock a ball down the line and between her and Erin it was a matter of who was going to get there first. I knew if I made it to the end line for a cross and I gave everything I had to get the cross off, she would be there, selling out to get a head or a pinky toe on the ball for an attempt or success for a goal.
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She brought the momentum and created a fun and hyped atmosphere that she has since carried into her carrier as a Phys ed teacher. I knew my energy could match hers and it was going to be a successful game or practice. She battled like no one else; she had the drive and passion to WIN at all costs yet was still able to show Christ while winning every 50/50 ball. I still believe that how she came to be on the soccer team is nothing shy of the Lords doing. She was living on the same floor as the rest of the freshman soccer players, and Amanda was randomly encouraged to come play with us in the spring. When that first shot POPPED off her foot, we knew we needed her. The standard of a walk on soccer player at messiah was set when she came, and the bar was HIGH.
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To say this is well deserved would be an understatement. The sheer quantity of goals and assists between her and Erin Hench is a stat for the record books. The 2 of them together was nothing short of a deadly combo, and it goes without saying I was thankful the were on my team. Amanda was a crucial component to why the 08 and 09 National Championships happened for us. If it was scoring the goal, assisting a teammate, creating the foul, breaking up a play, or just defending like crazy, there was nothing she couldn't do.
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Mandy this is well deserved, and I am honored to be here to celebrate with you. More importantly, I am honored I was able to play with you, win with you and have a lifelong friendship with you.
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Much love,
Amo
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From Scott Frey:
Dominant. I'm not sure there is really another word that describes what Amanda was on the field. She was the very rare combination of Power and Technique. Amanda could either go through you or around you, either was she was getting to the goal. The story behind the story is that Amanda came to Messiah to play basketball with no real intention of playing soccer. I knew of her potential as a player prior but had never seen her play. Fortunately, she came out to a spring practice after basketball was over as some of her friends were soccer players, and it took about 10 minutes to recognize this woman needed to be on a soccer field.
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Off the field Amanda was the court jester, the one who kept the team lose and always having fun. She made everyone feel valued and a part of the team even if might have been an activity that coach probably didn't want to know about.
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Underneath all of this is a warm and compassionate heart. A heart that showed Jesus to her teammates and all those she met.
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Erin (Hench) Musau '11 – Women's Soccer
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- 2009 NCAA Division III National Player of the Year
- Only member of the Messiah women's soccer 50-50 club – 69 goals, 56 assists
- Scored 19 goals and added 13 assists in 22 NCAA Tournament Games
- Four-time First Team All-Conference
- Member of NCAA Division III National Championship teams in 2008, 2009, and 2011
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From Scott Frey:
A quiet, soft spoken, unassuming player who could single handily turn a game all by herself. Her ability to turn a defender, take two long strides and be gone and then finish was almost unstoppable if she was determined we needed a goal. The greatest strength of Erin was her ability to make every other player around her better. She did the hard work and brought others into the game, it was never about her it was always about US. Off the field Erin was a model of everything Messiah Women's Soccer stood for; Servant Leader, Relentless Worker, Positive Attitude, Invested in Relationships, Selfless. She didn't often say much but when she did we all listened. Her abilities as a player speak for themselves in the numbers and in the results but her greatest impact was in the culture of the team and program she embodied for her teammates to emulate. Her desire to show Christ and be his love to others was and is who she is.
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Jerry Stonge – Administration
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An influential member of Messiah Athletics, Jerry Stonge served a wide variety of roles within the department from 1989 to 2001. Stonge started his tenure as the Equipment Manager before finishing as an Assistant Athletic Director, also serving as a cross country coach along the way.
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Stonge went above and beyond to mentor students. He was heavily involved with their academic progress and spiritual development while also providing department leadership during periods of growth and transition.
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From Brad McCarty:
When I was a student at Messiah Jerry Stonge was the Equipment Manager whose office was the size of a broom closet.  My senior year I was working for Jerry supervising the gyms and weight room and I was in the middle of student teaching. It was too much and after missing two shifts I said to him, "Jerry, I can't work for you anymore it's too much." He replied, "No problem, I was going to fire you anyway."
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Back then everyone had a black radio and Athletics had our own channel, but we could switch it over to Facility Services or the Department of Safety. Jerry's call number was "007".
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There is a quote that clearly defines Jerry's time here at Messiah: "The reward for good work is more work".
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When I returned in 2001 Jerry was the Assistant Athletic Director and was running the place--Game Management, Scheduling Facilities, Purchasing and Maintaining Athletic Equipment, Purchasing and Maintaining the Weight Room, Laundry, Locker Assignments, Hiring, Firing, and Scheduling Student Workers who worked at the Fitness Center and Weight Room…the list goes on and on.
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However, what made Jerry special wasn't his ability to complete tasks, but his personality, his character, his love for the Lord, and his love for the people around him.
