Hall of Honor 2024

Falcons Welcome Seven New Members Into Hall of Honor

2/3/2024 12:16:00 AM

GRANTHAM, Pa. - On Friday, Feb. 2, 2024 the Messiah Athletics department inducted seven new members into the Messiah Hall of Honor as part of the Class of 2024. The seven-member class included, Dóri (Gyori) Komáromi '13 (women's basketball), Jansen Hein '10 (men's tennis), Dave Henninger '05 (baseball/men's basketball), Wendy Barrett Long '94 (softball), Jessica (Rhoads) Morret '12 (softball), Geoff Pezon '11 (men's soccer), and Jack Cole (administration).

See below for each of the complete words that their coaches and teammates submitted about the Class of 2023.

Dóri (Gyori) Komáromi '13 – Women's Basketball
 
- 2013 First Team All-American
- 2013 Mid-Atlantic Player of the Year
- 2013 Conference Player of the Year
- Four-time All-Conference
- Currently sits with the third-most points (1,577) and fourth most rebounds (970) in program history
- Started all 113 games during career, collecting 144 blocks, 159 steals, and 188 assists

From Jodi Noble:
"Dori is one of the most talented post players that I have coached.  Her footwork around the basket was incredible as she could find a way around her defender to get to the hoop.  She eagerly embraced instruction as her desire was to grow in her skills and abilities on the court.  There were moments during games where she would make a move in the post that I hadn't seen previously, surprising me.  Even with her success on the court, Dori's heart was to be "more like Jesus" and that was her most prominent focus."

From Mike Miller:
"Dori and her family have always been faithful to God's plan on their lives. To do this introduction justice, I must first give a little background.  Dori is from Hungary, I first met her as a 9th grader when she came to camp as a friend of the Cook family.  Eli Cook Henninger was inducted last year.  Then she lived with my family as an exchange student for a year. 
 
Dori had the desire and passion to always be her best.  Dori brought with her a strong culture of commitment and desire for relationships and team success.  Dori was able to score as evidenced by her 1577 career points, but she had an unquenching desire to play defense and rebound. Dori came into the gym everyday to work and lead by example. Dori never wavered no matter what the resistance to her commitment might have been.
 
Dori had a strong faithfulness to God's plan for her.  Dori, Jodi, and I did not know from year to year if she would continue at Messiah because of finances.  God worked it out and so he blessed our program and the university for 4 great years."
 

Jansen Hein '10 – Men's Tennis
 
- 2009 and 2010 Conference Player of the Year
- 2008 Conference Rookie of the Year
- Singles Record: 39-14 overall, 13-1 conference
- Doubles Record: 40-16 overall, 14-0 conference
- Member of the 2008 Conference Championship Team

From Adam Sheir:
"Jansen is a natural-born leader. He was the captain for two of my years on the Messiah men's tennis team and I couldn't imagine a better leader for our team. It was people like Jansen that made playing tennis at Messiah my favorite part of my college experience. I didn't come to college thinking that I would play tennis, but Jansen and others made the team such a welcoming environment that made it such a profound impact on my experience.
 
Jansen clearly has the wins and accolades to make it into the Hall of Honor, but behind the scenes there was no one else on the team that was a harder worker than Jansen."
 

Dave Henninger '05 – Baseball/Men's Basketball
 
- 2004 Conference Pitcher of the Year
- Four-time All-Conference – twice in baseball and men's basketball
- Baseball program record holder for win percentage (.818, 18-4), strikeouts per nine (10.8), and hits per nine (6.3)
- Career record of 18-4 with a 2.30 ERA with 225 strikeouts in 187.2 innings pitched
- One of 10 players in men's basketball program history with over 1,000 career points and 500 career rebounds - 1,106 points and 683 rebounds

From Peter Gordino:
"Dave came to Messiah as a floppy haired central PA kid. He brought his athletic gifts and his social and relational talents. He's one of the most talented individuals that I've ever met! His athletic talents are apparent as soon as you see him move on the basketball court or the baseball field. He's tall, strong, and coordinated. He also has a tenacious internal drive which allowed him to maximize all of his physical gifts and to be a fierce competitor. Dave could push himself to physical limits everyday and he actually enjoyed it.  In the weight room, on the track, in practice and in games, Dave continually raised the bar. Status quo was never accepted. His drive was contagious and he drove his teammates to higher standards of achievement.
 
Above Dave's athletic talents are his social and relational gifts. He has a great capacity for loving others and he's a strong Christian Leader. These were constantly on display at Messiah and have remained with Dave today. He's a man of integrity, unwavering in his convictions and he genuinely loves others. His passion and drive inspires everyone around him. He brings positive energy to his home, his relationships, his community and his work. He's still one of the best athletes that you'll ever meet, participating in triathlons and other athletic competitions. He's also one of the best friends you could have and a person you want in your life. Dave truly represents what a Messiah athlete should be on and off the field."

From Rick VanPelt:
"Dave Henninger embraced our motto of "ferociously competitive and genuinely humble".  On the court, and on the ball field, he was as pure of a competitor as I have coached – his passion, drive to win was simply a result of his love of competition.  Off the court he was kind, compassionate and always went out of his way to befriend someone who needed a friend.
 
A simple example of his love of competition occurred his senior year when two games into the season he broke his hand during practice, he was going to be out the remainder of the first semester and was unsure if he could return after Christmas break.
 
If my memory is correct, the very next practice Dave completed over 1,500 crunches and ran more sprints on the side than anyone cared to count.  He was like Forest Gump- when he got tired of crunches he was sprinting, when he got tired of sprinting he did crunches.  He did not do this because I told him – he just needed a challenge, some way to compete.  He finished the practice with a smile on his face, no long face over the set back – he loved it!  That's the Dave Henninger that I will always remember and be thankful that I had a chance to be his coach!"
 

Wendy Barrett Long '94 – Softball
 
- 1994 Second Team All-American – first position player in program history
- Two-time First Team All-Region – 1993 and 1994
- Two-time First Team All-Conference – 1993 and 1994
- 1994 season stats - .504 batting average, 17 RBI, 21 stolen bases in 21 attempts, and 36-game hitting streak.
- Member of 1994 Conference Championship team – first title in program history

From Amy Weaver:
"I had the privilege of not only coaching Wendy for a couple years, but I also playing with her for a year.  Wendy is one of the all-time greatest centerfielders that Messiah has ever had. She was a true leader on and off the field. Her knowledge of the game, athletic ability, and speed made her unstoppable.  She was willing to run into and through fences and took her eye off the ball.  She never wanted the spotlight on her, it was all about the team with Wendy.  Wendy was no-nonsense and I always appreciated that about her. She led the team vocally from the outfield, but it's more about what she did day in and day out silently at every practice and game.  She led with poise, commitment, and hard work.  One of her teammates, Dana Randall is quoted as saying, "Her work ethic allowed for nothing less than 100% from herself and her teammates. Playing side-by-side with her forced you to be a better player.  It was an honor to play with her for four years."  Wendy was one of the first All-Americans at Messiah and truly blazed a trail for herself, her teammates and future Messiah players and teams to come.  I want to thank her for setting the bar high and putting Messiah softball on the college softball map.  But I also want to thank her for leading with Christian commitment and character and always putting her team before herself."
 

Jessica (Rhoads) Morret '12 – Softball
 
- 2010 First Team All-American
- Two-time First Team All-Region – 2009 and 2010
- Two-time Conference Pitcher of the Year – 2009 and 2010
- Three-time First Team All-Conference – 2009, 2010, and 2011
- Holds nearly every single season and career pitching record in program history
- Finished career with a 71-6 record, a 0.52 ERA, 895 strikeouts, 52 complete games, 34 shutouts, seven saves, and a .113 batting average against
- Member of the 2009 National Championship team – first title in program history

From Alex Quigley:
"During Jess's time at Messiah, she was one of the most dominate pitcher's in the country. Her many records and accomplishments here at Messiah and the NCAA record book speak for themselves.  She is very deserving to be honored tonight for those things. 

As one of her coaches, I had the privilege to have a front row seat to watch her on the field, and how she conducted herself off the field.  On the field she was one of the most determined and driven players I have ever coached.  Off the field she was a humble leader, always talking about and looking for ways to put her teammates above herself by constantly talking about their successes and accomplishments ahead of her own.

During her time here, she embodied the Messiah motto of "Pursuing Athletic Excellence - Developing Christian Character" by her uplifting spirit of putting others first."

From Amy Weaver:
"Jess is hands down the greatest pitcher of all time at Messiah University and one of the greatest of all time in Division III softball without question.  Jess led this team to a National Championship in 2009.  What most people don't know is that it was through great adversity.  Jess transferred from a Division I school b/c her father was diagnosed with cancer and didn't have long to live.  Jess wanted to return home to be with him during his last year.  He in turn wanted what was best for Jess and wanted her to play softball, and Messiah seemed perfect as she lived 5 min. away and she could play and be close to home.  Her father passed in winter before the softball season started.  Jess took some time off but wanted to play out the season for her dad.  She dedicated that season to him and went all out.  There were days of tears and holding it together on the mound but she always persevered through it for him.  There was a thing about the  hawks that used to fly around - she and our pitching coach would talk about how it was their fathers coming around to check in on them. That season hawks came around almost every day and defintiely at every game where she knew he was close.  When we played at the 2009 National championship game - of course a hawk flew in close and circled the stadium.  In between the 6th and 7th innings Jess walked out of the dugout into the back to go cry - it was overwhelming at the moment.  But she was able to get it together and go out and finish the 7th inning as she had wanted to do.   As you all know we went on to win the 2009 National Championship game behind her, but I will never forget Jess perseverance, determination, trust in God and love of her dad and family.  If you know Jess today - you know that her family comes First and she has a wonderful beautiful family!  She is truly an amazing woman that we were blessed to know and have a part of our team in those years."
 

Geoff Pezon '11 – Men's Soccer
 
- 2010 NCAA Division III National Player of the Year
- Two-time First Team All-American – 2009 and 2010
- 2009 Conference Player of the Year
- Only member of the Messiah men's soccer 40-40 club – 54 goals, 46 assists
- Finished career with the game-winning goal of the 2010 National Championship
- Member of NCAA Division III National Championship teams in 2008, 2009, and 2010

From Dave Bradt:
"When I think of Geoff Pezon as both player and person, all I can do is smile.  Geoff was an awesome person, and what I would call a "joyful" player.   Always a spring in his step; always a smile on his face-even on the field.  He loved playing.  He loved competing.  He loved showing opponents how good he was.  Brings a smile to my face right now as I think about it again.  A joyful, "alive" type of player.  He toyed with defenders; played with them in a way.  His pace, creativity, and cannon of a left foot, along with an inherent joy of competing, made him one of the very few toughest Messiah players to ever play against, and that is saying something.  Congratulations Peez-this honor is well deserved.  You were pure beast on the field and one of my favorite players ever to coach!"

From Brad McCarty:
"Geoff Pezon had a significant impact on the Messiah men's soccer program both on and off the field.  What's impressive isn't that he experienced success early in his career by going to the Final Four as a Freshman and winning a National Championship as a Sophomore.   There are numerous stories of individuals facing adversity who dig deep and overcome a challenging situation.  There are also many stories of individuals who experience success only to fall back down off their pedestal.  However, there are fewer stories of an individual or team who experiences success and then they are able to maintain that level of commitment, concentration, and pursuit of excellence over time.  Geoff demonstrated as a junior and senior the ability to push through sky high expectations, stay focused on what he could control, and in the end help lead the program to three National Championships in a row."
 

Jack Cole – Administration
 
An integral part of Messiah University for more than three decades, Jack Cole served as an educator, instructor, department chair, coach, and Director of Athletics during his time in Grantham. Cole stepped into the Director of Athletics role in 2010 and was later elevated to Executive Director of Athletics and Fundraising in 2016.
 
During his tenure overseeing Athletics, the department continued its tradition of success, winning eight team and six individual NCAA Division III National Titles and 72 Conference Championships. Individually, the Falcons earned 144 All-Americans, 66 Academic All-District, 40 Academic All-Americans, and 27 MAC Senior Scholar-Athletes with Cole leading the department.

From Casey Stone:
"Jack Cole, the man, the myth, the legend.  I've had the pleasure of knowing Jack for over 28 years in which he served in many different roles: Head Coach, HPE faculty member, HPE Department Chair and finally, his role as the Director of Athletics. He was integral in growing the Sport Management major and for moving Athletics forward with new facilities and initiatives.
 
But I'd like to talk about the other side of Jack.  One that people who worked alongside him day in and day out had the pleasure of seeing frequently; his generosity, his kindness, his terrible sense of direction, and his love of driving away from you when you are just about to open the car door and repeating this over and over while he laughed and laughed.  It was always an adventure with Jack.  I have too many stories to even know where to start and I know a lot of you here tonight have your own stories where Jack is the main character.  From driving on the sidewalks at Delaware Valley, to going the wrong way down a highway or celebrating Festivus in Dillsburg.  I was truly blessed to have Jack as my boss, but I was even more blessed to have him as a friend. Congratulations Jack! Thanks for giving so many people memories that will last a lifetime."

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