The University of Indianapolis Department of Athletics and the Greyhound Club are pleased to announce the 2023 UIndy Athletics Hall of Fame inductees.
The Hall of Fame ceremony will occur Saturday, Feb. 4. The inductees will be introduced at halftime of the men's basketball game against Quincy which begins at approximately 3 p.m. Following the game at 5:30 p.m., dinner and the induction ceremony will take place at Primo Banquet Hall and Convention Center (2615 N. National Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46227).
The event will feature the official Hall of Fame inductions, as well as brief remarks by the recipients. Dinner tickets are $40 per person, which includes admission to the basketball games. If you are interested in sponsoring a dinner, table, or ring, please visit getinvolved.uindy.edu/halloffame. If you are attending the ceremony, you can complete your registration using the same link.
Questions regarding the Hall of Fame event can be directed to Grace Branson in the Athletic Development Office at bransong@uindy.edu or 317-788-3359.
UIndy Athletics is proud to introduce this year's inductees:
Team: 2005 Women's Swimming and Diving
Under head coach Gary Kinkead, the 2005 UIndy Women's Swimming and Diving team earned a 8-3 record, won the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and earned a perfect 5-0 record at home. The team advanced through the postseason and finished seventh at the NCAA Division II Championships. The team consisted of Kirstel (Sowa) Burgan, Valerie Crosby, Laura Folsom, Amy (Broxterman) Fox, Meghan (DuHadway) Harmon, Amanda Herd, Holly (Spohr) Huckstep, Mandy (Chun) Lau, Ellie (Miller) Lindauer, Kenzie (Miller) Lowrance, Kristen Lund, Whitney (Miles) Miller, Nikki Mohrbacher, Niki (Stevens) Monkul, Alison (Smith) Pickett, Brittany Rissler, Emily Sabo, Erin (Sarbaugh) Sincroft, Valencia Smith, Kristen (Kendzierski) Tedhams, Tasha Wiseman, assistant coach Chris Modglin, and head coach Gary Kinkead.
"I" Person of the Year - Dr. Donnie Strack graduated in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training where he was awarded the Athletic Training Department Performance award. In 2005, he received his doctorate in Physical Therapy from UIndy. Dr. Strack was a Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer for the Indiana Pacers from 2002 - 2005. He also served as an AT during the 2002 World Basketball Championship and the RCA Tennis Championship in 2001 and 2002. In 2010, he completed his post-doctorate in fellowship Manual Therapy from Regis University. Dr. Strack is in his 15th season as Vice President of Human & Player Performance for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA, where he is responsible for leading the medical and performance staff. Dr. Strack took action, in 2020, during the Thunder-Jazz game that ultimately stopped the NBA from playing when COVID broke out.
Paige (Balka) Anderson is a 1993 graduate of the University of Indianapolis where she was a four-year letterwinner for the volleyball and track teams and a one-year letterwinner for the basketball team. While at UIndy, Paige graduated with cum laude honors and earned the UIndy School of Business award, Alberta Miller Business Award, National Business Education Association Award of Merit in '93, and earned a Master in Education degree in Curriculum and Instructions in 2000. Paige was a captain for three years on the volleyball team, where she was a three-time team MVP, named four times to the All-Cedarville Tournament Team, three times to Academic All-Conference, and to the GTE Academic All-Region Team. She helped the track team finish in second place in 1990 and first in 1991 at the Indiana Little State Championship. After graduating, she has had multiple roles through Midwest Sports Complex, UIndy, and Beech Grove High School. Most recently, she is a teacher at Beech Grove High School within the business department.
Al Cooper is a 1983 graduate of the University and a four-year letterwinner for the baseball team. While on the team he earned All-GLVC honors three times, All-Region Third Team in '81, and the Kelso-Reid Mental Attitude Award and team MVP in '83. He helped the team become GLVC Tournament and Heartland Conference champions and reach the NCAA regionals in '81 and '82. Post graduation, Al has taught, coached, and is currently the Athletic Director at New Palestine High School. He coached the New Palestine baseball team to a state title in 2004, runner-up in 2003, eight straight conference titles, and coached the New Palestine girls' basketball team to multiple championships. Al was UIndy's Alumni Baseball Coach of the Year 2007-08 and 2009-10.
Cindy (Simko) Martin is a 1991 graduate of the University, was a four-year letterwinner for the women's basketball and softball teams and a team captain for both teams. Throughout her softball career, Cindy was named to the all-conference team four times, received the Robert Brooker Female Athlete of the Year award in '91, and helped her team become GLVC champions in '90. On the basketball team Cindy was named two-time MVP, holds multiple UIndy records for steals and assists, is a part of the 1,000 point club, and helped her team become GLVC champions in '88. Cindy is currently a territory sales manager at AZEK Building Products, serves on the Noblesville girls club leadership board, and is the 8th grade Noblesbville girls' basketball coach.
Tony Starks is a 1980 graduate of the University of Indianapolis. He was a four-time letterwinner for the wrestling team and captain for the team in 1980. While at UIndy, Tony was the first NCAA Division II All-American in 1980 and first Mid-Eastern Super Regional Champion, a two-time Heartland conference champion in 1977 and '80, and qualified for the NCAA tournament in 1977 and '80. During his senior season he set then-UIndy records for career and single season victories, was voted team captain, named MVP, and led the team in pins on the season. Since graduation, before retiring, Tony was the head wrestling coach at Ben Davis and Mt. Vernon High Schools, and a high school teacher for 33 years. Through coaching he was awarded IHSWCA Coach of the Year in '91 and UIndy Alumni Coach of the Year in '94. While teaching he was presented the Olin Davis Award for Indiana High School Economic Educators.
Alan Williams is a 1969 graduate where he was a four-year letterwinner for the basketball and track team. While at Indiana Central, Alan was selected twice to the All-Conference team and was an All-District and NAIA national tournament selection in 1969 for basketball. Following the 1968-69 season he was selected to the Indiana-Kentucky College All-Star basketball game and was one of the leading scorers. For track, Alan won the conference high jump title and was named All-Conference once. Al holds multiple top-20 records for the basketball team. After graduating from UIndy, Alan attended Pepperdine University's grad program for Business/General Electrical Management Training. Alan is now the CEO of Projects Analytics, Inc.
