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Thursday, November 21, 2024

Regis Athletics announces Hall of Fame Class of 2022

Regis University and the Regis Athletics Hall of Fame committee are proud to announce the Hall of Fame Class of 2022; an all-female class in celebration of the 50-year anniversary of Title IX.

Taking their rightful place alongside other Regis greats will be Denene Jacovetta (Volleyball), Meshach Rhoades (Women's Basketball), Lauren Policky (Women's Cross Country), Alisa Heronema (Softball), Linda Raunig (Women's Basketball) and the2002-2003 Regis women's basketball team.

"Regis Athletics and the Hall of Fame Committee are pleased to announce this very deserving and unique 2022 class of inductees," said Regis University Interim Director of Athletics, Kate Whalen. "Their individual and team accomplishments speak to the outstanding history of talented women who have represented Regis University Athletics. We look forward to welcoming them back to campus to honor their achievements."

The Hall of Fame Class of 2022 Induction Ceremony will be held Saturday, Sept. 24 6 p.m. in the Mountain View Room as part of Blue & Gold Weekend on campus.

General admission tickets are on sale online for $75 per person or $500 a table while supplies last. Due to limited capacity, tickets will be sold on a first come, first serve basis.

Hall of Fame nominations were submitted to and voted on by members of the Regis Athletics Hall of Fame Committee.

2022 Hall of Fame Class

Denene Jacovetta (1983-1986)

Jacovetta was one of the early stars of the Regis volleyball program, helping then Regis College to consecutive NCAA Regional appearances in 1985 and 1986 following the program's transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II in 1984. Jacovetta and her teammate Linda DiPentino became the first American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Americans in program history in 1986 as Jacovetta earned Second Team honors as a senior.

The outside hitter still holds the school records for total points (2070.5), as well as points (847.5) and kills (704) in a single season during the 1984 campaign. She also ranks second in total kills (1,688) and fourth in career digs (1,641).

 Meshach Rhoades (1997-2001)

Rhoades was a staple for Regis women's basketball during her four years, starting a school record 111 games — every game she played in since arriving on campus in 1997 — while logging a program best 4,133 minutes.

She was not only a dependable and durable player, but Rhoades was also a sensational playmaker. She is the Rangers' all-time assists leader (652) and finished her career averaging 8.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 5.9 assists while shooting 41% from 3-point range; the third best mark in program history. Her 3-point percentage of .471, and her 205 assists during the 1999-2000 season, still stand as the program's best single-season marks.

Rhoades' accomplishments on the court earned her Second Team All-RMAC in 2000-01, while her success in the classroom led to her being names the RMAC Honor Student-Athlete of the Year in 1999-2000.

 Lauren Policky (2010-2013)

A small-town kid from Salida, Policky burst onto the scene in 2010 as a freshman as she finished 11th or better in four of the seven races that season, serving as the lead runner for a Regis team that finished 3rd overall at the RMAC Championships and sixth in the NCAA Central Region.

Her time of 22:12.0 in the 6K at the 2010 RMAC Championships, and her mile pace of 5:57 during that race, still stand as the fastest 6K and mile paces times in program history. Policky also holds the school record for the best win-loss percentage as she finished 663-134 (83.2%) during the 2011 season

She finished 11 overall at the 2010 RMAC Championships, earning Second Team All-RMAC, and 30th overall out of 141 runners with a time of 23:01.9 at the Central Region Championships in Wayne, Nebraska.

Academically, Policky earned First Team All-Academic honors and was named the RMAC Summit Award winner in 2012.

 Alisa Heronema (2008-2011)

Arguably the best softball player in program history, Heronema was a force in the Rangers' batting order during her four seasons; starting 212 of the 213 career games she played in while hitting a staggering .439 for her career.

Heronema is the Rangers' all-time hits leader with 339 and single-season hits champion with 101 during the 2009 season. The former catcher also holds the school records for most triples (30), most total bases (429), while her .439 batting average ranks second all-time behind Le Hanson, who batted .460 between the 1990-91 seasons.

Her illustrious career was highlighted by a 2009 season that saw Heronema bat .472 with 101 hits, 13 triples and 56 runs scored across 56 games played en route to becoming the Rangers' first National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) First Team All-American.

Heronema was also named Second Team All-American by Daktronics in 2009 before capping her career by being named the 2010 RMAC Player of the Year and a NFCA Second Team All-American as a senior in 2011.

 Linda Raunig (1990-2015)

Raunig transformed Regis women's basketball during her decorated 25-year career. Currently cemented as the program's all-time wins leader (404-296, .577), Raunig led Regis to the postseason in 18 of those 25 seasons after taking over the program prior to the 1990-91 season.

Regis women's basketball took off to new heights in during the 1998-99 season in what marked the first of 11 straight RMAC Shootout appearances. From 1998-99 to 2010-11, the Rangers and Raunig had the best winning percentage of any four-year school in all of Colorado with a 242-136 mark (.640).

With Raunig at the helm, the Rangers won three straight RMAC East regular season championships from 2004-05 through 2006-07. Her 2005-06 and 2006-07 teams each finished with a school-record 26 wins, while the 2006-07 team won the RMAC Shootout and advanced to the second round of the NCAA National Championships; one of five NCAA Tournament appearances (2001-02, 2002-03, 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07) for the Rangers during her tenure.

The Rangers would boast a total of 68 All-Conference players, four All-Americans, one RMAC Player of the Year (Diana Lopez, 2004-05 and 2006-07), and 101 Academic All-Conference winners under Raunig's tutelage, while her teams post a GPA of 3.00 or better in 49 of her 50 semesters on campus.

Raunig herself earned RMAC Coach of the Year twice in 2004-05 and 2005-06 and was presented the RMAC Women's Basketball Officiating Legacy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018, given to recipients who have shown a passion, dedication and steadfast allegiance to women's basketball and officiating during the course of their lifetime.

 2003 Women's Basketball Team

Taking their place in the Hall of Fame alongside its head coach is the 2003 women's basketball team; the first team in program history to win a conference championship after knocking off Nebraska-Kearney, 82-64, in the RMAC Shootout title game.

With the win, the Rangers punched their ticket for a second straight trip to the NCAA Division II Regional Tournament. Regis finished 23-8 overall that season and 15-4 in the RMAC, earning a second-place finish in the RMAC East regular season standings. At the time, the 23 wins were a program record before the 2005-06 and 2006-07 teams each finished 26-6.

The team featured four RMAC All-Conference players, including current Regis head women's basketball coach Molly Marrin (First Team), Julie Jestus (First Team), Rachel Caliga (Honorable Mention) and Kylee Keroher (Honorable Mention) as well as nine RMAC All-Academic winners.

Original source can be found here.

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