FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University Athletics Hall of Fame Committee proudly announces the NSU Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2012, as five former student-athletes headline the honorees.
Former softball player Heidi Wickham will be joined by women’s soccer player Danielle DeGregorio, men’s soccer player Tom Gillette, and baseball players
Felipe Suarez and Sean McFadden as the sixth NSU Athletics Hall of Fame Class. The Class of 2012 will be inducted into the NSU Athletics Hall of Fame in a gala banquet ceremony Tuesday, Oct. 23 in the NSU Arena at the Don Taft University Center.
"The Class of 2012 helped to establish the tradition of NSU Athletics and the high level of athletic achievement that continues today," said Director of Athletics
Michael Mominey. "They exemplified the commitment, drive and character that are necessary to succeed on the field of play and in life. We welcome the new class into the Hall of Fame."
Tickets for the event go on sale Aug. 30. Tickets cost $60 each and must be purchased by Oct. 9. NSU faculty and staff will receive a discounted ticket price of $40. Please contact Kim Carbo, Manager of Marketing & Special Events, at 954-262-8254 for more information.
The following former NSU student-athletes will be inducted into the Class of 2012:
Danielle DeGregorio (Women’s Soccer 1998-01)
DeGregorio was a primary contributor to a pair of Florida Sun Conference championships during her tenor at NSU. During the 2000 season, DeGregorio started all 19 games for a NSU squad that recorded eight shutouts. The Knights reached the NAIA Southeast Regional Tournament final, while she received NAIA All-America honors. DeGregorio collected three All-Florida Sun Conference First-Team awards as a Knight, starting 76 games, scoring nine goals, while leading a defense that posted 23 shutouts during her career.
Tom Gillette (Men’s Soccer, 2001-04)
Gillette joined the NSU soccer program in the fall of 2001, starting in each of the Knights 19 games that season. He would go on to start 75 of 76 games during his career at NSU as the anchor of the men’s soccer team for four years, including a transition to NCAA Division II. During his senior season, Gillette played his way onto the All-SSC First-Team, while also being recognized with the NSU STUEY Award for Male Athlete of the Year. As important as Gillette was to the success of the NSU soccer team, he made an equal impact as a student, serving as student government president from 2004-05, and as a student government athletic senator from 2003-04. Gillette served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee from 2003-05, while also being selected to the NSCAA/Adidas All-Region Scholar Team in 2003 and 2004 for his success in the classroom.
Sean McFadden (Baseball (2003-06)
McFadden is one of the most prolific hitters in NSU baseball history. Upon induction into the NSU Athletics Hall of Fame, McFadden ranked second in NSU program history in hits (266), third in doubles (44), total bases (357), games played (195), and fourth in at bats (722). McFadden’s defense equaled his proficiency at the plate, with the middle infielder setting the career and single-season records for fielding assists at 420 and 150, respectively. After earning All-Sunshine State Conference Second-Team honors in 2005, McFadden improved to the first-team, while also being named to the ABCA/Rawlings All-South Region First-Team as a senior in 2006. His NSU career highlight came in 2004 when he hit for the cycle, going 5-for-5. McFadden was named to the SSC Commissioner’s List of Outstanding Achievements three times, while also being nominated for Student Life Achievement Awards – Male Athlete of the Year twice. After concluding his collegiate career, McFadden played for the Rockford Riverhawks.
Felipe Suarez (Baseball, 1996-98)
Suarez holds top-five marks in the NSU record books in five categories. His 10 complete games in 1998 ranks second in NSU history, while his career mark of 14 is tied for third. His 1997 season saw him record the third most wins in a season (11), innings pitched (124), and games started (16), leading NSU to a Florida Sun Conference Championship. Those numbers earned Suarez 1997 FSC Player of the Year accolades, a spot on the All-Region team, and NAIA All-America Honorable Mention. Following his NSU career, Suarez entered the professional ranks, playing as high as the AAA level with the Angels organization. After concluding his playing career, Suarez began his coaching career, working with USA Baseball at the U16 and U18 levels, before joining the NSU coaching staff in the summer of 2011 as a pitching coach.
Heidi Wickham (Softball, 1997-99)
The 1997 Florida Sun Conference Player of the Year, Pratt led NSU to three consecutive FSC Championships, twice as a player in 1997 and 1998, and once as a coach in 1999. The 1999 squad went an astonishing 53-7 and earned a berth in the NAIA National Tournament. As a player, Pratt received NAIA All-America honors in 1997, while being selected as an Academic All-American the following two seasons. As an individual, Pratt recorded a career batting average of .392, which places her second in the NSU record books at the time of her induction in the NSU Athletics Hall of Fame. Her .551 career slugging percentage is fifth in program history. In 1997, Pratt batted .411 and notched a .643 slugging mark, which are both the fifth highest total in a single season of any NSU softball player.
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