PITTSBURG — Pittsburg State University is pleased to announce its 2026 induction class into the Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame. The diverse group – comprised of 14 individuals and one historic team – will be formally inducted during ceremonies on campus this fall. The 15-member group represents the largest class of inductees since the inaugural Class of 1988.
 
PSU's Class of 2026 is headlined by the 2016 NCAA Division II National Champion Women's Outdoor Track & Field Team, as well as a cast of decorated athletes and coaches:  Garrett Appier (2013-16), a three-time national champion shot putter in track & field; De'Vante Bausby (2011-14), an All-American in football and an eight-year NFL cornerback; Cassie (Caswell) McCarthy (2013-16), a seven-time All-America thrower in track & field; Amanda DeCastro (2009-12), a two-time All-American and record setting power hitter in softball; Linda (Igbinigie) Ayoade (2005-08), an All-America performer and record setting middle blocker in volleyball; Jeff Piepenbrink (2013-15), a five-time All-American pole vaulter in track & field; and Antqunita Reed (2014-15), a two-time national champion triple jumper in track & field.

Wayne Cichon, a two-year Pitt State basketball letterwinner (1976-77) who served 39 years as head boys basketball coach at St. Mary's-Colgan High School (1984-2022) and Phil McCoy (1990-91), an All-American and record setting defensive lineman in football, will be inducted in the Hall of Fame's "Legacy" category.

The Legacy Category, created in 2005, focuses solely on individuals who completed their athletic eligibility 30 years or prior from the current calendar year in an attempt to bolster the school's rich heritage from earlier years.

Additionally, five individuals will be enshrined through the newly-created "In Memoriam" category:  Dr. Peter K. Hamilton, the iconic Public Address "Voice of the Gorillas" football for more than a quarter century; Todd Mayhew (1985-86), an All-American offensive lineman in football; Steve "Mingo" Mingori (1964), a talented lefthanded pitcher in baseball who enjoyed a 10-year MLB career with the Cleveland Indians (1970-73) and Kansas City Royals (1973-79); Mary Nutter (1980-86), the record setting softball coach who guided the Gorillas to 173 victories and a fourth-place national finish in the 1981 NAIA National Tournament; and Brandon Pate (2000-01), an All-American and record setting guard in men's basketball.
The In Memoriam Category honors eligible former athletes, teams and coaches/staff with posthumous inductions.

"What a truly inspiring group of individuals, along with one of our all-time great teams, that comprises this Hall of Fame Class of 2026," said Dan Wilkes, associate athletic director/communications and chair of the PSU Athletics Hall of Fame Committee. "We are extremely proud of this great group of Gorillas and we can't wait to re-tell their stories and accolades on campus this fall.

"We also are grateful for the opportunity to expand the Hall of Fame with its largest induction class since the program's inception in 1988. The PSU Athletics Hall of Fame is as elite as any of its kind with a wealth of equally deserving candidates still waiting in the wings. Creating a new trend of larger induction classes will help lessen our backlog of deserving candidates."


2026 Hall of Fame Inductee Profiles

2016 Women's Indoor & Outdoor Track & Field Team
The Pitt State women put together a historic year as the Gorillas placed fourth overall at the NCAA-II Indoor National Championships and captured the program's first National Championship at the NCAA-II Outdoor National Championships under head coach Russ Jewett. The team's indoor finish served as the highest NCAA placement in school history at the time. The team followed that up by capturing the outdoor national crown, edging second place St. Augustine's by one point, 52-51, for the team title at Bradenton, Fla., May 26-28.

Garrett Appier, Men's Track & Field, 2013-16
~Three-time National Champion, shot put, 2015-16
~Four-time NCAA-II All-American, shot put, 2014-16 (1st, indoor, 61-11, '16; 1st, outdoor, 66-10, '16; 1st, outdoor, 60-8.25, '15; 4th, outdoor, 59-6.75, '14)
~Set NCAA-II All-Time Record in shot put (68-2.5), held all 10 of the top 10 throws in D2 history at time of graduation
~2016 NCAA-II National Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year
~Five-Time All-MIAA, shot put (Four Time MIAA Champion)
~Set PSU indoor (64-1.75) & outdoor (68-2.5) records in shot put, still #1
~Posted 6th best mark in the world in 2016 (68-2.5) at Bill Williams/Bob Laptad Invitational at Joplin, Mo.
~2016 USA Olympic Trials Qualifier, placed 6th in USA
~2020 USA Olympic Trials Qualifier, placed 10th in USA
 
De'Vante Bausby, Football, 2011-14
~NCAA-II All-American, 2014 (CB - 2nd, Daktronics; 2nd, FB Gazette)
~MIAA All-Conference, 2013-14 (1st, DB, '14; 3rd, DB, '13)
~Made 127 career tackles with 11 INTs & 30 PBUs (41 Passes Defended)
~Ranks 2nd all-time at PSU in career Pass Breakups (30)
~Ranks 2nd all-time at PSU in career Passes Defended (41)
~Ranks 6th all-time at PSU in career Interceptions (11)
~Enjoyed an eight-year NFL career, 2015-2022; Practice Squad member of the 2017 Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles
~Also a member of 2023 XFL Champion Arlington Renegades

Cassie (Caswell) McCarthy, Women's Track & Field, 2013-16
~NCAA-II National Champion, shot put, 2016
~Seven-Time NCAA-II All-American thrower, 2014-16:  shot put (I), 1st, 55-7.75, '16; 8th, 47-6.25, '15; shot put (O), 2nd, 54-7.25, '16; 7th, 47-4.25, '14; weight throw, 3rd, 63-2.75, '16; discus
~Eight-Time All-MIAA performer (Two Time MIAA Champion in shot put, '16;
~Two-Time MIAA Runner Up, hammer/weight, '16)
~Set & still holds PSU records in shot put (I), 55-7.75; weight throw, 63-8.25; shot put (O), 54-7.25; hammer throw, 191-5
~Ranked 6th in PSU history in discus throw, currently 7th

Amanda DeCastro, Softball, 2009-12
~Two-time NCAA-II All-American, 2009 & 2012
~Four-time MIAA All-Conference, 2009-12 (1st team, '09, '11-12)
~MIAA Freshman of the Year, 2009
~.394 career batting average (239-606) w/ 154 runs, 66 doubles, 46 HRs & 170 RBI
~Set PSU record for career home runs (now 2nd); still the PSU record holder for career doubles
~Ranked 3rd all-time in batting average (now 6th), runs (now 4th) and RBI (now 5th)

Linda (Igbinigie) Ayoade, Volleyball, 2005-08
~First-Team NCAA-II All-America, AVCA, 2008
~Two-time All-MIAA selection (2007-08)
~Set PSU all-time record for blocks (600)
~Posted 1,150 career kills and 1531 career points, ranking 6^th all-time at PSU in both categories
~Set the individual match record (rally scoring era, 2001-present) with 16 blocks vs. Harding on Sept. 2, 2006
~Also a women's basketball letterwinner in 2008, averaging 4.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocked shots per game

Jeff Piepenbrink, Men's Track & Field, 2013-15
~NCAA-II National Champion, pole vault (O), 2014 (17-4.5)
~Five-time NCAA-II All-American, PV, 2012-15: 7th, '12 (O), 15-11; 4th, '13 (O), 17-0.75; 2nd, '14 (I), 16-8.75; 1st, '14 (O), 17-4.5; 3rd, '15 (O), 17-2.75
~Seven-time All-MIAA Performer, two-time MIAA Champion in PV, '14; MIAA Runner-Up, PV (I), '12, Heptathlon, '14
~Set PSU indoor (17-1.5) & outdoor (17-4.5) in PV – still ranks No. 4
   indoors & No. 2 outdoors; Set PSU record in Heptathlon (5282 pts) –
   still ranks No. 8
 
Antqunita Reed, Women's Track & Field, 2014-15
~Two-time National Champion, triple jump, 2014-15
~Four-time NCAA-II All-American jumper: 3rd, '14, long jump (O), 20-3.5; 1st, '14, triple jump (O), 43-875; 5th, '15, long jump (O), 20-9.75; 1st, '15, triple jump (O), 42-10.25
~Two-time MIAA Champion & four-time All-MIAA performer
~Set PSU records in outdoor long jump (20-9.75) & triple jump (43-8.75)
~Still ranks No. 1 all-time in long jump & No. 2 in triple jump
~Also a two-year women's basketball letterwinner (2014-15)
~Averaged 8.2 points & 4.3 rebounds over 55 career games
 
 
Legacy Category

Wayne Cichon, Basketball Alum/Coach
~A two-year member of the PSU basketball team, 1976-77
~Served as head boys basketball coach at St. Mary's-Colgan H.S. for 39 years (1984-2022), compiling a 655-260 record
~Led the Panthers to five state championships, 12 state title game appearances, 12 CNC League titles, 25 sub-state titles and 15 20-win seasons
 
Phil McCoy, Football, 1990-91
~NCAA-II All-American, 1991 (H.M., DE, Football Gazette)
~MIAA All-Conference, 1990-91 (1st, DE)
~Made 120 career tackles (65 solo) with 25.0 TFLs, 14.0 QB Sacks, 4 PBUs, 10 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries and 2 blocked kicks
~Made 68 tackles (40 solo), 16 TFLs, 8.0 quarterback sacks, 7 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries in '91
~Set & still holds PSU records for single season forced fumbles (7, '91) and career forced fumbles (10)


In Memoriam Category

Dr. Peter K. Hamilton, PSU Staff
~Served as the Football Public Address (P.A.) "Voice of the Gorillas" for more than a quarter century
~Debuted as P.A. Announcer on Nov. 8, 1980 and continued in that capacity until Nov. 10, 2007
~Introduced generations of Pitt State students and fans to his iconic cries: "Welcome [opponent], heh, heh, heh, Welcome to the Jungle!", "Here Come the Gorillas!", and "First Down, Pitt State!" – all signature phrases still utilized by subsequent P.A. announcers to this day
~Also served numerous years as public address announcer for Pitt State men's and women's basketball
~Served in the Department of Communication at PSU from 1972 – 2009, including 19 years as Department Chair (1989-2009)
 
Todd Mayhew, Football, 1985-86
~NAIA All-American, 1986 (H.M., OL, '86)
~A.P. Little All-American, 1986 (H.M., OL, '86)
~CSIC All-Conference, 1986 (1st, OL)
~Helped pave the way for an offense that led the NAIA in scoring (43.5 ppg), rushing (387.5 ypg) and total offense (490.7 ypg) in '86

Steve Mingori, Baseball, 1964
~One-year letterman for the Gorillas in 1964 after transferring to PSU from Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC)
~Tossed program's first no-hitter with 13 strikeouts vs. Friends at Wichita on May 5, 1964
~Signed by the Cincinnati Reds in 1965
~Left-handed pitcher made his MLB Debut on Aug. 5, 1970, for the Cleveland Indians
~Enjoyed a 10-year MLB career with the Indians ('70-73) and KC Royals ('73-79)
~Compiled 18 wins & 42 saves with a 3.03 ERA in 385 career appearances.
  
Mary Nutter, Softball Coach, 1980-86
~Served as head coach at Pittsburg State from 1980-86, compiling a then program record 173 wins (173-131-1, .567)
~Led the Gorillas to the program's first two NAIA National Tournament berths in 1981 and 1995
~Her 1981 squad finished fourth overall at the NAIA National Tournament at Huntsville, Texas
~Earned NAIA District 10 Coach of the Year honors in 1981, 1982 & 1985
~Formed her own business (National Sports Clinics) in 1987 and traveled nationwide conducting softball coaches' clinics
~Inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1988 and the National Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1997

Brandon Pate, Men's Basketball, 2000-01
~NCAA-II All-American, 2001 (H.M., DII Bulletin)
~Two-time All-MIAA performer, 2000-01 (1st, '01; 2nd, '00)
~Ranks 5th in PSU history in single season assists (149 in 2001)
~Scored 996 points in 59 career games (16.9 ppg)
~Averaged 15.9 points & 5.0 assists per game in 2001
~4^th highest two-year scoring total in school history, still ranks 7^th