The University of Akron Athletics
Zips Athletics Announces Class of 2015 Hall of Fame Inductees
REVISED FEBRUARY 11, 2016
AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron Department of Athletics announced its 41st Annual Varsity "A" Sports Hall of Fame Inductees on Monday. The Class of 2015 — Jimmal Ball, Marilyn Bowman, James E. Goldsmith, Joe Myers, William Painter, Michael Payne, Beata Rudzinska, and Kira Sims —will be honored at a banquet on Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, on campus at the Quaker Station Ballroom. The Team of Distinction— the 1968 football team, the Kenneth "Red" Cochrane Meritorious Service Award recipient, Vic Davis, and the Mike Krino Varsity A Achievement Awardee, Matt Kaulig, will also be honored.
The Akron men’s basketball game against Bowling Green has been moved to Friday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m. and will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.
The eight honorees expands the total in the UA Varsity "A" Hall of Fame to 317 athletes, coaches, and administrators. In addition, there are now 38 Kenneth "Red" Cochrane Meritorious Service Award recipients and 27 Mike Krino Varsity "A" Achievement awardees.
The banquet festivities on February 26will begin at 4:30 p.m. with a social hour, followed by dinner and the induction program at 5:30 p.m. The cost of the Friday evening banquet is $45 per person and $20 for children (12 and under). For further information about the Varsity "A" Hall of Fame, call Alexa Doutt at 330-972-2695 or via email at asd9@uakron.edu.
2015 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
JIMMAL BALL ’15 (Basketball) – A quick study, Jimmal Ball burst on the UA basketball court in 1996-97 by pacing the Zips in scoring with 444 points for a 17.1 average. Included during that sensational season was a career high 44-point effort versus 17th-ranked Xavier that established Rhodes Arena and an Akron freshman records. The 5-10 guard from Canton Timken High School also was among Mid-American Conference leaders in three-point goals (59), assists (89), and steals (58) which earned him UA’s MVP Award, second-team All-MAC honors and the Conference’s Freshman of the Year Award by unanimous vote. Additionally, Ball was chosen on the All-American Freshman teams of College Hoops Insider, Basketball Weekly, and Basketball Times. As a sophomore, Ball accepted a bigger role as a playmaker, and his scoring average slipped to 14.7 points a game, second on the team but, he gained honorable mention All-MAC honors as UA capture the East Division title with a 13-5 record. As a junior, Ball again finished second in scoring with a 14.2 average to again earn second-team All-MAC accolades as UA compiled an 18-9 record. As a senior, Ball made it on the All-MAC team for the fourth consecutive year with honorable mention honors after leading the Zips with career highs of 115 assists and 72 steals, as well as a 13.1 scoring average, helping UA compile a 17-11 winning campaign. Ball finished his 107-game career, a starter in all but one, sixth on the UA all-time scoring list with 1,577 points, on top of the career steals list with 242 steals, and second on the career assists list with 391. Ball resides in Akron, Ohio.
MARILYN BOWMAN '69, '87 (Administration) – During her 29-year career, Marilyn Bowman was a trailblazer in the field of athletic training who demonstrated a long and consistent commitment to excellence. A native of Seattle, Wash., Bowman attended Washington State University for two years, relocated to Akron due to her husband's job, and enrolled at UA to earn her degree in education in 1969. While raising her two children, Bowman returned to UA in 1979 to teach exercise and tennis part-time in the evening. In 1983, UA athletic trainer Don Marshall talked her into taking classes in sports medicine and in 1985, she was selected as a graduate assistant in athletic training. Bowman obtained her master's in education in 1987 and two months later she passed the National Athletic Trainers Association certification test. On September 1, 1987, athletic director Jim Dennison hired Bowman as the first full-time female as an assistant athletic trainer. In 1993, after being involved in all phases of the sports medicine operation, Bowman was promoted to head athletic trainer, becoming only the second woman in NCAA Division I to hold the title. In addition to the responsibility for annually providing health and injury care for nearly 400 student-athletes, she was the curriculum director of the athletic training program, teaching both graduate and undergraduate levels. In 1999, Bowman was promoted to Director of Sports Medicine. Before retiring in April 2013, Bowman grew the athletic training staff from two full-time, one part-time, and one graduate assistant to seven full-time certified trainers, five certified graduate assistants, and 25 to 30 student trainers. Along the way, she influenced and mentored a great many students, including current UA staff members Bill Droddy, Director of Sports Medicine, assistant athletic trainers Mark Leffler, Mark Lake, Andy Medved, and John Walters, as well as, Stacey Buser, Director of Curriculum in Sports Sciences. Bowman resides in Uniontown, Ohio, with her husband Ken MacDonald, UA's former sports information director.
JAMES E. GOLDSMITH '58 (Rifle) – This rifleman was considered the number three shooter on the highly successful UA rifle teams of 1952-56, joining Jim Eberwine (1983) and Bob McMillan (2002) in the Hall of Fame. Over that four-year period, UA's rifle team and won 76 of 77 matches, including 43 consecutive victories, won the first four Lake Erie Intercollegiate Rifle Association Championships, and won four consecutive National Rifle Association Intercollegiate Eastern Sectional titles. Over his four-year career, Goldsmith averaged 374.5 out of 400, with a high of 381 against Gannon in 1954. He was on the UA team that captured the 1956 William Randolph Hearst National ROTC Championship. A resident of Rochester, N.Y., Goldsmith passed away earlier this year.
JOE MYERS '85 (Football) – Joe Myers lettered in football for four years as a defensive lineman from 1979-82. The 6-4, 245-pound Myers became a three-year starter at tackle and was selected the team's most outstanding sophomore when he compiled 58 tackles, including nine for losses of 38 yards. He had 66 tackles in 1981. As a senior in 1982, Myers had 61 tackles and a team-leading 11 tackles for loss. For the consecutive year, he was awarded Thumper Club honors for outstanding performance throughout the season. In addition, Myers earned first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference and honorable mention All-America honors as UA compiled a 5-2 OVC record for a second-place finish to undefeated Eastern Kentucky. Myers resides in Stow, Ohio.
WILLIAM PAINTER '68 (Cross Country/Track & Field) – Bill Painter was an outstanding long distance runner who earned three letters each in cross country and track during the 1964-68 years. In cross country, he was usually UA's number three man behind Hall of Famers George Wetherbee and Chuck Young during the 1964-65 seasons when the Zips captured back-to-back All-Ohio College Division Championships and the 1965 Ohio Conference title. Painter took ninth at the 1964 All-Ohio College Division Championships and 12th place at the Ohio Conference championship as the team finished the season at 9-1. In 1965, the Zips went a perfect 9-0 as Painter finished fifth in the All-Ohio and OC. That 1965 team went on to finish 10th at NCAA College Division Championships. After missing 1966 season to do an engineering co-op program, Painter came into his own as a senior. As UA compiled an 8-1-1 record, Painter won nine of the 10 races and set course records at Goodyear Metropolitan Park (UA's home course), Buffalo State, Muskingum, and Oberlin. However, his crowning achievement was capturing the 1967 All-Ohio College Division individual title. As a two and three miler on the track team, he scored 20 points during the 1965 season when UA captured the OC Championship. In 1967, Painter, scored 34 ¼ points as the Zips compiled a 9-2 record. and he scored 42 points during a 7-3 campaign in 1968. Painter resides in Ann Arbor, Mich.
MICHAEL PAYNE '97 (Soccer) – From 1992 thru 1995, this four-year letterwinner started in the goal in 48 of 52 games. Although he had a slow start as a freshman under head coach Steve Parker with a 1.71 goals against average (GAA) in 14 starts, Michael Payne went on to earn first-team All-Mid-American Conference honors twice under head coach Ken Lolla. His sophomore season, with Payne in goal, UA had a 13-1 record and captured the MAC regular-season title with a 5-0 record. For his performance, that included a .85 GAA, Payne earned his first All-MAC honor. In 1994, Payne was sidelined with an injury for the season after only four starts. However, he rebounded to only allow 11 goals in 16 starts for career low .69 GAA in 1995. As UA again won the MAC regular-season title with a 5-0 record, Payne captured first-team All-MAC and first-team All-Ohio honors. Payne resides in Stow, Ohio.
BEATA RUDZINSKA SWIEGOCKA '06 (Cross Country/Track & Field) – A five-time All-American, 14-time MAC champion, and four-time UA Athlete of the Year, Beata Rudzinska was one of the nation's top middle distance runners during the 2003-06 seasons. She ended her career with her fourth consecutive MAC Championship in the 800 meters. Rudzinsk earned All-American honors in the 800 meters, finishing fifth in 2003, fourth in 2004, and third in 2005 at the NCAA Indoor Championships and finishing fourth in 2004 and third in 2005 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Her 2005 outdoor time of 2:03.14 established a new UA record. Earlier in 2004, Rudzinsk had clocked a UA record-breaking time of 2:03.79 at Virginia Tech, the second fastest collegiate time in the 800 meters. In addition, she earned three letters in cross country and led UA to the 2005 MAC crown with a first-place finish in 17:24. She resides in St. Paul, Alberta, Canada.
KIRA SIMS '04 (Cross Country/Track & Field) – A three-time All-American pole vaulter during her four-year career (2001-04), Kira Sims was the only female athlete in MAC history to clear the 14-foot barrier, winning the Conference pole vault indoor championship in 2003 and 2004 and the outdoor championship in 2004. As a senior, Sims jumped 14-feet at the MAC indoor championship, as well as twice during the 2004 outdoor season. She had a school and Conference record-setting jump of 14' 1 ¼". Sims closed her collegiate career as the 2004 NCAA Mideast Regional pole vaulting champion. Simms resides in Washington D.C.
Kenneth "Red" Cochrane Meritorious Service Award
VICTOR G. DAVIS '72, '79 – Vic Davis and his family have supported The University of Akron Department of Intercollegiate Athletics for nearly 50 years. He holds season tickets in three sports – football, men's basketball, and women's basketball. Davis also has been a donor for 40 years, making his first gift to Athletics in 1976. Most recently, he gave a gift in support of women's basketball travel fund, which will enable the team to play in an international tournament. A dual degree alumnus, Davis earned an associates of applied science in commerce in 1972 and a bachelor of science in technical education in 1979. He was not a student-athlete while at UA, but he is a member of the Varsity "A" Association. Davis is a seasoned banking and finance industry professional. He has been the owner of Davis Insurance, an arm of Flowers & Associates, since 1982. He began his career at Falls Savings Bank in 1970, as branch manager. Davis also served his country as a member of the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1970. The Davis family owned and operated the B&K Rootbeer Stand, a seasonal drive-in which has been in business for 60 years. They sold the business after 19 years of operation (1996-2015). Davis is also active in serving Akron and the surrounding communities. He has over 25 years of youth basketball and baseball coaching experience, and over 10 years involvement with girls' fast pitch softball. The Davis family has donated food to the Ronald McDonald House to feed the children and families, as well as food for Relay for Life and many other local tournaments and events. Davis and his wife Dixie are lifelong Cuyahoga Falls residents. They have five children – Diana, Krista, Michael, Matthew, and David– and two grandchildren – Austin and Allie.
Mike Krino Varsity "A" Achievement Award
MATTHEW J. KAULIG '96 – Matt Kaulig was an option-style quarterback out of Crystal Lake, Ill., with loads of potential when he arrived on the UA campus in 1991. However, despite the injuries that plagued him throughout his collegiate career, Kaulig lettered all four seasons. After redshirting in 1991, he was the recipient of the Harry "Doc" Smith Award as the team's most outstanding freshman. Kaulig came off the bench when Zips' starter Marcel Weems was injured and led Akron to a 24-22 victory over host Cincinnati. In what turned out to be the overall top performance of his career, Kaulig completed 6-of-12 passes for 91 yards and rushed 19 times for 59 yards. A severe hamstring strain kept him on the sidelines in 1993. Yet he still managed to run 20 yards on three carries and a TD and pass for 24 yards in UA's 42-7 thrashing of arch-rival Kent State. Kaulig earned the start in the first four games as a junior, passing for 426 yards before a season-ending shoulder separation, and he passed for 409 yards in a back-up role as a senior. After graduating in 1996 with a bachelor's degree in marketing management, Kaulig began his professional career with Erie Construction as a sales manager. In 2005, he launched LeafFilter North Inc., a gutter protection firm, as a small business out of his garage. Over the last decade, LeafFilter has grown to be one of the largest remodeling companies in the U.S. with 25 offices throughout the East Coast, Midwest, South, and Northwest. Under Kaulig's leadership, innovation, and relentless work ethic, more than 20 million feet of gutter guards have been installed with zero cases of clogged gutters. With this success, Kaulig's company has received numerous awards and media accolades. In February 2015, the company partnered with TriStar Motorsports to be the primary sponsor of NASCAR driver Blake Koch for XFINITY Series. The success of the partnership has led to the establishment and launch of Kaulig Racing, an independent professional race team that features Koch as the lead driver of his No. 8 Toyota Camry in the 2016 XFINITY series. Kaulig and his wife Lisa, also a 1996 UA graduate and a former Zip cheerleader, have directed generous contributions to the Zips football program through LeafFilter, especially for the 2014 season with the purchase of new uniforms and the much acclaimed chrome helmets. The Kauligs reside in Hudson, Ohio.
Team of Distinction
Playing as an independent, the 1968 football team compiled a 7-3-1 record under the guidance of head coach Gordon Larson and team captains Don Zwisler and Nate Hagins. The Zips won four consecutive games and closed the regular-season with a 48-13 win at Youngstown State. Their 24 points in the first quarter in the win over Baldwin-Wallace still ranks second for most points scored in the first quarter. The Zips' defense set rushing records, holding opponents to 81.5 yards per game and 1.8 yards per carry, both of which still rank No. 1 in the school record books. UA set the school record for points scored in consecutive games with 105 (46-0 vs. Illinois State and 59-19 vs. Baldwin-Wallace). The 45 touchdowns scored on the season stands second on the all-time charts. The Zips' 27-13 win at Bradley was the 250th collegiate win in school history. OT Ken Delaney, DB Tony Pallija, SE Dan Ruff, and QB Zwisler earned Honorable Mention All-America honors.
That record against a strong schedule earned Akron its very first NCAA bowl bid, the Grantland Rice Bowl, to face Louisiana Tech in the NCAA Mideast Regional Championship in Murfreesboro, Tenn. The Bulldogs, led by two-time All-American and 1970 No. 1 draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers Terry Bradshaw, jumped out to a quick 21 lead in the first quarter. The Zips made a valiant comeback effort with a one-yard run by fullback John Vargo in the second quarter and halfback Jack Beidleman's 13-yard TD run in the third quarter to close the gap to 21-13. Despite defensive pressure from Wayne Harrison, Ken Krummel, Henry Maione, and Keith Penman, Tech won the game, 33-13.
