Grand Valley State University announced eight new members on June 25 to be inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame. This 2024 class of inductees will join the 187 current members of the Hall of Fame, and be enshrined with a plaque honoring their achievements at the GVSU Fieldhouse Championship lobby. The induction ceremony is set to take place at the Charles H. Irwin Dinner on Friday, November 1.

The process of being selected for induction starts with the nomination form, available online, and entries are submitted directly to the Director of Athletics, Keri Becker. Then, the Board of Directors of the Hall of Fame Committee, meet once a year to review all of the nominees. After following a set of bylaws to narrow down the list, the Board of Directors will select members to be inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame and forward those names to the University president for approval.

“The purpose of the GVSU Hall of Fame is to recognize former GVSU athletes, faculty and staff, and others associated with GVSU who have distinguished themselves in the field of athletics,” Becker said.

One of the 2024 inductees is Brandon Barnes, who played offensive line for the GVSU football team from 2004-2007. During his college years, he was recognized as one of the best linemen in Division II college football. Along with helping the team win two national championships, Barnes was awarded three First Team All-GLIAC awards, GLIAC Offensive Lineman of the Year, two Division II All-American honors and the Gene Upshaw Award for best lineman in Division II.

Following his time as a Laker, Barnes would go on to be undrafted in the 2008 NFL Draft, but had stints with the Baltimore Ravens and Indianapolis Colts, and played in an indoor arena league.

Another member of the new inductees is Joe Brunink. From 2001-2003, Brunink secured first base for the GVSU baseball team. He helped the Lakers reach the Division II College Baseball World Series during the 2003 season with 81 hits, batting a .413 average, 53 runs batted in and 11 home runs.

Brunink went on to be drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the fifteenth round of the 2003 MLB June Amateur Draft, playing with the Batavia Muckdogs, the Short-Season A affiliates to the Phillies.

Leading the GVSU women’s soccer team from 2003-2013 was Coach Dave Dilanni. During his tenure, he led the Lakers to three NCAA Division II National Championships. Dilanni also earned nine consecutive Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference titles, and made seven Final Four appearances through eight seasons. He led a team to the NCAA Tournament every year under his guidance and produced 21 All-Americans.

Dilanni would leave Division II with the all-time winning percentage (.895), as he took a head coaching position at Iowa University in 2014, where he is currently established as one of the best coaches in the Big Ten Conference.

Another athlete to be joining the Athletics Hall of Fame is Ben Hirdes. Becoming the first athlete at GVSU to jump over 17’ in pole vault, Hirdes competed in both indoor and outdoor men’s track and field events from 2001-2005, and placed top ten in five NCAA Championships. Hirdes was also a five-time All-American, with his record jump being 17’1″.

Dominating the women’s track & field scene was Sam Lockhart, competing in shot put, discus, weight throw and hammer throw from 2010-2013. She collected five individual NCAA titles, five runner-up finishes and was a thirteen-time All-American. Her contributions helped GVSU win two track & field national championships.

Lockhart currently holds numerous GVSU records, including indoor women’s shot put (16.86m) and outdoor shot put (16.80m). She also holds the indoor weight throw record (21.50) and outdoor discus throw (58.87).

Along with being announced as part of the GVSU Athletics Hall of Fame, Lockhart was inducted into the NCAA Division II Athlete Hall of Fame on Feb. 22, 2024.

Racking up countless awards on the softball diamond was Katie Martin, who played from 2010-2013. Martin finished her career as the top offensive player in GVSU history, ending as the University’s all-time leader in batting average (.438), hits (300), runs (188), doubles (72), home runs (59), RBI (240), total bases (555), walks (115), on-base percentage (.517) and slugging percentage (.810).

Martin became the first GVSU player to be named an All-American three times, as well as the first-ever two-time recipient of the Daktronics National Player of the Year Award.

Playing under fellow inductee, Coach Dilanni, goalkeeper Chelsea Parise locked down opponents from 2009-2012, helping her team win two women’s soccer team national championships. Parise became the NCAA Division II and Grand Valley State career shutout leader, and also topped Division II in minutes played (9001:58). She was second in career goals-against average (0.37), and first in total saves (282) and save percentage (.884). She closed out her career at GVSU with a record of 84-4-13. She received two NSCAA All-America First Team honors and the Daktronics Midwest Region Player of the Year award for her work protecting the net.

Finally, on the green for the Lakers from 2006-2010 was Ashley Smith, competing for the women’s golf team. Throughout her career, Smith was named GLIAC Most Valuable Player, received two-time All-GLIAC First-Team honors and was a three-time All-American Honorable Mention. She helped the Lakers win three consecutive Super Region One championships along the way. Overall, she is tied for third in wins in a season (4), and is fifth in career wins (9).