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UCO Announces Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2022

Seven Individuals and Two National Championship Teams To Be Inducted This Fall

EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma athletic department announced Monday the 2022 UCO Athletics Hall of Fame Class, consisting of seven individuals and two national championship teams.
 
A formal induction ceremony will be held the night Friday, Sept. 23 at the Nigh University Center, preceding the Hall of Fame Game Saturday, Sept. 24 at Chad Richison Stadium. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased here.
 
Shawn Bateman (wrestling), Ashley Beckley (women's basketball), Kacie Edwards (softball), Dustin Finn (football & wrestling), Mike Kirk (lifetime achievement), Steve Leemhuis (football) and Jim Stone (football) will all be inducted into the Hall of Fame this Fall. UCO will also welcome into the Hall of Fame the 1991-92 and 1992-93 wrestling teams that won NCAA Division II national championships.
 
The Class of 2022 will be inducted at a banquet in September before being introduced as a group at halftime of the football game Saturday afternoon. Tickets are available to the banquet and cost $50 per plate or $400 per table of eight.

Shawn Bateman, Wrestling, 1992-96

Shawn Bateman wrestled at Central Oklahoma from 1992-97 and compiled a 77-25 record during his time with the Bronchos, including the 1996 150-pound national championship. Bateman won his first regional title in 1995 and finished national runner-up at 150 pounds. He went 22-8 that season and had 10 bonus-point wins as the Bronchos won a national team championship.
 
In 1995-96, Bateman won his second consecutive regional championship and breezed to a national title, becoming Central's 29th individual national champion. He went 33-6 that winter, including an 11- and 12-match win streak during the year. During that regular season, Bateman lost two overtime matches to the eventual NCAA Division I national champion and he beat the DI national runner-up.
 
Bateman was ranked No. 1 in the country at 150 in 1996-97 before suffering broken hand and separated shoulder in the second semester, ending his career. He finished his time at Central with 77-25 career record. Bateman also spent several years as assistant coach at UCO, helping the Bronchos claim back-to-back national titles in 2002 and 2003.
 
Ashley Beckley, Women's Basketball, 2007-11

Ashley Beckley starred on the basketball court for Central Oklahoma from 2007-11, walking away as one of the best players in school history. She led the Bronchos to the NCAA Division II national tournament in each of her four seasons, including trips to the Sweet 16 in 2009 and 2011.
 
Beckley played in all 32 games as a true freshman in 2007-08 and made one start. She became a force her sophomore season, earning Second Team All-Lone Star Conference North Division as the Bronchos won that division title. She was also an All-Tournament pick in the South Central Regional, where UCO lost to West Texas A&M in the finals. Beckley earned a First Team All-LSC North honor her junior season as well as an All-Region selection. She helped the team to a 22-8 record and a third-straight national tournament appearance.
 
During her senior season in 2010-11, Beckley averaged 19.5 points per game. She led UCO back to the Sweet 16 and earned First Team All-LSC North, First Team All-South Central Region, and Third Team All-American honors. She was also an All-Tournament pick again in the South Central Regional. Beckley scored the game-winning basket with 4.8 seconds left in a 65-64 win over Washburn before a big time 22-point, 12-rebound performance to knock off No. 1 seed Northeastern State in the semifinals.
 
Beckley set single-season records for points (623), scoring average (19.5), free throws made (199) and free throws attempted (261). She ended her career as UCO's leader in free throws made (479) and attempted (698) while ranking second in points (1,627), field goals made (573) and attempted (1,175) and fifth in rebounds (676).
 
Kacie Edwards, Softball, 2010-13

Kacie Edwards played softball for the Bronchos from 2010-13 and also left her mark as one of the best to ever do it at Central Oklahoma. She was a two-time All-LSC North selection during Central's last two seasons in the conference. She earned NCAA DII Player of the Year honors in 2011 and was Central's first All-MIAA recipient in softball in 2013 as the Bronchos entered the new conference.
 
Edwards led that Broncho squad to the 2013 NCAA Division II national championship – the first women's team national title in school history.
 
Edwards was also the Lone Star Conference co-Freshman of the Year in 2010 and helped the Bronchos reach the national tournament. She led UCO to the DII World Series in 2012, earning First Team All-American honors and National Player of the Year honors as Central Oklahoma finished third at the finals.
 
Notably, in 2012, Edwards tore her ACL in the final game of the regular season and missed the first three games of regionals before a heroic return in the finals against Emporia State. She belted a home run in her first at bat after tearing her ACL and also had a two-run double in the seventh to give Central an 8-6 victory. She had five RBIs in a three-game Super Regional win to get Central back to the World Series.
 
In 2013, she earned All-American honors again after leading UCO to a 51-11 record and a national championship. Edwards batted .416 with school-record 82 hits that included 21 homers, 16 doubles and 70 RBIs. She hit a two-run double in the top of eighth inning of national championship game against Kutztown to break a 2-2 tie in eventual 5-2 UCO win.
 
Edwards finished career with school records for at bats (676), hits (268), doubles (56), homers (55), RBIs (225) and average (.396). Still owns career homer mark.
 
Dustin Finn, Football/Wrestling, 2005-10

Dustin Finn was a two-sport standout for the Bronchos from 2005-10, lettering in both wrestling and football. In 2005-06, he lettered in football as reserve defensive lineman and worked out with wrestling team in the second semester, but didn't compete. In 2006-07, he lettered in football on the defensive line, playing in all 11 games. He joined wrestling team in second semester and went 6-1 in back-up role.
 
Finn switched to offensive line in 2007-08 and played every snap as a starter. He then joined the wrestling team in late November. Finn won the Midwest Regional title and finished NCAA II runner-up – equaling the best-ever finish by a UCO heavyweight. He went 29-6 with 13 falls that season, won two duals for UCO with overtime wins in final match. He lost a 4-1 decision in national finals to Nebraska-Kearney's unbeaten Tervel Dlagnev, who made the U.S. Olympic Team twice and was the bronze medal winner in 2012.
 
In 2008-09, Finn led the UCO football team to the LSC North Division title and was named LSC North Division Offensive Lineman of the Year. He also won a second-straight Midwest Regional title and again made it to NCAA II finals, where he finished runner-up. Finn went 26-4 with 12 falls.
 
In his final year at UCO, 2009-10, Finn was done with football but finished his wrestling career. He was the Midwest Regional runner-up and placed third in NCAA II tournament after losing last-second decision in the semifinals. He finished 28-6 with 10 falls, beat the defending NCAA Division I national champion during the season, and was runner-up for LSC Male Athlete of the Year.
 
Finn finished his career with an 89-17 record and 35 falls. He is the only three-time heavyweight All-American in UCO history.
 
Mike Kirk, Lifetime Achievement, 1987-2016

Mike Kirk was hired as Central's Sports Information Director in the Fall of 1987 and spent the next 29 years publicizing the accomplishments of thousands of Broncho student-athletes.
 
He saw the Central wrestling team win eight national championships and the UCO softball team win the first women's title in school history. Kirk watched, and promoted, as more than 200 student-athletes earned All-American honors between 1987-2016. Kirk also won over 50 publication awards for his work in the sports information office, creating media guides, posters, game notes, and other promotional material for the Bronchos.
 
Kirk was inducted into the Oklahoma Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2012 and the Collegiate Sports Information Directors of American (CoSIDA) Hall of Fame in 2018. He worked the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta as the Press Information Officer for wrestling.
 
Steve Leemhuis, Football, 1973-76

Steve Leemhuis played football at Central State from 1973-76 and was a First Team All-OIC, First Team All-District 9, and Honorable Mention NAIA All-American in 1975. He also earned First Team All-District 9 honors and First Team All-American honors in 1976.
 
An offensive lineman, Leemhuis helped Central to a 23-19-1 record in four seasons. Central scored almost 650 points (648) while Leemhuis paved the way up front.
 
Jim Stone, Football, 1973-76

Jim Stone played football for Central from 1973-76 and the linebacker still ranks as one of the best defensive forces in school history. Stone started his career in earnest with a freshman season that saw nine total tackles. He returned as a sophomore and racked up 126 tackles while earning Second Team All-OIC honors.
 
In 1975, Stone was a First Team All-OIC selection and an Honorable Mention All-American. He has 63 total tackles and one interception. Stone wrapped up his career in 1976 with First Team All-District 9 honors. He had 161 total tackles and two fumble recoveries while also picking off another interception.
 
Stone still ranks third in single season tackles (161, 1976), sixth in career tackles (359), fourth in single season assisted tackles (107, 1976), and fourth in career assisted tackles (273).
 
1991-92 Wrestling Team

The 1991-92 UCO wrestling team won the first of four consecutive national titles for the Bronchos. It was also the first NCAA title after Central won eight NAIA titles. The ninth overall national championship for Central came with a 13-point advantage over North Dakota State at the national finals.
 
UCO went 14-1 in duals in 1991-92, with only a controversial loss to Oklahoma marring the record. The Bronchos won the Southwest Missouri Invitational, were second in the Western Colorado Invitational behind New Mexico and finished 14th in the prestigious Las Vegas Invitational. Head wrestling coach David James' crew rolled to the Midwest Regional title and capped the season with the school's first-ever Division II national championship.
 
UCO knocked off four Division I teams (Boise State, Michigan State, New Mexico and San Diego State) and were robbed of its first-ever undefeated season with a 17-16 setback to the Sooners in Norman in the dual season finale.
 
The Bronchos qualified nine individuals for the NCAA Division II Championships. Wayne Cole, Keith Cunningham, Todd Drake, Ryan Martin, Howard Moore and Travis Moman all won regional titles, while Chance Skidgel, Randy Zellner and Brooks Levonitis earned wildcard berths after finishing second.
 
UCO crowned three champions, added three other All-Americans and finished with 91.5 points to claim its ninth national championship. North Dakota State and Portland State tied for second, 13 points behind. Cunningham (158), Moore (167) and Zellner (118) won national titles, while Drake (142) and Moman (126) finished third and Martin (134) fifth.

1992-93 Wrestling Team

The 1992-93 squad continued the Division II dominance with another title. UCO competed in just 11 duals, going 7-4 with losses to Division I powers Iowa, North Carolina State, Oklahoma and Missouri. The Bronchos fell to N.C. State 21-18 and the Sooners won the last three matches to overcome a 19-7 deficit in beating UCO by a point for the second straight year.
 
UCO wasn't tested in its other seven duals, rolling over Division I New Mexico and six Division II opponents. The Bronchos also participated in four open tournaments and two invitationals, winning the Southwest Missouri Invitational.
 
Central hosted the Midwest Regional and won that title by a 45-point margin while crowning eight champions. Zellner, Moman, Mike Keim, Drake, Biff Jones (150), Wes White (158), Cunningham (167) and Chris Griffin (190) won titles, while Denny Kennedy (heavyweight) finished second in also qualifying for the national tournament.
 
That set the stage for the NCAA Division II Championships, which were set for March 5-6 in Brookings, S.D. and UCO crowned three champions – Drake, White and Cunningham – while also getting runner-up finishes from Zellner and Keim. Jones came in fourth and Moman fifth as the Bronchos racked up 108.5 points, far outdistancing Nebraska-Omaha's runner-up total of 68.
 
Drake, the lone senior on the team who had finished third the previous two years, toppled top-seeded James Sisson of Portland State – who was going for his fourth title – 7-6 in the finals.

 
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Players Mentioned

Dustin Finn

#74 Dustin Finn

OL
6' 3"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Dustin Finn

#74 Dustin Finn

6' 3"
Senior
OL
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