Courtesy: Indiana Athletics
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana University Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Fred Glass announced today that IU Athletics will welcome six new members to its Athletics Hall of Fame. The six individuals comprise the 37th Hall of Fame class, and bring the roster of inductees to 231.
Monica Armendarez (Softball, 1995-98), Rachelle Bostic (Women’s Basketball, 1981-84), Brian Evans (Men’s Basketball, 1993-96), Sam Komar (Wrestling, 1975-78), Ann Lawver (Volleyball Coach/Softball Coach/Administrator, 1975-82), and Glenn Scolnik (Football, 1970-72) will officially be inducted at the annual Hall of Fame dinner on Friday, Nov. 9, and will be recognized at halftime of the Indiana-Maryland football game at Memorial Stadium the following day.
“IU Athletics has a rich history in all of its sports, which is evidenced in this year’s class that represents six different programs,” Glass said. “These six individuals contributed an enormous amount to the success of their teams and the notoriety of our entire Athletics Department. Congratulations to each as they join a very distinctive and elite group of Hoosier legends.”
The IU Athletics Hall of Fame, established in 1982 by the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics in conjunction with the Varsity Club and the I-Association, recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the prestige of IU both on and off the field of competition.
MONICA ARMENDAREZ (SOFTBALL, 1995-98)
One of the most productive hitters in the history of IU Softball, Monica Armendarez lettered from 1995-98. She earned second-team All-America honors in 1997 and third-team All-America accolades in 1998. A First Team All-Big Ten selection in 1997 and 1998, Armendarez ranks among the program’s all-time leaders in career batting average (.369, 2nd), hits (222, 4th), runs (139, 2nd), doubles (54, 1st), home runs (38, 2nd), RBIs (146, 2nd), walks (95, 5th) and slugging percentage (.784, 2nd). She also owns IU’s single-season record for batting average (.437, 1997) and is the only player in Big Ten history to lead the conference outright in home runs during Big Ten games multiple times (1995, 1998). After her IU career concluded, she became the program’s first-ever professional player when she played with the Carolina Diamonds of the Women’s Pro Fastpitch League. During her professional career, she set the WPSL single-season record for home runs with 12 in 1999.
RACHELLE BOSTIC (WOMEN’S BASKETBALL, 1981-84)
Rachelle Bostic was a member of IU’s 1983 Big Ten Championship team and lettered from 1981-84. She ranks seventh on the program’s all-time scoring list (1,827 points) and is sixth in rebounding (873). She also holds the IU career record for field goals made (839) as well as the single-game mark for field goals made (17 vs. South Carolina in 1984). She earned first-team All-Big Ten honors in 1982 after averaging 16.0 points and 8.1 rebounds, and added second-team all-league honors in 1984 after scoring 15.6 points and pulling down 6.4 rebounds per contest. A versatile 5’11” forward/center, Bostic was tabbed as a second-team selection to the Big Ten’s All-Decade team for the 1980s.
BRIAN EVANS (MEN’S BASKETBALL, 1993-96)
The native of Terre Haute, Ind., earned letters in men’s basketball from 1993-96 and is one of only 12 Hoosiers to win Big Ten Most Valuable Player honors in men’s basketball. Evans earned the award after averaging 21.2 points and 7.1 rebounds as a senior in 1996, capping a career that included 1,701 points (12th in school history) and 750 rebounds (10th on IU’s all-time list). During his Big Ten MVP and third-team All-America senior season, Evans also became the first player in the Bob Knight era to lead the conference in scoring. In addition to his first-team All-Big Ten honors in 1996, Evans was also a third-team All-Conference selection in 1995 after averaging 17.4 points and 6.7 rebounds. Following his senior season, Evans was drafted in the first round of the NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic, and spent four years in the NBA with Orlando and New Jersey.
SAM KOMAR (WRESTLING, 1975-78)
A two-time Big Ten champion and All-American, Sam Komar earned wrestling letters from 1975-78. He captured Big Ten championships at 134 pounds in 1975 and 142 pounds in 1977 while under the tutelage of IU coach Doug Blubaugh. In addition to his Big Ten titles, Komar also earned All-America honors at 134 pounds in 1976 (4th), and did the same in 1977 after advancing to the NCAA title match at 142 pounds. During the 1977 season, Komar compiled a 40-4-1 mark, and was 114-24-4 during his four years in Bloomington. He is one of only 12 Hoosiers to win multiple Big Ten wrestling championships, and his 114 career wins ranks 10th in school history.
ANN LAWVER (VOLLEYBALL COACH, 1975-82, SOFTBALL COACH, 1977-79, ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATION 1979-80)
As a multi-sport coach and administrator, Ann Lawver was one of the pioneers of Indiana University women’s athletics. She was the first coach for the Hoosier volleyball program, leading the squad to a 158-148-9 record from 1975-83. In both 1976 and 1977 her Hoosier teams won 28 matches, which still stands as the program standard for single-season victories. In the midst of her eight-year run with IU Volleyball, Lawver also had an enormous impact on IU Softball. She spent three years as the program’s head coach from 1977-79 and quickly turned the Hoosiers into a national contender. In her third and final season with the program, she guided IU to a 32-14 record and the program’s first-ever trip to the Women’s College World Series, where they placed fifth. A standout athlete in her own right at Manchester (Ind.) University, Lawver was inducted to Manchester’s Hall of Fame in 2010.
GLENN SCOLNIK (FOOTBALL, 1970-72)
Glenn Scolnik earned letters in football in 1970-72. As a senior in 1972, he was named team MVP and first-team All-Big Ten after catching 53 passes for 727 yards and six touchdowns for Coach John Pont. His ’72 season was highlighted by back-to-back weeks in September; after catching nine passes for what was then a school-record 175 yards against TCU, he scored three touchdowns and had a two-point conversion in a 35-34 win over Kentucky. In addition to his success on the field, Scolnik also earned Academic All-America honors in 1972, one of nine Hoosiers to earn the accolade. At the conclusion of his Hoosier career, he was drafted in the sixth round of the NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers and spent one season in the NFL.
For information about the Hall of Fame Dinner or to buy tickets to the Friday night event, contact IU Varsity Club Assistant Director Katie Bates at [email protected] or 812.855.7402.
Leave a Reply