MEMPHIS—The Christian Brothers University Athletic Hall of Fame has announced its inaugural class, featuring 10 of the biggest names in CBU’s athletic history.  The class will be inducted as part of Homecoming weekend at the Hall of Fame Banquet Friday night, Jan. 29, at 5 p.m. at the Alfonso Dining Hall.  Tickets are $35 each, and a table of eight is $280.  Please click here for registration information for the banquet.

The inaugural class includes Joe Alfonso, Julie Bowen, Al Cash, Brother Stephen Eamon Gavin, Kristi Key, Bill Lowry, Joe Nadicksbernd, Hank Raymonds, Jerry Seessel, and Bob Stephenson.

Joe Alfonso operated CBU’s cafeteria, now named the Alfonso Dining Hall in his honor, for many years, and he consistently rose above and beyond the call of duty to keep CBU’s athletes well-fed, especially during breaks in the school calendar.

Julie Bowen starred for the Lady Bucs in basketball and volleyball from 1980 to 1984, leading the Lady Bucs to an 80-30 record during her time, including a 23-3 record and a VSAC West Division Championship in 1983.  Bowen is CBU’s all-time rebound leader with 1,128, and she is third with 1,366 points.  In volleyball, she led the Lady Bucs to four VSAC championships, four NAIA Bi-District championships, and three NAIA National Tournament appearances.

Al Cash starred in basketball from 1960 to 1964.  Cash ranks 12th on CBU’s all-time scoring list with 1,512 points.  He also ranks seventh in career rebounds with 784.

Brother Stephen Eamon Gavin was instrumental in the beginning of the CBU athletics department, and he served as CBU’s first athletics director from 1954 to 1961.

Kristi Key starred in volleyball and basketball from 1981 to 1985.  She was the Lady Bucs’ first-ever female All-American athlete as she led the Lady Bucs to four straight VSAC volleyball championships, three straight NAIA District Championships and National Tournament appearances.  CBU amassed a 123-24 record in her four years.  She also excelled in basketball, scoring 796 points in four years, helping the Lady Bucs to a winning record all four years including the 1983 VSAC West Division title.

Bill Lowry starred for the basketball team from 1956 to 1960.  Lowry is CBU’s all-time leading rebounder with 1,689, and his 1,958 points rank second in school history.  He led the Bucs to three straight 20-win seasons, including two NAIA District Championships and two NAIA National Tournament appearances.

Joe Nadicksbernd has been an icon of CBU athletics for more than 40 years.  He starred in baseball and basketball from 1967 to 1971.  He coached the baseball team from 1975 to 1999, and he coached the basketball team from 1978 to 1982.  He served as Assistant Athletics Director from 1994 to 1998, Associate Athletics Director from 1998 to 2003, and the Athletics Director since 2003.  On the baseball field, Nadicksbernd hit .329 with 17 homers and 104 runs batted in.  As a junior, he led the Bucs to a 38-12 record, the best mark in school history.  In basketball, he ranks third in school history with 963 rebounds and 19th in scoring with 1,246 points.  He won 586 games in 25 years as baseball coach, and he won 47 games in four years as basketball coach.

Hank Raymonds coached the CBU men’s basketball team from 1955 to 1961, leading the Bucs to a 110-50 record in those six years.  He led the Bucs to back-to-back district championships and NAIA national tournament appearances in 1958-59 and 1959-60.  He led the Bucs to three straight 20-win seasons and six straight winning records.

Jerry Seessel spearheaded the beginning of the women’s soccer program at CBU.  His vision helped lead to one of CBU’s most successful programs, including the school’s only national championship in 2002 as well as the 2001 national runner-up finish.

Bob Stephenson served as athletics director from 1969 to 1996, and he coached the men’s basketball team from 1969 to 1978, accumulating a 130-111 record.  He led the Bucs to a 23-11 record in 1976-77, the fourth-most wins in a season in school history.