Taylor Athletics Announces 2021 Hall of Fame Class
UPLAND, Ind. – TU Athletics will induct four new members into its Hall of Fame on Saturday, October 9 as part of the 2021 Taylor University Homecoming festivities. The 2021 inductees are Rhett Goodmiller, Courtney Herschberger, Mary Edna Glover Lafata and Steve Wilt.
Goodmiller graduated from Taylor in 2012, following a distinguished three-year career on the diamond for the Trojans that saw him post a career .407 batting average and .520 on-base percentage. Goodmiller helped Taylor to a 111-51 overall record with three conference championships and a pair of NAIA National Tournament appearances, while earning a trio of MCC First-Team honors for his production. The MCC Gold Glove catcher and 2012 NAIA All-American also excelled in the classroom, earning a pair of CoSIDA Academic All-District honors and two NAIA Scholar-Athlete awards. Goodmiller was named Taylor’s Gates-Howard Award recipient in 2011 as TU’s top male student-athlete and earned CoSIDA Academic All-America honors in 2012.
Herschberger also graduated from TU in 2012, after a record-setting career with the Purple and Gold on the volleyball court. Herschberger closed her time in Upland as the program’s all-time leader with 2,891 digs, which ranked fourth in the NAIA at that time. In addition to her tremendous defensive work for the Trojans, the three-time MCC Libero of the Year tacked on 164 service aces over four seasons. Herschberger was a 2012 NAIA All-American and a three-time all-conference standout, while helping Taylor to a 123-41 overall record, three league championships, three NAIA National Tournament bids and a 54-6 record in conference play. Herschberger was also accomplished academically, hauling in a pair of NAIA Scholar-Athlete recognitions.
Lafata was a pioneer for women’s sports at Taylor University, helping usher in and build an outstanding and long-lasting legacy of competitive, Christ-centered women’s athletics at Taylor. From 1973 through 1981, Lafata served as the head coach at various times for volleyball, women’s basketball and women’s track and field for the Trojans. Lafata guided the TU volleyball program to Small State Championships in 1978 and 1980 and was named to the Outstanding Young Women of America list in 1979.
Wilt led Taylor on the football field for 12 seasons from 1994 through 2005, closing his tenure ranked second on TU’s all-time wins list. Wilt’s time with the Purple and Gold was highlighted by Mid-States Football Association Midwest League Championships and NAIA Playoff appearances in 1998 and 1999. The 1999 squad still holds the program’s single-season record with 10 victories and boasts TU’s only NAIA Playoff win, while the 1998 and 1999 teams combined for the highest two-year wins total in program history with 18. Throughout his 12 years at the helm, Wilt coached 16 NAIA All-Americans.
Recent Comments