Debbie Nankivell Executive Assistant to the Vice President | Northern Arizona Lumberjacks Website
Debbie Nankivell Executive Assistant to the Vice President | Northern Arizona Lumberjacks Website
A group of former Northern Arizona University athletes will be honored this August as they are inducted into the Lumberjack Athletic Hall of Fame. The 2024 class includes the men's cross country teams from 2016, 2017, and 2018, golfer Sophia Choi, volleyball player Janae Vander Ploeg (McDonnell), and football player David Heasman.
NAU Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Mike Marlow announced the inductees. The ceremony is scheduled for August 30 in Flagstaff, Arizona. The honorees will also be recognized during NAU's football home opener against Lincoln University on August 31.
The Hall of Fame was established in 1981 to honor those who have made significant contributions to NAU Athletics. This year's class was selected by a committee that includes eight members already in the Hall of Fame.
Sophia Choi was a standout women's golfer from 2004 to 2008, earning three Big Sky Conference Golfer of the Year awards. "Thank you for this honor," said Choi. "This could not have been possible without the support of my teammates, coach, and NAU athletic department."
David Heasman played football at NAU from 1993 to 1998 and helped lead the team to its first Division I FCS Playoffs appearance in program history. "Being inducted into the NAU Athletics Hall of Fame is an absolute honor for me," Heasman stated.
Janae Vander Ploeg (McDonnell) had a remarkable volleyball career at NAU from 2012 to 2015. She became the first AVCA All-American in program history during her senior year. "Being inducted into the NAU Hall of Fame fills me with an overwhelming sense of gratitude," McDonnell expressed.
The men's cross country teams achieved national prominence by winning NCAA National Championships consecutively in 2016, 2017, and 2018 under coaches Eric Heins and Michael Smith. Smith remarked on their success: "These teams made history and broke NAU through the top of Division I cross country."
The induction ceremony promises to celebrate these individuals' accomplishments while highlighting their contributions to Northern Arizona University's athletic legacy.
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