MSU Athletics Hall Of Fame Welcomes Class Of 2014

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The Murray State Athletics Hall of Fame class of 2014 includes a group of six greats in Racer Athletics history, and one who will be honored as a Hall of Distinction inductee. The class will be inducted at a banquet in the CFSB Center in Murray, Ky., Feb. 21.

The 2014 class includes: Nikola Aracic (Men's Tennis, 1998-02), Ben Chamness (Football/Track & Field, 1951-55), Ronald Hopkins (Football 1979-82), Anna Lask (Women's Tennis, 2003-07), Andy Rice (Baseball, 1976-79) and Isaac Spencer (Men's Basketball, 1998-01).

Bill Whitaker, who served as MSU Athletics faculty representative from 1998-10, will also be honored as the third member of the Hall of Distinction.

The induction banquet and ceremony will be held at the CFSB Center on Friday, Feb. 21. Reservations are required and there are limited number of spots remaining. Reservations can be made until Feb. 13. RSVP to Crystal Morrow by calling (270) 809-3746. Tickets are $30 each. Doors to the CFSB Center on induction night will open at 5:30 p.m. and guests may enter the arena through gate B. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. with the induction ceremony starting at 6:30 p.m.

The class of 2014 will be honored guests at the Murray State basketball game against Morehead State on Saturday, Feb. 22.

The MSU Hall of Fame is open to former MSU student-athletes and coaches who have distinguished themselves in their sport.

The MSU Hall of Distinction is open to individuals who have contributed monetarily, spiritually, educationally, and in any other manner which is not covered by athletics performance or coaching. Karl Hussung was the first Hall of Distinction inductee in 2000, with Frank Fazi being honored in 2012.

Nikola Aracic –Tennis (1998-02)
Coming to Murray State from Germany, Nikola Aracic had a collegiate career as one of the great talents to play for Coach Mel Purcell. With a 90-27 career singles record, Aracic was nearly unbeatable in OVC matches. In the spring of 1999, he was 6-0 against OVC competition and in 2001, he was 16-2 in all of his matches. As a junior and senior in 2001 and 2002, Aracic was MSU's No. 1 singles player and had a streak of 13-straight victories at one point. Aracic was named the OVC Player of the Year three times, marking just the second time this has occurred at MSU. Aracic follows fellow MSU Hall of Fame pick Tony Wretlund (1985-89) who was the other three-time OVC Player of the Year pick. Aracic played the No. 1 singles slot for the Racers during his entire collegiate career. He now resides in Delray Beach, Fla.

Ben Chamness - Football/Track & Field (1951-55)
As one of MSU's greatest athletes in the 1950's, Ben Chamness was a two-sport leader in football and track & field. All told in his career, he earned eight letters with four each coming in his two disciplines. Chamness was cited by the Paducah Sun-Democrat (now the Paducah Sun) for combined athletic and academic achievement. His career spanned eight years as he participated from 1951-55, and then came back to compete in 1957-58. Playing as an offensive and defensive lineman, Chamness was a three-time All-OVC selection for Coach Fred Farout. In 1954, Chamness was honored by his teammates as one of the Racers' co-captains. Chamness never missed a game and rarely came off the field. Chamness was part of the MSU team that went 8-1 and won the OVC title in 1951. Chamness was a four-year member of the track & field team competing in the shot put and discus. He now resides in Orange, Calif.

Ronald Hopkins – Football (1979-82)
Playing for coach Mike Gottfried and Frank Beamer, Hopkins was a big-play performer from one of the best eras of Racer Football. Earning All-OVC honors in 1982, Hopkins was a ball hawk on defense and special teams. He led the OVC in punt return average with 11.7 yards per attempt and had an 87-yard touchdown return in 1982. Hopkins led the Racers in interceptions in two seasons and currently ranks ninth all-time at MSU with 10. He returned one of his interceptions for a 60-yard touchdown as a senior in 1982. Hopkins was an amazing special teams player who also had seven blocked kicks in his MSU career. Hopkins helped the Racers to 26 wins in his first three seasons, including the OVC Championship in 1979. Hopkins was successful after leaving MSU and played eight seasons in the Canadian Football League with the Calgary Stampeders. In 1987, he set a CFL record with 1,098 yards in kick returns. He now resides in Calgary, Alberta.

Anna Lask – Tennis (2003-07)
Playing for legendary coach Connie Keasling, Anna Lask's record at Murray State ranks among the best to ever wear the blue and gold. Lask arrived at MSU in 2003 and quickly established herself as an outstanding singles and doubles competitor. She is currently the all-time leader in singles victories with a mark of 104-39, and in doubles with a 105-34 record. Many of her doubles wins came alongside her sister, Rachael. When her singles and doubles wins are combined, Anna Lask has an MSU-best of 209-73 (.741). A four-time All-OVC selection, Lask was OVC Player of the Year in 2007 as a senior and helped the Racers to a spot in the NCAA Championship. She earned the OVC Scholar Athlete Award in 2007 and the OVC Medal of Honor. Also in 2007, Lask was recognized as ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV Al-Large First Team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). She now resides in Prospect, Ky.

Andy Rice – Baseball (1975-79)
Even though it has been 34 years since his last pitch for legendary coach Johnny Reagan, Rice ranked high in MSU career baseball accomplishments. Rice finished his career second all-time at MSU in wins (22), second in complete games (17) and fourth in innings pitched with 194. His 2.99 earned run average is still 10^th all-time in the Thoroughbreds' program. As a senior in 1979, Rice tossed one of only six MSU no-hitters at the time against Western Kentucky. What made the game even more memorable is that MSU lost 1-0. Rice was a three-time All-OVC selection and is one of only two pitchers at MSU to earn all-league honors three times. Rice was selected by the Houston Astros in the 1979 amateur baseball draft. He now resides in Evansville, Ind.

Isaac Spencer – Basketball (1997-01)
In 1996, Racer coach Mark Gottfried went looking for a player that could be a difference maker. He found Isaac Spencer in Montgomery, Ala., who put his stamp on the Racers' record book. As one of only two MSU players to be named All-OVC in four seasons (the other is Lamont Sleets (1980-84), Spencer is also one of only six at MSU and 17 in the OVC to score 2,000 career points. Spencer is second at MSU in made field goals (840), fourth career blocked shots (127), fourth in made free throws (532), fifth in rebounds (976), eighth in assists (357) and 10^th in field goal percentage (.541). Spencer, who also played for head coach Tevester Anderson, had some outstanding seasons in helping the Racers to three OVC regular season titles and two trips to the NCAA Tournament. He now resides in Salt lake City, Utah.

Hall of Distinction
Bill Whitaker – Faculty Athletics Representative (1998-10)
Bill Whitaker served as the faculty representative for MSU Athletics from 1998-10 and was as a key administrator in shaping the department into the success that it is today. Whitaker's career as an educator began at Murray State in 1975 when he was assistant professor in the department of engineering technology. In 1983 he became associate professor and program coordinator. Whitaker was the recipient of the MSU Board of Regents' Teaching Excellence Award in 1992. Whitaker is a graduate from Lawrence Institute of Technology (1968) and Wayne State University (1974) and still serves on the Racer Foundation Board and the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame Committee. Whitaker also served on the OVC Faculty Representatives Committee and makes his home in Murray, Ky.

Murray State University

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