PHOTO GALLERY
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Sept. 21, 2018) – Northern Arizona University celebrated the members of the 2018 Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Class on Friday evening at the High Country Conference Center in Flagstaff.
The special event was attended by a large contingent of NAU alumni, former student athletes, current and former members of the athletic department as well as other supporters of the university as they joined to honor and remember the storied careers of the inductees, each of which will be forever honored among an exclusive group of athletes that personify what it is to be a Lumberjack.
The 2018 NAU Athletics Hall of Famers include former football players Rayna Stewart (1991-95) and Ray Perryman (1997-00) along with track and field standout Sabine Krieger (1996-99) and the 2005-06 edition of the NAU women's basketball team which captured the Big Sky Championship and qualified for the NCAA Tournament.
The 2018 NAU Enshrinement Class will also be honored at halftime of Saturday's NAU football game vs. Southern Utah, which is slated for a 4 p.m. MST kickoff at the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome.
Special presenters for the inductees included former longtime and fellow Hall of Famers Mike Nesbitt (Stewart) and Ron Mann (Krieger) as well as current NAU football head coach
Jerome Souers and the head coach of the 2005-06 women's basketball team Laurie Kelly.
Each of the inductees will forever be enshrined on the NAU Athletics Hall of Fame Wall located in the Skydome.
The Northern Arizona University Athletics Hall of Fame was established in 1981 to honor those persons who have made outstanding contributions to NAU athletics.
Its purpose is to perpetuate the memory of those persons who have brought distinction, honor and excellence to Northern Arizona University while contributing to the welfare of their community, their profession or the university. Additionally, outstanding teams whose records of achievement have brought honor to the university and its programs shall be so honored by induction into the Athletics Hall of Fame.
Student-athletes, athletic teams and coaches become eligible for Hall of Fame induction five years after competing or serving at Northern Arizona University.
2018 NAU Athletics Hall of Fame Enshrinement Class
2005-06 Women's Basketball Team (2015)
The 2005-06 women's basketball team is the first, and only to date, team in program history to win the Big Sky Championship and appear in the NCAA Tournament. The team tied a school record with 22 wins that season, finishing with a 22-11 record (9-5 in Big Sky). They also set school records for best home record (12-1), most home wins (12), most neutral wins (5) and home wins to start a season (12). The team won the Big Sky Tournament as the No. 3 seed defeating Portland State, Montana and Weber State before falling to No. 3 seed Baylor (74-56) in NAU's only NCAA Tournament appearance to date. Their 2,206 points scored set a school record at the time, as were their 1,226 rebounds. They also still hold school season records for field goals made (840) and assists (550). The team ranked top 40 nationally in assists (14th), field goal percentage (24th) and blocks (39th) and featured four of the school's 16 1,000 point scorers (Alyssa Wahl, 2nd; Sade Cunningham, 6th; Kim Winkfield, 11th; Megan Porter, 13th). Nicky Eason and Alyssa Wahl were named all-conference that season and were joined by Kim Winkfield on All-Tournament team (Wahl was tournament MVP). The team was led by head coach Laurie Kelly.
Sabine Krieger, Track and Field, 1996-99 (2015)
Set and still holds the Big Sky heptathlon record when she won the event in 1999 with a score of 5,776 points. That same year, Krieger finished third in the heptathlon at the NCAA Championships, earning All-American status. She also finished fourth in the heptathlon at the 1998 NCAA National Championships, again earning All-American honors. She also won Big Sky high jump and heptathlon championships in 1997. Krieger is also a multi-time Big Sky All-Conference and All-Academic honoree and was named to the GTE Academic All-District team in 1999. She ended her career earning an NCAA postgraduate scholarship for her work in the classroom.
Ray Perryman, Football, 1997-00 (2014)
One of the top defensive backs in NAU program history. Two-Time All-American. All-Big Sky First Team selection in 1999 and 2000. Led the 'Jacks in tackles in 1999 and 2000. Ranks fourth among NAU's single-season tackle leaders since 1995 with 106 (1999). Selected by the Oakland Raiders in the fifth round (158th overall) of the 2001 Draft. Played the 2002 season in NFL Europe. Played for the Baltimore Ravens in 2002, Jacksonville Jaguars from 2003-05 and the Canadian Football League in 2007.
Rayna Stewart, Football, 1991-95 (2014)
Five-time All-American safety for the NAU football program. Was named to the All-Big Sky First Team in 1994 and 1995. Still holds the top two marks in passes defended for NAU in a single season with 19 in both 1994 and 1995. Drafted in the fifth round (143rd overall) of the 1996 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans, where he played with the organization from 1996-98. Stewart played for the Miami Dolphins in 1999 and then the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2000-01. Currently the Director of Player Development for the Vanderbilt University Football program and previously served as the defensive assistant for quality control for the Tennessee Titans.
Year Nominated for NAU Hall of Fame in (Parenthesis)
