Cedarville Magazine, Spring 2013

Cedarville Magazine | 7 SPORTS Hall of Fame Adds Four Members by Kimberly Garlick ’13 F our new plaques grace the lobby of Cedarville’s Callan Athletic Center following the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame induction brunch on January 26, 2013.The newest inductees were the late Mendell E. Beattie, Dr. Kim Gall ’78, Becky (Jordan) Bednarek ’99, and Michelle (Ruhlman) Keller ’02. In the 1940s, Beattie served as Athletic Director, Dean of Men, and Professor of Physical Education, and he also coached football, basketball, and baseball. Jay Fry ’51, one of Beattie’s former football players, remembers how pivotal his recruiting efforts were for Cedarville following America’s involvement in World War II. “In 1946, Cedarville had just 24 male students,” said Fry. “After one semester, we had 100.” Gall played field hockey, basketball, and softball for Cedarville. She continued in athletics after graduation, coaching for 20 years at Geneva College and Calvin College before becoming Geneva’s Athletic Director in 2008. “It’s a privilege to be a member of the Hall of Fame,” she said. “I’ve been in the athletic and physical education profession for 35 years, and my preparation from Cedarville has served me well.” She said a large part of her foundation was laid by three mentors —June Kearney, her academic advisor and softball coach; Maryalyce Jeremiah ’65, her basketball coach; and Pam (Diehl) Johnson, her field hockey coach. Bednarek was recognized for her four years of cross country and track & field for the Lady Jackets under Coach Elvin King ’64. Bednarek was a three-time National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) All-American. “I feel like I ampart of a continuumof women’s distance running at Cedarville,” she said. “I’ve seen people come behind me who are standout athletes in their own right and have gone on to do things on a national level. That just impresses me. The teams I ran on were good and progressively getting better, so maybe we made the school more attractive to [future runners] to come and run.” Keller made history as the first women’s soccer player to be inducted since the sport began at Cedarville in 1997. John McGillivray ’70, who has served as head coach of women’s soccer since 1998, said Keller was the perfect selection for the first women’s soccer inductee. She is second all-time in goals (34), assists (27), and points (95), while maintaining the school’s single-season record for most shots (98) and shots on goal (58). “Coming to Cedarville was amazing for me,” Keller said. “Being part of a Christian atmosphere in both athletics and academics gave me a good foundation.The friends I made continue to encourageme in my faith as well as in my vocation and role as a wife and mother.” In addition to Keller’s technical skills, McGillivray said she embodies the five pillars of the soccer program: Christ-centered, team-focused, work ethic, humility, and legacy. “She represents everything we want a Cedarville University student-athlete to be,” McGillivray said. (left to right) Becky (Jordan) Bednarek ‘99, Dr. Kim Gall ‘78, Michelle (Ruhlman) Keller ‘02 (clockwise, from top left) Michelle (Ruhlman) Keller ‘02, Dr. Kim Gall ‘78, Mendell E. Beattie, Becky (Jordan) Bednarek ‘99