MO State HS Sports

Columbia College Announces 2020 & 2021 Athletic Hall of Fame

2020-21 HOF Announcement Updated

Columbia, Mo. – After a challenging year that saw the postponement of many events, including the 2020 Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony, it is with great enthusiasm that we announce the 2021 Columbia College Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on October 15. 

After thoughtful discussions with the 2020 inductees and other key stakeholders, the decision was made to postpone last year’s event and induct that amazing group alongside the 2021 Hall of Fame class this fall. This year’s event will highlight Lindsey (Martin) Andrews ’14 – Cross Country/Track & Field; Stacy Batson ’92 – Men’s Basketball; Endrinha Sosa ’05 – Women’s Volleyball; as well as Vesna (Trivunovic) Johnson ’13 – Women’s Volleyball; and the 2001-02 Women’s Basketball Team.

 “The Hall of Fame event is one of the highlights of the athletic year for so many. The opportunity to come together as a Cougar Family to celebrate our best during Homecoming Week is something we cherish,” stated Drew Grzella, associate director of athletics. “I am excited that Lindsey, Stacy, Endrinha, Vesna, and all of the members of the 2001-02 Women’s Basketball Team can be in the spotlight once again. I look forward to seeing them all back on campus and sharing their great accomplishments this fall!”

Meet the Class of 2020…

Stacy Batson, a 1992 graduate from Flint, Michigan, was a three-time All-Conference and two-time All-District men’s basketball player for the Cougars. He finished his career with 1,334 points (10th all-time) and 970 rebounds (1st all-time). He is one of two players in program history to rank in the top 10 in both statistical categories. Stacey helped lead the Cougars to an incredible 93-35 overall record during his career. He was a key component on the 1989-90 team, which finished the year with a 30-8 overall record; the program’s first-ever trip to the NAIA National Tournament, and a spot in the Sweet Sixteen.

Lindsey (Martin) Andrews, a 2014 graduate from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, is one of the most decorated individual athletes in Columbia College history. During her first full season with the Cougars, she finished second at the AMC Cross Country event and qualified for the 2013 NAIA National Championship. A 30th place finish would earn her the first individual All-American honor in program history. Lindsey followed that up with a 3rd place finish in the 5000m race at the 2013 Indoor Track & Field Championship and a 7th place finish in the same event at the 2013 Outdoor Track & Field Championship. Those results would earn her two more All-American nods. During her final campaign with Columbia, she won the 2014 AMC XC Championship and finished 5th at the NAIA Cross Country National Championship. At the 2015 Indoor National Championship, Lindsey competed in both the 3000m and the 5000m finals. Even though both event finals were 30 minutes apart, she finished as the national runner-up in both. Lindsey completed her career as a six-time All-American and a four-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete. She holds seven Columbia College Track & Field records and still has the program record for the fastest cross country 5k time (17:34).

Endrinha Sosa, a 2005 graduate from Venezuela, is one of the most memorable players to ever don a Cougar volleyball jersey. The outside hitter’s joy, enthusiasm, and flair for the game were contagious and played a significant role in the program’s success from 1999-2003. During that span, the team had an unbelievable record of 154 wins and only nine losses. Her 154 wins are the fifth-highest win total in program history. She was a four-time 1st Team All-Conference member, twice named AMC Most Valuable Player, and was honored as an NAIA All-American during each of her final three years (1st Team in 2000 & 2001, 2nd Team in 2002).  Endrinha was a key member of both the 1999 and 2001 teams that won the NAIA National Championship. Her 1,391 kills put her in 3rd place on the career list, and her 1,368 digs are the 4th highest total in program history.

Meet the Class of 2021…

Vesna (Trivunovic) Johnson, a 2013 graduate from Zrenjanin, Serbia, suited up for the Cougar Volleyball team from 2010-2012. She joined Columbia College as a transfer from Lake Land College in Mattoon, Illinois, and in no short order made her presence felt. In her first season with the Cougars, she posted 689 kills and 77 aces, both team highs. Her 689 kills were the 4th best mark in the NAIA in 2010, and her 77 aces ranked 8th. Following the season, she was honored as the American Midwest Conference Newcomer of the Year, 1st Team All-Conference, and a 1st Team All-American selection. 

In addition, she was named to the 2010 NAIA National Tournament All-Tournament Team after helping the Cougars advance to the NAIA National Championship match. The Cougars finished the year with a 42-3 record, won the AMC Regular Season and Tournament title, and advanced to the National Championship contest for the 7th time in program history. Vesna’s electric play would continue into the 2011 season, where she once again led the Cougars in kills (526) and aces (62). She was named 1st Team All-Conference and 1st Team All-American. The Cougars finished the year with a 39-4 record and advanced to the NAIA National Semifinal. Vesna finished her two-year career with 1215 kills, the 6th most in the storied history of Columbia College Volleyball.  

On July 6, 2000, the decision to reinstate women’s basketball as a varsity sport at Columbia College was announced. Not long afterward, Mike Davis was hired as the head coach and tasked with recruiting a team that could compete during the 2001-2002 campaign. Made up of 5 transfer student-athletes and seven incoming high school graduates, the 2001-02 Women’s Basketball Team would not only compete, but they would gel together quickly and dominate. On November 6, 2001, the Cougars opened their inaugural season by scoring 62 points in the first half of basketball en route to a 116-58 victory against Iowa Wesleyan College. After a tough loss to NCAA Division II opponent (Univ. of Alaska-Fairbanks) on November 16, the Cougars rattled off 17 straight wins. The average margin of victory during that stretch was 24 points per game. On January 15, the Cougars received their first national recognition as they were ranked #24 in the NAIA Top 25 poll. They would not fall outside the top 25 for the remainder of the season. 

On February 14, the team scored 150 points in a 150-39 victory over Harris-Stowe State University inside Southwell Complex (a record that still stands today). The Cougars finished the 2001-02 campaign with a perfect 12-0 record in AMC play. 

By winning the regular-season conference championship, they earned an automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament. 

The team finished the season with a 30-5 overall record. Coach Davis was named American Midwest Conference Coach of the Year in his first season with Columbia. The team was led by conference Newcomer & Player of the Year and NAIA All-American Missy Wilt and all-conference teammates BJ Homer, Lisa Kowalewski, and Tilly Payne. The Cougars were well represented on the AMC Academic All-Conference list with six honorees: Katie Dorson, Tiffany Foote, BJ Homer, Lisa Kowalewski, Mindy Mitchem & Christina Steffes. The 2001-02 Women’s Basketball Team set a standard of competitive excellence at Columbia College that has endured today.

This article is provided by Columbia Cougar Athletics