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It is with great pride and enthusiasm that we introduce the 20th class of the Columbia College Athletic Hall of Fame. This year’s induction ceremony will take place on Thursday, October 6, in the New Hall Event Center and will feature the following inductees: Devin Griffin ’14 (Men’s Basketball), Jamie Holmes ’14 (Softball), and the 2003 Men’s Soccer team.
“The Hall of Fame induction is such a joyous occasion and is one of the highlights of Homecoming week. The opportunity for our Cougar community to gather and celebrate our past stars is something we don’t take for granted,” said Associate Director of Athletics Drew Grzella. “I am excited that Devin, Jamie and the 2003 Men’s Soccer team will be celebrated for their incredible careers and impact within Cougar Athletics. I can’t wait to welcome them back to campus this fall!”
Tickets for the ceremony will go on sale on Thursday, September 1, at columbiacougars.com/tickets.
Meet the Class…
Devin Griffin, a 2014 graduate from Fairview Heights, Illinois, is one of the most dynamic players in the history of Columbia College Men’s Basketball. During his four-year career, he was named to the all- conference list three times and was twice named an NAIA All-American. He was a key component of the 2012-13 team that won 35 consecutive games, advanced to the NAIA National Tournament Quarterfinals and was ranked No. 1 in the country for eight straight weeks. He averaged 12.8 points per game during his junior season and was named an Honorable Mention All-American following the season. During his senior year, Devin led the team in scoring (16.5 ppg) and led the Cougars to a 32-3 overall record. The team was ranked inside the top 10 in the NAIA all season. For his efforts, Devin was named First Team All-Conference and honored as the AMC Player of the Year. In addition, he was named a First Team All-American, becoming one of only three players in program history to achieve this honor. He currently holds the program record for most free throws attempted (215) and free throws made in a season (167). He finished his career with 1,596 points (fourth all-time) and 382 assists (seventh). He also showcased his amazing durability by playing in all 137 games during his career. His teams won four AMC regular-season titles and three AMC Tournament championships; the Cougars won an incredible 120 games in that span.
Jamie Holmes, 2014 graduate from Republic, Missouri, arrived at Columbia College after a two-year career at Crowder College in Neosho. Her first season with the Cougars ended shortly after it began as a season-ending shoulder injury kept Jamie from displaying her much-heralded skills. During the 2013 spring season she led the Cougars in nearly every offensive category, including batting average (.386), runs (34), hits (49), doubles (11), triples (4), RBI (28) and stolen bases (16). Jamie was named First Team All-Conference and was honored as the 2013 AMC Newcomer of the Year. She was named Second Team All-Region and was celebrated as an NAIA Scholar-Athlete thanks to her cumulative 3.5 GPA. Jamie found a way to improve during her senior campaign, again leading led the Cougars in batting average (.406), hits (67), doubles (12), triples (5) in guiding the Cougars back to the NAIA National Tournament. She struck out just 12 times in 292 CC at-bats. Following the 2014 season, Jamie was named First Team All-Conference and chosen as the AMC Player of the Year.
All great things have a starting point, a moment when the challenging and insurmountable becomes commonplace. The 2003 Team was that starting point for the men’s soccer program to become relevant on the national stage. The team finished the regular season with a 14-5 overall record while advancing to the NAIA National Tournament for the first time in program history. The group was led by third-year head coach John Klein and assistant coach Kevin Roderique. After losing the first game of the season, the Cougars became dominant, winning 10 of their next 11 games. They defeated 12th-ranked Hastings, 15th-ranked Grand View and 24th-ranked Baker during that stretch. On October 21, the team was ranked 15th in the NAIA Top 25 poll, their highest ranking of the season. Klein’s squad held nine of their 21 opponents scoreless on the season. The Cougars claimed the AMC regular-season title and finished as the Region V runner-up. The Cougars placed four players on the AMC All-Conference list, including Player of the Year Juan Pablo Irrera and Freshman of the Year Stephen McMullen, and Klein was named AMC Coach of the Year. Ten different players were named Academic All-Conference for their work in the classroom. Because of their finish during the region tournament and their challenging regular-season schedule, the Cougars earned an at-large bid to the NAIA National Tournament. Although CC’s season would come to an end in the round of 16 – at the hands of the defending national champions, No. 7-seeded University of Mobile in overtime – the Cougars continued to stockpile honors. Juan Pablo Irrera was recognized as a Second Team All-American, Vladimir Roganovic was named to the Third Team, while Stephen McMullen and Steve Williams were awarded honorable mention. In addition, Morten Crosby and Ryan Lynch were tabbed as NAIA Scholar-Athletes.
