Lynn University Athletic Hall of Fame

Congratulations 2009 Hall of Fame Inductees

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Lynn University's athletic department and student-athletes were on hand Thursday night at the annual Student-Athlete Banquet as five former athletes and one administrator were enshrined in the Athletic Hall of Fame. The 22 previous selections welcome the largest class in school history. Entering the Hall this year is former university president Dr. Donald E. Ross, former men's tennis champion Giorgio Carneade, men's golf standout Peter Cherry, women's soccer stalwart Megann Garretson, women's golf great Zoe Grimbeek and men's soccer star Ross Lumsden.

Dr. Ross is the third administrator to be inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. President of Lynn from 1971-2006, he presided over an athletic department that would become arguably one of the top NCAA Division II programs in the country. Under his guidance, the Fighting Knights began play in the NAIA, made the transition to the NCAA Division II level and became a full member of the Sunshine State Conference. During his tenure, LU grew from six intercollegiate athletic programs to its current state of 11, won 17 national championships and 18 SSC titles. In addition, Dr. Ross was the founder and first president of Wilmington College (Del.), which he founded with his wife, Helen, in 1967.

Just the second men's tennis player inducted into Lynn's Hall of Fame, Carneade was a three-year letterwinner (1993-95) for the Blue & White. During his outstanding career with the Knights, he posted a 67-4 mark at the No. 1 singles position and 37-8 record in doubles play. The two-time NAIA First Team All-American won the NAIA Individual National Championship in 1993 when he went a program record 18-0. He is the only men's tennis player in school history to go undefeated in singles play. Carneade holds school records for singles victories in a season (28) as well as a career singles winning percentage (.944), is second for career doubles winning-percentage (.822) and third in career victories.

Laying the ground-work for the men's golf program, Cherry was a four-year letterwinner for the Fighting Knights (1984-87). A two-time NAIA All-American and NAIA Scholar Athlete, he was the team MVP and captain his senior year when Lynn finished the season ranked No. 1 in the nation. Cherry won seven individual titles with the Blue & White, including the 1985 NAIA District championship, qualified individually or with the team in four NAIA National Tournaments and was runner-up for the West Burnham Sportsmanship Award in 1985 and 1987.

Another player who helped lay the foundation for her sport was women's soccer player Garretson. Garretson earned four letters with the Fighting Knights (1990-93) and was an integral part of the program's first national championship in 1992. She captained a defense which recorded 49 shutouts and posted a 0.65 team goals-against average. Garretson won one national championship and finished as a national runner-up and national semifinalist during her tenure at Lynn. An outstanding student as well, Garretson was a two-time NAIA Scholar Athlete.

Grimbeek left her mark on the women's golf program in just two years playing with the Fighting Knights (1995-97). During her time at Lynn, she posted a 79.41 career stroke average over 17 tournaments, claimed two team national championships, won two individual national championships, was a two-time All-American and was named the NGCA Division II National Player of the Year. Grimbeek wasted little time acclimating herself in her first season, recording an 80.53 scoring average in winning the NAIA Team and Individual National Championship. In the Knights first year of NCAA play she notched a stroke average of 78.35, guided Lynn to a third consecutive national crown and won her second consecutive individual title. Her 78.35 stroke average stood as a program record for nine years before being broken in 2004-05.

A first-time ballot inductee, Lumsden garnered every honor imaginable while helping the Fighting Knights men's soccer team to its first NCAA National Championship, and third overall. He intimidated opposing teams for four years (2000-03) on squads which claimed Sunshine State Conference regular season and tournament titles, posted 37 shutouts and went a combined 72-5-1. The Blue & White's MVP in 2001 and captain for 2003, he was honored as a three-time First Team All-SSC selection, two-time NSCAA First Team All-South Region honoree and two-time NSCAA First Team All-American. Lumsden capped off his career by being named the 2003 SSC Defensive Player of the Year, Blue & White Athlete of the Year and NSCAA/Adidas National Player of the Year.

The Class of 2009 becomes the eighth class to be inducted into the Lynn University Athletic Hall of Fame. Men's soccer leads the way with six selections while women's soccer and tennis is close behind with four members. Lynn administrators have garnered three selections with baseball, women's basketball, men's and women's golf and men's tennis having two honorees and men's basketball and volleyball holding one selection apiece.