VALDOSTA — It will be a busy weekend of Valdosta State athletics, starting Thursday with a pair of games against Union University.

On Saturday, the university will take some time out of its busy schedule to induct the newest class of its Hall of Fame.

Eight inductees make up the school’s 17th Hall of Fame class, including contributors Jerry and Kay Jennett, who also have a university building named after them.

The induction ceremony will be held Saturday at noon inside the University Union Ballroom.

The inductees include five former players, Jerry and Kay, and a former athletic trainer. All eight inductees will be honored later that night at the home basketball games against North Alabama.

Inductees for Saturday’s ceremony include:



Annika Biro, women’s tennis

One of the greatest Lady Blazer tennis players of the last decade, Biro starred for Valdosta State from 2003 through 2006. She held down one of the top spots in both singles and doubles in all four years she competed for the Blazers, and was named an All-American as a junior in 2005 while leading VSU to the national semifinals. Biro compiled a 19-2 doubles mark in in 2005, as well as a 17-1 singles record, helping lead the John Hansen-coached team to a Gulf South Conference championship.

On her career, Biro compiled a 62-26 doubles record and a 53-20 mark in singles action and is one of only 11 players in conference history to be named first team All-Conference all four years of their career.



Jon Good, golf

Good was a stalwart on the Blazer teams that dominated the Division II golfing landscape during the mid-1990s. Earning All-America honors as both a junior and a senior, Good led the Blazers to an average team score of 75.8 as a senior in 1996. The Blazers finished 10th in the country that year.

Good’s score counted in 23 of 31 rounds played throughout the 1996 season, as he compiled four Top 10 finishes on the year. He helped direct the 1995 squad to a third place finish at the 1995 NCAA Championship while averaging 75.9 strokes per round. He saw his score count in 32 of 34 rounds played on the season and tallied four Top 10 finishes on the year. He also finished 18th in the individual tournament at the NCAA Championships.

 

Andre Hampton, football

Hampton was a four-year letterman for the football team from 1991 through 1994. He dominated the defensive side of the ball for the Blazers, ending his career as the school’s all-time leader in sacks with 34, including 12 his senior season. Hampton earned second-team All-Conference honors as a sophomore before garnering first-team honors as both a junior and senior and helped guide VSU to its first NCAA Regional appearance in 1994. He later played professionally in the Canadian Football League (CFL).

 

Jerry and Kay Jennett, contributors

  The Jennetts are long-time Valdosta State supporters, who have been friends of the university since moving to Valdosta in the early 1970’s. While specifically being recognized for their tremendous support over the years for VSU Athletics, the couple has also played pivotal roles in the growth of academic scholarships, the arts and facility enhancements at the University.



Jim Madaleno, athletic trainer

The first full-time athletic trainer in school history, Madaleno joined the Valdosta State staff with the addition of the football program in 1982 and worked three seasons with the Blazers before moving on to the National Football League’s New York Giants. He returned to the school in 1989 and worked nine more seasons. Under this Jim’s guidance, the Valdosta State Athletic Training Program gained national accreditation in 1990 and went on to become known nationally for the quality of Athletic Trainers produced by VSU. Graduates of the program now work on every level of sports, from high schools to professionals.



Robert Morgan, baseball

A two-year member of the Valdosta State baseball program, Morgan was one of the most feared hitters in the nation during the 2004 and 2005 seasons. He earned All-American honors and was named the Gulf South Conference Player of the Year in 2004 while earning All-GSC honors in both of his seasons. He batted .416 during his career as he collected 168 hits in 404 career at-bats and counted 41 doubles, seven triples and 10 home runs among his career hits. Morgan drove in 71 runs and scored 103 times in his 96 career games, all but one of which he started, while being successful on 26 of 32 stolen base attempts. He is currently the Valdosta State single season record holder for doubles with 32, set in 2004, and holds the VSU record for longest hitting streak, set at 31 games.



Don Reason, men’s basketball

One of the most dominant basketball players in Valdosta State history, Reason played for the Blazers from 1972 through 1975, averaging 19.3 points and 11.9 rebounds in his career. During his senior season in 1975, Reason was named an All-American for averaging 17.6 points and 12.3 rebounds that year. Reason finished his career 1,393 points, 13th-best all-time at Valdosta State. His 64.9 percent field goal percentage in 1973-74 stood as the school record until last season.