245 former student athletes, coaches and administrators and 23 teams have a spot in the Emporia State Athletic Hall of Honor. This year, five alumni and one team will be joining them.
The 2025 induction class includes the 1947 Hornet Men’s Basketball team; ESU’s first NCAA Division II National Champion, Andrew Etheridge; ESU pole vault record holder Dick Utter; former ESU baseball pitcher Al Viebrock, who holds the best single season WHIP and second-best career WHIP; national champion and ESU 3000m steeple chase record holder Kadri Kevle; and former Lady Hornet Merissa Quick, who led ESU to the 2015 Final Four as a senior and holds the top spot in blocked shots at ESU.
During her time at ESU, Quick also earned WBCA Honorable Mention All-American status, was a two-time All-Defensive Team performer, and was named both second-team All-MIAA and first-team All-MIAA. Quick told The Bulletin she was surprised when she received the call that she would be inducted in the Hall of Honor.
“Even just during my time at Emporia I was fortunate enough to play with and get to watch so many talented student athletes that being chosen to be inducted was such an impactful moment,” she said.
On top of holding the record for blocked shots, Quick is one of only two Lady Hornets with over 1,500 points and 900 rebounds in her career. Now, she says that accomplishment means a lot to her.
“It’s very rewarding to see this accomplishment in place now,” said Quick. “During my time at ESU there were so many great players breaking their own records that I don’t think I really let it sink in that I would get to be a part of the team’s history in that way.”
Quick went on to play professional basketball after graduating from ESU, first signing to play for Clube Juvenil Boa Viagem in Portugal.
“My time playing professionally after college was definitely very different than college basketball but something I’m beyond thankful for. I was lucky enough to play on 4 continents and experience all of the cultures that I lived in,” she said.
Although Quick isn’t directly involved in basketball anymore, it’s still an important part of her life.
“I am not currently involved in basketball anymore. I now get to enjoy watching old teammates and players I’ve coached along the way, as well as going to as many WNBA games as I can,” she said.
Kelve, an Estonia native, attended ESU from 2001-2003. Alongside her steeple chase record in track and field, Kelve also won multiple MIAA track championships and was the MIAA cross country champion during the 2002-03 season. Her year was “one of the most dominant years for a distance runner in conference history” according to ESU Athletics.
During the 2002-03 season, Kelve won multiple MIAA championship events in both indoor and outdoor track and was the MIAA cross country champion. It was “one of the most dominant years for a distance runner in conference history,” according to ESU Athletics. But at that moment, Kelve says she didn’t realize how dominant that year was for her career.
“During the 2002–03 season I didn’t fully grasp how important that year would be. I took it one week at a time, focused on getting through the hard training, and tried to give my best in every race,” said Kelve. “As soon as one race was over I was already preparing for the next. It was only after my competitive running days were over that I realized the 2002–03 indoor and outdoor season in America, together with the 2003 European outdoor season, was the most successful and most decorated period of my athletic career.”
Of all the races that she ran at ESU, Kelve says her best race was, “without a doubt”, her final race in the United States at the NCAA Division II Championships.
“I won the 3000 m steeplechase, set the Estonian record, and qualified for the U23 European Championships,” she said. “I was so overwhelmed with emotion that after the race I ran up to Coach Harris and spoke to him in Estonian. For a few minutes I didn’t even notice he didn’t understand a word I was saying.”
Kelve is grateful to be remembered so vividly by a university far from home.
“I’m honored, but I also see it as proof of the opportunities ESU gave me. The support I received allowed me to develop, grow as an athlete, compete, and represent ESU with pride. I hope my story encourages other international athletes to take similar chances.”
The goal of her legacy, she says, is to “inspire others to pursue their potential.”
“I’d want young runners to see what steady work, patience, and belief can build, and feel encouraged to chase goals they once thought out of reach,” said Kelve.
When Kelve looks back on her career at Emporia State, it’s one she is proud of.
“I’m proud of the races and my results, but even more proud of how I handled the process: showing up for every hard workout, staying disciplined through setbacks, and always trying to give (the) maximum for my ESU track team!”
The 2025 class will be inducted into the Hall of Honor during the Hall of Honor Luncheon at noon on Oct. 31 in the Memorial Union’s KSTC Ballroom. The class will also be recognized during halftime of the football game against Northwest Missouri State on Nov. 1.
Cost of attendance to the Oct. 31 ceremony is $35. Reservations can be made here.
Read more about the 2025 Hall of Honor induction class from ESU Athletics here.
