2023 Varsity 'A' Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies a Success

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AKRON, Ohio - Akron Athletics, the Zips Athletic Club and the Varsity "A" Association honored the Class of 2023 Varsity "A" Hall of Fame Inductees during induction ceremonies at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field in the Kaulig Companies Club Level on Oct. 6.

The following individuals and teams were inducted into the Hall of Fame:

Kara "Murphy" Gooden (2007-11) Women's Basketball

Kara "Murphy" Gooden became the then University of Akron's all-time leading scorer with 1,777 points and started every game of her record- breaking 123-game career. Gooden received All-MAC honors in each of her four seasons with the Zips. The 5-10 Forward was the fastest player in school history to score 1,000 points, achieving the feat in only 61 games. She led the team in scoring for her first three seasons and finished her career with top ten program marks in free throws made (166), three pointers made (127) and rebounds (630). Kara earned a degree in education in 2011 before signing a professional contract to continue her basketball career with Umea Comets of the Swedish Damligan.

Irina Strembitsky (2001-04) Women's Tennis

Irina Strembitsky was a three-time All-MAC selection, and the first Zips women's tennis player to earn first-team All-MAC honors twice in a career. During the 2002 season, she won 27 singles matches ranking her second in single-season wins at the time. Most notably, Strembitsky was the first Zips student-athlete to be ranked in the national and regional polls.

Yohann Mauger (2003-05) Men's Soccer

Yohann Mauger is one of the most decorated Zips in men's soccer history. Mauger was selected as an All-American in 2005, first-ream All-Great Lakes Region in 2005, first-team All-MAC in 2004 and 2005, All-MAC Tournament team in 2004 and 2005, and Academic All-MAC in 2004 and 2005. Mauger was a key member of the Akron men's soccer team that captured its first NCAA Tournament victory since 1986 with a 3-2 win over Rutgers in 2003 and during the 2005 campaign that lead the Zips back to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1986.

Don Marshall (1966-89) Athletic Administrator

Don Marshall spent more than two decades as an athletic trainer for Akron Athletics. Don first came to Akron in 1966 as a student trainer and left in 1989 as the head trainer. Marshal oversaw the expansion of the athletic training department and supervised four training rooms and more than 20 trainers. In 1980, he instituted the development curriculum for the sports medicine program at UA that by 1983 had both an undergraduate and graduate program. After leaving the university, Marshal became the COO of Portage Physical Therapy and Manager of Sports Medicine at Akron Children's Hospital. Don Marshall earned a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1970 and a master's in education in 1982.

1984 & 1985 Women's Softball Teams

The 1984 and 1985 Softball Teams are two of the greatest teams in Zips athletics history. Under head coach Joey Arrietta, the Zips made back-to-back NCAA Championship game appearances.

In 1984, Akron Softball started the year 33-0 and finished 48-6. In addition, the Zips shut out 32 opponents and notched wins over Division I teams Ohio State, Miami, Duquesne and Kent State. The Zips won the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional and advanced to the NCAA D-II Championship. Akron defeated Wayne State two games to one in the Mid-Atlantic Regional and knocked off Sacred Heart the number one team in country, 2-1, in 15 innings before falling to Cal State Northridge, 1-0, in the final. The 1984 team set a record for runs in season with 326 and ERA 0.49.

In 1985, the Zips went 51-10, won the Mid-Atlantic Regional and finished runner-up to Cal State Northridge in the NCAA Division II tournament for the second year in a row. The 1985 team set the school season records for wins (51), hits (499), triples (29) and pitching wins (51).

During the 1984 and 1985 seasons, the Zips bettered 20-of-21 all-time team records, 19-of-21 all-time individual season records and 21-of-21 all-time career records. Kay Piper (1982-85), a three-time All-American. led the team with single-season records in runs scored (52), hits (90), and triples (12 in 1984). Two-time All-American catcher Tina Mayreis led the Zips with a .410 batting average in 1984. The Zips also produced four more second team All-American selections in 3B Traci Alcorn, 1B Becky Bailey, P Dani Vance and 2B Deann Viebranz.

Combined, the 1984 and 1985 Softball Teams produced 10 All-Americans and three Academic All-Americans. Coach Arrietta said the most impressive fact was that the rosters were not only made up of exclusively Ohio natives, but that 99 percent of the roster comprised of players from Summit County.

The Kenneth "Red" Cochrane Meritorious Service Award

For more than 30 years, Kevin O'Connor was one of the first people our Zips student-athletes met when they arrived on campus. During his career as the equipment manager O'Connor served every UA athletic team and saw those teams and athletes capture one team and seven individual national championships, 39 MAC regular season championships and 18 MAC Tournament Championships.

During his career O'Connor served two terms as the director of the Athletic Equipment Managers Association for District Five and in 2003 won the Tony Anderson Award, presented annually to the district's equipment manager of the year.

While his service and dedication to the University are extraordinary, O'Connor is most revered for his friendly smile and outgoing personality. For many alumni who return to campus, the Athletics Equipment Office was the first stop to say "hello" to "KO".

We appreciate all that joined us for the 46th Hall of Fame event. The 47th Hall of Fame celebration will be held the day before Homecoming 2024.

The University of Akron Athletics

2023 Varsity 'A' Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies a Success

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