Five selected for 2015 induction into TTU Sports Hall of Fame

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Five former student-athletes who ranked among the very best in their sports will be enshrined into the Tennessee Tech Sports Hall of Fame in November as the school honors its athletic legacy with the 41^st annual induction ceremony.

This year the university will honor Christeen Moye-Hagood from women’s basketball, Manny Goodman from rifle, Willie Jenkins from men’s basketball, along with D.J. Bleisath and Frank Omiyale from football.

The 2015 Hall of Fame Class will be honored during Homecoming weekend, Nov. 13-14. The induction will take place at the Hall of Fame Dinner Friday evening, and the group will also recognized at the Homecoming football game Saturday, Nov. 14, against Austin Peay.

This year’s inductees are:

• D.J. Bleisath played defensive end for the Golden Eagles from 1999 to 2002. He was named All-America by four different organizations, a three-time all-OVC selection at defensive end, and a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award as the best defensive player in the nation in FCS football. He wrapped up his career at Tech by playing in the 2003 Hula Bowl, spent time with the Oakland Raiders, and had a four-year career in the Arena Football League.  
• Manny Goodman was a three-time All-America in smallbore competition as a member of the Golden Eagleye rifle team between 1987-90, and also served as the team’s head coach for four years from 1990-94. He recruited and coached All-Americans, and helped the Tech program to become an early leader in the Ohio Valley Conference in the sport.
• Willie Jenkins capped his two-year career on the Tennessee Tech basketball team by being crowned the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year and leading the Golden Eagles to the 2005 regular season conference title. Twice named first-team all-OVC, he was an honorable mention AP All-America selection as well as an NABC All-Region pick.
• Christeen Moye-Hagood captured numerous honors during her four-year career on the women’s basketball team from 1982-86, helping the squad reach four straight OVC tournaments and two post-season tournaments. She was a four-time all-OVC selection and earned OVC Rookie of the Year as a freshman. She was also voted a three-time OVC All-Tournament selection.
• Frank Omiyale earned all-OVC and All-America recognition as an offensive lineman on the Tennessee Tech football team from 2001-05, earning the department’s 2005 Man of the Year award before embarking on an eight-year career in the National Football League.  

In-depth information on each of the inductees will be announced in October as the ceremony approaches.

Tickets to the Hall of Fame Dinner and the Homecoming football game are available by calling (931) 372-3940, or through the Athletics ticket office in Eblen Center. Reservations must be made for the dinner, and tickets are $25 each.