Contact: Mark Albanese, Director of Sports Communication
Hall of Fame Registration
TACOMA, Wash. - This is the first of three weekly installments profiling the six individuals who will be inducted into the Pacific Lutheran University's Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, Oct. 14 in the Chris Knutzen Hall at 11:30 a.m. This week's edition features a pair of All-Americans in women's soccer's Jennie (Lee) Hershey and football standout Steven Welch.
Jennie Hershey (Women's Soccer 1991-1994)
A three-time NSCAA and NAIA All-American, Jennie Hershey anchored a nearly impenetrable defense in the early nineties, leading the Lute women's soccer team to a pair of NCIC and West Region Championships and the 1991 NAIA National Championship.
Hershey suited up for a defense that posted 15 shutouts in her freshman campaign, posting an 18-2-4 record en route to NCIC, NAIA District I and NAIA West Region Championships while allowing no goals in the national tournament to claim the 1991 NAIA National Title.
The defender helped the Lutes repeat as NCIC, District I, and West Region Champs in 1992, posting 12 shutouts on their way to a runner-up finish at the NAIA Championships. Hershey finished 1992 as a First Team NSCAA All-American and an Honorable Mention NAIA All-American while earning First Team NSCAA All-West Region and NAIA All-West Region accolades.
Hershey tallied Second Team All-American honors by both the NSCAA and NAIA in 1993 while also securing NAIA All-American Scholar-Athlete and ISAA Scholar-Athlete honors and was All-West Region (NSCAA and NAIA), NAIA All-District, and All-NCIC.
She was named the NCIC Player of the Year as a senior, also securing First Team NSCAA All-American and Honorable Mention NAIA All-American laurels in addition to earning Scholar-Athlete distinction from both the NAIA and ISAA. The defender left campus with 61 career wins and 44 clean sheets.
Steven Welch (Football, 1984-1986)
Elusive on the gridiron, Steven Welch's accomplishments are far less elusive to find in the PLU record books, still owning the school record for consecutive games with a touchdown while dotting the single season lists in several categories for his prolific senior campaign in 1986.
The 1986 NAIA All-American recorded a touchdown catch in 15 straight games, an impressive streak spanning from 1984-1986, while becoming just the second Lute in program history to amass over 1,000 yards receiving in a single season. Welch netted 1,039 receiving yards as senior, scoring 17 touchdowns and 106 total points. All three of those marks still rank among the best ever in the storied history of PLU football.
A team captain, Welch earned First Team Little All-Northwest, All-Columbia League North, and Columbia League North Offensive MVP honors in 1986, rebounding from an injury shortened 1985 season that was cut short after netting 300 yards and five touchdowns. While on campus, Welch helped the Lutes win Columbia Football League Championships in both 1985 and 1986. Currently, Welch still sits second all-time in single season touchdown receptions, sixth all-time in single season touchdowns and scoring, and seventh in receiving yards.
Tickets ($20) are still available for the 27th annual event and individuals and groups can reserve spots online. Next week's installment will feature softball's Brenda (Dobbelaar) Morris and swimming's Terry M. Ludwig with the series concluding the week of the 27th annual Hall of Fame with baseball's O.T. Harstad and swimming's Tareena (TJ) Joubert.
