Nikolena Samac

2025 John Carroll Athletic Hall of Fame Class Announced

5/1/2025 4:00:00 PM | By: Matt Lyons, Senior Staff Writer

Eight star student-athletes and 1968-69 Men's Golf will be enshrined in October

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS – The 2025 John Carroll University Athletic Hall of Fame Class is set, as announced by John Carroll Athletics and the Blue Gold Club.

In total, there are eight student-athletes and one team that will join an elite crew of excellence.

The 2025 class includes Molly Ridenour '99 (Volleyball), Thomas Jon "TJ" Kolba '04 (Men's Soccer), Janine Solomon '06 (Softball), Frank Ross '10 (Football), Caitlyn Walton '10 (Women's Soccer), Blake Furgerson '10 (Men's Golf), Chet Lauer '14 (Baseball), Brian Potocnik '15 (Men's Soccer), and the 1968-69 Men's Golf Team.

The Hall of Famers will be enshrined at John Carroll on Friday, October 24, and then honored at halftime of the Homecoming football game vs. The College of Wooster on Saturday, October 25.

Meet the newest additions to the John Carroll University Athletic Hall of Fame:

Molly Ridenour '99 - Volleyball

When looking at the turn of the century for the Volleyball program, Molly Ridenour stands out as one of the best to perform on the court. Considered one of the most balanced offensive and defensive players in JCU history, Ridenour still leads JCU in total blocks (461) and is second in block assists (241) and solo blocks (200). Ridenour helped her team as a freshman when she made the NCAA Tournament with an at-large bid in 1995, winning the first round against Kalamazoo. She would also be recognized with a pair of awards her senior year, as Ridenour would receive the awards of Second Team All-OAC and Academic All-OAC in 1998. Ridenour's name is still in the record books for John Carroll, as she is ranked fifth in attack attempts (3,659) and fourth is kills (1,415). She also had very impressive season stats too, as she had three seasons that she ranked in the top 20 in kills and 3 seasons ranked in the top 10 for single season blocks. Ridenour becomes the 14th volleyball player and 10th player from the 1999 class to enter the Hall of Fame.

Thomas Jon "TJ" Kolba '04 - Men's Soccer

When looking at defenders in the 60 years in JCU history, Thomas Jon "TJ" Kolba sticks out for all the right things. As a freshman, Kolba guided the Blue Streaks to an OAC Regular Season and Tournament Championship. The veteran helped John Carroll qualify for the NCAA Division III Tournament in 2000, the program's first appearance in the big dance. From there, Kolba did not look back. Being named a captain his sophomore year, Kolba would receive All-OAC First Team honors in 2001. Kolba earned an All-OAC honorable mention in 2002 and missed the 2003 season due to injury, but helped guide the team as a captain to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division III Tournament. After sitting on the sidelines for a year, Kolba came back for the 2004 season and was awarded the OAC Defender of the Year as well as First Team All-OAC Honors in 2004. In 2005, Kolba returned and joined the coaching staff, guiding the Blue Streaks to another OAC regular season title, OAC Tournament Championship, and NCAA Tournament appearance. Kolba joins five of his teammates in the Hall of Fame and joins 19 other Men's Soccer players while being the seventh athlete from the class of 2004 to enter the Hall of Fame.

Janine Solomon '06 - Softball

With a strong mix of athletic and academic achievements, Janine Solomon enters the Hall of Fame with many awards. In her 4-year career, Solomon and the Blue Streaks had 81 wins, the highest four-year total at that time in program history. As a freshman, Solomon helped the Blue Streaks qualify for the OAC Tournament, the first in program history. A two time All-OAC Second team recipient in 2004 and 2005, Solomon broke out her senior year. In 2006, Solomon batted .486 while breaking school records for most at bats in a season (140), most runs scored in a season (37), and most stolen bases in a season (21). Her stats awarded her First Team All-OAC Honors and regional honors on the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division III All-Central Region Second Team. Solomon maintained a 4.0 GPA as an accounting major. With her strong academics, Solomon became a member of the 2006 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV Second Team and also earned a pair of OAC Academic All-OAC Awards. Solomon becomes the eighth softball player and the sixth athlete from the class of 2006 to enter the Hall of Fame.

Frank Ross '10 - Football

A wide receiver out of Canfield, Ohio, Ross became a dual threat, being a strong returner and wideout for the Blue Streaks. As a wide receiver, Ross is second in program history in receptions (204) and second in receptions per game (5.23). Earning a spot on the All-OAC Second team his sophomore year, Ross caught 48 passes for 521 yards. As a junior in 2009, Ross caught a school-record 69 passes for 808 yards (11th all-time), amassing 1,039 all purpose yards and earning a spot on the All-OAC First Team. As a senior in 2010, the star caught a team best 41 passes for 454 yards and 3 TDs and earned a spot on the All-OAC Second Team. While at John Carroll, Ross was chosen to represent John Carroll in the Ohio National Guard's North vs. South Senior Bowl and also the Tazon de Estrellas (Bowl of the Stars) in Mexico City, Mexico where he was selected captain and game MVP. Today, Ross serves as the Special Teams Coordinator for the Houston Texans, recently winning the Houston Sports Awards' Community Impact Award. Ross becomes the 103rd football player to enter the Hall of Fame.
Photos from the Houston Texans surprising Ross with the induction news
Video of the Houston Texans surprising Ross with the induction news

Caitlyn Walton '10 - Women's Soccer

A strong playmaker for the Women's Soccer program, Caitlyn Walton's four year career was one of the most dominant. She became the first player in program history to be a member of the All-OAC squad four years in a row. As a freshman in 2006, she led the team in goals (6), assists (5) and points (17), earning a spot on the All-OAC Honorable Mention team. In her sophomore year, Walton found the back of the net five times and became a member of the All-OAC Second Team. As a junior in 2008, Walton was first on the team for points (23), goals (10), and game-winning goals (4) and earned a spot on the All-OAC First Team. In her senior year, she led the Blue Streaks to the OAC Tournament and found a spot on the All-OAC Second Team. She was also awarded the 2009 National Soccer Coaches Association of America Division III All-Great Lakes Region third team. Walton becomes the seventh Women's Soccer player to enter the Hall of Fame.

Blake Furgerson '10 - Men's Golf

A star golfer, Blake Furgerson shined in his two years at John Carroll. Despite only competing two years, Furgerson made a large impact. He was a two-time PING Division III Third Team All-American and a two-time NCAA Tournament individual qualifier. With his performances, he guided the Blue Streaks to a pair of OAC Regular Season Championships. Amidst a strong team career, he also had a strong resume individually. Furgerson broke JCU record for lowest single round (65) and lowest 36 hole score (137), achieving both at the Ohio Wesleyan Invitational. A two-time OAC Golfer of the Week, he topped the OAC in stroke average with 72.8 in regular season in 2010. In his senior year, Furgerson was recognized as a member of the 2010 All-Great Lakes Region. While putting strong numbers on the golf course, Furgerson was also strong academically, becoming a two-time Scholar All-American and Academic All-OAC while getting a degree in economics and finance. Furgerson joins an elite list of men's golfers, becoming the ninth athlete from the program to enter the Hall of Fame.

Chet Lauer '14 - Baseball

One of the strongest hitters in the 2010s, Chet Lauer guided the Blue Streaks to their first OAC Tournament Championship and second NCAA Division III Tournament appearance. Lauer played just two seasons, previously attending St. Peter's College and Cuyahoga Community College. In 2013, Lauer became JCU's regular catcher, hitting .283 with eight multi-hit games while catching nine runners stealing behind the dish. In 2014, Lauer shined by breaking the record for hits in a season (69) and led the OAC in batting average with .416, also was a D-III best amongst catchers. When looking at awards, he picked up First Team ABCA Rawlings All American, First Team All Mideast Region, First Team All-OAC, and First Team Tournament Team honors in 2014. Lauer tied a program record for most hits (5) and at bats (7) in a single game, as well as second all-time for most runners thrown out (24). In 2015, Lauer returned as a volunteer coach and then played overseas professionally for three seasons in France (Clermont Ferrand-division champs), Australia (Canberra winter league), and Austria (Vienna-division champs). The Saint Ignatius grad, whose father Tom also played at JCU, then came back to the coaching staff full time for the Blue Streaks for the 2019 and 2021 seasons (2020 was shortened due to Covid). Lauer becomes the 17th baseball player and fifth athlete from the class of 2014 to enter the Hall of Fame.

Brian Potocnik '15 - Men's Soccer

Brian Potocnik deservedly become a first ballot Hall of Famer, the lone representative from the class of 2015. An OAC Midfielder of the Year, Potocnik played a then-program record 81 games. Potocnik shined in a Blue Streak uniform, becoming a four-time All-OAC First Teamer. While being a member of the All-OAC First Team, Potocnik picked up All-Great Lakes Region Third Team and All-Ohio Second Team honors as a sophomore. In his junior year, he garnered another pair of awards, most notably COSIDA Academic All-America Second Team status. As a senior, Potocnik recorded 53 points in 2014, tied for second in program history. The star midfielder guided the Blue Streaks to a 9-0 conference record as a captain. After the season, Potocnik received one of the highest athletic and academic honors you can receive, as the Division III Men's Soccer Capital One Academic All-America® of the Year, a first in school history. Potocnik snagged a spot on the D3Soccer.com All-America Second Team in 2014, only one of two Blue Streaks to acquire this achievement. Potocnik becomes the 20th Men's Soccer player to enter the Hall of Fame.

1968-69 Men's Golf Team

Since the founding of the program, John Carroll Men's Golf has enjoyed lots of success. The 1968-69 Teams laid the foundation for much of that success. After winning the 1968 Presidents Athletic Conference Championship, every member of the team returned for a season to remember in 1969. The season, composed of matches vs. the tournament-heavy style today, began on April 14 with a commanding win in West Virginia over Bethany College and Washington & Jefferson, led by Tom Plunkett as the medalist. Three days later at Alliance Country Club, John Carroll beat Walsh University and Mount Union, mark the 30th and 31st straight wins for the Blue Streaks, making The Plain Dealer for the feat. On April 22, the win streak continued, as Paul Gange guided JCU to victories over Thiel College and Allegheny College at Chardon Lakes Golf Course on a cold, rainy day. On April, the team's impressive 33- match winning streak came to an end. However, the Blue Streaks got back in the win column two days later, beating Adelbert College. This time, Jim Horvath and Bob Lombardo led the way for John Carroll with rounds of 79. The regular season concluded on April 28 with the Cleveland City College Championship, as Cleveland State, Case Tech, Western Reserve and John Carroll competed at Sugarbush Golf Course on April 28, 1969. During rainy and cold conditions, Carl Tuke led the way with a 77. John Carroll and Western Reserve both scored a 404 as 5 scores were counted. The sixth individual score by Bob Lombardo clinched the victory. On May 4-5, John Carroll conquered the PAC Championship, overcoming Case Tech, Thiel, Adelbert, Allegheny, Bethany, Washington & Jefferson at the Country Club of Meadville The PAC Championship was decided by the four lowest two-day individual scores in 1969, similar to how the NCAA Championship was determined. Upon completion of the first round John Carroll, trailed Thiel by two shots. The round two rally was led by Plunkett, who posted the third lowest score of the day with a 73. The team's depth was on display, as JCU won by 13 strokes. Plunkett (152), Horvath (155), Tuke (156) and Greg Kaltenbach (157) did the trick. While John Carroll clinched a ticket to the NCAA Championship, the athletes were told that the budget did not exist to take the team. The NCAA College Division Golf Championship was held that year at the University of New Mexico from June 17-20. In hindsight, if you extrapolate JCU's two-round score at the PAC Championship (620) to the four-round score of the NCAA Championship, JCU would have been in contention for a top-five spot. The full roster was: David Dornheggen, Paul Gange, Jim Horvath, Greg Kaltenbach, Robert Lombardo, James McFarland, Robert T. Plunkett (Tom), and Carl Tuke Jr.

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