2023 Louisville Athletics Hall of Fame Class Announced
Press Release from the University of Louisville:
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Eight outstanding individuals will be inducted into the University of Louisville Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday, Oct. 27 in the Angel's Envy Bourbon Club.
The UofL 2023 Athletics Hall of Fame class includes:
- Carlos Almeida (Swimming, 2008-12)
- Ibn Green (Football, 1995-99)
- Matt Hughes (Track and Field, 2008-11)
- Justin Marks (Baseball, 2007-09)
- Sandy Pearsall (Softball, 2000-18)
- Monique Reid (Women's Basketball, 2008-13)
- Felton Spencer (Men's Basketball, 1986-90)
- Lena Sokolowski (Volleyball, 2002-05)
The event will begin with a reception at 6 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. and the induction ceremony to follow. Tickets are $50 per person, or $500 for a table of 10, and may be purchased online through "My Cardinal Account" at GoCards.com. Additional information may be obtained via email at ronee@gocards.com or by calling 502-852-2015. The inductees will also be recognized at the Cardinals' Oct. 28 homecoming football game against Duke.
Carlos Almeida (Swimming, 2008-12)
Carlos Almeida helped put the UofL swimming and diving program on the map, becoming the school's first NCAA Champion when he won the 200 breaststroke in 2012 in 1:51.88. For his
career, Almeida finished as a 13-time All-American and a 13-time conference champion, helping the Cards win a pair of conference championships.
He competed in the NCAA Championships in the 200-IM and 100-breast and as the second leg of the 400-medley relay. The 400-medley team advanced to the NCAA finals. He was at the time the highest U of L finisher ever at the NCAA finals and also set a school record when he took third in the 100-breast with a time of 52.02 . He also set a school record in the 200-IM with a time of 1:43.97.
During the Big East Championships, Almeida competed in the 800-free relay, the 200- and 400-IM, and the 200-breast. He was the anchor for the 800-free relay team and had the fastest split with a time of 1:36.60, which helped earn the group a first-place finish in 6:23.23. In the 200-IM, he finished first with a time of 1:46.21, and in the 400-IM, he placed second in 3:48.09. Almeida added another first-place finish in the 200-breast, clocking in at 1:54.98. Almeida was a four-time All-BIG EAST performer.
Almeida made school history when he placed fifth in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:54.27 and 12th in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 53.32 at the 2010 NCAA Championships.
At the Big East Championships, Almeida was named All-Big East in six different events. In the 800- yard freestyle relay, he posted a split time of 1:37.16 and contributed to a total team time of 6:29.99 for second place. He finished in first place in both the 200- and 400 IM.
Ibn Green (Football, 1995-99)
One of the more versatile players to play for the Cardinals, Ibn Green revolutionized the tight end position at UofL. Green is the top tight end in school history, holding school records for most receptions by a tight end (217), most receiving yards by a tight end (2,830) and most touchdown receptions by a tight end (33).
As a freshman, Green recorded the third-most receiving yards by a freshman when he caught 47 passes for 535 yards and five scores. After recording 55 catches for 731 yards and eight scores the following year, he went on to register 55 receptions for 884 yards and tied a school record with 12 touchdown receptions.
In his final season, Green totaled 60 catches for 680 yards and eight more touchdowns and was named a first team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association.
Named into the Male High School Hall of Fame, Green signed as an undrafted free agent and went on to play four seasons in Indianapolis from 2000-03.
Matt Hughes (Track and Field, 2008-11)
A standout in cross country and on the track, Matt Hughes capped off his phenomenal collegiate career as a two-time NCAA champion after becoming the first athlete in UofL history to win an outdoor national title. The Oshawa, Ontario native was a two-time All-American, three-time BIG EAST champion and earned back-to-back NCAA titles in the 3,000m steeplechase during his time as a Cardinal from 2008-11.
At the Big East Championships in 2010, Hughes earned gold in the 3000-meter steeplechase and the 5,000-meter run. He was also named the Big East Men's Outstanding Performer of the Meet in 2011 after defending his steeplechase title.
Hughes captured the 3000m steeplechase national title at the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Championships, becoming the fourth national champion in UofL program history. He then repeated in 2011, winning the event in 8:24.87 which still stands as the school outdoor record.
As a member of UofL's cross country team, Hughes was an All-Big East honoree and earned All-region distinction.
Hughes was named to Canada's Olympic team for both the Rio (2016) and Tokyo (2020) Olympics. In Rio, he placed 10th in the 3000m steeplechase, resulting in Canada's best-ever result in the event which stood until the Tokyo Games when he finished sixth in the 3,000m steeplechase, which stands as the best result a Canadian has ever achieved in that event at the Olympics or World Championships.
He currently owns the Canadian 3000-meter steeplechase record of 8:11.64, which he set in the 2013 World Athletics Championships. He competed in his signature race at four IAAF World Championships and earned gold at the 2015 Pan American Games.
Justin Marks (Baseball, 2007-09)
One of the top starting pitchers in UofL baseball history, Justin Marks (2007-09) was a three-year starter, helping the Cards to three NCAA Tournament appearances and the school's first appearance in the College World Series in 2007.
He closed his career with 29 wins, which ranks third all-time at Louisville. He posted a remarkable 2.97 earned average, striking out 305 batters in 300 innings pitched, which are the third-most in school history.
A two-time All-American, Marks was tabbed the 2007 Big East Rookie of the Year and a Freshman All-American after posting a 9-2 record with a 2.67 earned run average to help the Cards reach the College World Series. In winning Big East Pitcher of the Year honors in 2009, Marks went 11-3 with a 3.77 earned run average, while striking out 129 batters in 105.0 innings pitched.
A three-time All-Big East selection, Marks was drafted in the third round by Oakland in the 2009 MLB Draft and made his major league debut with Kansas City in 2014.
Sandy Pearsall (Softball, 2000-18)
Sandy Pearsall was tabbed to start the softball program at the University of Louisville when she helped christen UofL's Ulmer Stadium with a winning season, earning 2000 Conference USA Coach of the Year honors along the way. During her 19 seasons she guided the Cardinals to 718 wins, six conference championships, 13 NCAA regional appearances and four regional finals and served as a host site in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013.
Under Pearsall's guidance, the Cardinals produced eight National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Americans, 101 all-league selections (27 All-Conference USA, 54 Big East, five American Athletic Conference, 14 Atlantic Coast Conference). Throughout her tenure, her teams produced 30 or more wins 17 times, tallying eight seasons with at least 40 victories, including a school-record 55-5 campaign in 2012.
Pearsall and her staff were also named the 2012 Big East Coaching Staff of the Year.
Monique Reid (Women's Basketball, 2008-13)
One of the top front court players in women's basketball program history, Monique Reid helped guide the Cards to unprecedented heights by leading the Cards to the national title game in 2009 and 2013. A forward, Reid finished her career with 1,725 points, which is the eighth-best total in school history. Appearing in 141 career games, Reid's name is etched in the UofL record books. She ranks second in free throws made with 430 and stands seventh in field goals made with 643. As a sophomore in 2009-10, Reid was named the Big East's Conference Most Improved Player after she averaged 18.4 points per game and 9.2 rebounds a contest. She closed that season with 188 free throws made, which is the second most in a season in school history.
A two-time first-team All-Big East performer, Reid led the Cardinals in scoring in 2010 and 2011, when she averaged 18.4 and 15.5 points per game, respectively.
Felton Spencer (Men's Basketball, 1986-90)
Felton Spencer was one of the top big men to ever don a UofL uniform. A standout in the frontcourt, Spencer played four seasons for the Cards, finishing his illustrious career with 1,189 points and 694 rebounds, while finishing as the school record holder in career field goal percentage at 62.8 percent. His 93 dunks are the ninth most by a UofL player in school history.
In his first season, Spencer recorded the fifth-most points by a freshman in his debut by scoring 15 points in a win over Northeastern. As a junior in 1988-89, Spencer averaged 8.2 points per game and 5.1 rebounds, while connecting on 60.7 of his field goal attempts.
His best season came during the 1989-90 season when Spencer set the school mark for field goal percentage in a season at 62.8 percent, which included 43 dunks, the eighth-most in school history. In his final home game of the 1989-90 campaign, Spencer scored 32 points in a win over Tulane. Following the year, Spencer was named first team All-Metro Conference.
At the conclusion of his UofL career, Spencer was the No. 6 pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 1990 National Basketball Association Draft. He went on to play 12 seasons in the NBA, totaling 3,354 points, 3,436 rebounds and 534 blocks.
Lena Sokolowski (Volleyball, 2002-05)
All-American outside hitter Lena Sokolowski lettered from 2002-2005 and still holds the record for in kills in a season, aces in a season and is second in both career total attacks and career kills (1861). She was a three-time Conference Tournament MVP and led the Cards to four NCAA Appearances, four Conference Championships and two Sweet Sixteens. She was a three-time member of the Ukraine National Team and played pro in Turkey and led her team to World Club Championship.
As a freshman, she was named to the C-USA All-Freshman team before being named to the All-C-USA Tournament. As a sophomore she was First Team All-C-USA, C-USA Tournament MVP, AVCA All-Midwest Region. As a junior, she was voted on the 2004 All-C-USA 1st team, 2004 C-USA Tournament MVP and the 2004 AVCA All-Midwest Region. In 2005, she was voted First Team All-Big East, Big East MVP, AVCA All-American and Volleyball Magazine All-American
(Photo of Ibn Green: FanSided - Big Red Louie)
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