Left to right: President Richard Jusseaume, Jeff Rabbitt, Christine (Haver) Lynn, Ruth (Kucklick) Prentice, Jason Hicks, Richard Mapp, Director of Athletics Dale Howard
CANTON, Ohio -- On Friday, October 17, Walsh University inducted five new members into the Athletic Wall of Fame at the Barrette Business and Community Center. The new class was also recognized at halftime of the Walsh/Malone Football game on Saturday night at Fawcett Stadium.
Christine (Haver)
Lynn (Women’s Golf 2003-07) was
the premier golfer in the infant years of the women’s
program, and is the first women’s golfer to enter the Wall of
Fame. She earned first-team All-American Mideast Conference/Region
IX honors and was AMC medalist as a freshman (85.1). As a
sophomore, Christine averaged 85.9 and again earned first-team
All-AMC/Region IX accolades, and tied for 83rd place at the NAIA
National Championships. She also won the Malone Invitational. Haver
averaged 86.0 as a junior and was named to the Walsh Invitational
All-Tournament Team and was a NAIA Scholar-Athlete. Her senior
year, she again earned All-AMC honors. Christine she completed
graduate requirements at Walsh in 2009, after earning her bachelors
of arts in 2007. She later served as an assistant coach in the
program.
Jason Hicks (Men’s basketball 2004-07)
lettered three times after transferring from the University of
Akron, and was the point guard on Walsh’s 2005 NAIA National
Championship team. Hicks averaged 10.8 points and 3.7 assists per
game, and was named second-team All-American Mideast Conference. He
shot 44% from three-point and 84% from the foul line. After his
superb play at the five-game NAIA Championships, Jason was named to
the NAIA All-Tournament Team. His second year at Walsh was just as
prolific as his first. Hicks averaged 13.8 points in the regular
season and 16.7 points at the national tournament, where he again
was named to the NAIA All-Tournament Team. He was named first-team
All-AMC and honorable mention NAIA All-American. At the end of the
academic year, he was selected Walsh’s Male Athlete of the
Year. With one semester of eligibility remaining Hicks played
second semester his senior year, but was hampered by an ankle
injury suffered in the post season, and missed Walsh’s trip
to the National Tournament. Hicks finished his career with 1,013
points; is second in three-pointers (95) in a single season, fourth
in career three-pointers (200) and fifth in career assists (415)
and three-point FG % (.447). Hicks earned his bachelor of arts in
2007.
Ruth (Kucklick) Prentice (Volleyball
2001-05) shined as an outside hitter on the some of the most
successful teams in Cavs’ Volleyball history. Kucklick
started on three American Mideast Conference championship teams and
on Walsh’s NAIA Elite Eight team in 2003. The Cavs won 138
matches against only 27 losses during her four years. Ruth was
selected to the AMC’s All-Freshman Team in 2001 after
recording 387 kills (3.17 kpg) and 359 digs. In her sophomore year,
Kucklick was named first-team All-AMC/Region IX after averaging
3.42 kills and recording 438 kills and 454 digs. She was named
second-team All-AMC as a junior, while also being selected
first-team NAIA Region IX and honorable mention NAIA All-American.
She averaged 3.71 kills and totaled 490 kills and 426 digs. Ruth
again earned first-team All-AMC honors as a senior after totaling
564 kills and 353 digs. She averaged 4.5 kills per set. Kucklick
stands fifth in careers kills (1.879), fourth in kills per set in a
single season (4.66) and ninth in all-time kills per set (3.71).
Ruth earned her bachelor of arts in 2005.
Richard Mapp (Men’s Soccer 1983-87)
earned accolades as a top flight goalkeeper for the Cavs. In three
of his four years he fashioned a goals against average under 2.00.
In his freshman year, he sported a 1.68 GAA in 19 games. In his
sophomore year he was named second-team All-Mid-Ohio Conference. As
a junior, he recorded one shutout and a 1.58 GAA. Richard saved his
best for last, when he recorded four shutouts, a 1.41 goals against
average, and was named first-team All-MOC in his senior year. In 60
career games Mapp compiled a 1.62 goals against average. Richard
earned his bachelor of arts in 1987.
Longtime supporter Jeff Rabbitt enters
the Wall of Fame in the Meritorious Service category. Rabbitt, a
supporter of the men’s basketball programs since the days of
Bob Huggins, has been associated with the program since 1980. He
was a main contributor to the recently refurbished men’s
basketball locker room, the main sponsor of the 1982-83 men’s
basketball tenth anniversary dinner in 1992, and a sponsor of the
men’s basketball 50th anniversary festivities in
2012.