UT To Induct Seven New Members Into Varsity `T' Hall of Fame
12/14/2005 12:00:00 PM | Athletics
Dec. 14, 2005
Toledo, OH - The University of Toledo Varsity `T' Hall of Fame announced its 2006 inductees today. Seven former student-athletes and coaches will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at the induction banquet on Friday, Jan. 20 at The Pinnacle in Maumee. Social hour for the event begins at 6:00 p.m. and dinner will follow at 7:00 p.m.
The 2006 Varsity `T' Hall of Fame class will be introduced at halftime of both the men's and women's basketball games on Saturday, Jan. 21. The men's game vs. 2005 MAC Tournament Champion Ohio is set for 4:30 p.m., with the women following with a contest vs. Western Michigan at 7:00 p.m.
Tickets for the Varsity `T' Hall of Fame Induction dinner can be purchased by calling the Athletic Development Office at 419-530-2510 . Tickets for Rocket basketball games can be purchased at the UT Athletic Ticket Office or by calling (419) 530-GOLD.
The 2006 Varsity `T' Hall of Fame inductees are as follows:
Aaron Bivins, Football, 1974-1977
Aaron Bivins, a linebacker, was named MAC Defensive Player of the year in 1976 and received the Jim Nicholson award for team MVP the same year. Bivins went on to receive the Nicholson award for MVP for a second time in 1977. A team co-captain in 1977, Bivins was named second-team All-MAC in 1976 and 1977. Bivins excelled in academics and was named to the Academic All-MAC team in 1976. He led the team in tackles with 186 in 1976 and 180 in 1977, and is Toledo's all-time leader in career tackles with 508.
Lisa Donnelly Denstorff, Women's Tennis, 1986-1990
Lisa Donnelly was a four-time All-MAC selection and 1990 MAC Champion at No. 1 singles, the only UT woman to win a MAC singles title. She was named team MVP four consecutive seasons, playing at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles in all four of those years. She also won the MAC's Leanne Davidge Sportsmanship Award in 1988. The team captain in her junior and senior years, Donnelly earned Academic All-MAC honors in 1990. Donnelly comes from a tennis family: her father was a MAC champion at Western Michigan, while her sisters Diane and Tracey played collegiately at Northwestern and Iowa, respectively.
Erin Jamieson, Women's Swimming, 1992-1996
Erin Jamieson was a two-time recipient of the Ruth Hawkins Heldt Most Valuable Swimmer Award (1993 and 1996). At one time she held school records in the 50-backstroke, 100-backstroke, 200-backstroke, 200-individual medley and 100-butterfly. She also set school records as a member of the 200- and 400-medley relay teams on numerous occasions. At the MAC Championships, Jamieson placed in the top three in the 100-butterfly, 100-backstroke and 200-backstroke in four consecutive seasons. She was All-MAC and Academic All-MAC in 1994, 1995 and 1996, and received recognition as a President's Scholar.
Henry Patterson, Men's Track & Field, 1994-97
Henry Patterson was one of the most decorated track & field stars in UT history. A decathlete and high jumper, Patterson was a two-time All-American and four-time All-MAC selection in the high jump. He was named the MAC Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year in 1996 after he set the league record in the high jump. He went on to win the Penn Relays, earn All-America honors in the high jump and was a finalist on the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team. He also was an alternate on the 2000 and 2004 U.S. Olympic teams, and won the U.S. championship in 1999. He stills holds the UT record for the high jump (7-4 1/2). His all-time best was 7-7 1/4. As a freshman, Patterson was runner-up in the pentathlon and high jump at the MAC indoor and outdoor championships. As a sophomore, he qualified for the NCAA indoor championships in the high jump, set the UT indoor record and earned first-team Academic All-MAC honors. As a junior, he won the MAC championship and finished ninth at the NCAAs in the high jump, again earning first-team Academic All-MAC. As a senior, he was fifth at the NCAA indoor championship meet in the high jump and made first-team Academic All-MAC for a third straight season. He competed on the professional track circuit from 1998-2005. Most recently he finished sixth at the 2005 U.S. Outdoor Championships and fifth at the 2004 U.S. Championships/Olympic Qualifying Meet.
Jane Roman, Women's Basketball, 1989-1992
Jane Roman played basketball for UT from 1989-1992 before becoming assistant coach for five years from 1992-1997. During that span, Roman either played or coached on five teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament. In Roman's three seasons as a player, UT was 75-20 and played in the 1991 and 1992 NCAA Tournaments. As an assistant coach under Bill Fennelly and Mark Ehlen, Roman was part of Rocket squads that went 118-35 and made the NCAA Tournament in 1995, 1996 and 1997. Roman ranks 18th in career scoring at UT (1,029 points), first in free throw percentage (83.2) and third in three-point field goal percentage (38.6). She averaged 13.5 points in 1990-91 and 12.2 points in 1991-92, helping both teams make it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. She holds the school record for points scored in an NCAA tournament game with 27 in an 81-80 loss to Connecticut in 1991. Roman graduated from UT School of Law and works in a law firm in Toledo. She also does color commentary for UT women's basketball games on BCSN.
Wasean Tait, Football, 1993-98
Wasean Tait produced the greatest single season as a running back in MAC history, rushing for 2090 yards and 24 touchdowns in 1995. Tait led Toledo to 11-0-1 mark and Las Vegas Bowl victory in 1995 and earned second-team All-America honors by UPI and third-team All-America by AP, and was named MAC Player of the Year. Tait rushed for 185 yards and four touchdowns in Toledo's 40-37 win over Nevada, including the game-winner in overtime. Tait was considered to be a high NFL draft pick until a devastating knee injury in the season opener in 1996 put him on the sidelines for two full seasons. He came back in 1998 and led Toledo with 625 yards rushing. Tait also led Toledo in rushing as a freshman with 680 yards and had 917 yards as a sophomore. He is second all-time at UT with 4,338 career yards, first in attempts with 837 and second with 18 100-yard games.
Ted Williams, Men's Basketball, 1974-1978
Ted Williams ranks first in UT history in career free throw percentage list (83.9) and 10th in scoring (1,355 points). Williams was co-captain of the Rockets his senior season when he led the team in scoring with 18.3 points per game. He also scored 17.2 points as a junior and 12.2 points as a sophomore. Williams helped lead his team to a 77-28 record in his four seasons at UT, including 21-6 records in his junior and senior years. He was a part of the team that broke Indiana's famous winning streak in the first-ever game at Savage Hall in 1976.
