Courtesy: Florida Athletics
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Make plans now to spend a memorable evening at the 2019 University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
The 2019 University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame class announced today by the University Athletic Association and Gator F Club includes eight Gator Greats and one Honorary Letterwinner. Gator fans can join the 2019 induction ceremony at the Hall of Fame on the Goal Line presented by International Diamond Center.
The 2019 Hall of Fame Inductees
A Gator Great is a letterwinner who has brought recognition and prominence to the University and themselves by athletic accomplishments as a student-athlete. An Honorary Letterwinner is a coach or athletic official (after retirement) who were not letterwinners or athletes at the University of Florida, yet have rendered outstanding service to the program through personal time, effort and interest.
The Gator Great accolades are many, including five national and 16 Southeastern Conference team championships. The eight-member Gator Greats class includes:
Taurean Green – (Basketball 2005-07) Two-time second-team All-SEC … AP All-American honorable mention in 2007 … Led the team in scoring in the 2006-07 season … MVP of the 2006 SEC Tournament … Starting point guard in every single game of the 2006 and 2007 NCAA Championship seasons … Member of the 1,000-point club with 1,174 career points … His 184 assists in 2005-06 rank the sixth-best single-season total in Florida history.
Percy Harvin (Football 2006-08) – 2008 American Football Coaches Association All-America First Team … 2008 Associated Press All-America Second Team … Two-time All-SEC First Team selection … 2007 Biletnikoff Award semifinalist … 2006 SEC Freshman of the Year … School record holder for career rushing yards by a wide receiver (1,852) … Tied for seventh in school history with seven 100-yard rushing games … Tied for 10th in school history in career receptions (133) and 100-yard receiving games (six), despite playing just three seasons … His 32 total touchdowns leads Gators receivers all-time … Helped Gators to two victories in both the BCS National Championship Game and named MVP of 2006 SEC Championship Game.
Billy Horschel – (Golf 2006-09): Three-time first Team All-American … four-time first Team All-SEC … 2007 and 2009 SEC Player of the Year … 2009 SEC individual champion … two-time NCAA Regional champion … named to the 2009 All-Nicklaus Team … Ben Hogan Award Semifinalist … won the 2007 Walker Cup with Team USA … joined the PGA tour in 2011 – recording five PGA tour victories and 36 top-10 finishes.
Kisha Jett (Track & Field 1995-98) – Hold Florida’s school record with 19 All-America honors … Three-time SEC champion … (1997 55 meters; 1996 and 1997 outdoor 4×400 relay) … 1996 NCAA Indoor Championships 200 meters bronze medalist … 1996 NCAA Outdoor Championships 100 meters bronze medalist … Held Florida’s outdoor 200 meters school record for 12 years … Helped Gators to three SEC team titles (1997 indoor and outdoor; 1998 outdoor).
Stacey Nelson (Softball 2006-09): Florida’s first three-time NFCA All-American … 2008 and 2009 SEC Pitcher of the Year … Part of Gators’ 2008 & 2009 SEC Regular Season and Tournament Championships teams and made the program’s first two appearances at the Women’s College World Series … Set 15 career program records along with 15 single-season records, many of which still stand today … 2008 and 2009 CoSIDA Academic All-America first-team – first Gator softball player named Academic All-American of the Year (2009).
Greg Ouelette – (Tennis 2005-08) – Four-time All-SEC first team … Five-time All-American (three singles, two doubles) … 2008 SEC Player of the Year … 2005 SEC Freshman of the Year … Member of 2005 SEC Championship Team … Concluded senior season as nation’s No. 4 ranked singles player on final ITA poll … Finished Gator career No. 3 in season singles wins (39 / 2005), No. 4 career singles wins (110) and No. 5 in overall career wins (181) … Florida’s 2006 and 2008 Most Valuable Player.
Fred Weary (Football 1994-97) – 1997 American Football Coaches Association All-America First Team … 1997 Associated Press All-America Second Team … Two-time All-SEC First Team selection … 1997 Thorpe Award finalist … Remains Florida’s school record holder for career interceptions (15) … Ranks fourth in school history in career pass break ups (35) … Had a career-high six interceptions in 1997, which is tied for the seventh-highest single-season total in school history … Helped Gators to first-ever national title with a win in the 1997 Sugar Bowl … Also contributed to Florida’s three consecutive SEC titles from 1994-96.
Becki Wells (Track & Field/Cross Country 1995-97) – Two-time NCAA champion, winning the 1997 mile title at NCAA Indoor Championships and the 1997 1,500 meters title at NCAA Outdoor Championships … Five-time All-American in track and field, as well as a 1995 cross country All-American with a 12th-place finish at the NCAA Championship … Won 1995 and 1996 SEC cross country titles … Six-time SEC champion in track and field … Held Florida’s mile and 1,500 meters school records for 13 years … Helped Gators sweep the indoor and outdoor SEC team titles in 1997, as well as consecutive SEC team cross county titles in 1996 and 1997.
Also joining the Florida Athletics Hall of Fame as an honorary letterman is Gregg Troy:
Gregg Troy – (Head Coach Swimming 1998-2018) 10-time SEC Swimming Coach of the Year … three-time NCAA Swimming Coach of the Year … 43 men’s and women’s NCAA individual and/or relay titles … coached 47 Florida Gator Olympians who claimed 23 total medals.
In addition, Caeleb Dressel and Alex McMurtry will be honored as Ben Hill Griffin Award winners as Florida’s top male and female student-athletes of the 2018 calendar year.
Be a Part of Hall of Fame on the Goal Line
Want to join the Hall of Fame class festivities? This year, the annual “Dine on the Goal Line” event transforms into the “Hall of Fame on the Goal Line” presented by International Diamond Center. The induction ceremony for the nine-member class is Friday, October 4 at 6 p.m. – the eve of the Florida-Auburn football game.
Gators fans are invited take part in this inaugural opportunity to dine on Steve Spurrier-Florida Field for the Hall of Fame event inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, one of the most iconic venues in all of college football.
Cocktail hour begins at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Attendees can expect a private dinner as well photo opportunities on the field.
Way to go Gregg!
Not sure he has done enough to deserve the honor
So well deserved
Surprised this hasn’t happened already….
Most Halls of Fame don’t induct individuals until after their active time in the roll in which they’re being inducted is completed. This is probably the first cycle after Troy retired as the school’s head coach.