Clarksville, TN – In a continued effort to recognize the accomplishments of Governors’ athletics alumni, Vice President and Athletics Director Gerald Harrison announced Friday that the Austin Peay State University (APSU) athletics department will recognize 14 Governors in a newly formed “Ring of Honor” during the upcoming 2023-24 athletics season.
The new “Ring of Honor” is a commendation bestowed upon student-athletes or coaches recognized as one of APSU’s most outstanding in their associated collegiate sport. This honor enshrines its recipients within Austin Peay State University’s athletics facilities by permanently displaying an honoree’s name in their home facility where possible.
The Austin Peay State University Ring of Honor incorporates retired jerseys from baseball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, beach volleyball, football, soccer, softball, and volleyball – including the department’s 18 previously retired jerseys.
The Ring of Honor also provides the ability to recognize those Austin Peay State University student-athletes who competed in men’s cross country, women’s cross country, men’s indoor and outdoor track & field, women’s indoor and outdoor track & field, men’s golf, women’s golf, women’s rifle, women’s tennis, and men’s tennis.
“Austin Peay State University athletics has a proud and vibrant history that is represented by some of the best to wear the red and white,” said Harrison. “It is vitally important to look back and remember those alumni who helped set the foundation for our athletics program. Creating a ‘Ring of Honor’ that includes recognition of our proud and accomplished Olympic Sports alumni is another step in our continuing effort. We look forward to having these alumni and their families back on the Austin Peay campus to recognize their accomplishments.”
The following Austin Peay State University greats will be recognized in the new “Ring of Honor” during ceremonies throughout the upcoming 2023-24 athletic season:
Ayesha Maycock, Women’s Track & Field
A seven-time OVC champion and the 2001 Indoor Track & Field Co-Athlete of the Year. She won the indoor long jump title in three consecutive seasons (1999-2001) and the outdoor long jump twice (2000-01). Twice named APSU’s Most Outstanding Female Athlete and was the Governors’ 2000-01 Joy Award Winner.
Sheena Gooding, Women’s Track & Field
A 2001 NCAA Track All-American after finishing fourth in the 2001 NCAA championship, Gooding was named OVC Indoor Track & Field Co-Athlete of the Year twice. She was a 10-time OVC champion, winning both the indoor and outdoor 800-meter run titles all four years of her career and twice winning the indoor mile.
Craig Rudolph, Men’s Golf
Rudolph, who passed away in May 1998, was the Governors’ second individual OVC Championship Medalist, winning the 1988 OVC Men’s Golf Championship. He was one of 16 individuals invited to play in the 1987 NCAA Men’s Golf Championship, where he reached the event’s third round. He also finished second in the Tennessee State Amateur and competed in the U.S. Amateur in 1987.
Noel Phillips, Men’s Tennis
A two-time OVC singles champion, Phillips led Austin Peay to an appearance in the 1974 NCAA Men’s Tennis Championship. He won the OVC singles title in 1973 and 1974 and paired with Jorge Jimenez to win the 1973 doubles title in upset fashion.
Susan Sheather-Kliebert, Women’s Tennis
A two-time OVC Women’s Tennis Player of the Year recipient (1992 & 1994), Sheather-Kliebert won the OVC No. 1 singles titles in 1992 and 1994 and added the No. 1 doubles title in 1994 along with teammate Andrea Hede. Finished her career with a 57-9 singles record, including a 28-2 mark in OVC play.
T.J. Kleynhans-Allen, Women’s Tennis
A two-time OVC Women’s Tennis Player of the Year recipient (1985-86), Kleynhans-Allen captured back-to-back OVC No. 1 singles titles (1985-86) and in 1986 also won the No. 1 doubles title with Cathy Lamond. She helped APSU win the 1986 OVC Women’s Tennis Championship – the first women’s OVC championship. Kleynhans-Allen completed her career with a 65-17 singles record.
Chuck Abbott (#2), Baseball
Owner of the longest hitting streak in program history at 42 games, Abbott and fellow inductee Nate Manning combined to form one of the greatest left-side defensive pairings in program history. Nearly 30 years after his playing career ended, Abbott remains among the Govs career top 15 in hits (218, 15th), runs scored (153, 10th), triples (10, 3rd), and stolen bases (60, 7th).
During the APSU Govs’ storied 1996 season, Abbott earned his second First Team All-OVC honor at shortstop. He was an OVC All-Tournament honoree while leading the Govs to their first NCAA Division I baseball tournament appearance.
Terrence Holt (#3), Football
Holt was the greatest game-changer in Austin Peay State University football history. At the end of his career, Holt left as the program’s most prolific kick returner and all-purpose runner in program history.
Holt also ranked seventh in career all-purpose yardage (7,512) and still owned the NCAA FCS’ 17th-best single-season all-purpose yardage mark (2,373).
Ashley Haynes (#44), Women’s Basketball
Three-time All-OVC honoree, Haynes remains the prototype for an APSU women’s basketball all-around athlete. She remains among the program’s top 10 in points (1,497, 6th), rebounds (1,080, 2nd), assists (387, 5th), blocks (119, 4th), and steals (207, 7th). She is the only player in program history among the top 10 in points, rebounds, and assists.
Angela Thompson (#10), Softball
Thompson was the APSU Govs’ number one pitcher each of her four seasons and led the team in wins and strikeouts each season – one of only two pitchers to do so in their careers. A workhorse who recorded a program-best 103 complete games in 106 career starts, Thompson finished as the program’s all-time leader in wins (57) and shutouts (25) while recording two no-hitters and six one-hitters.
Tatiana Ariza (#15), Women’s Soccer
Tatiana Ariza was dominant in her four years at Austin Peay State University, finishing her career with nine APSU single-season records and 12 career records. She currently occupies four of the top seven spots on the single-season goals list.
Tatiana finished her career with 54 goals, which puts her at the top of the career goals scored list with a 24-goal cushion between her and the next closest Gov. Joining her twin sister Natalia, Tatiana is one of two Governors in program history to receive four all-conference honors in their career, and the only Gov to be a first-team selection all four seasons.
Natalia Ariza (#11), Women’s Soccer
Natalia also is ranked among APSU’s all-time top-10 in career goals, assists, and points – despite playing a defense-heavy role for much of her final three seasons at Austin Peay State University.
Her final two campaigns focused extensively on defense, and they yielded two first-team All-OVC honors, helping her join twin sister Tatiana, as one of two Governors in program history to receive four all-conference honors in their career.
Terry Taylor (#21), Men’s Basketball
Taylor was the 15th player in Ohio Valley Conference History to earn multiple Player of the Year honors, a four-time First Team All-OVC selection, and the only player in OVC history to rank among the league’s career top-10 in scoring and rebounding while becoming the fifth player to record 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds during their OVC career.
He finished his career as Austin Peay State University’s all-time scoring leader with 2,507 points, third in career rebounds (1,248), fourth in blocks (131), and first in minutes played (4,368).
Cheryl Holt (#364), Volleyball Coach
Holt enjoyed an illustrious 23-year APSU coaching career that saw her serve as volleyball coach (1982-2004), head tennis (1983-85), and softball coach (1986-87) as well as assistant women’s basketball coach for one season.
Her teams qualified for the OVC tournament a then-record 19 straight times.
