WICHITA, Kan. – Friends University is set to welcome four new entries into its Athletics Hall of Fame, VP of Athletics & Strategic Expansion Dr. Rob Ramseyer has announced.
"We are excited to welcome a new class into our Hall of Fame," said Ramseyer. "It was another deep pool of nominations this year and this year's inductees are much deserving of this honor. We are looking forward to recognizing them at Homecoming Weekend. A special thank you again this year to our Hall of Fame Committee for the time and effort they put into this process."
The four new inductees are Noah Morford, Cecilia Benton, Rachel Strickland and the 2008 Football team.
Noah Morford
Morford was a two-time Victory Sports Network All-American and twice earned All-KCAC honors at linebacker.
A 2006 team captain, Morford posted career numbers of 224 tackles, 16 sacks, four interceptions, three fumble recoveries, three blocked punts while finding the end zone on three occasions. He was a key factor in the Falcons winning a pair of KCAC championships during his standout career at Friends.
Following his collegiate playing career, Morford earned an NFL tryout with the New York Giants, Green Bay Packers and Tennessee Titans. He also signed an Arena Football League contract with the KC Brigade.
"I am humbled to join such an elite group of athletes who have excelled in their sports and academia," said Morford. "While this award is an individual honor, it wouldn't have been possible without the unwavering support of my university, coaches, teammates, and family. They truly deserve this recognition the most. Roll Falcons Roll!"
Cecilia Benton
A member of the Friends University track and cross country teams, Benton graduated while holding six individual records in the 1500 meter run, 3K Steeplechase, 10,000 meter run, 1,000 meter run, Mile run and the 3,000 meter run.
Benton also maintained the KCAC record in the 10,000 meter event for an astonishing 10 years from 2012-2022. A three-time NAIA All-American, Benton was named the 2012 KCAC Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Meet after accumulating the highest point total in the competition.
In cross country, Benton was a contributor to a top-five result at the 2011 NAIA National Cross Country Championships, the program's best-ever national finish.
"I was surprised to find out I was nominated into the Hall of Fame, and I am greatly honored to be selected this year," said Benton. "This would not have been possible without the wonderful coaches and teammates I had while at Friends".
Rachel Strickland
A four-year letterwinner as one of the first recruits of current Friends University volleyball coach Martin Ayin, Strickland's career got off to a robust start by being selected as the team's Newcomer of the Year and earning All-KCAC honorable-mention recognition.
Overall, Strickland was named the Volleyball team's Offensive Player of the Year on three occasions while twice receiving All-KCAC first-team and NAIA Region IV honorable-mention honors.
Strickland also lettered four years for the Falcon track & field program, where she earned three all-conference awards and recorded a top-10 national finish in the Javelin during her sophomore season.
After graduating from Friends, Strickland stayed with Ayin as an assistant coach and helped the Falcons capture the KCAC championship with a perfect 18-0 conference record in the 2010 season.
"My selection to the Friends University Athletic Hall of Fame means the world to me!" said Strickland. "I fell in love with Friends the day I came for a tour during my senior year in high school. Back then, I had no way of knowing that I would experience such success and would leave with so many life-long friendships and experiences. Tradition never graduates and I'm proud to have done my part for that tradition. I will forever be a Falcon!"
2008 Football Team
The 2008 Friends University Falcons won the KCAC regular season championship with a 9-0 conference record and finished the regular season at a perfect 10-0 overall, pummeling the opposition by a whopping 30.4 points per game in league play and 29.6 points per game overall in the regular season.
The Falcons finished the season and headed to the NAIA national playoffs ranked fifth in the nation before falling to Northwestern Oklahoma State University in the postseason.
"Ecstatic would be the best word to describe my feelings upon hearing the news that Noah Morford and our 2008 football team are going to be inducted into the Friends University Athletic Hall of Fame," said Monty Lewis, head coach of the 2008 Football Falcons. "Noah is one of the finest football players that I've ever witnessed play the game-period. The 2008 Team is arguably the best football team in program history...I absolutely couldn't be more proud of a group of men, our coaching staff and our training staff."
The honorees will be officially inducted during an award ceremony on the evening of Oct. 4 at the Crown Uptown Theatre to coincide with homecoming weekend. The class will also be recognized during the homecoming football game vs. Sterling College the following evening at Adair-Austin Stadium.
