TULSA, Okla. – The Oral Roberts Athletic Department is set to induct women's track and field athlete Sasha Wells, former Senior Associate Athletic Director Rhonda Fowler, former Athletic Director Mike Carter, and the 1978 baseball College World Series team into the 2025 ORU Athletic Hall of Fame, it was announced Monday.
The inductees will be honored at halftime of the men's basketball game on February 1, 2025, against Kansas City at the Mabee Center.
"We could not be more excited about the 2025 ORU Athletics Hall of Fame class," Athletic Director Tim Johnson said. "Rhonda Fowler and Mike Carter laid the foundation for success at ORU and dedicated their lives to student-athlete success, both on and off the playing surface. Their contributions to Oral Roberts University and ORU Athletics are truly immeasurable. Sasha Wells is one of the most accomplished athletes in the history of ORU, and we look forward to celebrating her incredible record-breaking career! The 1978 College World Series team, the second team to ever be inducted into the ORU Athletic Hall of Fame, showed the nation what is possible at ORU. Their success raised the standard of our department and showed that ORU can compete with anyone in the country – a standard held to this day. We want to congratulate again and welcome the 2025 class to the ORU Athletics Hall of Fame!"
Rhonda Fowler's Accolades // Athletic Department // 1974-2022
- Rhonda Fowler served as the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Finance at Oral Roberts University.
- She also served as the Senior Woman Administrator in the ORU athletic department.
- She was the manager of the ORU athletic ticket office (1974–1986).
- Returned to ORU in September 1997 as athletic business administrator.
- Promoted to Senior Associate Athletic Director for Finance in January 2000.
- Served on the ORU Joint Council.
- Appointed to numerous committees, including ORU Board of Trustees Athletic Committee, Athletic Department Executive Committee, and Hiring Committee for Athletic Coaches.
- Athletic representative for the Golden Eagles Club
- Received ORU Presidential Award of Honor in 2019.
- Longest tenured Athletic Administrator in ORU history.
- Named Title IX ambassador by the Summit League.
- Served as the chair of numerous Summit League sports committees, including women's basketball, volleyball, tennis, and golf.
- On the Summit League "Title IX" Starting Five that was honored at the 2023 Basketball Championship to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Title IX.
Mike Carter's Accolades // Athletic Department // 1994-2021
- Served as the ORU Athletic Director for 27 years.
- Transitioned to Athletic Director Emeritus on August 1, 2021.
- Member of the NCAA Division I Men's Golf Committee for 24 years; chaired the committee for five years.
- Chaired the Summit League Joint Council of athletic directors and senior women's administrators.
- Served on the Summit League Executive Committee and chaired multiple league committees (Championships, Men's Basketball, Baseball).
- Member of the Executive Committee of the NCAA Division I-AAA Athletic Directors Association for five years; chaired the Awards Committee.
- Named NCAA Division I Athletic Director of the Year for the Central Region in 2012.
- Over 25 years in The Summit League and Southland Conference, the Golden Eagles: Won 9 Commissioner's Cups, secured 155 Regular Season and Tournament Championships, sent 84 teams to NCAA Tournaments, including the men's basketball Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2021, and produced 102 All-Americans, 1,480 All-Conference selections, 1,329 Academic All-Conference selections, and 156 Players of the Year.
- Celebrated three NCAA Champions, including: Jack Whitt (2012 Outdoor Pole Vault Champion) and Andretti Bain (2008 Indoor and Outdoor 400m Champion; Olympic silver medalist, 4x400 relay).
Sasha Wells // Track & Field // 2017-2021
ORU School Records
- Outdoor 100m Hurdles: 13.19
Summit League Championship Records
- Indoor 60m Hurdles: 8.36 (2020)
- Outdoor 100m Hurdles: 13.29 (2021)
Career Honors
- 3x Summit League Track Athlete of the Year
- 11x Summit League Event Champion
- 21x All-Summit League Selection
- 6x Summit League Track Athlete of the Week
2021 Summit League Honors
- Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year
- Outdoor Track Championship MVP
- All-Summit League Outdoor:
- Indoor Most Outstanding Championship Performer
- All-Summit League Indoor:
- 4x400m Relay (Third Place)
2020 Summit League Honors
- Indoor Track Athlete of the Year
- Indoor Most Outstanding Championship Performer
- All-Summit League Indoor:
- 4x400m Relay (Second Place)
2019 Summit League Honors
- Indoor Track Athlete of the Year
- Indoor Track Championship MVP
- All-Summit League Indoor:
- Outdoor Track Championship MVP
- All-Summit League Outdoor:
2018 Summit League Honors
- All-Summit League Outdoor:
- 100m Hurdles (Third Place)
- All-Summit League Indoor:
- 60m Hurdles (Second Place)
NCAA Outdoor West Preliminaries Qualifier
13.19 (18th/Prelims)
13.45 (18th/Quarterfinals)
13.59 (19th)
Academic Honors
- 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-America Team
- 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-District Team
- 2020 CoSIDA Academic All-District Team
- 2021 Outdoor Academic All-Summit League
- 2020-21 Indoor Academic All-Summit League
- 2020 Outdoor Academic All-Summit League
- 2019-20 Indoor Academic All-Summit League
- 2018-19 Indoor Academic All-Summit League
- Summit League Honor Roll:
2020-21
2019-20
2018-19
2017-18
1978 ORU Baseball Team
- First team in ORU history to advance to the College World Series (CWS) in Omaha, Nebraska.
- Coached by legendary Larry Cochell, who guided the Titans to the pinnacle of college baseball.
- Won the Midwest Regional at J.L. Johnson Stadium with decisive victories:
- 10-3 over Oklahoma State.
- Back-to-back wins against Southern Illinois (8-5 and 7-2).
- Dominated North Carolina in their first CWS game with an 11-0 victory:
- Ron Meridith, 1978 All-American and ORU Hall of Famer, pitched a complete game shutout with 8 strikeouts and 4 hits allowed.
- Vincent Bienek: Went 3-5, with a triple, driving in four runs and scoring twice.
- George Bjorkman, 1978 All-American, scored three runs, while Wayne Stone and Buddy Slemp crossed the plate twice each.
- Finished the season with an impressive 45-12 record and ranked No. 5 by Collegiate Baseball newspaper.
- Produced two future Major League players: Ron Meridith and George Bjorkman.
The annual Hall of Fame induction will be Saturday, February 1 at 10 a.m. in the North Lobby of the Mabee Center at the Hall of Fame wall. All friends, family and fans are invited to attend.
For tickets to the Hall of Fame game, contact Mike Martinovich at 918-495-7074 to purchase your tickets today.
For the latest information on ORU Athletics, follow @ORUAthletics on X or go to www.ORUAthletics.com. Fans can also receive updates on the team by downloading the ORU Athletics App in the Google Play or App Store.
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