2024 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony for Jatoria Carter (WBB), Vignir Johannesson (MSOC), Dr. Bradley Moody (Posthumous Induction, Meritorious Service), Taylor Powell (SB), and Rolando Vargas (Tennis)
All right good evening ladies and gentlemen welcome to the 2024 Auburn University at Montgomery Hall of Fame induction ceremony my name is Cody Clark I’m the sports information director here at AUM and it is my distinct honor and pleasure to help steer you through the evening as we welcome this Hall of Fame
Class we’re very excited that you’re here with us this evening and to get us started we will welcome up our director of Athletics Eric Moss who would like to make a few Opening Our Hearts Eric thank you Cody thank you for joining us tonight tonight’s exciting for a lot of
Different reasons it’s exciting that we get to properly honor these five prestigious Warhawk and Senators entering the a Hall of Fame tonight it’s exciting because this is our first Hall of Fame class since 2020 and it’s exciting cuz everyone in this room is so busy with life and work
We all get a chance to just slow down and celebrate so we’re excited for tonight the 2024 class has about all has about as much balance as you can ask for in a class three decorated All-American student athletes from three different sports a national Player of the Year a
National coach of the year six national championships a professor who is also an interc Colgate athletic commit president who was also a statistician who also gave so much of his free time to help Elevate this department Tori Tor biggie Taylor coach Vargas Dr Moody Mark class of
2024 Hall of Fame members 56 through 60 congratulations on your incredible career and welcome to the hall I want to thank and recognize our Hall of Fame committee members our board of directors Hall of Famer class of 20 class of 2007 Christen Williams Mike White our interc Colgate athletic committee
President Sarah schaen A’s director of lumni relations coach Michael Cheney our men’s basketball coach Cody Clark who you met our sports information director in tonight’s MC Tim loots assistant athletic director and organizer and executor of tonight’s special event thank you Tim and two members that could not be here tonight
Hall of Fame class of 2009 sabini Rizzo and Dr Courtney Wade our facil our faculty athletic rep thank you committee for all your work on this class and for this night thank you I want to take a few minutes and recognize and thank our staff Dr Carl Stockton Chancellor thank you for your
Continued support in me and this department Eve Ray associate Vice Chancellor of development thank you and your staff for all your hard work for tonight’s event Amber chers associate athletic director and our senior women administrator India Martin marketing and fan engagement coordinator Mark gum assistant sports information director cat Clark assistant athletic trainer
Chase Laney athletic crowns and Tim loots and Cody Clark thank you folks bottom line you make this department go thank you so much for bringing your absolute best every time you show up thank you and to our coaches in attendance Michael Cheney Ryan Thompson Scotty wils Abby Krueger
John PFA Franklin Bush Michael O’Brien thank you for your continuous push to elevate our student athletes and our athletic department at this time I will turn it back over to Cody Clark thank you all Tori biggy Taylor Rando Mark congratulations again and go warhawks thank [Applause]
You thank you Eric all right one of our favorite nights of the years we welcome five new members into the Hall of Fame our first inductee in the class of 2024 is women’s basketball player goria Carter Carter the wbca Nia Player of the Year as a senior in the 20156 season
Ranks as one of the most prolific players in program history averaging 20.7 points over five assists four rebounds and nearly four steals as a senior Carter is the school’s 15th all-time leading scorer despite playing just two seasons in orange and black as a senior she earned first team
All-American honors ssac Player of the Year honors Defensive Player of the Year honors and was a first team All Conference selection she was also First Team all conference and honorable mention allamerican as a Junior Carter ranks fifth in career steals seventh in free throws eighth in scoring average and also ranks in the
Top 10 in five different single season statistical cat ories ladies and gentlemen welcome to the Hall of Fame choria [Applause] Carter okay how y’all doing good I would like to thank God for blessing me with the talent my parents I mean I’m sorry I would like to thank God for blessing me with the time also my parents and my support system thank you to all my coaches who
Took the time to develop me Mentor me and help me grow as a person I like to thank coach like my high school coach for always believing in me pouring into me and to a family thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of something
Special this is my home outside of home beautiful members was able to create the teammate advisor advisor coaches and administration I would like to thank Dan Davis for recruiting me and moting me you’re a very tough coach you didn’t give up no matter what thank you
For showing me how to get over the hump when life get tough I believe basketball taught me how to stand in my truth about myself there are many tough lessons I learned over the years growing up never understood the house and wise when it became to my skill or my
Interest in basketball but to myself but to be myself on the court people would never understand how happy I was to go out there to to go out there to express yourself through attract creativity and the Love of the Game my goal was to always win and never give up a
Basketball court is where I feel most at home it’s one of the place on the earth I can be myself I know what I’m doing I know what I’m talking about this has been one amazing journey to actually do something you truly love accomplishment after accomplishment is very rewarding but actually learn who
You are meant to be who are you who who you are meant to be through the game of basketball it’s a different game changer I always knew I was a decent player to myself but to other I was something special it was very rare for me to believe I would grow
To be a special player I wasn’t able to attend attend division one school nor play over overseas or in the WNBA those was my dream once I fell in love with the game I didn’t understand I was the best I didn’t I didn’t think I
Was the best because I was I wasn’t able to attend a higher level to compete and something I truly love to do being who I am I still grateful to compete no matter what level I was placed at I gave everything I had my character my attitude my integrity and my work
EIC these open a lot of people eyes including myself many times I was told you never know who’s watching represent yourself well well I’m here to say for me basketball helped me through many aspects of my life without the game of basketball I believe I’ll be a completely different
Person in the world or just a number God how would best fit me to change the world and he used basketball to help me to find my purpose in life I encourage anyone who’s looking for motivation in his or her in his or her life to give basketball a try or any
Sport for that matter it doesn’t have to be a sport find something that you’re passionate about and allow God to use your passion to F your heart and guide you through life thank you a our next inductee in the class of 2024 is men’s soccer player vigner johanneson
The fifth leading man in goalkeeper saves in school history johanneson helped AUM to a national runnerup finish in 2013 and a national quarterfinal finish in 2012 the goalkeeper ranked second in career minutes played seventh in goals against average and third in shutouts johanneson earned first team All Conference honors in his Junior and
Senior seasons and was a second Team all League performer as a sophomore as a senior johanneson was the second team Nia All-American and was also an all South Region selection as a junior johanneson earned first team All-American honors he helped the soccer program to a 45 16 and8 overall record
In his time between the posts and appears in the Record Book on a plethora of occasions including owning three of the top nine goalkeeper minutes played marks in school history johanneson was unable to join us this evening coming from Iceland but shared his appreciation and thankfulness to be joining such
Elite company in the AUM Athletics Hall of Fame even though he can’t be here with us welcome to the Hall of Fame vigner johanneson our next inductee in the class of 2024 is Dr Bradley moody moody who passed away on June 3rd 2023 is being inducted posthumously Moody began at AUM as an
Assistant professor of political science and public administration in 1972 and was an integral part of building the foundation of A’s College of Sciences Department of political science and masters of public administration program Moody’s dedication to the university led him to serve in numerous roles on campus
He was a member of The Faculty Senate institutional review board and president of the faculty Council Moody’s service also stretched into AUM Athletics to No Surprise as he served as both a college representative and a committee chair on the interc Colgate Athletics committee for many years he spent time in his
Retirement as a scorekeeper and a statistician for AUM basketball he and his wife were longtime supporters of Athletics and women’s basketball in particular as they served as a foster parent to S harden a former AUM basketball player from Finland joining us to accept his award in Dr Moody’s
Honor is his son Mark welcome to the Hall of Fame Dr Bradley [Applause] Moody I don’t have a a wrong speech I can all not worry about that um I you remember a lot to my dad and my mom um and I can think of a better way
To honor the 40 plus years both of them sunk into this school they loved it with all their hearts sometimes I wonder if they love a little bit more than what was going on but nevertheless this was their place this was the only place my dad ever was
A professor um when he graduated from University of Texas with his Doctorate he came here and he never left um in any event a means a whole lot to my family um thank you so much for this great [Applause] honor our next inductee in the class of
2024 is softball player Taylor Powell a multi-time All-American in the 2016 ssac pitcher of the Year Powell helped lead the warhawks to a pair of national championships and a 188 and 36 record during her career in total Powell helped AUM to four nii national tournament appearances four opening round
Championships and four World Series appearances Powell was a first team na I and nfca All-American in 2016 and was an honorable mention selection in 2014 she was also a two-time nfca first team all South Region selection and a three-time allconference performer Powell was the 2016 ssac tournament MVP and helped the
Team secure the School’s First ssac Title in school history pal toss six and two3 innings in the 2014 winner take all nii national championship game against William KY her first appearance in the circle during the World Series and first outed in 16 days Powell threw a School record and astounding 53 and 2/3
Scoreless Innings dur during her senior campaign in that stretch she did not allow a run from February 12th to March 6th flashing back to her freshman season at AUM she also began her career with a 29 and 23 scoreless inning streak Powell closed out her career with a 79 and 10
Record a 1.34 earned run average 53 complete games 26 shutouts and 619 strikeouts in 580 Innings she holds the single season School record for complete games and innings pitched her Banner senior season produced the second best shutout total in school history strikeout total and earned run average
In her career record book she ranks top five in seven different categories that’s a decorated career welcome to the Hall of Fame Taylor [Applause] pal okay um first I want to thank the Hall of Fame committee for selecting me to be a part of such an amazing group it’s an
Honor to be standing up here tonight and I have procrastinated writing this speech for months um I realized writing this a couple hours ago um because have do you express how much a school means to you and how much a team means to you so I will do my best to say
It all hopefully without tears um but we’ll see um I do have a long line of thank yous tonight so please bear with me but before I start my thank yous I made a bet this past week that I could pitch to a coworker and he wouldn’t touch the ball
In a n b mind you I haven’t pitched in about 6 years and my confidence was at an all-time high and I hate losing so I practiced with Lexie and for two days in the yard um I was a little sore after I couldn’t really move
Had a couple ice packs um but I wasn’t too worri worried needless to say he tipped the ball he didn’t not get a hit but he tipped it and now I have to put this story in my speech so so I paid my debt and even though I lost this time I
Called for a rematch um softball continues to bring me joy and confidence in my daily life at work with friends and family and I can’t thank everyone enough for all the lessons and memories I will continue to carry with me so to start my long line
Of thank yous I want to thank all the coaches that have molded me into the player that I’ve become from travel ball to college I have been very blessed with coaches that have taken the time to teach me and help me grow not only as a player but as a
Person I specifically want to thank Christina Holly Eric and Scotty for making my four years at AUM one for the books they have created a top tier program that will hopefully continue a legacy of winners on and off the field I do want to tell a quick story
About my journey to AUM and honestly all I ever wanted to do was play softball it was it was my life and I couldn’t imagine any world without it in high school a lot of people here know how intense the recruiting process is in high school I had several coaches
Promised me the world to come and play at their program and tell me how good I was and of course I knew that but I had two women approach me after a game and I pitched like crap that game and we casually were chitchatting and I will never forget Christina and Holly
Curry saying to me we’re going to win a National Championship at AUM and we want you to be a part of it with probably a little more colorful language than that but that’s beside the point um and I thought to myself where’s AUM I
Had no clue and I said I’m not going to Auburn I’m an Alabama fan but I continued to speak to them and I got an official an official visit and I was very impressed because they didn’t tell me how good I was they told me how good I would become at
AUM if I knew they were if I knew they were telling me this I would have some pretty awesome teammates that would come along with that commitment and boy was I right thank y’all for always having my back trusting me on the mound most of the time and believing in
Me when I was down and out sorry guys um for reference I face 880 batters my senior season and twoth thirds of those at bats I relied on my defense to make the play I knew I couldn’t do it myself and I needed my teammates to make
This spectacular plays or come in clutch with a big hit that really made my job easy when they’re dropping bombs left and right every game and I got to go out there and have fun and do my job and you know what I call them teammates but ultimately that
They are my family and I know if I needed something on and off the field they would always be my backup that I could call any time and I have so many stories that I could say and share about my teammates most of which probably are not not appropriate for tonight
But as we were sitting at the game today Reminiscing on all the great times we had together I just kept thinking wow I can’t just pick one story because all of them made my time here so special every long bus ride every cheer every party booty and I danced our butts
Off too Scotty just don’t pay attention to that um every hotel stay with non TV sleeper rooms every National Championship win and loss on our senior night every practice where I had to run foul Poes every amazing memory I have with these girls can’t be con condensed into one
Story so I’ll just say you had to be there you had to be there to understand the bond that was created with these amazing women I will cherish every memory and I’m sorry Justin you’re going to have to listen to these stories for another 20 years and I want to specifically thank
Sarah for letting me beat her up every day behind the plate in the bullpen for 3 years and yeah she might have complained a little if my pitching was off or or my attitude but she was always the first one to offer to go to the field early
And help me get my crap together so thank thank you for always calling the right pitches and I couldn’t have done it without you I also want to extend a quick thank you to the training room staff because this poor body would not have made it without all the ice
Bas the heat packs the three ice packs strapped to whatever body part was hurting that day um massages ibuprofen and anything else supplied when I came in complaining the whole AUM athletic staff has always been here for athletes and without the support behind the scenes on game days travel compliance honorable
Banquets I did not make those every year um You Name It We got to focus on playing and going to school so thank you lastly I want to recognize my mom thank thank you for every sacrifice you made I know it wasn’t easy having the most perfect daughter and telling everyone
About but we got through it my mom has been my number one fan my whole life it didn’t matter if it was softball basketball volleyball she was there if she ever couldn’t make it always had a text after the game it was an honest one cuz she didn’t sugarcoat
Anything but it was always encouraging she used to keep her own book because she didn’t trust anyone else to keep count on my strikes WS or hits she gave you a lot more errors than she probably should so be glad she wasn’t keeping the stats but I can’t wait to be an amazing
Mom someday and following your footsteps so thank you for always being I truly am blessed beyond belief to have called a my home for 4 years it has made me who I am today and I wouldn’t trade it for the world so thank you everyone for taking the time to come and
Celebrate not just my accomplishments but my fellow inductees we couldn’t have done it without these amazing people surrounding us so thank you our final inductee in the class of 2024 is someone who also knows a thing or two about National Championships Rolando Vargas LED AUM to a 290 and 72 overall
Record as the men’s and women’s tennis coach he coached the women’s program to 150 wins an 811 winning percentage and for good measure added 140 wins and a 791 winning percentage leading the men’s program Vargas led the war hawk women’s team to three consecutive Nia national championships in 2011 2012 and 2013 and
Added a fourth in 2015 his women’s teams also earned one semi-final appearance and one quarterfinal appearance the 2011 National Championship winning team coached by Vargas also holds the unique dis iction of being crowned national champions despite beginning every match down two to nothing due to only having five players on the
Roster on the men’s side the warhawks finished as National Runners up and also made three semi-final appearances and two quarter of final appearances at the National Tournament Vargas was named women’s tennis coach of the year in the ni four times and was a seven time ssac
Coach of the year he was also also selected as the 2016 United States professional tennis Association college coach of the year Vargas coached 57 NAIA all-americans 30 ITA all-americans 10 doctronics na scholar athlete honores and 10 ssac players of the year he also coached three ssac newcomers of the year
And seven conference freshmen of the Year Vargas also helped the programs earn their first NCAA division 2 National and Regional rankings in 2017 welcome to the Hall of Fame Rolando [Applause] VES oh well uh that that gave me goosebumps uh a lot of memories uh it feels like it happened
Yesterday uh well I don’t want to Min this up so I have a a speech uh amazing what an honor okay first of all good evening thank you all for being here I want to congratulate all all the indu I cannot believe my name is next to yours uh I
Remember watching you and you guys are difference makers I wear my ring very proudly so that I can remember every day where it all started I want to start by thanking God my wife Tiffany who’s right there without you I wouldn’t have been able to be here uh my daughter Amaya and Son
Ander for being my few also want to thank my parents and family back in Mexico for making me who I am for teaching me to never give up and stand up when you fall uh I want to thank the committee uh Team Lots coach mass for surprising me and letting me know about
This amazing and incredible honor um I’m very humbled and flattered to all my players you’re the reason why I’m here thank you so much for trusting me for having uh the best culture a coach could could ever ask for and for shaping me not only as a coach but as a person to
Chancellor Dr Stockton for your continuing supporting Athletics uh I really uh want to thank former director of Athletics Steve cross for believing in me for guiding me I remember I was on the tennis court in the country club uh and he came with a contract and surprised me was one of the
Best days of my life uh I also want to uh thank the committee who gave me this amazing opportunity Dr Joan AO Dr Mariano Runo Dr Michelle Olen former Chancellor Dr John ver III uh Jess Rosa to my fellow fellow coaches uh Michael Cheney coach Scotty
Wils um who share time with me I learned a lot from you to suino Alexis Avery Andrea Houston who were instrumental in the NCAA transition to Ron blazing and everyone in the international department for assisting me and bringing the best possible players to Dr Steven Chandler and Benny
Pink for their constant support without them it would have been impossible I appreciate krent tennis coach O’Brien for being here as well as Bailey Woods who I taught how to play tennis in the courts right here and her mom is also there uh not in my wildest
Dreams I would imagine this would happen a wrer passage for me AUM has very huge tradition academically and athletically and I cannot believe my name is next to all all these Legends uh I also want to dedicate this honor to three three people who are no longer with us former men’s soccer coach
Wolf cooch who was my office neighbor who I miss dearly coach Daryl Don Ley who gave me his card and I wanted to follow his legacy and his steps and actually I kept he he he we were playing a match and cap gave me his his card still having
And he also gave me notes you know with his handwriting so to me this is priceless and I also want to uh dedicate this to my former player who uh recently passed away V to from Hungary he was one uh huge reason for My Success my first
Ever trip when I got the job was going to Nationals and he had just one regionals with other former teammates so um it was a great experience for me I learned a lot and um I was very sadden by this news but at the same time I’ll
Remember his legacy and he’s gone but not forgotten um uh I have so many experiences on and off the court with them but what made me the proudest was when they graduated became AUM ambassadors and became leaders in society is it’s been an amazing journey
I’m very fortunate to be where I am and I couldn’t have been where I am without AUM in my life uh I want to thank again everyone for being here and have a great night this Hall of Fame class has it all as Eric laid out a little bit earlier
All Americans national champions national players of the year Coach of the Year a professor whose Devotion to helping Elevate the athletics department is still felt today to our inductees thank you for your dedication to maximizing your time here at AUM and thank you for representing the warhawks with class and distinction ladies and
Gentlemen if you would please join me in one big Final Round of Applause for our AUM Athletics Hall of Fame class of 2023 m wraps up our program for the evening a few more thank you before we go thank you Dr Stockton for your constant support of AUM Athletics thank
You to the members of our International Athletics Council uh thank you to associate Vice Chancellor Eve Ray the a advancement team thank you to Marie Harrington and her conference Services team for the beautiful setup this evening a big shout out to Chef and his team for the great meal uh thank you
Sarah schaen and the alumni association for your dedication and helping make tonight a success uh thank you to the former Hall of Famers that we have in attendance as well I personally would also like to thank Mark Gillum and Cameron Grant who are our assistant Sid and Communications graduate assistant
For their help every day in promoting the accomplishments of our student athletes and thank you to our entire athletic department personnel here tonight uh inductees we ask that in a moment make your way to the backdrop for a few photos uh of yourselves and our class in total uh especially to get your
Photo taken with our newest inductee Taylor pal who celebrates her birthday tomorrow so make sure to get your photo over there Tim also told me that Ben put some to go boxes over on the tables so if you are in search of one see Tim or
Find it and we’ll uh we’ll get you hooked up congratulations once again to the class of 2024 and one final t one final time tonight let’s hear it for our Hall of Famer you
