SAINT MARY-OF-THE-WOODS, Ind. —
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College has announced its 2026 Athletic Hall of Fame induction class, featuring the historic 1997 softball team and former standout student-athletes Sarah Burnham Haltom ’16, Brittney Shaner Rehs ’13 and the late Ben Myers ’20.
The Class of 2026 will be formally inducted during the SMWC Athletics Hall of Fame ceremony at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, as part of the College’s Homecoming festivities. The ceremony will be held in the McMahon Ballroom inside Le Fer Hall.
The inductees will also be recognized during the Pomeroys’ Homecoming athletics events later that day. They will be honored at the SMWC women’s volleyball match against IU Southeast, which begins at 1 p.m., and during halftime of the 1 p.m. football game against Madonna University.
1997 Softball Team
Coached by Dennis Leek, the 1997 softball team posted a remarkable 43-5 record and became the first championship team in program history.
The Pomeroys recorded several signature victories during their historic campaign, including a 2-0 fall-season win over NCAA Division I opponent Indiana State. The team also earned victories over the University of Indianapolis and IUPUI.
The success of the 1997 team established a championship standard for SMWC softball and laid the foundation for the program’s future success on the national stage.
Leek was assisted by Bill Carter and Eileen Murdock and Carl Heck (manager).
Members of the team included: Julie Carter Compton ’00, Erica Hoffman Holman ’99, Jamie Hubble Tucker ’99, Shari Sturm Elder ’98, Lynn Theising Bristol ’98, Christina White Fledderman ’99, Kimberly White Bessler ’99, Amber Huff ’00, Linsey Rash Yeryar ’00, Sally Frank Poppe ’99, Jaimie Reid Quane ’00 and Misti Allen Karas ’01.
Sarah Burnham Haltom ’16 — Softball
Burnham Haltom established herself as one of the most accomplished student-athletes in SMWC softball history during her career from 2013-16.
She earned United States Collegiate Athletic Association First-Team All-American honors three times from 2014-16 and was named the USCAA Player of the Year in both 2015 and 2016.
A dominant two-way player, Burnham Haltom remains the program’s career leader with 25 home runs and holds the single-season record with 12. She finished her career with a .381 batting average and 120 RBIs.
In the circle, Burnham Haltom posted a 16-1 record with a 1.24 ERA and 114 strikeouts during her senior season. She ranks among the top five in program history in several major statistical categories, including home runs, RBIs, pitching victories and strikeouts.
Burnham Haltom led the Pomeroys to the 2016 USCAA National Championship and was named the USCAA World Series Most Valuable Player.
Brittney Shaner Rehs ’13 — Women’s Basketball
Shaner Rehs was one of the most prolific scorers in the history of the SMWC women’s basketball program.
She earned USCAA All-American honors in 2011 and concluded her career with a school-record 1,767 points.
Her scoring ability, consistency and impact on the court established a standard of excellence for future generations of Pomeroy women’s basketball players.
Ben Myers ’20 — Men’s Golf
Myers, who will be inducted posthumously, was a key member of the SMWC men’s golf program and helped the Pomeroys achieve success at the national level.
A USCAA All-American and USCAA All-Academic honoree, Myers was a member of the 2018 USCAA National Championship team and consistently ranked among the Pomeroys’ top five performers.
Among his career highlights was a third-place finish at the USCAA National Championships with a two-round score of 139. He also tied for sixth at the Mount St. Joseph Invitational after recording a score of 151.
Myers’ steady play helped SMWC earn multiple top finishes in national competition, while his accomplishments in the classroom reflected the values of excellence embodied by Pomeroy student-athletes.
The SMWC Athletics Hall of Fame recognizes former student-athletes, coaches, teams and contributors whose accomplishments have made a lasting impact on the College’s athletics tradition.
Past SMWC Hall of Fame Inductees:
Inducted 2017:
- Mary Joseph Pomeroy, SP, 1921
- Barbara Doherty, SP, ’53, Ph.D., 13th President of SMWC
- Deanna Bradley, head women’s basketball coach 1991-2002, 2004-2018
- Brooke Griffith-Langford ’02, women’s basketball
- Tammy Smelcer Welborn ’02, softball
Inducted 2018:
- Stephanie Martoccio-Hughes ’02, women’s basketball
- Erin Pugh Lucas ’11, women’s soccer
- Jamie Christopher Thomas ’02, softball
Inducted 2019:
- Sara Goelz ’12, softball
- Ginger Griffin ’00, women’s basketball
- Stephanie Runyon-Thomas ’13, women’s cross country
Inducted 2021:
- SMWC Board of Trustees, 1992-93 and 1993-94