Hall of Fame Ceremony Registration Site

ST. LOUIS – The Saint Louis University Department of Athletics has announced a group of 11 individuals and three teams selected for induction into the Billiken Hall of Fame.
 
Induction festivities for the Billiken Hall of Fame Class of 2026 will take place Friday, Feb. 6, at Chaifetz Pavilion. A reception begins at 6 p.m., with the induction ceremony at 7 p.m. The inductees will be recognized at halftime of the Saint Louis-La Salle men's basketball game that tips off at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, at Chaifetz Arena.
 
"It is our privilege to announce the Billiken Hall of Fame Class of 2026," SLU Director of Athletics Chris May said. "Our inductees represent the best of Saint Louis University not only because of their remarkable accomplishments in competition and in the classroom, but also through the positive ways in which they have impacted their communities.
 
"In addition to achieving at a high level in their sports, these individuals have proudly upheld and passed along the tradition of what it means to be a Billiken," May said. "They are most deserving of inclusion in the Billiken Hall of Fame, and we look forward to formally bestowing that honor upon them at our ceremony in February."
 
Here is the Billiken Hall of Fame Class of 2026:
 
Billiken Great – Contemporary
SLU student-athletes who competed in the past 30 years
 
Manuel de Backer (Men's Cross Country/Track & Field, 2015-19) – De Backer made history in 2017 when he became the first Billiken to capture an Atlantic 10 Conference cross country championship. He claimed two other All-Conference nods on the cross country course, finishing fourth in 2016 and sixth in 2018 at the A-10 Championships. De Backer was just as impressive on the track, accumulating a school-record 11 podium performances across indoor and outdoor track and field. He was the A-10 runner-up in the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters in 2017 and 2018, and he competed in the 10,000 meters in the NCAA Division I Track and Field Championships preliminary round in both seasons. De Backer still holds the Billikens' 10,000-meters school record of 29:29.17.
 
Dr. Lindsay Friedman (Softball, 2012-15) – Friedman was a driving force behind the resurgence of Saint Louis softball that saw the Billikens finish runner-up at the 2014 Atlantic 10 Championship and post a school-record 36 wins in 2015. A brilliant outfielder, she was a first-team All-Conference and Academic All-Conference selection in 2014 and 2015 and made the 2014 A-10 Championship All-Tournament team. In 2015, she was a Senior CLASS Award candidate for softball (one of only 30 individuals nationwide), an NCAA Woman of the Year nominee and SLU's Outstanding Female Senior Student-Athlete. Friedman graduated as SLU's career record holder in home runs, RBIs and walks while finishing second in runs, total bases and hit-by-pitch, third in on-base percentage, fourth in slugging percentage, fifth in hits and stolen bases, and eighth in at-bats. She still holds top-five spots in six of those categories and top-10 places in three others. Dr. Friedman is now a resident surgeon in the Surgical Oncology Program at the National Institutes of Health in Washington, D.C.
 
Alli Klug (Women's Soccer, 2016-19) – A stalwart center back, Klug holds the distinction of being the first two-time All-American in Saint Louis women's soccer history, earning second-team accolades in 2018 and third-team plaudits in 2017. She also is the only player in program annals to be selected three times to the United Soccer Coaches All-Region first team and the lone player in Atlantic 10 Conference women's soccer history to win a major postseason award (Defensive Player of the Year) three times, accomplishing both feats from 2017 to 2019. Klug also received an All-Conference first-team nod in each of those seasons and was an A-10 Championship All-Tournament honoree in 2018 and 2019. In 2019, she was a top-10 national finalist for the Senior CLASS Award, an NCAA Woman of the Year nominee and an A-10 All-Academic choice. Upon graduation, her 86 games played tied the school record. Klug helped lead Saint Louis to a 64-15-7 record during her career. Her final two campaigns saw the Billikens win A-10 regular-season and tournament titles and reach the NCAA Tournament for the first two of seven consecutive appearances.
 
Anthony Manning (Men's Soccer, 2011-14) – Manning helped anchor the Billiken defense during his four-year career with the Saint Louis men's soccer program, appearing in 74 matches with 71 starting assignments. He was a two-time (2013, 2014) Atlantic 10 Conference Defensive Player of the Year, making him one of only three players in A-10 men's soccer history to collect the award twice, and earned three All-Conference honors including two first-team nods. Additionally, he is one of only nine Billikens to garner All-Region accolades three times. Manning helped SLU to two NCAA Tournaments (2012, 2014), an A-10 Championship title (2012) and an A-10 regular-season crown (2013). He was drafted by the Portland Timbers in the 2015 Major League Soccer SuperDraft.
 
Kwamain Mitchell (Men's Basketball, 2008-13) – Mitchell earned All-Conference honors all four years of his Saint Louis playing career while also helping the Bills to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances. His name is prominent in the Billiken record book as he is eighth in career points, sixth in 3-pointers made, fifth in assists and sixth in steals. He was tabbed starting point guard by head coach Rick Majerus as a freshman in 2008-09 and went on to start 31 games and earn A-10 All-Rookie accolades. As a sophomore in 2009-10, Mitchell earned second-team All-Conference honors after leading the team with 15.9 points per game. He led the Billikens in assists and steals his junior year and helped SLU to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2000. The Bills returned to the NCAA Tournament in Mitchell's senior year after winning A-10 regular-season and tournament titles. He has enjoyed a long and prosperous professional career in Europe since graduating from Saint Louis University in 2013.
 
James Norwood (Baseball, 2012-14) – Norwood was a first-team All-Conference pitcher for the Billikens and became Saint Louis University's first major-leaguer in nearly 50 years. He made an immediate impact out of the bullpen his freshman year, posting a 2.23 ERA in 20 appearances. After battling injuries as a sophomore, he stepped into the Friday starter role and flourished, earning first-team All-Conference honors while going 8-2 with a 2.68 ERA and three complete games. Norwood was part of three Atlantic 10 Conference regular-season championship teams, and he helped the 2013 Bills to the A-10 Championship title and an NCAA Regional appearance. He was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the seventh round of the 2014 MLB First Year Player Draft and made his major league debut with the Cubs in 2018, becoming the first Billiken to play in MLB since 1971. He played parts of five seasons with the Cubs, Padres and Phillies, appearing in 48 career games on the mound.
 
Morgan Peterson (Women's Swimming & Diving, 2012-15) – Peterson is the most-decorated female in Saint Louis swimming and diving history, capturing eight medals in Atlantic 10 Championships competition. She won bronze in the 200 individual medley, 100 butterfly and 200 breaststroke as a sophomore; gold in the 200 breaststroke and silver in the 200 individual medley and 100 butterfly as a junior; and silver in the 200 individual medley and 200 breaststroke as a senior. She owns school records in the 100 butterfly, 200 breaststroke, 200 individual medley and 400 individual medley; upon graduation, she also held school marks in the 100 breaststroke, 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay, 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay. Peterson clocked an NCAA "B" qualifying time in the 200 breaststroke on three occasions. She was selected the team's Most Valuable Performer her final two seasons, was co-MVP as a sophomore and was a three-time A-10 All-Academic honoree.
 
Sadie (Stipanovich) Montgomery (Women's Basketball, 2013-17) – Stipanovich was a key component of Saint Louis women's basketball teams that claimed the program's first conference championship, made the first two of three consecutive Women's National Invitation Tournament appearances and registered two consecutive seasons of 25 or more victories. She garnered All-Conference honors three times, making the first team as a senior following third-team selections in her sophomore and junior years. Upon graduation, Stipanovich held the Billikens' career record for points; she now ranks third in that category in addition to third in rebounds, fourth in field goal percentage and blocks, sixth in free throws made and 10th in rebounds per game. She led SLU in rebounds (including a then-school-record 284 in 2016-17) and field goal percentage three times each, field goals made and blocked shots twice each, and points and free throws made once each. Saint Louis' 51 combined wins in her junior (school-record 26) and senior campaigns are the most in back-to-back seasons in program history. The 2015-16 team was 26-8, captured a share of the A-10 regular-season crown and advanced to the WNIT third round, while the 2016-17 squad was 25-9 and reached the WNIT second round.
 
Billiken Great – Pioneer
SLU student-athletes who competed more than 30 years ago
 
Wayne Ormson (Ice Hockey, 1973-77) – A four-year Billiken letterman, Ormson helped propel Saint Louis to great success on the ice as the Billikens won three Central Collegiate Hockey Association regular-season championships, captured three CCHA Tournament titles and compiled a 105-51-4 record during his career. SLU claimed both regular-season and tournament crowns in each of his first two seasons. Ormson concluded his collegiate career fourth in games, fifth in goals, sixth in points and seventh in assists on the Bills' all-time lists. He was named second-team All-CCHA and SLU's Most Valuable Player as a senior – leading the team with 27 goals and 55 points in 33 games – served as an assistant captain his junior year, and was tabbed Saint Louis' co-Most Improved Player as a sophomore.
 
Distinguished Alumni Award
Student-athletes during their undergraduate days who have made major contributions to the University's athletics program through personal time, effort and interest and through many years of service, and/or have distinguished themselves as exceptional in their chosen field of endeavor. 
 
Larry Butler (Men's Swimming & Diving) – A 1971 Saint Louis University graduate, Larry Butler was an outstanding member of the SLU swim team and served as a Billiken co-captain. In four years of competition, Butler finished first in all but one race. Following his untimely passing, Butler's teammate and fellow co-captain Pete Derenski contacted the University's development office to learn how Larry's name could remain attached to the Saint Louis swimming and diving program. As a result, the Larry Butler Swimming Endowed Scholarship was established in August 2003. Numerous scholarships have been awarded in Butler's memory since the inception of the fund, which continues to grow and will assist many more Billiken student-athletes in the future.
 
Bauman Sportsmanship Award
Individuals, not necessarily former student-athletes or alumni, who have made outstanding contributions to Billiken Athletics through demonstration of the highest principles of integrity, honesty and fair play without consideration for self-gain. 
 
Dr. Paul Nativi – Dr. Paul Nativi has served as the team dentist for Billiken men's and women's basketball and Billiken field hockey since 1982, a year in which he initiated Saint Louis University's sports dentistry program which he still directs. A 1971 SLU graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in chemistry, he entered practice in 1975 shortly after completing his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree at Washington University, and he continues to practice today. In addition to his affiliation with Billiken Athletics, Dr. Nativi was appointed a USA Olympic Team dentist in 2013 and has worked numerous NCAA and Missouri Valley Conference basketball and wrestling postseason tournaments. He has served as an assistant clinical professor at SLU's Center for Advanced Dental Education since 2006; on the advisory board for SLU's athletic training program since 2008; on the Academy for Sports Dentistry Board of Directors from 2007 to 2010, serving as president in 2011-12; and as a member of the Billiken Club Board of Directors. Also among his community involvement were eight years of dental mission trips to Jamaica.
 
Bob Burnes Award
Billiken teams that have brought recognition and prominence to the University and themselves by athletic accomplishment.
 
1988 and 1989 Volleyball Teams – The 1988 and 1989 Saint Louis volleyball teams won league titles, capturing the Midwestern Collegiate Conference crown both years. Led by MCC Coach of the Year Janet Baier-Howes, the 1988 team tied the school record of 31 wins (31-10) and defeated Evansville, Dayton, Loyola Chicago and Butler in the MCC Championship. Katie Weismiller took the head-coaching reins in 1989, guiding the Billikens to a 28-14 record that included victories over Xavier, Dayton and Butler – all by 3-0 scores – in the conference tournament. The combined 59 wins remain the most in back-to-back seasons in program history. Team members: Patti Brunner, Janet Darpel, Angie Ernst, Nora Fagen, Irene Haugh, Sandy Kittel, Shelly Metzler, Kim Moorleghen, Jen Myers, Karan Rengers, Julie Royer, Vicki Schwab, Nicki Vernier, head coach Janet Baier-Howes, head coach Katie Weismiller, assistant coach Alvaro Montero.
 
1997 Men's Soccer Team – Under the direction of head coach Bob Warming, the 1997 Billiken men's soccer team won the Conference USA Championship and advanced to the College Cup. SLU defeated Louisville, Marquette and South Florida to capture its second C-USA Tournament crown. In the NCAA Tournament, the Billikens defeated Missouri State and Creighton to advance to the quarterfinals, where they won a PK shootout in a thrilling game at SMU. Saint Louis finished with a 16-5-4 record. It was the most recent College Cup appearance for the Bills before they reached the 2025 national semifinals. Team members: Jacob Adams, Vedad Alagic, Travis Baggett, Brian Benton, Nick Bokern, Craig Corbett, Ken Costello, Jeff DiMaria, Nate Flicken, Joel Gay, Brian Hadican, Brad Hansmann, Kevin Kalish, Casey Klipfel, Tim Leonard, Jason Mims, Mike Moriarty, Pat Moriarty, Josh Munkeby, Paul Nagy, Kevin Quigley, Mark Robinson, Tanner Rupp, Dan Schulze, Tim Tedoni, Ryan Werkmeister, David Williams, head coach Bob Warming, assistant coach Dan Donigan.