DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – With the announcement of Bethune-Cookman Athletics bringing back the Hall of Fame with a 2025 incoming class, and in conjunction with a special Hall of Fame Committee, the B-CU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is announcing the honorees for this year's class by unveiling the inductees sporadically leading up to the event on Friday, Sept. 19.
 
The 2025 class will recognize 10 outstanding former student-athletes and two teams whose achievements and dedication have elevated the Bethune-Cookman Athletics program as trailblazers throughout the history of the program. Selection criteria include athletic achievement, academic success, character, and contributions to the university and broader community.
 
The 2025 Bethune-Cookman Athletics Hall of Fame Class is listed below. Names will be announced periodically throughout the weeks leading up to the induction ceremony:


The 1923 Bethune-Cookman football team was the pride and joy of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune herself. It was the school's first attempt at intercollegiate football, consisting of 15 students under the direction of head coach Leon C. James. On that very team, Edward R. Rodriguez – the foster son of Dr. Bethune, was a standout on that squad. The team consisted of Sumner Hutcheson Jr., Richard Shine, Sumner "Skinner" Hutcheson, Norman Thomas, Harold Young, Edward Williams, Harry Alexander, Lanier Booker, Normand Spiker, Edward R. Rodriguez, Harold Headley, Preston Peterson, Lishon Bozeman, Carl Prince, "Rockie" Lennon, David Boyd and Coach Leon C. James.

Under the guise of Bethune-Cookman Hall of Fame Head Coach Laura Watten, the 2005 edition of Wildcats Softball was not just the best in Bethune-Cookman history, but one of – if not THE – best in HBCU history. The Wildcats were a dominating 42-15 through the regular season, a record that included a school-record 23-game winning streak and a victory over the Florida Gators at Sunnyland Park in Daytona Beach. Amber Jackson, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Year, led the nation in runs per game (1.13), while also ranking 12th in RBIs (77) and registered 14 home runs. The trio of pitchers – B-CU Hall of Famer Lauren McCoy, Katie Finn and Viveca Patterson, all carried ERAs of 1.56 or lower across the season. Despite falling in the MEAC Tournament final, the Cats earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Gainesville [Fla.] Regional, becoming the first HBCU – and currently still the only HBCU, to win a Division I Regional and advance to the Austin [Texas] Super Regional to face the Longhorns and future National Softball Hall of Fame member Cat Osterman. The Cats ended the season 49-19 overall, with the team being highlighted by a profile in USA Today and Dallas Morning News, respectively. The Maroon and Gold also finished the year ranked No. 23 in the ESPN.com/USA Today final poll, the last time any HBCU team has been ranked in a final poll in a Division I season. They were No. 18 in the final NFCA/USA Today Coaches poll.

Born in Greece and raised in Ormond Beach, Manny Manolas came to Bethune-Cookman from nearby Seabreeze High School. One of Bethune-Cookman's most decorated kickers, Manolas was named to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) all-conference team in 1985 – one of just three (3) kickers all-time to be named to the All-MEAC Team from Bethune-Cookman. In 1985, Manolas placed himself in a tie for fifth all-time when he connected on four field goals in a game at home to Morris Brown, going on to finish the season with 64 points – a mark that still stands fifth all-time in B-CU history for points scored in a single season. Across his career, he connected on 102 point-after attempts and 43 field goals, placing him second in school history for career points (231). Manolas would go on to help Bethune-Cookman claim a share of the 1988 MEAC title as a senior. Since graduating from Bethune-Cookman in 1989, Manolas has served the Volusia County community with a pair of pizza houses in Port Orange and Ormond Beach, respectfully, where the Greek style pizza, salads and specialty dishes have been celebrated by critics and fans alike.

A player who exemplified greatness across two sports at Bethune-Cookman, Rosina Pearson was a standout for both Women's Basketball and Volleyball for the Wildcats. Throughout her career on the hardwood in basketball, she averaged a double-double with 18.6 points, 15.9 rebounds and shot 49.8 percent from the field. She is still the school's all-time leader in rebounds (1,268) while being one of just five (5) All-Americans in women's basketball history in Daytona Beach. She was a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) All-conference first team selection in 1984 and '85, on her way to being named 1985 MEAC Women's Basketball Player of the Year. She would later become head coach for Bethune-Cookman Women's Basketball in the late 1990s. In 1995, Pearson was inducted into the MEAC Hall of Fame. To date, Pearson still holds the single-game school record for rebounds (37), while also holding the school record in career boards (1,268) and rebounds in a single season (480).

A key piece of a Wildcats defense that terrorized opposing offenses all across the southeast, Randy Straughn played four seasons for Bethune-Cookman from 1970-73. The linebacker was voted one of the most outstanding defensive players to watch for the Maroon and Gold heading into the 1973 season, having picked up Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) all-league honors the previous campaign as a junior. He would go on to claim All-SIAC honors as a senior as well. Throughout his career, he played both fullback and linebacker for the Wildcats under legendary head coaches Jack "Cy" McClairen and Charles Wesley Moore. Straghn arrived to Bethune-Cookman as a highly-touted two-play player from Carver High School in Delray Beach, Florida, where he helped his side win back-to-back Florida state championships in 1968 and '69, respectively. Additionally, at Bethune-Cookman, Straghn was a member of the 1973 SIAC Championship squad, starting all games at the middle linebacker position. Known for his aggressive nature and hard-hitting style, it was no wonder the Delray Beach, Florida native was known to be "Mean; Hard; and Nasty."

Melissa Sanders played four years of volleyball at Bethune-Cookman, emerging as a dominant outside hitter for the Wildcats. Sanders became the first Bethune-Cookman volleyball student-athlete to eclipse 1,000 career kills, totaling 1,060 – which still stands as a top five all-time number to date. As a junior, she had her best season with 296 kills on 856 attacks, coming back as a senior to register 293 kills. Sanders recorded 3,006 career attacks, a number that still sits third all-time in Bethune-Cookman history. In her sophomore season in 2002, she produced what is still a top 10 number for kills in a single match, tallying 23 against Howard. Additionally, she was known for her defensive prowess, picking up 852 digs – allowing her to currently sit in the top five in school history for that category as well. In all, she collected double-digit double-double matches in each of her final three seasons in the Maroon and Gold. As a serving threat, Sanders posted 77 service aces across her career, with that number allowing her to sit ninth all-time in the history books for career service aces.

One of Bethune-Cookman's most prolific scorers throughout the history of Men's Basketball, Aulcie Perry had an impact at Bethune-Cookman, in addition to basketball around the world on the professional level. A tall, 6-foot-10 center from Newark, New Jersey, Perry first stepped foot onto the hardwood at then Bethune-Cookman College in 1971, playing three seasons altogether for the Maroon and Gold. A dominant force in the paint, his presence helped elevate the Wildcats basketball program during his collegiate years, earning him a reputation as one of the most formidable big men in school history. To this date, he still ranks in the top 30 all-time at Bethune-Cookman in scoring, amassing 1,095 points and averaging 23.8 points per game. He is still 12th all-time for points in a single season (594), accomplishing the feat in 1973. Additionally, he holds school records for blocks in a single game (11), while also holding two (2) top 10 single-game scoring records – along with four (4) of the top 50 scoring games in school history, pouring in 46 in a pair of games against Florida A&M in 1973 as well. He owns six of the school's all-time single game rebounding efforts. After a brief stint with the New York Knicks, he found a new home – and legendary status – with Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel. There, he led the team to multiple national championships and two prestigious EuroLeague titles (1977, 1981), becoming an international icon and cultural ambassador for the sport. His heroic performance in the 1977 EuroLeague championship marked a turning point in Israeli sports history and helped solidify Maccabi Tel Aviv's global reputation. Perry was congratulated by Prime Ministers Yitzhak Rabin and Men-achem Begin, who said he helped bring "honor to the people of Israel". Currently, Perry resides in Tel Aviv, where he manages a restaurant, sponsors a basketball camp and coaches one of Maccabi Tel Aviv's youth teams.

Known as "Sweetback", Randy Walker is still regarded as one of the best running backs in Bethune-Cookman Football history. Walker's impact on Bethune-Cookman Athletics exemplifies the dedication, excellence, and Wildcat spirit that defines our storied athletic tradition. During his time at then Bethune-Cookman College, Walker distinguished himself as both an exceptional athlete and outstanding representative of the university. A native of Fort Pierce, Florida, Walker arrived to Bethune-Cookman in the fall of 1972 from Fort Pierce Central High School and immediately became a recognized tandem in the backfield alongside his roommate Wayne Allen. He helped lead the Cats to a 1973 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Championship and the program's first victory over Florida A&M since the days of fellow hall of fame member Jack "Cy" McClairen. In 1972, he amassed 1,142 yards – a mark that still stands as a school record for single-season rushing yards. His career total of 2,429 yards stood for a quarter of a century. He was named All-SIAC twice as well as All-American. After Bethune-Cookman, Walker signed with the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts but suffered a leg injury during his rookie season. The St. Louis Cardinals drafted him in the tenth round in 1976. Walker passed away in October 2011, but his induction tonight into the Bethune-Cookman Athletics Hall of Fame celebrates not only his athletic prowess, but his enduring legacy that will always represent the Wildcat Way.

Ronnie Ash's journey from an unheralded high school senior to one of the fastest hurdlers in world history is a testament to the transformative power of opportunity and dedication afforded to him as a student-athlete at Bethune-Cookman University. His brief but brilliant tenure at B-CU established the foundation for a career that would ultimately place him among the elite in international track and field. Arriving to Daytona Beach in 2007, Ash quickly emerged as a dominant force in collegiate hurdles. As a sophomore in 2009, he achieved the rare distinction of sweeping both the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships in the 110-meter hurdles, capturing national titles that announced his arrival on the national stage – and the first-ever for any Bethune-Cookman men's track & field athlete on the Division I level of athletics. His outdoor victory was particularly significant as he defeated Jason Richardson, who would later become a world champion. Ash's success helped elevate the profile of the Wildcats' track and field program and demonstrated the university's ability to develop world-class athletic talent. His achievements during his time in Daytona Beach served as a springboard for what would become one of the most remarkable careers in American hurdles history. He would go on to set an historic 12.99-second performance in the 110-meter hurdles in 2014 that made him the 17th fastest hurdler in world history and earned him membership in the prestigious sub-13 club. His career highlights include a silver medal at the 2014 IAAF Continental Cup and reaching the 2016 Olympic final in Rio de Janeiro. His national championship performances in 2009 remain among the most significant achievements in Wildcats track and field history, and his subsequent professional success has brought lasting honor to his alma mater.

In just two seasons, Brenda Brown solidified herself as one of the best women's basketball players in Bethune-Cookman history, seeing action for the Cats from 1983-84. Known as "Downtown" Brenda Brown, she became the school's fifth AIAW All-American in 1983, joining fellow Bethune-Cookman Hall of Famer Marcia Flagler on the list of All-America award winners. In 1984, Brown was named to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) all-conference first team, on her way to earning back-to-back appearances on the league's all-tournament teams in 1983 and '84, respectively. To date, she still sits second in the Wildcats Women's Basketball record book for career rebounds (1,227) and ranks in the top 15 for scoring all-time as well. Throughout her career, Brown averaged 15.4 points and 11.6 rebounds per game, all while shooting a blistering 42.3 percent from the field. She still ranks fifth all-time in MEAC history in career rebounds.

A standout performer who brought pride to Wildcat Nation, Peter O'Brien exemplified the excellence and determination that define Bethune-Cookman University Athletics. O'Brien was named 2010 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Year, in addition to being tabbed NCAA Division I Third Team All-American as a catcher, where he would go on to set the single-season school record for home runs (20). While at B-CU, he helped the Wildcats to three successive MEAC titles, including three NCAA Regional appearances. O'Brien was drafted out of Bethune-Cookman in the third round of the 2011 MLB Draft by the Colorado Rockies, representing the highest MLB Draft pick the Wildcats have had to date. In the MLB, he debuted for the Arizona Diamondbacks in "The Show" in 2015, and would see time with organizations such as the aforementioned Diamondbacks, Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves, respectively.
 
A golfer who has played in one of the world's most prestigious tournaments, Willie Mack III played three years at Bethune-Cookman, recruited by B-CU Hall of Fame coach Dr. Gary Freeman in 2008. In his time at Bethune-Cookman, Mack helped the Cats capture second place in the 23rd PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship, firing himself to a ninth place finish in that same event. In his sophomore season, he claimed a runner-up finish at the Stetson Invitational during the 2009 fall campaign, before taking the individual medalist award the following week in the SSU Tiger Fall Invite. He concluded the campaign with a runner-up finish at the 24th edition of the PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship. During the summer of 2010, Mack claimed his first-ever victory in the Genesee All-Star Golf Classic at Flushing Valley Golf and Country Club in his home state of Michigan. In all, Mack won six (6) tournaments, as well as finishing in the top 10 in double-digit events across his three seasons in Daytona Beach. With his story well-documented of having lived in his car while trying to make it on the PGA Tour, Mack persevered and qualified for the 124th U.S. Open in June 2024, becoming the first B-CU golfer to ever participate in the event. Additionally, Mack became the first-ever African American to win the Michigan Amateur Championship in June 2011. In all, he has competed in eight official PGA Tour events throughout his professional career.
 
Jill Weaver, a two-year standout for the Wildcats, arrived with a lot of expectations, and she lived up to every one of them in her time wearing the Maroon and Gold on the softball diamond. Weaver was twice named to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) all-conference team in 1997 and 1998, respectfully. She arrived to Daytona Beach from Hillsborough Community College in her hometown of Tampa, after already being named Times' Pinellas County Player of the Year as a senior in high school with Largo High School. Under fellow B-CU Hall of Fame head coach Laura Watten, Weaver pitched and bat for the Wildcats. In her Bethune-Cookman career, Weaver led the Wildcats in doubles (42) in 1997, as well as leading the team in appearances on the mound in back-to-back years with 31 and 24, accordingly. As a junior, she worked a career-best 196 innings, followed by 146 innings in the circle as a senior in 1998. In two seasons, she picked up 29 wins – 17 of those coming in her junior season. Currently, she still sits in the top 10 of B-CU history for career victories. She also posted 207 career strikeouts in the circle for the Maroon and Gold. Additionally, as a senior, she tallied a 1.54 ERA, after posting a 2.35 ERA the previous season.
 
Stay tuned for more honorees as B-CU Athletics unveils the class in its entirety across the coming weeks.
 
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