IPFW Inducts 10th Class Into Athletics Hall of Fame

FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- IPFW inducted its Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2015-16 on Friday, February 19 in the Walb International Ballroom on campus in Fort Wayne. The school's 10th class of inductees includes Claire Jackson Hemphill, a member of the women's volleyball team and the school's first NCAA Division I Postgraduate Scholarship Recipient in 2007; Amy Gearlds Parker, a member of the women's basketball team and the 2003-04 Division I Independent Co-Player of the Year; David Simon, a member of the men's basketball team and a 2004 and 2005 Division I All-Independent First Team honoree; along with Zach Wilson, a member of the baseball team during 1999 and 2000, while currently the Senior Director of Player Development with Major League Baseball's Colorado Rockies of the National League. Jackson Hemphill and Gearlds Parker were in attendance, while Simon and Wilson were unable to attend; however, their respective mothers, Denice Simon and Loaine Hagerty, accepted on their behalf.

Jackson Hemphill was a standout member of the IPFW women's volleyball team from 2003-06, helping the program to 96 wins. She was a 2006 CoSIDA Academic All-American, only the second in school history, while one of the top blockers in program history, ranking second in career blocks (491) and career blocks per set (1.18). The Fort Wayne native ranks eighth in single-season blocks with 154 in both 2004 and 2006. She was a four-year member of the Student-Athlete Leadership Team (SALT), serving as Vice President in 2005-06 and President in 2006-07. Claire is currently a Doctor of Dental Surgery locally at the Stetzel Dental Group.

Gearlds Parker was a standout member of the IPFW women's basketball team from 2000-04, helping the program to 40 wins. She was a three-time All-Independent First Team honoree, and a double-figure scorer during each of her four seasons, including a 17.6 points per game average as a senior. The Beach Grove, Indiana native ranks second in IPFW women's basketball career steals (224), third in career three-point field goals (239), sixth in career points (1,572), eighth in career field goals (524) and ninth in career free throws (285). Amy is currently teaching second and third grade physical education at Central Elementary School in Beech Grove.

Simon was a standout member of the IPFW men's basketball team from 2002-05, helping the program to 19 wins. He was a 2005 CoSIDA Academic All-District selection, and became the first player in program history to play in the NBA Summer League when he suited up for the Minnesota Timberwolves, and later participated in the New Jersey Nets Training Camp before being drafted into the Continental Basketball Association. He ranks first in IPFW men's basketball career blocked shots (141) and second in career rebounds (623). The Vernon Hills, Illinois native is currently playing professionally overseas in South Korea.

Wilson was a standout member of the IPFW baseball team from 1999-2000, helping the program to 44 wins. He batted .329 in 1999 with 12 doubles and four home runs, and posted a career batting average of .309 while playing during the wooden-bat era of the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Zach has worked in professional baseball for the past 14 seasons. The Fort Wayne native has also spent time as the Assistant Director of Player Development, Assistant Director of Scouting and Manager of Scouting for the Rockies, an organization that he has worked with over the past 10 years.

Purdue University Fort Wayne Athletics

IPFW Inducts 10th Class Into Athletics Hall of Fame

Related Videos