HANOVER, Ind. – The Hanover College Athletic Department has announced its 2019 Athletic Hall of Fame class, which includes three members -- Joe Matis ('03), Susan Weimer ('82) and Jason Welty ('01).

Hanover College announces 2019 Athletic Hall of Fame Class

Jun 27, 2019

HALL OF FAME MEMBERS

HANOVER, Ind. – The Hanover College Athletic Department has announced its 2019 Athletic Hall of Fame class, which includes three members -- Joe Matis ('03), Susan Weimer ('82) and Jason Welty ('01).

The new inductees will be introduced Saturday, Oct. 26, during a brunch ceremony. Matis, Welty and Weimer will then be recognized that afternoon during halftime of Hanover's football contest with Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference rival, Manchester University. Additional information on registration for Hall of Fame weekend will be made in the coming weeks.

Information on the 2019 class can be found below.

JOE MATIS (2003)

Matis stands as one of the top pitchers in Hanover baseball history, picking up a pair of American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings All-American honors to go along with two all-conference awards. He was a third team selection in 2002 and added a first team All-American award his senior season in 2003. Matis, along with teammate Adam Christie, were the most recent ABCA/Rawlings All-Region pitchers for Hanover until the 2019 season, when senior David Herrmann was named to the third team.

Matis still holds numerous school records, including career victories, 28, and innings pitched, 301.2. The 2003 campaign also saw him record 10 wins, 98.2 innings pitched and 94 strikeouts, all of which are single season bests in program history. During his four years on campus, the Panthers went 113-61-1, an overall winning percentage of .649. 

SUSAN WEIMER (1982)

Weimer earned eight letters during her time at Hanover, four each in field hockey and women's basketball. As a sophomore, Weimer was selected as a goalkeeper for the Great Lakes All-Star Field Hockey team that went on to compete for a national championship. For her efforts, she became the first woman in school history to compete for an athletic national championship.

On the basketball court, Weimer played at the guard position for four years, which included two 12-win seasons. She was also a member of the 1979-80 squad that won the Indiana Southern District Tournament to became the first team in program history to qualify for the Indiana Collegiate Small School State Championship.

A two-sport athlete, Weimer was named Most Outstanding Senior Female Athlete at the College in 1982.

JASON WELTY ('01)

Welty led a stout defensive unit at nose guard, where he was a three-time first team all-conference selection from 1998 through 2000. As a sophomore in 1998, he earned the first of his two Hewlett-Packard Division III All-American awards, as he was named to the honorable mention team. With a school record 14 sacks and 14 tackles for loss in 1999, Welty was a first team All-American, which led to his preseason national recognition heading into the 2000 campaign. Despite an injury-plagued senior season, he still finished with 41 tackles, seven sacks and two fumble recoveries.

Welty was a member of a record-setting football class at Hanover College, as the squad won 37 games over his four years with the Blue and Red, including a 24-2 conference mark. The Panthers appeared in three NCAA Division III National Playoffs as well, including 2000, when the team defeated Hope (Mich.) in the first round, 20-3.

Started in 1995, the Hanover College Athletic Hall of Fame exists to recognize individuals who have served Hanover athletics with distinction, either by virtue of their performance as a coach or member of athletic teams or by meritorious efforts on behalf of athletics, either as an undergraduate or in years after leaving the institution.

Selections are made by a committee which represents current members of the athletic department, college staff and alumni. Nominations, which are accepted throughout the year, are judged on the person's athletic involvement while at Hanover, accomplishments after leaving the College (professional and/or community related) and continuing interest in the College, service to the College and involvement in the College's activities.

The hall of fame, which resides in the Horner Health and Recreation Center, currently honors 138 individuals who have left their mark on Hanover athletics.