CANTON, Ohio – Nine former Pioneer student-athletes, and the school's first full-time athletic trainer comprise the Malone University Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2021.
 
The ten-member class will be honored during an induction ceremony as part of Malone Weekend. The ceremony is being held on Saturday, October 2 in the Johnson Center Dining Room. Doors open and breakfast will be served at 9:00 a.m. The program will begin at 10:00 a.m. Tickets are now available, and can be purchased HERE.
 
First established in 1985, the Malone University Athletics Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves in athletics while at the University. To qualify, athlete inductees must be graduates of Malone, must have graduated at least ten years prior to selection, must exemplify the highest ideals of intercollegiate athletics, and must have earned two letters in one or more sports. As a coach, they must have served the University athletics department five or more years (current coaches ten or more years). In 2007, a provision was established to allow athletics administrators or other support personnel to become eligible, with a minimum of 10 years of athletics service to the University.
 
 
Malone University Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2021

• Erica (Atwood) Downey ('03, softball)
• Melissa Graham-Perkins ('01, '07, cross country, track & field)
• Joseph Harding ('72, athletic training) – Pioneer Award for Meritorious Service
• Amanda (Zabukovec) Herbst ('07, '08, soccer)
• Racquel (O'Hara) Jones ('07, volleyball)
• Ryan Kienzle ('08, cross country, track & field)
• Justin Lower ('11, golf)
• Touby McCammon ('95, tennis)
• Laura McElrath ('08, track & field)
• Billy Bob Orsagh ('09, football)

 
 
Erica (Atwood) Downey, was a standout softball player for the Pioneers from 2000-2003, appearing in a program record 169 total games. She was predominantly a centerfielder, but was also a relief pitcher.
At the plate Downey was a career .307 hitter at Malone. She totaled 151 hits (including 34 doubles), scored 93 runs, and had 50 career RBIs. Her 46 career stolen bases are second all-time in program history.

In the circle Downey put together a career ERA of 1.98, which is second all-time in Malone history. Her 1.51 ERA during the 2002 campaign is fifth all-time in MU softball history, and her 1.80 ERA in 2001 in sixth best.
Downey made 19 saves during her time as a Pioneer, far and away the most in school history. She also won 15 career games as a pitcher which places her eighth all-time.

During her time at Malone Downey was a: 2x NCCAA All-American, 2x NCCAA All-Region player, 2x Second Team All-AMC member, 3x NAIA Scholar Athlete, 2x AMC Scholar Athlete, 2x NCCAA Scholar Athlete, and a member of the 2001 NCCAA All-Tournament Team.

She graduated from Malone in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology/Pre-Med and a minor in Chemistry.

Downey works as an OB/GYN Physician, and currently lives in Bluffton, South Carolina with her husband Dave (also a member of the Malone Class of 2003) and their three children: Hannah, Olivia, and Merrick. Hannah and Olivia both have already started their travel softball careers!

 
Melissa Graham-Perkins, was a phenomenal member of the Pioneer cross country and track & field program from 1998-2001.

She was a leader on the 1999 Malone University Women's Cross Country NAIA National Championship team. At the '99 national championship meet Graham-Perkins finished in the sixth spot for the Pioneers.

Missy was a 3x All-American in track & field. In 2000 she earned all-American honors in both the indoor 5,000 meter run and the outdoor 5,000 meter run. In 2001 she brought home an all-American title in the indoor 5,000 meters.

Many of Graham-Perkins' performances still stand as top-10 performances all-time in Malone history. In outdoor track & field her 1,500 meters is seventh all-time, her 3,000 meters is sixth all-time, and her 10,000 meters is fourth all-time.

In 2000 she was named an all-American in cross country with a third-place finish at the national meet. Also in cross country, her career-best 5,000 meter time is still 19^th all-time in MU history.

She graduated from Malone in 2001 with a degree in Education, followed by a Master of Arts in School Counseling. Her post-graduate work was done at Kent State in Counseling Education and Supervision.

Perkins went on to work as a teacher, school counselor and coach at Marlington High School. She led the Marlington boys' team to a sixth-place finish in the state last year, the highest finish in school history.

She currently lives in Washington Township, just outside of Alliance, with her husband Josh and their four kids: Noah, Bella, Lily, and Evan.

Her oldest two children are continuing the family running tradition. In the 2020-2021 school year Noah was third at the state meet in cross country and second in track. Bella was sixth in cross country, and ninth in track. Bella has already started to break Missy's high school records. She now holds the 1600m and 3200m records at Marlington High School.

 
Joseph Harding, is being inducted into the Malone Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2021 as a winner of the Pioneer Award for Meritorious Service.

The Pioneer Award for Meritorious Service honors coaches, administrators, and other members of the Malone community who have worked tirelessly to support the University's Athletic Department.

Joe attended Malone College on an athletic training scholarship where he earned a BS in Physical Education. He was the Head Athletic Trainer as a student for 4 years and was hired as their first full time athletic trainer upon graduation in 1972. Joe had the pleasure of training for all the sports and caring for the care and prevention of athletic injuries. Some highlights included Malone's first NAIA National Championship in Cross Country, the Malone basketball team's upset of Kentucky State, and the baseball team's wins in regional competition.

During the summer of '72 Joe traveled as athletic trainer for 60 track and field athletes and coaches on his first sport's ministry trip to 10 African countries and Israel. This trip, sponsored by the State Department and organized by Wheaton College, held track meets to qualify athletes from these countries for the Munich Olympics that year.

After leaving Malone in 1973, Harding went on to have a highly decorated career both as an athletic trainer and a soccer coach at Wheaton College, Montreat-Anderson Junior College and the Moody Bible Institute.

In 33 seasons of coaching Harding has guided his teams to 7 final four appearances and 3 NCCAA National Championships (1994, 2001, and 2011) while at Huntington University and Moody Bible Institute. Fellow coaches have honored Coach Harding as conference, district, and national coach of the year 18 times, including five NCCAA national honors and two NAIA District honors.

The National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association (NISOA) presented their highest award to Coach Harding in 2006, the NISOA Honor Award. Harding also received two NCCAA Merit Awards and The NCCAA/NISOA Frank Jewel Merit Award. Joe has compiled a record of 289 wins, 244 losses, and 32 ties for a .534 winning percentage. In 1985 with a winning percentage of .669 Harding ranked as the NAIA's 18th winningest coach (85-41-4).

Another priority for Joe is spreading God's Word through sport ministry trips. He has traveled with Wheaton, Huntington, and Moody teams to do ministry in 23 countries running soccer clinics, camps, leading worship services, and touching individual's lives. 

In 2011 Joe was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and went through surgery, chemo, and radiation. In October he will become a 10 year survivor. He and his wife are both retired and reside in Mount Vernon Ohio.

 
Amanda (Zabukovec) Herbst, was a standout women's soccer player for the Pioneers from 2002-2006. Her 87 matches played is tied for the eighth-most all-time in Malone women's soccer history.

The Brunswick, Ohio native was named a NCCAA All-American in both 2005 and 2006, as well as a NAIA All-American in 2006.

She was the American Mideast Conference Player of the Year in 2006, and was also a 3x member of the All-American Mideast Conference. Herbst was named to the NAIA Region IX First Team in 2006, and the NCCAA East Regional Team in 2005 and 2006. The senior captain was the NCCAA National Player of the Week twice during her career.

Off the field Amanda was a 3x NAIA Academic All-American and a 3x NCCAA All-American Scholar-Athlete. She was the American Mideast Conference Scholar Athlete in both 2005 and 2006.

She graduated from Malone as the outstanding graduate for the class of 2007, although she graduated early in December of 2006 with a degree in Sports Management a minors in both Coaching and Athletic Training. She went on to graduate with her Master of Business Administration in 2008.

Herbst currently lives in Dyer, Indiana with her husband Joe, their 4 year old son Zeke, and their most recent addition to the family Odin born in July.  Having left her role as Development Director for a Catholic grade school when her first son was born. Herbst is focusing on raising her children while volunteering in her free time for a Chicago-based dog rescue (Pit Crew IL Rescue).  As an avid supporter of and advocate for bully breeds, she also has two bully-mixes of her own.

 
Racquel (O'Hara) Jones, was a stellar volleyball player for the Pioneers from 2003-2006. She played in 160 career matches and 575 sets.

The 2x NCCAA All-American's name can be found numerous places inside of the Malone volleyball record book.

She ranks third all-time in career service aces (247), service aces per set (0.43), career digs (2,180) and digs per set (3.79). She is fourth all-time in career attack percentage (.275), fifth all-time in both career kills (1,806) and career attack attempts (4,969). She is also sixth all-time in career kills per set (3.14).

The 2005 season saw her post numbers that still stand today. The 4.15 digs per set is eighth all-time and the 3.67 kills per set is tenth all-time.

Beyond the two NCCAA All-American awards, during her time at Malone Jones was named to the 2003 All-AMC Freshman team, was a 4x member of the All-AMC Team, and a 4x member of the NCCAA All-East Region team.
 
She graduated from Malone in 2007 with a degree in Community Health Education.

Jones and her husband Scotty, a fellow Malone 2007 graduate, live in Dennison with their three boys: Liam (8), Graham (7), and Machlan (4). Jones operates her own photography business.

 
Ryan Kienzle, ran both cross country and track & field at Malone from 2004-2008.

Combining both sports, Kienzle was a 7x NAIA All-American. Two of those came in cross country and five of those came in track & field. Five of his All-American honors were as the national runner-up.

He led the Pioneer cross country team to the 2007 NAIA National Championship where he finished second overall to earn all-American honors. He also picked up all-American recognition in 2005 when he placed 11th overall individually.

Kienzle was the NAIA - Division 2 Runner of the Year two years in Ohio, and led Malone to a team championship at the All-Ohio collegiate cross country championships with and individual win as well.

On the track, Kienzle scored 2007 all-American honors in the indoor 3,000 meter run and the outdoor 5,000 meter run. In 2008 was an All-American in the indoor 3,000 meters as well as both the outdoor 5,000 and 10,000 meters.

In the Malone University indoor track & field record book Kienzle's 3,000 meter time of 8:18.97 and his 5,000 meter time of 14:20.99 both rank third all-time. In the outdoor track & field record book his 10,000 meter time of 30:03.1 is tenth all-time.

He graduated from Malone in 2008 with a degree in Education. He continued his running career after Malone and ran in the 2012 Olympic Marathon trials. He now coaches middle school and high school runners individually during their off-season training.

Kienzle currently lives in Canton with his wife Tynae and two daughters, Anniston and Kinsley. He teaches 8th grade math and science at North Canton Middle School.

 
Justin Lower, enters the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility as the most decorated Malone University men's golf player of all-time. Lower played golf for the Pioneers from 2008-2011.

During his career, which totaled 16 tournament wins, he was both a 4x NAIA All-American and a 4x NCCAA All-American.

His career-low 18-hole score of 64 is still a Malone University record. His 2011 season scoring average of 71.0 is also tops in MU history, and his 71.2 average mark in 2010 is second all-time.

Lower was a part of the lowest four-man team score in Malone history, a 272 (-8) in the second round at the 2010 Muskingum Spring Invitational.

His decorated career includes being named the Arnold Palmer NAIA Medalist, the Jack Nicklaus NAIA MVP, and the David Toms GCAA Award.

He graduated from Malone in 2011 with a degree sports management and a minor in business management.

Lower currently lives in Uniontown with his wife Janise and dog Darby. He is a member of the Korn Ferry TOUR, working towards his PGA Tour card.


Touby McCammon, played tennis at Malone from 1992-1995. He totaled a career singles record of 86-16, and a career doubles mark of 87-14, making him the winningest singles and doubles player in Malone history. As a team, the Pioneers tallied an 83-13 overall mark during his time at Malone.

His highly decorated career includes being named a 4x NAIA District 22 All-Star.

McCammon was a 4x NAIA District 22 Doubles Champion, and the 1995 Great Lakes Region Singles Champion.

He was a member of three Malone team district championships (1992, 1994, 1995). The 1995 team went on to win the Great Lakes Regional Championship.

McCammon was a 4x NAIA National Championship qualifier in both singles and doubles. He scored opening round singles and doubles wins in 1995, and an opening round doubles win in 1993 playing alongside fellow Malone University Sports Hall of Famer Dave Drummond.

Prior to Malone, he finished runner-up at the 1991 State Doubles championship with partner Ward Fisher.  He has also been inducted into the Lexington High School Hall of Fame.

He graduated from Malone in 1995 with a degree in Business and currently lives in Ontario, Ohio with his wife (Megan Speed – class of 1997) and twin sons Jacob and Conner.  Mr. McCammon is the President and CEO of College Planning Alliance which specializes in navigating the complexities of college prep and planning for both the student and financial game planning for the parent.


Laura McElrath, ran track & field at Malone from 2005-2008, where she was a 2x all-American in the indoor pentathlon (2007 and 2008).

In 2008 she set a school-record, which still stands today, of 3,350 points in the indoor pentathlon.

Laura's name can still be found several places in Malone's record book. In indoor track & field, her time of 8.58 in the 55 meter hurdles ranks second-all time, and her time of 9.41 in the 60 meter hurdles is the seventh-best time in MU history. She also holds the sixth-best long jump performance (17' 5") set in 2005.

In outdoor track & field, her 2006 long jump distance of 17' 10.75" is fifth-best all-time. She holds the fourth-best heptathlon performance (4,272 points), the sixth-best 100 meter hurdle time (14.94), and tenth-best high jump performance (5' 2").

She graduated from Malone in 2008 with a degree in Adult Fitness. McElrath then went on to the University of Akron and earned a master's degree in Exercise Physiology.

McElrath currently lives in Tallmadge, and works at the Akron Marathon as the Vice President of Operations. She also coaches track at Tallmadge City Schools.

 
Billy Bob Orsagh, who played for the Pioneers from 2007-2008, enters the Hall of Fame as arguably the best quarterback in Malone history. 

He completed 459 of 732 career pass attempts for 6,164 yards and 53 career touchdowns. His career was highlighted by throwing for 295 yards and 3 touchdowns in the 2007 Victory Bowl championship.

Despite playing just two seasons, Orsagh's name appears in the Malone record book 37 total times. He is third all-time in completions and pass yardage, and is second all-time in touchdowns, just one shy of the school record.

He holds the school record for completions in a game (38), passing yards in a season (3,293), career completion percentage (.627), touchdown passes in a game (6), touchdown passes in a season (29), and total offensive output in a season (3,350 yards).

Orsagh was named Second Team All-MSFA in 2008, and was the 2008 winner of the team's David George Leadership Award.

He graduated from Malone in 2009 with a degree in History. Orsagh currently lives in Eastland, Texas with his wife Christina and kids Lyla (9), Ruby (6), and Dalton (1).

He works in the oil and gas industry, and is also the owner of Big Much Genetics where he works alongside his father to raise and sell show pigs. Orsagh is the Vice President of the Eastland ISD Board of Trustees, and serves as the President of the Eastland Girls Softball Association.