CANTON -- Nine former Pioneer student-athletes, one former head coach, and the school's first national championship team comprise the Malone University Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2022.

The eleven-member class will be honored during an induction ceremony as part of Malone Homecoming & Family Weekend.

The ceremony is being held on Saturday, October 15 in the Johnson Center Dining Room. Doors open and breakfast will be served at 8:30 a.m. The program will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Johnson Center Worship Center.

Tickets are now available, and can be purchased HERE.

Below is the complete bio information for the Malone University Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2022.

2022 Inductees

Jennifer (Gahagan) Crowder '11 - Volleyball
Steve Cunningham '93 - Baseball
Marcy (Evanich) Herstine '02 - Track & Field
Tanya Hockman '94 & '99 - Volleyball - Coach
David Miller '70 - Men's Basketball - Pioneer Lifetime Achievement Award
Keith Nelman '99 - Track & Field
Joel Peterson '05 - Football 
Aubby Rosado '00 - Women's Soccer
Christopher Sinick '10 - Men's Cross Country
Jody (Bowersmith) Snyder '02 - Women's Golf
1972 Men's Cross Country Team - Pioneer Championship Award


Jennifer (Gahagan) Crowder, was a highly decorated volleyball player for the Pioneers from 2007-2010. She stills ranks inside the top-10 all-time in numerous career statistical categories including: service aces, kills, kills per set, digs, reception percentage, and points. 

In 158 career matches and 587 career sets Crowder scored 2,302.5 points for Malone. Those points included 1,889 career kills and 177 career aces.

Defensively she came away with 1,835 career digs. She posted a career reception percentage of .953, and her senior season number of .978 still stands atop MU's single season record book.

Crowder accumulated numerous individual accolades during her time as a Pioneer. She was named a four-time NCCAA All-American, including first team honors in both 2009 and 2010. Crowder was also named to the NCCAA East Region Team every year of her career, and was a 4x All-American Mideast Conference honoree.

Off the court she earned NCCAA All-American Scholar Athlete honors, NAIA Scholar Athlete honors, and All-AMC Scholar Athlete honors in both 2009 and 2010.

She graduated from Malone in 2011 with a degree in Exercise Science.

Crowder currently lives in North Carolina where she works as a physical therapist who specializes in treating patients with neurological disorders. She has been married to her husband for nine years and they have three children

 
Steve Cunningham, pitched for the Pioneers from 1989-1993. He was a member of the 1993 team who still holds the school record for the highest winning percentage of .793 (36-9-1).

Known for his reliability, Cunningham hurled an impressive 26 complete games, which still stands as the second-most in the history of the Malone baseball program.

His 23 career wins on the mound is the eighth most all-time by a Pioneer pitcher. Notably, Cunningham was the winning pitcher when legendary head coach Bob Starcher picked up the 500 th win of his career.

Cunningham struck out 211 batters over 243.1 career innings pitched.

His individual accolades include being named NAIA All-District after the 1993 season.

Cunningham graduated from Malone in 1993 with a degree in physical education and sports medicine.

He still lives in Canton where he works at Smitty Official Apparel, and has two daughters, Kaylee and Lauryn. Cunningham was inducted as a member of the Stark County Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005.

 
Marcy (Evanich) Herstine, was a standout track & field athlete at Malone from 1999-2002. She is the school record in the outdoor discus throw with a distance of 159' 8."

Herstine was a two-time All-American honoree (2001 and 2002) in the discus, four-time national qualifier in discus and also qualified for nationals in hammer. She was a 4x time AMC conference champion and 4x NCCAA champion in the discus.

She also holds top-10 performances in both the indoor and outdoor shot put, as well as the indoor weight throw and outdoor hammer.

Herstine graduated from Malone in 2002 with a degree in biology.

She now lives in Louisville, Ohio and teaches biology and AP Biology at Perry High School. She is the throws coach for Minerva High School. Marcy and her husband Roger (class of 2005) have 5 children, Roger(15) , Benjamin(14), Daniel (Daniel 11), Theresa (10) and William (5).

 
Tanya Hockman, After 22 seasons at the helm of the Malone volleyball program, Tanya Hockman becomes the eleventh head coach across all sports to be inducted into the Malone University Athletics Hall of Fame.

Hockman's teams amassed 470 career wins on the court, making her the program's all-time winningest coach.

Under her direction the Pioneers won a pair of American Mideast Conference regular season championships, and one AMC Tournament title. Hockman was named the AMC Coach of the Year on two separate occasions.

MU advanced to the NCCAA National Tournament eight times, and played in the NAIA National Tournament in 2010.

Hockman also guided the Pioneers through the transition to NCAA Division II status. Malone made one GLIAC Tournament appearance, and played in the G-MAC postseason four times.

The success of the volleyball program also extended off the court during her tenure, with Pioneer volleyball players excelling with their work in the classroom and in service to their community.

In the spring of 2010, Hockman was selected as the AMC's 2010 recipient of the NAIA Coach of Character Award. Hockman was chosen for the honor among nominees of all sports within the AMC in recognition of her community leadership and commitment to emphasizing integrity, respect, responsibility, servant leadership and sportsmanship (which are the five core character values of the NAIA Champions of Character Initiative).

She earned Malone University's prestigious Graduate School Alumnus of the Year Award in 2012 and was named to the YWCA Stark County Women's Hall of Fame in May of 2013.

In 2021 Hockman transitioned full-time to the role of Director of Athletics at the university, after serving in an interim capacity beginning in the fall of 2019.

Having graduated with a bachelor's degree in Christian Ministries at Malone in 1994, Hockman was a four-year letterwinner in both volleyball and basketball at the College. She went on to attain a master's degree in Christian Ministries, also at Malone, in 1999.

Tanya, her husband, Scott, also a Malone graduate (1994), and their daughters, Jaidan, Kiara, and Nya, reside in Jackson Township.

 
David Miller, played basketball for the Pioneers from 1966-1970.

In 89 career games, Miller totaled 1,110 career points scored. He is one of just 56 players in the entire history of the program to reach the 1,000 point threshold.

Miller is being inducted into the Hall of Fame as this year's winner of the Pioneer Lifetime Achievement Award. The Pioneer Lifetime Achievement Award is given to an individual who embodies the "Pioneer Spirit" and has broken barriers and/or made a significant impact both on and off the field of play

Miller's impact on Malone University continues to be felt today in his support of not only the basketball program, but the entire University itself.

He graduated from Malone in 1970 with a BA degree in History and Government and a PE minor (secondary teacher certificate). He is one of six siblings to graduate from Malone University.

Miller now lives in Holmes County near Berlin where he and his wife Brenda raised their three children (Kent/Lori; Abby/Matt; Ellen/Steve) along with the blessings of being grandparents to six grandchildren (Kyle, Megan, Claire, Samantha, Isabelle, Alexander). They attend Martins Creek Mennonite Church.

After a decade of church, school, and banking administration after graduation, Miller served as President and administrator of Walnut Hills Retirement Community for 28 years. Since 2010, he has been the Charitable Services Representative of Everence Foundation for the NE Ohio region.

Additionally, he has served more recently on the boards of the Austin Bailey Foundation, Love INC of Greater Holmes County, and the SpringHaven Counseling Center. He was appointed to the Malone University Board of Directors in July.

 
Keith Nelman, Nelman's standout track & field career at Malone spanned 1996-1999.

His 1998 performance of 7.48 seconds in the 55-meter hurdles still stands as the school record.

The four-year letterman qualified for the national championship as a hurdler six different times throughout this career. He earned All-American honors three times (1997, 1998, 1999).

Nelman's career was also highlighted by qualifying for the Penn Relays in the hurdles – signifying that he was top-30 in the nation in the hurdles across all divisions.

He graduated from Malone in 1999 with a degree in Elementary Education

Nelman now lives in Hudson, Ohio where he is a 5th grade School Teacher in Cuyahoga Falls.

Nelman is married to Tina and has two children, Colt 12 and Raegan 9.

 
Joel Peterson, Peterson played football for Malone from 2000-2003, and is one of only five Pioneer running backs to
ever rush for at least 1,000 yards in a single season.

The two-time All-MSFA Mideast League Honoree is Malone's all-time leader in career rushing attempts at 628. He ranks second all-time in numerous categories including: career rushing yards (2,762), career rushing attempts per game (19.6), single season rushing yards (1,165 - 2001), single yards per game (116.5 – 2001).

Peterson totaled thirteen games with at least 100 rushing yards during his career, and ranks fourth all-time in MU history with 3,190 all-purpose yards.

His career high of 223 rushing yards against Urbana in 2001 stands fourth all-time in program history.

Peterson's career was also highlighted by receiving the 2002 James Rupe Award which recognized his unselfish qualities.

Joel graduated from Malone with a B.S. in Physical Education and has been employed by his alma mater Field Local Schools upon his graduation. He serves as an educator and coach. He has coached football since 2005 and has also been the head baseball coach since 2012. During his time as a head coach he has been named coach of the year in four different seasons as well as accumulating over 150 wins. In 2010 he went on to earn his M.S. from Walden University.

Peterson currently resides in Suffield Township with his wife Robyn (Rodocker '04) and their three young and active children, two sons Grady (born in 2010) and Rylan (born in 2014). They also have a daughter named Lyla (born in 2016).


Aubby Rosado, was a standout goalkeeper on the Malone women's soccer team from 1997-2000. In 68 career games played she posted a 1.19 goals against average. That number is second all-time in program history.

Rosado recorded a total of 23 career shutouts, including a career-high 11 as a senior during the 2000 season. She posted nine shutouts as a junior, and recorded five clean sheets during her sophomore campaign.

While at Malone Aubby was a two-time NCCAA All-American, and a two-time member of the NCCAA East Regional Team.

Rosado was the 1998 NAIA Region IX Player of the Year, and was named to the NAIA Region IX Team again in 2000. She was named an honorable mention NAIA All-American as a senior.

Her Pioneer career was also highlighted by being named a member of the American Mideast Conference all-conference team three times. She was the 1998 AMC Player of the Year. In 1999 she was named honorable mention all-conference, and in 2000 she was a member of the All-AMC First Team.

She graduated from Malone in 2000 with a degree in educational ministry

She just bought a historical home in Twinsburg Ohio, and has been working on that renovation project with friends and family for several months now.

When not remodeling or working, Rosaod can be found cycling or hiking the trails In Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Volunteer work is also very important to her. She partnered with Akron Canton Foodbank and took a cycling trip with Lifewater cycling across Cambodia for clean water in January 2020.


Christopher Sinick, ran both cross country and track & field at Malone from 2006-2010 where he was a part of three consecutive NAIA cross country team national championships from 2007-2009.

Individually, Sinick holds the distinct honor of earning the most All-American awards in Malone history during his tenure at Malone with eleven. He was a two-time NAIA All-American in cross country, and won nine NAIA All-American awards as a distance runner with the track & field team, including earning a national runner-up in the 1000 m in 2010.

He still holds indoor track & field school records in the 1,000 meter run (2:26.65), the mile (4:09.74), and was a member of the school record 4 x 800 meter team (7:52.55).

In outdoor track & field his 1,500 meter time of 3:46.88 still stands atop the Pioneer performance list as does his 4 x 800 meter relay team from 2008 (7:36.34).

He graduated from Malone in 2010 with a degree in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. After Malone he went to The Ohio State University to earn a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree.

Sinick now lives in Medina where he and his wife own their own dental practice. They have three children, Chase (6), Vivian (4), and Evelyn (2). They are active members of their local church and community where he is on several boards.

 
Jody (Bowersmith) Snyder, becomes the first women's golf player from the institution to be inducted into the Malone University Athletics Hall of Fame.

Snyder played for the Pioneers from 1999-2002 leading Malone to the NAIA Region IX Championship and NAIA National Championship appearances in both 2001 and 2002.

Individually Snyder was the runner-up at the 2001 Region IX Tournament, and finished fourth in 2002.

As a team Malone scored a top-20 national finish in 2001, and a top-25 finish in 2002.

Snyder graduated, with Cum Laude honors, from Malone in 2002 with a degree in Business Management and concentrations in Marketing and Management.

She now lives in Marysville Ohio with her husband of 20 years, Ed Snyder, who himself is in the Malone University Athletics Hall of Fame; also for golf. The couple has 3 tenacious red heads, Max -16, Abigail - 14 and Sam -12.

Snyder is a freelance photographer and full time Mom and Wing-woman. She is very active in several non-profit programs and in the local school district, where she serves as PTO President.

The 1972 men's cross country team is being inducted into the Malone University Athletics Hall of Fame as the winner of the newly created Pioneer Championship Award.

The Pioneer Championship Award is given to an entire team in honor and recognition of the anniversary of a championship season accomplishment.

2022 marks the 50 th anniversary of the Pioneers capturing the program's first NAIA national championship.

In 1972 Malone won all 13 meets that they participated in, and advanced once again to the NAIA national meet. At that national meet the Pioneers placed five runners inside the top-30 overall, with all five of them finishing inside the top-25 among runners from qualifying teams.

In the end, finishing with 92 points, the Pioneers captured the school's first team national title in any sport.

The members of the 1972 Malone Men's Cross Country Team:
Scott Armstrong '73
Dave Bender '75
Terry Dugan '75
Larry Durstine '73
Burke Ensign '75
Bob Gatrell '77
Rick Horton '75
Doug Nevius '75
Jesse Parzero '73
Bill Scholl '73
Wendell Skelley '76
Gary Thaxton '76
Ric Thompson '75
Gene Wise '76
Jack Hazen (Head Coach)
Paul Talkington (Assistant Coach)
Joe Harding '72 (Athletic Trainer)
Howie Nelson '75 (Sports Information)