Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Six greats to enter Blue Raider Sports Hall of Fame
7/1/2017 3:00:00 PM | General
2017 HOF Class to be inducted Sept. 23
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The 2017 class of the Middle Tennessee State University Blue Raider Sports Hall of Fame features six stars from the past who delivered greatness in their chosen sport.
This year's honored class includes Marco Born and Andreas Siljestrom (men's tennis), Wes Counts (football), Chrissy Givens (women's basketball), Rick Insell (women's basketball) and Michael McKenry (baseball).
The 2017 Hall of Fame class will be enshrined during induction ceremonies, Sept. 23, at 3:30 p.m. at the Kennon Sports Hall of Fame prior to the Blue Raiders facing Bowling Green at 6 p.m.
The 42nd Blue Raider Hall of Fame Class represents many firsts. Born and Siljestrom are the first duo ever to be inducted together. Counts was Middle Tennessee's first quarterback of the Division I-A era and helped lead the Blue Raiders to their first conference championship at college football's highest level. Givens would become Middle Tennessee's first WNBA selection after a star-studded career. She still plays professional basketball overseas.
Insell is the Lady Raiders' all-time winningest coach and is being enshrined into this seventh Hall of Fame. McKenry has followed his sterling Blue Raider career with an 11-year Major League Baseball career, and has played in more MLB games than any Middle Tennessee player.
Here is a look at the 2017 Blue Raider Hall of Fame Class:
Marco Born/Andreas Siljestrom
In 2007, Marco Born and Andreas Siljestrom captured the NCAA Doubles National Championship, marking only the second team national title in MTSU history and the first since 1965 when men's golf captured the national championship. Born and Siljestrom represented one of the nation's top tandems during their Blue Raider careers. They were two-time ITA All-Americans (2006, 2007), making them two of only four netters in program history to win multiple All-American honors. Not only did Born and Siljestrom win the 2007 NCAA National Championship, but they also captured the 2005 All-American Doubles National Championship. They were named to the All-Sun Belt Doubles Team all three years they competed together (2005, 2006, 2007), and they capped their careers as the No. 4-ranked doubles team in the nation – the highest final ranking of any doubles team in program history.
Wes Counts
Wes Counts was a local prep standout at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro who was recruited by Boots Donnelly and would later help usher Middle Tennessee into the Division I-A (FBS) era. Counts played quarterback for the Blue Raiders from 1998-to-2001 and was Middle Tennessee's signal caller in its first season of Division I football (1999). The southpaw quarterback guided the Blue Raiders to their first Division I-A Championship as a member of the Sun Belt Conference in 2001. Counts was also Middle Tennessee's first Player of the Year at the Division I-A level, earning the honor in 2001. He is Middle Tennessee's all-time passing leader with 8,007 yards. The record book is littered with references to his ability, all done while facing schedules of Division I-A competition for the first time.
Chrissy Givens
Chrissy Givens became one of Middle Tennessee's most decorated players during a brilliant four-year career from 2003-to-2007. Givens is one of four All-Americans in program history, earning national acclaim from the Associated Press and United States Basketball Writers Association. She was also the Lady Raiders' first WNBA Draft selection. Givens is one of only two players in school history to play in four consecutive NCAA Tournaments and win games in three of them. Not only was the well-rounded Givens a dynamic scorer, but she also was one of the most complete players in program history as evidenced by her ranking in the top five of five career categories, including steals (4th), assists (4th), field goals made (5th), scoring (6th) and free throws made (7th). She is also 11th all time in rebounding. Givens was named Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and was a two-time MVP of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. She also excelled in the classroom and was a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American.
Rick Insell
The Blue Raider Hall of Fame is the seventh such honor for Rick Insell, who is already the winningest coach in Lady Raider history. Rick Insell has also guided Middle Tennessee to more championships than any other coach in program history with 14 combined championships (7 regular season, 7 tournament) in 12 seasons. Insell's teams have reached the postseason in each of his 12 seasons with nine NCAA Tournament appearances and three WNIT showings. Additionally, Insell's teams have won 20 games or more in each of his 12 years. He is the only women's basketball coach in the nation to produce three consecutive scoring champions. Insell has developed six All-Americans and five conference players of the year at Middle Tennessee. Insell has mentored 16 of the 31 players in the program's exclusive 1,000-point club.
Michael McKenry
One of only three first-team All-Americans in program history, Michael McKenry made a tremendous impact on Middle Tennessee baseball in his three years as a catcher before being drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the seventh round of the 2006 MLB Draft. McKenry helped lead the Blue Raiders to the 2004 Sun Belt Conference Championship and a 40-win season. McKenry was a three-year starter and a dynamic defensive catcher that combined tremendous offensive skills to become one of the best to ever play the position at Middle Tennessee. McKenry's 68 career RBI are still seventh all-time, while his .494 slugging percentage is tied for ninth. McKenry is in his 12th season of professional baseball and has appeared in the most Major League Baseball games of any Blue Raider.
This year's honored class includes Marco Born and Andreas Siljestrom (men's tennis), Wes Counts (football), Chrissy Givens (women's basketball), Rick Insell (women's basketball) and Michael McKenry (baseball).
The 2017 Hall of Fame class will be enshrined during induction ceremonies, Sept. 23, at 3:30 p.m. at the Kennon Sports Hall of Fame prior to the Blue Raiders facing Bowling Green at 6 p.m.
The 42nd Blue Raider Hall of Fame Class represents many firsts. Born and Siljestrom are the first duo ever to be inducted together. Counts was Middle Tennessee's first quarterback of the Division I-A era and helped lead the Blue Raiders to their first conference championship at college football's highest level. Givens would become Middle Tennessee's first WNBA selection after a star-studded career. She still plays professional basketball overseas.
Insell is the Lady Raiders' all-time winningest coach and is being enshrined into this seventh Hall of Fame. McKenry has followed his sterling Blue Raider career with an 11-year Major League Baseball career, and has played in more MLB games than any Middle Tennessee player.
Here is a look at the 2017 Blue Raider Hall of Fame Class:
Marco Born/Andreas Siljestrom
In 2007, Marco Born and Andreas Siljestrom captured the NCAA Doubles National Championship, marking only the second team national title in MTSU history and the first since 1965 when men's golf captured the national championship. Born and Siljestrom represented one of the nation's top tandems during their Blue Raider careers. They were two-time ITA All-Americans (2006, 2007), making them two of only four netters in program history to win multiple All-American honors. Not only did Born and Siljestrom win the 2007 NCAA National Championship, but they also captured the 2005 All-American Doubles National Championship. They were named to the All-Sun Belt Doubles Team all three years they competed together (2005, 2006, 2007), and they capped their careers as the No. 4-ranked doubles team in the nation – the highest final ranking of any doubles team in program history.
Wes Counts
Wes Counts was a local prep standout at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro who was recruited by Boots Donnelly and would later help usher Middle Tennessee into the Division I-A (FBS) era. Counts played quarterback for the Blue Raiders from 1998-to-2001 and was Middle Tennessee's signal caller in its first season of Division I football (1999). The southpaw quarterback guided the Blue Raiders to their first Division I-A Championship as a member of the Sun Belt Conference in 2001. Counts was also Middle Tennessee's first Player of the Year at the Division I-A level, earning the honor in 2001. He is Middle Tennessee's all-time passing leader with 8,007 yards. The record book is littered with references to his ability, all done while facing schedules of Division I-A competition for the first time.
Chrissy Givens
Chrissy Givens became one of Middle Tennessee's most decorated players during a brilliant four-year career from 2003-to-2007. Givens is one of four All-Americans in program history, earning national acclaim from the Associated Press and United States Basketball Writers Association. She was also the Lady Raiders' first WNBA Draft selection. Givens is one of only two players in school history to play in four consecutive NCAA Tournaments and win games in three of them. Not only was the well-rounded Givens a dynamic scorer, but she also was one of the most complete players in program history as evidenced by her ranking in the top five of five career categories, including steals (4th), assists (4th), field goals made (5th), scoring (6th) and free throws made (7th). She is also 11th all time in rebounding. Givens was named Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and was a two-time MVP of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. She also excelled in the classroom and was a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American.
Rick Insell
The Blue Raider Hall of Fame is the seventh such honor for Rick Insell, who is already the winningest coach in Lady Raider history. Rick Insell has also guided Middle Tennessee to more championships than any other coach in program history with 14 combined championships (7 regular season, 7 tournament) in 12 seasons. Insell's teams have reached the postseason in each of his 12 seasons with nine NCAA Tournament appearances and three WNIT showings. Additionally, Insell's teams have won 20 games or more in each of his 12 years. He is the only women's basketball coach in the nation to produce three consecutive scoring champions. Insell has developed six All-Americans and five conference players of the year at Middle Tennessee. Insell has mentored 16 of the 31 players in the program's exclusive 1,000-point club.
Michael McKenry
One of only three first-team All-Americans in program history, Michael McKenry made a tremendous impact on Middle Tennessee baseball in his three years as a catcher before being drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the seventh round of the 2006 MLB Draft. McKenry helped lead the Blue Raiders to the 2004 Sun Belt Conference Championship and a 40-win season. McKenry was a three-year starter and a dynamic defensive catcher that combined tremendous offensive skills to become one of the best to ever play the position at Middle Tennessee. McKenry's 68 career RBI are still seventh all-time, while his .494 slugging percentage is tied for ninth. McKenry is in his 12th season of professional baseball and has appeared in the most Major League Baseball games of any Blue Raider.
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