"It's truly a great day to be an Aggie!" With those welcoming words Cameron Director of Athletics Lou Izzi kicked off the 2025 induction ceremony for the Cameron Athletics Hall of Fame. This year, the prestigious Hall welcomed three standout athletes, a former volleyball coach and athletic administrator, a pair of ardent Aggie Athletics supporters, and the first Aggie team to be selected for the honor.
Last week, Aggie athletes Carrie Harvey Martin, Kelsi Bond Musick and Pat Hartline, former coach and athletics administration Kim Vinson, dedicated Aggie supporters Erika Moore and her late husband Dennis, and the 1987 NAIA National Championship Football Team were officially inducted into the AHOF.

CU President Jari Askins welcomed those in attendance by referencing a saying that she believes epitomizes success in the field of athletics: "Do not strive to be the best on the team. Strive to be the best FOR the team."   Askins acknowledged the 2025 inductees by saying, "Those we honor tonight did their best FOR the team no matter what was needed."

Prior to the induction ceremony, Izzi introduced a new AHOF tradition. Current members of the AHOF were invited to attend so they could be presented with a new custom Hall of Fame pin.  "I hope all of our Hall of Fame members wear this pin proudly, as it is a testament to their dedication to Cameron athletics, their extraordinary talent and their unwavering commitment to excellence," Izzi said.

Before kicking off the induction ceremony, Izzi encouraged the current coach staff – who were on hand to represent CU's 13 teams and 200 student-athletes, to absorb the coming moments to help them understand the significance of the Cameron Aggie tradition.

"In a real sense, these Hall of Famers represent you, but in another more important way, you and your student-athletes represent them," Izzi said. "You are the present. You and your student-athletes wear the same black and gold color in competition that these Hall of Famers once proudly wore. I hope this will further your resolve to represent our Hall of Famers – and all of our alumni – with pride and distinction."
As the 2025 honorees were inducted, each stepped up to the stage to chat with Vice President for University Advancement Albert Johnson.

Carrie Harvey Martin was a dominant pitcher for the Cameron softball team from 2009 to 2012. She finished her illustrious career ranked first in CU history 73 career complete games, 694 career innings pitched, 699 career strikeouts and 18 career shutouts. She also set season records with 278 strikeouts and 10 shutouts. In 2009, Martin was named Lone Star Conference Freshman  of the Year and 1^st Team All-Conference. During her rookie season, she pitched the second perfect game in CU softball history.  She was later named an NFCA Academic All-American and the CU Female Athlete of the Year. She also served as president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee.

Martin said that learning of her inclusion in the Hall of Fame was "one of those occasions that is nostalgic and takes you back to those moments in college." She added that it the ceremony gave her the opportunity to return to CU and to tie herself to the university in a more enduring manner." 

A four-year starting point guard for the Aggie women's basketball team from 1998 through 2002,  Kelsi (Bond) Musick set school records for career three-point average and career assists. Prior to her arrival, the team had not had a winning season for 20 years. As a senior, Musick led the team to a school-record 25 wins, a top 25 national ranking and the team's first-event appearance in the NCAA Division II national tournament. She is now an outstanding college coach, leading Southwest Oklahoma State to the NCAA Division II tournament nine times, including a second-place finish in 2019. She is currently in her third season at Oral Roberts University.

"I'm so bless and grateful," Musick said. "It's such an honor to be able to play basketball and now to do what I love – coach basketball."
Her tenure as an Aggie player introduced her to a mantra that she still follows today: "If you want something you've never had, you have to do something you've never done." Musick said it was gratifying to know she made an impact "when no one expected us to do anything and what we ended up doing." She shared that the ability to turn the program around and to make the national championship tournament inspire her in her coaching career today.

For more than 40 years, Erika Moore and her late husband Dennis enthusiastically supported Cameron teams through fellowship, volunteer tutoring, financial support and attendance at home and away games.  As exceptionally loyal supporters, the Moores displayed a true dedication, commitment and complete love for Cameron, the athletics program and CU's students and athletes.
Although Dennis passed away in 2023, you'll still find Erika supporting the Aggies. In fact, she hosted the 1987 football team at her home prior to the induction ceremony. The impact that the Moores had on countless student-athletes resonates today, as she shared that many still call her and come visit her whenever possible. 

A member of the Cameron football team from 1984 through 1987, Pat Hartline was a force as an end of the number one ranked defense in the country that went on to capture the 1987 NAIA National Championship. He set the team record for most starts, most sacks and most tackles for a loss and was named a 1^st Team NAIA All-American in 1987. A resident of Ohio, Hartline was unable to attend the ceremony, but his sister Laurie Applekamp was on hand to accept the honor on his behalf.

"We come from a football family," Applekamp said. "Dad played at Lawton High and coached at MacArthur. Pat was always so passionate about football. I'm so proud that he's being honored tonight – it's well-deserved recognition for his unbelievable accomplishments on the field."

Kim Vinson dedicated 35 years of her professional career to Cameron Athletics, serving as head volleyball coach from 1990 to 2005 and head softball coach from 1990 to 1996, then taking the reins as the department's associate director of athletics, senior woman administrator and director of NCAA compliance. In 15 seasons leading the Cameron volleyball team, Vinson won 271 matches and posted 12 winning seasons. She led the volleyball team to four Lone Star Conference North Division titles 10 LSC appearances and the 1998 LSC conference championship, and the 1998 and 2001 NCAA Division II Southwest Regional tournament. Vinson was named Lone Star Conference Coach of the Year four times.  Although she retired from CU in October 2024, Vinson will always be a dedicated supporter of Aggie Athletics.

"When Lou told me three weeks before I retired that I was selected for the Athletics Hall of Fame, I said, 'You can't do that!'," Vinson said. "This is an incredible honor."

Vinson reflected that as a coach, "It was always about the kids – to have fun and push to be the best they can be. You don't think about winning – you think about the process."

She shared one of her most memorable coaching moments. "We were hosting the NCAA Conference championship game, and the ticket line was all around the building. It's definitely I moment I won't forget."
As well it should be, as the Aggies topped the West Texas A&M to win the championship.

The first team to be inducted into the Cameron Athletics Hall of Fame, the 1987 football squad captured the NAIA Division I National Championship, bringing immense pride to Cameron and capturing the hearts of the people throughout the community. Led by the nation's top-rated defense, the team resoundingly defeating Carson-Newman, 30-2, in front of a home crowd of more than 8,000 fans at Cameron Stadium, claiming the Dwight D. Eisenhower Trophy from the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame. Aggies Pat Hartline, Thomas O'Kelly, Mike Lorenzen, Wes Cox and Charles Washington were named NAIA Division I All-Americans, and Coach Brian Naber received Oklahoma's prestigious Headliner Special Award.

Robert Whitman was one of the team members who spoke. "It took every one of us – EVERY ONE – to get this done," he reflected on the national championship. "That's part of being a teammate."

He also gave a nod to the coaches. "They played us hard, but they didn't stop there. They made us better men, better people."

For many of the team members, last week marked their first return visit to Cameron in decades.  Joe Watkins said, "We believed in each other and the talent we had and in our coaches."

As the evening concluded, one thing was clear. It truly was a great day to be a Cameron Aggie!