CHCIAGO, Ill. -- The North Park University Viking Hall of Fame will return this fall, welcoming five new members for the 2022 class. Additionally, two inductees that were unable to attend he past banquets will be honored alongside the 2022 Hall of Fame class.
TO REGISTER FOR GENERAL ADMISSION, PLEASE CLICK HERE
Current Assistant Vice President, Director of Athletics and Sport Management, John Born is the first inductee thanks to his stellar leadership as long-time head men's soccer coach.In his 20 years at the helm, Born collected five College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) titles, earned CCIW Coach of the Year recognition four times, guided the Vikings to a runner-up finish in the 2017 title game, and finished his career with more than 200 wins. Born took over a soccer program that, before his arrival, had won only one game in 1998. Under his direction, the program has had 18 consecutive winning seasons, captured five CCIW titles, achieved regional rankings from 2001-2014 and was ranked nationally 2005-2012, and yet again in 2017 and 2018.
Sonya Le (C '13) enjoyed a phenomenal career on the NPU softball team and enters the Hall of Fame with a decorated background. Le is a three-time All-CCIW pick at second base (2010, 2011, 2013) and is ranked in the top 10 in eight different offensive categories; career hits (160), hits in a season (52), doubles in a career (28), doubles in a season (12), career stolen bases (25), stolen bases in a season (9), career sac bunts (16), and sac bunts in a season (12). Additionally, Le was a cornerstone for the 2013 Viking softball team that led all NCAA Divisions (I, II, and III) in fielding percentage (.987).
Dan Mulkerin (C '88) helped lead North Park men's basketball to two National Championships in 1985 and 1987. He was a two-time All-CCIW selected (1987, 1988) and led the Vikings in rebounds during both of those seasons. He appears in the North Park all-time record books in career rebounds (735), career field goal percentage (55.5), rebounds in a season (322 in '87, 297 in '88), and rebounds in a game (22).
Jeff Pearson (C '92) represents the only multi-sport 2022 Hall of Fame inductee, competing in baseball and men's basketball at NPU. Pearson appears in both the basketball and baseball record books, cracking the top 10 in a variety of categories including: career three pointers (129), career three-point field goal percentage (46.7), career free-throw percentage (79.2), career assists (339), threes in a season (77), 3FG percentage in a season (51 in '89, 49.7 in '92), and FT percentage in a season (84.8 in '92). On the field, Pearson accumulated 79 walks, good for 13th all-time.
Current North Park head women's soccer coach Emma (Lundeen) Woodley (C' 15) enters the Hall of Fame after one of the most impressive playing careers in program history. Woodley was a second-team All-CCIW selection in 2013 and became the first women's soccer player in 15 years to be named a first-team selection at the conclusion of her 2014 season. The team captain and MVP broke the NPU single-season scoring record in 2014 with 17 goals and also led the CCIW in points (37), points per game (2.06), and goals per game (0.94). Last but not least, she was named the NPU "Female Athlete of the Year" in 2015.
Finally, PJ Eriksson (C '07) and Henrik Wihlborg (C '05) will be honored alongside the class of 2022.
Eriksson was a three-time first-team All-CCIW selection (2004-2006) and earned NSCAA All-Region accolades with the NPU men's soccer program. He was a part of three league championships with the Vikings.
Wihlborg was a two-time All-CCIW pick for NPU men's soccer, earning first-time honors in 2004 and second-team recognition in 2003. He won a title with the Vikings in 2004 and was also named North Park's "Senior Athlete of the Year" in 2005.
Reed Larson Award Winner:
Jalen Boyd has been named the 2021-22 Reed Larson Team Spirit Award winner, as North Park Athletics announced in late July. Larson, a member of the North Park men's basketball team, was tragically killed in a car accident in 2001. In his memory, the Reed Larson Award was established. Each year, the award is presented to the student-athlete that best exemplifies the respect of the sport, outstanding practice and ethic, team spirit, mentoring of other players, love of North Park, and a never-let-up attitude.
Boyd, who completed his second season with the Vikings in 2022, led NPU in league action with 12.3 points per game. Against CCIW opponents, he totaled 59 rebounds, five steals, and three blocked shots. On the season, Boyd shot 41% (110 of 268) from the field including 18 three pointers. Additionally, Boyd pulled down a team third best 114 rebounds.
When it will happen:
The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held on Saturday, September 17 at 10 AM. TO REGISTER FOR GENERAL ADMISSION, PLEASE CLICK HERE
