Sammy Nyamongo (Men’s Cross Country and Track & Field, 1996–1999) • Member of teams that won: – Back-to-back NAIA Cross Country National Championships (1998, 1999). – 1997 NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championship. – Consecutive Outdoor Track & Field National Championships (1997, 1998). • 15-time NAIA All-American across Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field. • Captured NAIA titles in: – Indoor 5,000m (1997, 1998). – Outdoor events: 1,500m (1998), 5,000m (1999), 10,000m (1998) and 3,000m Steeplechase (1997, 1999). • Recognized as one of Life U’s most accomplished distance runners and an NAIA legend. • Originally selected for the 2020 Hall of Fame class but deferred induction to travel from Kenya. Bria Sands (Women’s Track & Field, 2017–2021) • Awards: – Two-time Indoor Mid-South Conference (MSC) Athlete of the Year. – 2021 MSC Outdoor Athlete of the Year. – 2021 NAIA National Athlete of the Year. • Six-time NAIA All-American with three individual national titles: – 2017 Indoor Triple Jump. – 2017 and 2021 Outdoor Long Jump. • Two-time NAIA Runner-Up (2019, 2021). • Seven MSC Championships in High Jump, Triple Jump and Long Jump. • Named to seven MSC 1st Teams and one MSC 2nd Team. The fifth class inducted into the Life U Athletics Hall of Fame includes Sammy Nyamongo, Bria Sands, Megan Rom and the 2000 Life University Men’s Rugby Super League championship team. Megan Rom (Women’s Rugby, 2016–2019) • Life U’s first four-time USA Rugby Collegiate All- American (2016–2019). • Led the team to: – 2016 USA Rugby D1 7s National Championship. – Back-to-back CRC 7s Championships (2016, 2017). – First D1 Elite National Championship game (2018). • Selected for USA Under-20s team in 2016. • Finalist for MA Sorenson Award (2019). • Earned two caps with U.S. Women’s National 15s Team (2018). • Life U Athletics Student-Athlete of the Year (2019). 2000 Life University Men’s Rugby Super League Championship Team • Crowned USA Rugby Super League National Champions in their fourth year of competition. • Defeated 1997 champion Aspen RFC 43–21 in the final. • First USA Rugby Super League National Champion from the Midwestern-Eastern Conference. • Featured 50 rostered personnel from eight nations with 36 players becoming Doctors of Chiropractic. • Elevated Life U’s academic, athletic and chiropractic prestige through international TV exposure.Life University Athletic Director Jayme Pendergast spoke on the incoming class. “It has been so fun to honor Life University legends through our Hall of Fame. Every class brings their own fun stories and memories, and every year through their induction speeches we are reminded of the Lasting Purpose of Life U. The 2025 class has truly made their mark not only in Life U Athletics history, but the history of their respective national governing bodies.” The fifth Hall of Fame Class will be inducted Friday, January 17, 2025, on the Life U campus. ATHELETICS REVIEW Life U Athletics Announces 2025 Hall of Fame Class Our 2024 Life University (Life U) Athletics Hall of Fame class has been announced, and I’m so excited for this year’s inductees. We started the Hall of Fame in 2019 as a way of honoring individuals who have contributed to the tradition and success of Life University Athletics. Sustained success is a true measuring stick of any orga- nization, and it is written about in great detail in one of my all-time favorite books, Good to Great, by Jim Collins. In the book, Collins describes why some companies make the leap to elevated, sustained success and others do not. Early in the book, he recognizes what a profound impact the “who” has on success. He states, “Those who build great companies understand that the ultimate throttle on growth is not markets or technology, or competition or products. It is one thing above all others: the ability to get and keep enough of the right people.” I often wonder what our athletics history would look like without so many piv- otal people involved, and this year’s class is no exception. What our Hall of Fame inductees represent is a collection of impactful people. These individuals are the cornerstone from which their respective teams have been built. What makes this year’s Hall of Fame class special is we have the foundational piece of Life U’s storied rugby history, with the 86’ Club Rugby team, who garnered our very first national championship, alongside two individuals that represent the very first Hall of Fame induction for their particular team. Dalton Bailey was the first individual that put Life U on the national stage for Men’s Wrestling. It was through his ef- forts that we have built sustained national success year over year. Similarly, Kaitlyn (Broughton) Slaughter was a key piece in bringing a very young Women’s Rugby team to the very top of the Women’s Collegiate Rugby landscape in a short amount of time. She set the bar at which our current Women’s Rugby student-athletes strive to perform. Finally, Coach Graham Tutt represents the impact of coaching leadership, taking Life U Men’s Soccer to the national tournament and amassing an unbelievable record of 138-38-13. Tickets for the general public to the induction banquet on Friday, February 23 are on sale now, and we do expect them to sell out. Scan the QR code to secure tickets, which include dinner and drinks. We hope to see you all there! Hall of Fame Event 52 Alumni.life.edu | 2024
