PAINESVILLE, Ohio – The Lake Erie College Department of Athletics has announced its selections for the 2023 Hall of Fame Class, naming seven individuals and one team. The Class of 2023 will officially join the 42 other members of the Hall of Fame during an induction ceremony on Saturday, September 30 as a part of the college's alumni weekend.
"I could not be happier for the inductees of this year's Hall of Fame class," said Molly Hoffman, Executive Director of Athletics. "Each inductee made a tremendous impact while they competed for the Storm and have continued to be upstanding citizens since departing LEC. I am excited to have this group return to campus this fall for the induction ceremony and to receive their well-deserved recognition for all of their accomplishments."
The class includes:
Anthony Bilal - Football
Jamil Dudley - Track & Field
Nadia Lee - Track & Field
Destiny (Prusky) Johnson - Track & Field
Luke Raley - Baseball
Ryan Rua - Baseball
Zak Vargo - Wrestling
2015 Men's Lacrosse Team
2015 Men's Lacrosse Team
The 2015 Storm men's lacrosse team has gone down as having one of the most impressive seasons in school history. During the season, they beat eight ranked teams and ranked as high as #1. They finished the regular season with a 12-2 record and advanced to the ECAC tournament where they would beat #14 Mercyhurst and #11 Lindenwood en route to their second straight ECAC title. They would then earn a bid to the NCAA DII Tournament and would become the first team in school history to make an appearance in the Final Four and finished the season with a school record 15 wins.
The 2015 team earned numerous individual awards, including three All-Americans, two ECAC Players of the Year, the USILA Defensive Player of the Year, and one Scholar All-American. After the season, two players (Justin Goodwin & Reagan Harding) would be drafted professionally by the Saskatchewan Rush of the National Lacrosse League to continue their playing careers.
Anthony Bilal - Football (2012-2015) - Class of '15, '16
Anthony Bilal finished his career as one of the most successful and decorated athletes in Storm history. Over his four seasons, Bilal was 2x All-American, 2x All-Region, and 3x All-GLIAC.
In 2014, he finished third in the Harlon Hill trophy voting and ranked second amongst all NCAA DII running backs with 2,091 rushing yards. That year, he would be named All-American, All-Region, GLIAC Offensive Back of the Year, First Team All-GLIAC, and earn himself a spot on the ECAC DII All-Star Team.
He finished his career with 5,839 yards on the ground, 79 rushing touchdowns, an average of 146 yards per game, and currently holds 16 major school rushing records.
After his Storm career, Bilal went on to play professionally in Germany for the Schwabisch Hall Unicorns and was also inducted into the LEC Football Hall of Fame.
Bilal is the first Storm football player to be inducted into the Lake Erie College Athletics Hall of Fame.
Jamil Dudley - Track & Field (2011-2014) - Class of '14
Edward Jamil Dudley had one of the most incredible careers in school history during his time with the Storm. After just his first year of competition, Dudley was already a 2x National Qualifier, 2x All-American, and 2x All-Region.
During his sophomore year, he became the first athlete in school history to win an individual national championship, taking home the top spot in the men's high jump.
Dudley finished his career as a 2x National Champion, 8x National Qualifier, 8x All-American, 6x All-Region, 4x GLIAC Outdoor Champion, 3x GLIAC Indoor Champion, and 8x All-GLIAC. He would graduate as the school record holder in the indoor high jump (7'2 ½"), outdoor high jump (7'5"), indoor long jump (24'1"), and outdoor long jump (23'11 ¾ ") in addition to also holding the GLIAC records for the indoor and outdoor high jump.
Nadia Lee - Track & Field (2013-2017) - Class of '17
Nadia Lee was one of the most decorated field athletes during her time as a triple jumper for the Storm track & field program.
At the conference level, she was the 2017 GLIAC outdoor triple jump champion and was named All-GLIAC eight times.
She was a 3x National Qualifier, 1x All-American, 9x All-Region, and 4x Academic All-American. She currently holds school records in the indoor triple jump (39'6") and outdoor triple jump (41'2 ½").
Destiny (Prusky) Johnson (2011-2015) - Track & Field - Class of '15
Destiny (Prusky) Johnson was an outstanding high jumper for the Storm track & field program during her four years at Lake Erie College. In her sophomore year, she became the first female national qualifier in school history and in her senior year became the first female All-American as well.
She finished her career as a 4x National Qualifier, 1x All-American, 5x All-Region, 4x All-GLIAC, 4x Academic All-American, and the school record holder in the outdoor high jump (5'8") and indoor high jump (5'8").
Luke Raley - Baseball (2014-2016)
During his time as an outfielder with the Storm baseball program, Luke Raley was known for not only his powerful bat but for his amazing glove as well.
He broke onto the scene in 2014 when he hit .353 and earned GLIAC Freshman of the Year and First Team honors. This was just the tip of the iceberg for Raley, however, and in 2016 he set two single-season school records when he hit 12 home runs and posted an astounding .424 batting average. As a result, he would be named All-American, All-Region, ABCA D2 Gold Glove Nominee, GLIAC First Team and the GLIAC Commissioner's Award Recipient.
After an impressive three-year career in which he hit .379, recorded 25 home runs and drove in 101 runs, he became the second Storm baseball player to be drafted into Major League Baseball when the Los Angeles Dodgers selected him in the seventh round.
He currently holds 14 school records and his number (#20) was officially retired by the Storm baseball program following his collegiate career.
Ryan Rua - Baseball (2009-2011)
Ryan Rua put up incredibly impressive numbers during his baseball career at Lake Erie College. With a career average of .374, Rua also hit 27 home runs, 39 doubles, and drove in 131 runs.
After the 2011 season, his only season playing in the GLIAC, Rua earned All-GLIAC First Team honors and was named All-American and All-Region.
Following his collegiate career he was drafted in the 17th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft by the Texas Rangers and later had his number (#2) retired by the Storm baseball program.
He currently holds the program career record for slugging percentage (.683) and the single-season records for RBIs (47) and hits (68).
Rua, along with Raley, will be the first Storm baseball players ever to be inducted into the Lake Erie College Athletics Hall of Fame.
Zak Vargo (2010-2015) - Class of '15
Zak Vargo is one of the most decorated wrestlers ever at Lake Erie College. He currently ranks first all-time with 105 wins, second with 27 pins, and first in single-season wins with 36.
Vargo was essential to getting the Storm wrestling program off the ground. In just the program's second year, he earned First Team All-GLIAC honors and placed 6th at regionals in the 149-pound weight class.
During the 2012-13 season, he would begin competing in the 157-pound weight class. He finished the season with a 27-8 record and became the first wrestler in program history to finish as the national runner-up.
By the end of his career, he was a 3x National Qualifier, 2x All-American, 2x Regional Champion, and 3x All-GLIAC.
He is the first Storm wrestler ever to be inducted into the Lake Erie College Athletics Hall of Fame.
