NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - A diverse group that stretches all the way back to the beginning of sports at Christopher Newport comprises the 2010 induction class of the Christopher Newport University Athletic Hall of Fame. The group will be formally inducted Sunday afternoon at halftime of the men's basketball game with Ferrum.
Stephanie Andrews is the latest in a long list of CNU track and field stars to be enshrined.
Andrews earned All-America honors ten times during her outstanding years at CNU. Among those were four that took place in individual events. She placed second in the 200 meters at the outdoor national championships of 2002 and was fifth at 100 meters at that same meet. She had already placed sixth once at 100 meters in 2001 and went on to a seventh place finish in the 2003 championships at 200 meters.
In addition she ran with six All-America relay teams including the second place 400 meter squad at the 2002 nationals. In 2002 she ran a 23.80 outdoor 200 meters which remains the school record to this day.
Football has become a prominent fixture at CNU since its beginning in 2001, and no one represents that sport better than Tommy Fitzgerald.
He played virtually every down as CNU's center during the first four years of Captains' football, and helped Christopher Newport earn four consecutive invitations to the NCAA playoffs.
He was the first CNU player to ever earn All-American honors and was a three-time all-USA South first team choice, along with a second team selection in his freshman year.
Since that time he has served as an assistant coach for the Captains.
Vanessa Gray was an outstanding pitcher for the CNU softball team. And, she was also an outstanding third baseman.
She was the USA South Pitcher of the Year twice, and Player of the Year during another season. In addition, she was a three-time all-South choice.
In addition she was chosen second team all-USA South at third base twice and was a first team all-state selection at third once.
Gray still holds the best career Earned Run Average in CNU history at 1.13 and is second all time in victories (65) and third in strikeouts (312). But her versatility shows in the fact that she is also tied for first in career doubles and on the list for career home runs.
Steve Kast had a fine career as a CNU cross country and track and field athlete, but has really made his name as a community leader. He is President of the Peninsula Boys and Girls Clubs and is recognized as a key member of the Peninsula area volunteer leadership.
But he was no slouch as an athlete either. He was a four-time all-Dixie Conference runner, and had a fine career in track and field as well.
In cross country he helped CNU to four straight conference titles and ran with one of two CNU squads that has qualified for nationals as a team.
The late Mr. and Mrs. Theodore (Ted) and Anna Takis were among the early friends of the CNU athletic program.
Between 1964-74 they ran the snack bar in the old student center, at the time the only food outlet on campus.
They assisted the teams by, among many other things, supplying meals for road trips and befriending many of the athletes of the day.
Their support greatly assisted the school's athletic program in its infancy.
Paul Weiss has become synonymous with Christopher Newport softball.
In eight years as head coach he compiled a record of 249-94-2 and his teams finished first in the conference for all but one season.
He guided his teams to two NCAA tournament appearances and was named conference Coach of the Year four times and Virginia State Coach of the Year once.
His teams won at least 26 games every year and had more than 30 victories six times.
After his retirement he continued to assist the program for several years as an assistant coach and is still a fixture at CNU games, home or away.
Plaques honoring all of the hall of Fame inductees are on display in the Freeman Center lobby outside the field house.
