ALLIANCE, Ohio - The University of Mount Union M Club Hall of Fame has announced its 2023 class and special award winners.
 
The 12-person hall of fame class includes Eric Belancic '07 (Track and Field), John Biacofsky '06 (Track and Field), Willie Dawson '86 (Track and Field), Tammy (Dougherty '95) Durham (Track and Field), Pierre Garcon '10 (Football), Kyle Karpinski '05 (Basketball), Vince Kehres '98 (Football Coach), Christopher Kern '20 (Football), Jason Lewis '08 (Football), Jeffrey Powles '92 (Track and Field), Nic Saluppo '08 (Track and Field), and Natalie (Lambert '98) Williams (Cross Country).

Two special awards will be given this year as Jason Candle '03 (Football) is the recipient of the Duke Barret Award of Excellence and Dean Marini (long-time broadcast producer and videographer) will be given Honorary M Club membership.

To be inducted into the M Club Hall of Fame, a student-athlete must have earned a degree from Mount Union and received two letters in one sport, or one letter in two or more sports. Athletes are eligible for selection 15 years after graduation or 15 years from last competition. Consideration will be based solely on Mount Union varsity participation, preceding graduation. Coaches and administrators had to serve at least five years prior to consideration or been at least five years since they left the institution.

Here are the bios for this year's honorees:

• Eric Belancic '07 (Track and Field) was a two-time All-American in the high jump (2006 Outdoor (7th) and 2005 Indoor (6th)). Belancic, who was a key member of six OAC Championships Teams (three Indoor and three Outdoor from 2005-07), was a five-time OAC Individual High Jump Champion (three-time Indoor ('04, '06, and '07) and two-time Outdoor ('04, '06). He was a key member of the 2006 Indoor team that finished sixth and 2007 Outdoor team that placed eighth at the NCAA Championships.
   
• John Biacofsky '06 (Track & Field) was a four-time All-American, including a member of the 2006 Outdoor National Championship winning team in the 4x100-meter relay and two runner-up finishes at Nationals. Biacofsky placed second at the 2006 Indoor Nationals in the 55-meter dash and at the 2005 Indoor Nationals in the 100-meter dash. He also placed eighth in the 55-meter dash at the 2003 Indoor Nationals. The 2004 OAC Champion in the Indoor 55-m dash, Biacofsky was a key member of five total OAC Championship teams (two Indoor and three Outdoor). He holds the 200-meter school record (20.82) and is a member of the 4x100-meter relay that holds the program's best time (40.30).
   
• Willie Dawson '86 (Track and Field) was a three-time All-American in the triple jump, including two runner-up finishes at NCAAs. Dawson placed second in both the 1986 Indoor and 1986 Outdoor NCAA Championships and third at the 1985 NCAA Indoors. Dawson was a key member of the Mount teams that had two top-3 Indoor National team finishes, including runner-up in 1985 (third in 1986) and three top-5 Outdoor National Team Finishes, including runner-up in 1984 (third in 1983 and fifth in 1986). Mount Union won the OAC Championship every year Dawson competed in (1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 Indoor and Outdoor Champions). Dawson was a four-time OAC Individual Champion (1986 Indoor in triple jump, 1985 Indoor in long jump, 1986 Outdoor in triple jump, and 1985 Outdoor in triple jump).
   
• Tammy (Dougherty '95) Durham (Track & Field) is a five-Time All-American, including a member of the 1995 Outdoor National Championship 4x400-meter relay team. Dougherty was a two-time Outdoor All-American, including a third-place finish as part of the 4x400-meter relay (also placed fourth in the 400-meters in the 1994 NCAAs). She was also a two-time Indoor All-American in the 400-meters (1995-6th and 1994-5th). Durham was a key member of the 1995 OAC Outdoor Championship team (teams were runner-up in all the other years).
   
• Pierre Garcon '10 (Football) was a key member of two National Championship teams (2005, 2006) and a two-time First Team All-American (2007 D3football.com and 2006 American Football Coaches Association). A two-time winner of the OAC Ed Sherman Award Most Valuable Receiver award, Garcon was a two-time All-OAC First Team recipient. Garcon is among program record book leaders in multiple categories, including fourth in career receiving touchdowns (47), sixth in career receptions (202), seventh in career receiving yards (3,363), and tied for eighth in total touchdowns scored (52). He also holds the school playoff record for longest reception (92 yards). Mount Union won the OAC every year he was part of. Garcon, who was drafted in the NFL by the Indianapolis Colts in 2008, had an illustrious professional career including the NFL receptions leaders in 2013, multiple 1,000-receiving yard seasons, and started and caught a touchdown in Super Bowl XLIV; his 19-yard touchdown capped off a 96-yard drive tying the longest touchdown scoring drive in Super Bowl history. He was also a member of the 2006 NCAA Outdoor Championship 4x100-meter relay team.
   
• Kyle Karpinski '05 (Men's Basketball) was a National Association of Basketball Coaches All-American First Team selection, only one of three players in the history of the program to earn First Team All-American. Karpinski was a two-time All-OAC First Team Selection (2004-05 and 2005-06). He Ranks 10th all-time with 1,348 career points and holds the school record for consecutive games played (108) - ranks third in program history for most game played overall. Mount Union won a total of 68 games during his career.
   
• Vince Kehres '98 (Football Coach) led Mount Union to two NCAA Division III National Championships in 2015 and 2017. His seven-year career record as a head coach of 95-6 (.941) were more victories than any college coach at any level during that period. Kehres' team had seven NCAA playoff appearances, won six OAC titles, and advanced to five national championship games. He was a three-time OAC Coach of the Year, three-time Lee Tressel Ohio College Coach of the Year, and three-time the Columbus Dispatch Ohio College Coach of the Year. Kehres coached numerous All-Americans, All-OAC selections, and special award winners including quarterback Kevin Burke who won the Gagliardi Trophy (Division III's version of the Heisman) twice – the first and only two-time winner all-time. Kehres was part of 12 of Mount Union's 13 national championships in some capacity. Prior to his time as head coach, Kehres served 13 seasons as an assistant under his father and then-head coach Larry Kehres. During his time as defensive coordinator from 2005-12, the Purple Raiders' defense was ranked in the Top 10 nationally in all but one season. Kehres coached the top-ranked defense in all of Division III in 2007, 2008, and 2012. He also served as Mount Union's strength and conditioning coordinator from 2005-13 as well as the recruiting coordinator from 2009-13. Overall, he Spent 21 years at Mount Union as a player and a coach. Kehres was a four-year letterwinner at defensive end for the Purple Raiders, a member of two National Championship teams (1996 and 1997) and earned All-OAC honors during his senior year.
   
• Chris Kern '20 (Football) was a two-time First-Team All-American cornerback for multiple organizations (2002: AFCA First Team, Associated Press First Team, D3football.com First Team, Football Gazette First Team and 2001: Football Gazette First Team and D3football.com First Team). He was also a two-time First Team All-OAC selection (2001, 2002). Kern is tied for first in program history in career passes defended with 58, while fifth in career kick return average (28.00) and tied for sixth in career interceptions (15). In the classroom, Kern was a two-time CoSIDA All-American (2001 Third Team, 2002 CoSIDA First Team). The Raiders won the OAC every year of Kern's career.
   
• Jason Lewis '08 (Football) was a two-time First Team All-American offensive lineman (D3football.com: 2005 and 2006). A two-time All-OAC First Team selection (2005 and 2006), Lewis was named the OAC Mike Gregory Award Most Valuable Offensive Back and Offensive Lineman winner twice (2005 and 2006). Lewis was a key member of two National Championship teams (2005 and 2006). Mount won the OAC every year of Lewis' career.
   
• Jeffrey Powles '92 (Track and Field) was a seven-time All-American, including the National Champion in the 1500 at the 1990 NCAA Indoor Championships and runner-up in the 1500 at the 1992 NCAA Indoors. He placed top-3 in the country six of his seven NCAA appearances (1992 Indoor (1500) - 2nd, 1992 Outdoor (800) - 3rd, 1991 Indoor (1500) - 3rd, 1991 Outdoor (1500) - 3rd, 1990 Indoor (1500) - 1st, 1989 Indoor (1500) - 3rd). Powles also placed seventh at the 1990 Outdoors in the 1500. He was a key member of two top-10 NCAA Indoors team finishes (8th in both 1989 and 1990) and seven total OAC Championship teams (four Indoor and three Outdoor).
   
• Nic Saluppo '08 (Track & Field) was a three-time All-American, including a member of the 2006 NCAA Outdoor Championship 4x100-meter relay team. Saluppo placed third in the 55-meters at the 2007 NCAA Indoors and seventh in the 100-meters at the 2006 NCAA Outdoors. Saluppo was part of two school records (Indoor Sprint Medley - 3:30.89 and Outdoor 4x100-meter relay - 40.30). Saluppo won a combined five OAC Individual Championships (2006 OAC Indoor 55, 2007 OAC Outdoor 100 and 55, 2006 OAC Outdoor 4x100-meter relay, and 2005 OAC Outdoor 4x100-meter relay). He was a key member of three top-8 NCAA team finishes, including 4th at 2008 Outdoors (6th at 2006 Indoors and 8th at 2007 Outdoors), and seven OAC Team Championships (four Outdoor: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and three Indoor: 2005, 2006, 2007).
   
• Natalie (Lambert '98) Williams (Cross Country) has the best individual finish at the NCAA Championships in program history (20th in 1997). Lambert was the first All-American in team history and is still only one of two to this day. She earned two top-3 finishes at the OAC Championships, including runner-up in 1997. In total, she placed in the top-10 three times at the OAC Championships (2nd-1997, 3rd-1996, 9th-1995), earning All-OAC honors three times (1995, 1996, 1997).

The Duke Barret Award of Excellence is named for the 1951 graduate who was a long-time supporter of Purple Raider athletics. He was an avid M Club member, former chair of the Hall of Fame committee, and the Mount Union head football coach from 1956-61. The award honors a member of M Club for career experiences or activities that have brought honor and recognition to the individual and, in turn, Mount Union.

• Jason Candle '03 (Football) made an impact as a student-athlete and a coach at Mount Union. In Candle's six years as an assistant football coach at Mount Union, the Purple Raiders went 83-4 and won the NCAA Division III National Championship in 2005, 2006 and 2008, and runner-up in 2003 and 2007. As a player, Candle was an All-OAC First Team selection in 2001 as he led the team in receptions (41), yards receiving (778) and touchdowns (9). He was a key member of the 2000 and 2001 National Championship teams and finished his career with 57 receptions for 1,037 yards and 11 scores. Candle began his coaching career at Mount Union in 2003 as the receivers coach. He was the offensive coordinator in 2007, and also assumed the duties as the program's recruiting coordinator. In Candle's two seasons as offensive coordinator, the Purple Raiders went 29-1, winning the National Championship in 2008 and finishing as runners-up in 2007. Candle is currently the head coach at the University of Toledo, where he's had great success.

Honorary M Club membership status is given to those individuals who by their actions and support have elevated the athletic department and/or M Club over the years.

• Dean Marini (long-time broadcast producer and videographer) has been one of the top supporters of Mount Union Athletics since the 1980s. Marini was an integral part of Mount Union being one of the first schools to broadcast their games live and on-demand. He has been the school's top videographer, including for all 13 National Championships for football, and the lead producer for one of the top football broadcasts in the nation. He's had multiple highlights receive national coverage, including being showcased on SportsCenter Top 10 Plays. Additionally, Marini has helped with Meet the Team videos for all 24 Mount Union varsity sports.

The 2023 M Club Hall of Fame class and award winners will be recognized Friday, November 10 at the Giese Center for Performing Arts and will be announced at halftime of the football game against Baldwin Wallace on Saturday, November 11 at Kehres Stadium.