QU inducts acclaimed athletes, two Final Four teams into Sports Hall of Fame

QUINCY — Three acclaimed athletes, two Final Four teams and a devoted volunteer were inducted into the Quincy University Sports Hall of Fame during a ceremony Saturday morning in the Hall of Fame Room on the QU campus.

Frank Vinciguerra, who played on the men’s soccer team from 1973-76; Murphy Grant, a football player from 1993-96; and Jennifer Hackett, a member of the women’s soccer team from 1991-94, were inducted as individuals. The 1994 and ’95 women’s soccer teams were honored, along with Roger Hull, who is a member of the Mart Heinen Club, as a meritorious inductee.

A graduate of DeSmet Jesuit in St. Louis, Vinciguerra was a four-year letterman for the Hawks and part of three NAIA national championship teams (1973, ’74 and ’75). He was selected to the NAIA all-tournament team three times and was named to the NAIA District 20 all-star second team as a senior. He was selected by the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the North American Soccer League draft in 1976.

Grant played cornerback, wide receiver and punt returner for the Hawks and finished his career with 12 interceptions, which was the all-time record until 2006. He still holds the single-game interception record with three picks against Winona State in 1996. Grant earned second team All-Illini Badger Conference honors in three straight seasons (1994, ’95 and ’96). He completed his career with 172 total tackles and 113 solo tackles.

Hackett made 55 career starts for the women’s soccer team and finished with 36 career goals and nine assists. She received second-team All-South Region honors as a freshman and first-team All-South honors as a junior. Hackett helped the Hawks make their first NCAA Tournament appearance. She scored 16 goals with a pair of assists in her final season and ended her career with a 44-16-3 record. She ranks in the top 10 in career points with 81.

The 1994 women’s soccer team, coached by Bill Postiglione, went 13-4-1 and made the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since transitioning from the NAIA and reached the Final Four. The Hawks outscored their opponents 76-26 with Camie Bechtold scoring 22 goals. Carrie Bechtold received All-American honors, while the Bechtolds and Hackett were All-Central Region selections.

The 1995 team went 15-5-1 and returned to the Final Four, setting a single-season victory record that stood until 2006. Camie Bechtold, who earned All-American honors, scored a single-season record 24 goals. Ashley Kreis set a single-season record for assists with 13. Camie Bechtold was named a UMBRO Select NCAA DII All-Star, and both Bechtolds earned All-American honors.

Hull has been a member of the Mart Heinen Club and supported Quincy University athletics for more than 30 years. He has been awarded the club’s Volunteer of the Year award twice. Hull is heavily involved with concessions at QU soccer, football, basketball, baseball and volleyball games.