QU to induct 11 individuals into Sports Hall of Fame during weekend ceremony

QUINCY — The president of an outdoor sportswear brand. The J.G. Taylor Spink Award winner. An accomplished mixed martial arts fighter. An all-American baseball player.

The latest class of inductees into the Quincy University Sports Hall of Fame are trendsetters, icons, acclaimed student-athletes and successful businessmen.

QU will honor the Class of 2023 during an induction ceremony at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in the Hall of Fame Room in the QU Health & Fitness Center.

Here is a look at the 11 individuals being honored:

Brady Collings

Brady Collings earned his degree in sports management and sports marketing from QU in 1995, and he made significant contributions to the QU men’s volleyball program. At the end of Brady’s QU volleyball career, he was fifth in kills, fourth in aces, and third in digs, but even with these impressive accomplishments, volleyball was not Brady’s first sport of choice.

When he was 17, Brady moved to Colorado to pursue his Olympic dream of alpine ski racing.  While ski racing, he met two ex-collegiate volleyball coaches who took a keen interest in teaching Brady how to play volleyball.  Brady was introduced to this new sport which became his passion, and he dedicated his training to volleyball.

Brady got offers from several Division 1 volleyball programs but was convinced that Quincy was a better fit. As a red-shirted, 20-year-old freshman, QU embraced him with open arms. His passion for the sport and his teammates allowed Brady to take a leadership role with the team. Brady knew that all the hard work and effort was about the Men’s Volleyball Program at QU, its legacy and its future. 

After earning his degree, Brady pursued a career in the sport gear arena. Brady has worked for four companies including Nike, Spyder, Global Brands Group, and Liberated Brands, and today he is the Global GM/Brand President of Spyder, one of the world’s most recognizable and credible outdoor sportswear brands and sponsor of the U.S. Winter Olympic team.

Brady is also quick to acknowledge his time at QU shaped his team player approach to leadership. As Brady says, “The detours, roadblocks, and stumbles to get to Quincy and those that you experience in life are often times the things that make it that much sweeter.”

Rick Hummel

Rick Hummel is a Quincy native and graduate of Quincy High School. He spent two years at Quincy College before getting his journalism degree at the University of Missouri and moving on to a renowned sports writing career.

Rick is an author and sports columnist best known for his work for the St. Louis Post Dispatch, a 51-year career that started with a young man’s love for sports. Rick auditioned for a job at WGEM-AM when he was 12 years old. He didn’t get that announcing job, but he worked as a student spotter for QHS sports broadcasts. He covered sports for the Quincy Herald-Whig during his summers in college and then worked two years at the Colorado Springs Free Press/Sun while serving in the U.S. Army.

Rick was hired by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in 1971 and took over as beat writer for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1978. He covered countless Cardinals playoffs, including three World Series champions, 35 World Series and the last 42 All-Star games. 

Rick was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007, when he was honored with the J. G. Taylor Spink Award for baseball writing. In 2008, Rick was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and has been awarded the Missouri Sports Writer of the Year three times. Rick is also a member of the QHS Blue Devils Hall of Fame.

In addition to baseball, Rick reported on professional basketball and hockey and on college football, basketball and boxing. He co-authored a book with Tony LaRussa, One Last Strike, released in 2012.

Rick’s last day at the Post-Dispatch was November 30, 2022, at the age of 76.

Dustin Jacoby

Dustin Jacoby attended QU for three semesters in 2009 and 2010 and was the quarterback for the football team under Bill Terlisner, “Coach T.” Dustin chose to forego his redshirt senior season at QU and focus his talents on professional Mixed Martial Arts.

Dustin made his amateur debut at the Oakley-Lindsay Center in Quincy and advanced quickly through the amateur ranks. He was on the fast track to competing for the world’s leading MMA promotion, the Ultimate Fighting Championship. After going 6-0 in his first six professional bouts, Dustin made his UFC debut in 2011.  He came up short in his first two attempts at getting his first UFC victory and was released from the promotion in 2012.  

Committed to becoming a professional athlete. Dustin competed in a one night, 8-man kickboxing tournament in 2013 with the world’s biggest kickboxing organization, Glory Kickboxing.  He would go on to defeat the three opponents he faced that night and started a career in Professional Kickboxing.  

Dustin won three of the five tournaments he competed in which led to a ranking as high as #2 in the world in his weight class and a shot at a World Title fight. Dustin came up short in his quest of becoming a World Champion, losing a close decision to his opponent.

From there, Dustin knew he wanted to get back into MMA and compete in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.  In August 2020, Dustin won a unanimous decision victory, earning his second contract with the UFC.  On October 2020, Dustin Jacoby got his first UFC victory almost a full decade after his UFC debut. 

Dustin currently has six UFC victories and is ranked #13 in the world in the Light Heavyweight division.

Fernando Barretto

Fernando Barretto graduated from QU in 2004 with a degree in graphic arts for business. Fernando continued his education at Quincy University, earning his MBA in 2005.

In his four years at QU, Fernando stood out as a pillar of the Quincy Men’s Volleyball team.

Known for his fiery style of play, Fernando was an all-conference selection three out of his four years at Quincy and was chosen as an All-American Honorable Mention in 2002.

Twenty years later, Fernando still ranks in the top five all-time in three different categories: hitting percentage, total kills and blocks.

Fernando attributes most of this success to the overall QU community, especially the structure around university athletics, including his team members and Head Coach Tim Koth. 

As a member of the Quincy community, Fernando was an Assistant Coach of the Quincy High Blue Devils and spent five years in various roles in the Student Affairs department.

Following his time in Quincy, Fernando has enjoyed a career in marketing and advertising, working with some of the most prominent advertising agencies in the country, as well as serving as a Global Marketing Director. Recently married, Fernando now lives with his wife in Miami Beach, Florida.

Rasaan Hall

Rasaan Hall is a 1996 QU graduate with a degree in public relations. Rasaan had a strong showing on the basketball court his junior and senior years, and he went on to play for Athletes in Action and professionally with the William Jones Cup in Taiwan and with the Chinese Basketball Association.

For the QU Hawks, Rasaan’s stats speak for themselves: 

During his two seasons at QU, Rasaan set the school record for 3-point field goal percentage and ranked fourth in NCAA Division II 3-point field goal percentage. He totaled 804 points in two seasons. Rasaan won the team free throw award and led the team in charges taken.

Rasaan was voted as team MVP and named Honorable Mention All-American his senior year.

During Rasaan’s time at QU, the Hawks earned QU’s first two bids to the NCAA Division II tournaments, making it to the semifinals his senior year.

After his time with international basketball, Rasaan returned to his home state in California, engaging in several business, marketing endeavors until he began a career in pharmaceuticals. Rasaan has been with Pfizer Inc. as Senior Hospital Sales Specialist for 20 years.

Paul Jackstadt

Paul Jackstadt graduated from Quincy College in 1971 with a history degree. His contributions to the men’s basketball team had a slow start and then skyrocketed.

In his first year at Quincy College, Paul was the only freshman to make it from JV to varsity. He played in five games. As Paul’s skills progressed, he moved up to be a starter his sophomore year, scoring 246 points that season and shooting 56% from the field.

His junior year, Paul became the leading scorer on the team, averaging 16.4 points per game. The Hawks finished 22-8, losing a playoff game in overtime 96-92. That team still holds the season record for the most points per game with 91. 

As a senior, Paul averaged 20.8 points overall and 23.8 points per game.  He scored 541 points his final season and shot 50% from the field. 

Paul scored 41 points in one game his final season.  The record for individual player most points per game is 45, which is still held by Paul’s assistant coach, Dewey Kalmer.  

Paul is presently ranked 17^th in scoring at Quincy with 1279 points. He was one of two unanimous picks to the All Midlands Conference team.   

Bob Pollihan

Bob Pollihan earned his accounting degree from Quincy College in 1973. It’s Bob’s exceptional soccer skills, tenacity on the soccer field and leadership in QU soccer and in St. Louis soccer communities that merits a QU Sports Hall of Fame induction.

Bob played a key role in the 1971 QU men’s soccer team winning a national championship and in the 1972 team getting to the finals. Bob was a member of the first, second and third place QU national soccer tournament teams. He was on the all-national tournament team in 1970 and on the District 20 all-star team in 1971, and Bob  is a member of the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame.

In the words of one of Bob’s former co-captains Jim Huneke, “Bob was a special soccer player right from the beginning of his time at Quincy.” Bob earned a starting position early in his freshman season and remained a starter throughout his college career, playing four different positions. Few players could contribute skillful, consistent, versatile performances like Bob did.

Comments from players include that Bob displayed excellent passing skills, was exceptional in the air, tenacious defensively and covered a lot of ground. He was gifted technically and loved scoring goals.

Bob was instrumental in framing the legacy of the QU men’s soccer program.

Kim Pingsterhaus Rakers

Kim Pingsterhaus Rakers graduated from Quincy University in 1999 with a degree in accounting. Kim was a two-sport athlete, playing basketball her freshman and sophomore years and volleyball for four years.  

Kim played a significant role on the Lady Hawks Volleyball team. As a three-time QU volleyball team captain, she finished her senior year as the all-time leader in kills, digs and service aces. In the GLVC, Kim ranked fourth in kills, ninth in digs and first in service aces.

Kim’s awards include single season record of 423 digs her freshman year, school record of 33 kills in one game, Brother Clete VanAckeren Award for Academic & Athletic Achievements, 1998 GTE College Division District V All-American Women’s Volleyball Third Team, First Team All GLVC, GLVC Player of the Week two times, and McDonald’s Invitational All-Tournament Team. She was nominated for the Mart Heinen Award of Excellence in Intercollegiate Athletics and for the Richard F. Scharf Paragon Award.

Kim also excelled in academics.  She was a Presidential Scholar and member of the Chi Alpha Sigma National College Athletics Honor Society and the Phi Eta Sigma National College Honor Society.  Kim was recognized as GLVC Volleyball Scholar Athlete, GLVC Academic All-Conference Team for three years, GLVC Academic-Athletic Team for four years, and Who’s Who Among Students in American College and Universities.

Kim has worked for AT&T for 23 years and is active in coaching and community betterment in her local area.

Heath Tagtmeyer

Heath Tagtmeyer graduated from QU in 1995 with a finance degree. His athletic skill set ranged from soccer to baseball to football.

Heath came to QU as a two-sport athlete. He was a two-year starter on the Division I men’s soccer team and was awarded the 1992 rookie of the year.

Heath’s stronger sport was baseball where he played for three seasons. He was a true offensive threat, ending his baseball career with a .352 batting average, 167 hits, 105 runs, 107 RBIs, and 31 stolen bases. 

Heath’s offensive power was rivaled by his presence on the mound. Heath did not come to QU as a pitcher, but his passion for the sport and for his team led him to step up to the challenge. Heath exceled as a pitcher. He won 13 games in two years including two shutouts. Heath won eight games in 1995 which was the highest mark of all time, and his 82 innings pitched was the fifth highest of all time.

To top off Heath’s athletic career at QU, Heath started practicing field kicking because the football team needed a kicker. He kicked five extra points in his first game. Two games later, he kicked a school record 48-yard field goal. That record stood for 26 years. The Hawks won the remaining football games that season, and Heath was named to the All-Conference team.

Since graduation, Heath has held various positions in the technology sector, and he earned an Executive MBA from Arizona State’s WP Carey School of Business in 2013.

Brenda Walters Tanker

Brenda Walters Tanker graduated from QU in 2001 with a biological sciences degree, and she was a key player on the women’s volleyball team. Brenda left QU as the university’s all-time assists leader with 5,107 assists over her four-year career, an assist record that still stands. 

Brenda broke her own assist record with 1,615 assists her senior season, the most for any Lady Hawk in a single season. Brenda also set the record for most assists in one game her junior year with 80 assists, and she re-set that mark her senior year with 90 assists.

Brenda’s accolades on the volleyball court were mirrored by her academic success. Brenda was named to the Verizon Academic All-American Team, District V. She was named an Academic All-Conference and Academic All-American, and Brenda was selected as a member of Who’s Who Among Students at American Universities and Colleges.

After graduating from QU, Brenda went to pharmacy school and earned a master’s degree in PharmD from Purdue in 2004.

Bart Toennies

Bart Toennies graduated from QU in 1994 with a sociology degree. His contributions to the QU baseball team set historical standards. 

In his senior season, Bart was the all-time leader in triples, doubles, and RBIs. His batting average of .446 his senior year was the second highest in the history of Hawk baseball and ranked him 13^th in the nation. Bart’s slugging percentage was .846, which was good for fourth in the nation, and Bart could hit it over the fence. He was the third all-time leader in home runs both for his senior season and his career with 9 homers his last season and 17 for his two-year QU baseball career. To go along with his power, Bart was the seventh all-time stolen bases leader. He tallied 19 stolen bases in his senior season and 26 in his career. 

One more stat that really stands out was Bart’s career batting average of .419 which put him just behind Hall of Famer Jason Rakers for second highest in the history of Hawk baseball.

According to Bart’s former QU baseball coach, Pat Atwell, “There is only one person who can say that he was the first NCAA All-American in the history of Hawk baseball, and that person is Bart Toennies.”