MARSHALL, Minn. – Tickets are now on sale for the 17^th induction into the Southwest Minnesota State University Athletics Hall of Honor is set for Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, at the SMSU Upper Level Conference Center.
 
The festivities will begin at 10:30 a.m. with a half-hour social, followed by lunch and the induction ceremonies beginning at 11 a.m. 
 
Tickets for the lunch and ceremony are $25 per person with children $10. To reserve a ticket(s) for the banquet go to SMSUmustangs.com/HallofHonorTickets.  
 
The newest SMSU Athletics Hall of Honor members, announced in October, are former soccer player Nadia AbuAyed (2001-04); football player Jim Connor (1987-89); volleyball player Devin Diedrich (2008-12); men's basketball player Jordan Miller (2008-13); swimmer Jim Norton (1974-78); and former head volleyball coach Terry Culhane (2004-21).
 
An 11-member committee chose the inductees from a group of nominations. The new inductees bring the membership in SMSU's Athletic Hall of Honor to 121 individuals/couples and 16 teams.
 
The SMSU Athletics Hall of Honor, with special thanks to US Bank, is displayed in the lobby of the R/A Facility. To view the SMSU Athletics Hall of Honor, go to SMSUmustangs.com/hallofhonor.
 
The following are biographical sketches on each of the 2025 inductees:
 
Nadia (AbuAyed) Opatz • Soccer, 2001-04
A native of Monticello, Minn. … 2001 graduate of Monticello HS … four-year letter winner at SMSU … three-time All-NSIC first team honoree (2002, 2003, 2004) … named to the NSIC all-tournament team in 2003 … CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree in 2004 … led team in assists three times and led the team in goals once during career … SMSU finished second in the NSIC regular season and was NSIC tournament runner-up her senior season (2004) … finished career as the program's all-time leader in points (79), goals (27) and assists (25) … played in 82 career games … following the 2024 season, currently ranks second all-time in both points and assists, while ranking third in goals.
 
Jim Conner • Football, 1987-89
A native of Chicago, Ill. … 1985 graduate of Simeon HS … transfer from Iowa Central Community College … three-year letter winner at SMSU … NAIA All-American honorable mention (1988) … NAIA All-American second team (1989) … two-time All-NIC first team and NAIA All-District honoree at defensive tackle (1988 and 1989) … had a team-high 14 tackles for loss and finished with 61 tackles in 1989 … recorded 93 tackles during the 1987 season, helping SMSU to the program's first-ever NAIA playoff appearance … attended Minnesota Vikings free agent training camp following collegiate career … finished career with 214 tackles, 7.5 sacks and four fumble recoveries in 31 games … following the 2024 season, still ranks 10^th in team history in tackles for loss.
 
Devin Diedrich • Volleyball, 2008-12
A native of Braham, Minn. … 2008 graduate of Braham HS … five-year member and four-year letter winner at SMSU … missed the 2011 season with injury … three-time All-NSIC first team honoree (2009, 2010, 2012) … All-NSIC honorable mention (2008) … NSIC Player of the Year (2010) … AVCA Region Freshman of the Year (2008) … AVCA All-American honorable mention (2008) … AVCA All-American third team (2009) … AVCA All-American first team (2010) … CCA All-American second team (2010) … three-time AVCA All-Region first team (2008, 2009, 2010) … CCA All-Region first team (2010) … named AVCA National Player of the Week during the 2010 season … member of four NCAA tournament teams … member of 2012 NSIC regular season and NSIC tournament championship team … closed career appearing in 131 matches with 1,652 kills, 3,887 attacks, a .314 hitting pct., 406 blocks and 1,982.5 points … following the 2024 season, still ranks third in team history in points, fourth in kills, fifth in attacks, sixth in blocks and seventh in hitting pct.
 
Jordan Miller • Men's Basketball, 2008-13
A native of Mitchell, S.D. … 2008 graduate of Mitchell HS … five-year member and four-year letter winner ... sat out the 2008-09 season as a redshirt … two-time All-NSIC first team honoree (2011-12, 2012-13) ... led team in scoring as a junior (14.2) and senior (15.2) ... led the team in 3-point field goals made in all four seasons ... led team in free throw pct. all four seasons ... member of 2012 NSIC tournament championship team and 2012 NCAA tournament team … named SMSU 2011-12 Male Athlete of the Year … never missed a game during four seasons … played in 115 career games, scoring 1,563 points, with 253 3-point field goals made, 300 free throw made, 321 assists and 505 field goals made … following the 2023-24 season, still ranks first in team history in 3-point field goal attempts (692), third in 3-point field goals made, fourth in points, fifth in free throws made, fifth in assists, seventh in free throw pct., and 10^th in field goals made.
 
Jim Norton • Swimming/Diving, 1974-78
A native of White Bear Lake, Minn. … 1974 graduate of White Bear Lake HS … four-year letter winner at SMSU … member of four Northern Intercollegiate Conference championship teams … SMSU placed 11th, 6th, 8th and 12th at NAIA Championships during his career ...  four-time All-NIC honoree (1975, 1976, 1977, 1978) as a mid-distance freestyler … NIC 200-yard freestyle champion (1975) … anchored the NIC record setting 800-yard freestyle relay … NAIA All-American in 800 freestyle relay (1976) that placed fourth at the NAIA Championships … NAIA All-American in 800 freestyle relay (1977) … was named SMSU's 'Most Improved' athlete in 1975 and 'Most Inspirational' in 1976, following his come from behind victory anchoring the 800-yard freestyle relay which inspired the team to its fourth NIC championship … two-time team captain (1976-77 and 1977-78) … elected to the NIC Hall of Fame (1990).
 
Terry Culhane • Head Volleyball Coach, 2004-21
Head volleyball coach for 18 seasons (2020 was canceled) … program's all-time leader in victories finishing with a career record of 431-124, including 258-66 in conference matches … SMSU made 15 NCAA tournament appearances, which included 11 NCAA region tournament semifinal appearances, three NCAA region tournament championship matches (2011, 2014, 2016) and one NCAA national runner-up finish (2014) … SMSU won at least 18 matches every season, including winning 25 or more in 13 of 17 seasons played (2020 season was canceled) … SMSU hosted two NCAA Central Region Tournaments (2010, 2017) … SMSU won two NSIC regular season titles (2012, 2016) and captured two NSIC tournament championships (2012, 2017) … four-time NSIC Coach of the Year … SMSU finished third or higher in the NSIC regular season standings 13 times, including six second-place finishes … SMSU was ranked in the AVCA Top 25 poll for all but one week from Sept. 5, 2006, through the 2021 season … native of Marshall … 1978 graduate of SMSU, where he played both basketball and baseball.