FINALBCU2025HOF

Charger Athletics Announce Hall of Fame Class of 2025

Briar Cliff Athletics is proud to announce its 2025 Hall of Fame Class and will induct Five Chargers on January 25th. The Hall of Fame Class includes Rusty Muncy (track and field), Tara Cockerill (track and field), Don Munchrath (baseball), Jay Wolfe (men’s basketball), and Erich Erdman (men’s basketball)

I am happy to announce the induction of Rusty Muncy, Tara Cockerill, Don Munchrath, Jay Wolfe, and Erich Erdman into the Briar Cliff Hall of Fame. These individuals are deserving of this honor for their contributions to Charger Athletics.
Tim Jager, Executive Director of Athletics

Rusty Muncy 2016 (Track and Field)

A native of Bodfish, California, Rusty Muncy had a decorated career for the Charger Track and Field team, being named a six-time All-American, nine-time GPAC Champion, and earning All-GPAC honors 27 times during his career. In 2015, Muncy was named the most outstanding performer at the GPAC Indoor Championships, where he earned All-GPAC status in all five of the events he participated, on top of winning the 60m and 200m dash.

 

Muncy qualified for the NAIA National meet in eight different events, earning All-American status in the 400-hurdles once and the 4x400 relay five times.

 

Career Accolades

  • Six-Time All-American (One 400-Hurdles, Five-Time 4x400 Relay)
  • Nine-Time GPAC Champions (60m, two in 100, two in 4x100, two in 4x400, 400m hurdles)
  • Earned 27 All-GPAC Honors
  • Named most outstanding performer at 2015 GPAC Indoor Championships, earning All-GPAC in five different events while winning the 60m and 200m
Rusty Muncy Track and Field HOF
“I am so happy that Rusty has been selected to join the BCU Athletic Hall of Fame. After one year of trying different events, Rusty really burst onto the conference and national stage becoming a 24X All GPAC selection, 9x GPAC champion, selected as the Most Outstanding Male Performer at the 2015 GPAC indoor championships by scoring 30.5 points, named NAIA National Men's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week, qualified for nationals 19 times in 8 different events, and obtaining All American honors 6 times. His versatility and reliable starts on the relays made Rusty extremely valuable to the team’s success.”
Nathan Treinen, Former Head Track and Field Coach, Assistant Athletic Director
Tara Throwing Shot put

Tara Cockerill 2013 (Track and Field)

A Native of Spalding, Nebraska, Tara Cockerill was a two-time All-American in the shot put and a six-time NAIA National Indoor and Outdoor National Championships qualifier. Cockerill in 2013 during the indoor season finished National Runner-Up in the shotput, setting a school record of 49-0575 Ft, a school record that still stands today. In the 2013 National Outdoor Meet, she finished seventh in shotput after posting a mark of 48-04 Ft, ranking first in program history.

 

Cockerill also participated in the Drake Relays, finishing 20th against NCAA Division 1, Division 2, Division 3, and NAIA Competition.

Career Accolades

  • Two-Time All-American
  • National Runner-up (2013)
  • Three-time All-GPAC selection
  • Indoor Shot Put: 49-0575 Ft (Ranks 1st)
  • Outdoor Shot Put: 48-04 Ft (Ranks 1st)
  • Seven-Time NAIA National quallifier
“I am extremely excited and proud that Tara will be joining the BCU Athletic Hall of Fame. Her unyielding work ethic, dedication, passion, and strive for perfection in throwing drove her to the successful career that she had. She stuck with the plan on changing from gliding to the spin technique through tough times and ended up finishing her career as a 7-time national qualifier and 2-time All American with one being the national runner up in 2013. Her school records of 49-5.75 in indoor and 48-4 in outdoor still hold strong today.”
Nathan Treinen, Former Head Track and Field Coach, Assistant Athletic Director

Don Munchrath 1988 (Baseball)

A native of Omaha, Nebraska, Munchrath finished his career as one of the best pitchers to play at Briar Cliff University. Muncharth ranks fifth in career wins on the pitching mound with 23, second in complete games with 23, and is tied for first with five career shutouts. He ranks third in innings pitched in a career with 250.2. Muncharth graduated in 1988 and was named to the NAIA Academic All-America Team his senior year.

Career Accolades

  • Pitching Wins in a season (Tied for 3rd with three, 1987 and 1988)
  • Complete Games in a season (Tied for 3rd with nine in 1987 and 1988)
  • Shutouts in a season (Tied for first with three in 1988)
  • Fifth in career wins (23)
  • 2nd in complete games in a career (23)
  • Five Career shutouts (Tied for 1st)
  • 5th in career strikeouts (174)
  • 2nd in career innings pitched (250.2)

 

Don Pitching Hall of Fame
“Though I played only one season with Don, I sensed he was destined to do special things at the Cliff. And the back of his baseball card confirms that - in wins, shutouts, innings pitched, and complete games. You knew when he toed the rubber, you’d be getting nothing but his best effort.”
Dale Roder, Former Teammate, Briar Cliff Hall of Fame Member

Back in the 2015-16 season, one of the of the most dynamic duos to suit up for the Chargers began their collegiate careers inside the Newman Flanagan Center. 

MBB NAIA National Tournament
“I’m so proud of both Erich Erdman and Jay Wolfe being inducted into the Briar Cliff Hall of fame. Having two players of their caliber in the same class for four years is an outlier in college basketball. They led us to 106 wins in their four seasons at Briar Cliff which included 2 GPAC Regular Season Titles, one GPAC Tournament title, four NAIA National Tournament Appearances, and three trips to the Elite Eight. To say this is well earned, and well deserved for both would be an understatement.”
Mark Svagera, Head Men's Basketball Coach

Jay Wolfe 2019 (Men's Basketball)

Wolfe, a native of Creston, Iowa, is one of three players in history of the Great Plains Athletic Conference to earn Defensive Player of the Year, and conference Player of the Year. The two-time All-American and three-time All-GPAC selection ranks 10th in career points with 1,804, 2nd in games played in a career with 135, and ranks 13th in rebounds in a career with 735. 

 

Career Accolades

  • 1st Team All-American (2018-19)
  • Honorable Mention All-American (2017-18)
  • GPAC Player of the Year (2018-19)
  • GPAC Defensive Player of the Year (2017-18)
  • Two-Time NAIA Scholar Athlete
  • 10th in Career points (1,804)
  • 718 points in 2018-19 ranks 8th in a single season
  • 7th in career three-pointers made (246)
  • Shot 48.2% from three in 2018-19 ranking 4th in a single season
  • Shot 47.1% from three in 2015-16 ranking 6th in a single season
  • Converted 86.6% from the free throw line in 2018-19 ranks 9th in a single season
  • 2nd in career games with 135

 

 

Jay Wolfe National Tournament
“I’m so excited for Jay Wolfe to be inducted into the Briar Cliff Hall of fame. Jay is one of only 3 players in GPAC history to be a Defensive Player of the Year (2018), and Player of the Year (2019). Jay was a four-year rotation player that improved every year he was in our program. He was also the most calm, cool and collected player I’ve ever had the privilege to coach. Nothing rattled Jay, and after Erich Erdman’s career ending injury in 2018-19, Jay led our team through the adversity and onto the NAIA Elite Eight. I’m proud and honored to welcome Jay to the Hall of Fame.”
Mark Svagera, Head Men's Basketball Coach
Erich Erdman HOF

Erich Erdman 2019 (Men's Basketball)

Erdman, a native of Forrest City, Iowa, earned GPAC Freshman of the Year honors before becoming a two-time All-American and three-time All-GPAC selection. A injury his senior year limited him to just 10 games. Erdman finished his career ranked 7th all-time in scoring with 1,881, 7th in three-pointers with 225, 5th in assists with 375, and 4th in career free throws with 488.

Career Accolades

  • Two-Time Third-Team All-American (2016-17, 2017-18)
  • GPAC Freshman of the Year (2015-16)
  • Three-Time All-GPAC Performer
  • Two-Time NAIA Scholar Athlete
  • 8th in Career Points (1,881)
  • 8th in Career three-pointers made (225)
  • 5th in Career Assists (375)
  • 180 Free throws made in 2017-18 ranks 6th in single season
  • 4th in career free throws made (488)
  • Converted on 92.8% of free throw attempts in 2016-17 ranks 2nd in a single season
  • Converted on 89.6% in 2017-18 and 87.6% in 2015-16 to rank fourth and seventh in a single season
  • 165 Assists in 2017-18 ranks 8th in a single season

 

Erich Erdman is so deserving of joining the Briar Cliff hall of fame. He is one of very few players we’ve had in the last 14 years who has stepped in and had massive impact from day one of his career. After being named GPAC freshman of the year he continued to improve his game to the level of 2-time All-American, and would have been 3-time if not for injury. When his career was cut short due to injury he continued to have a positive impact on our program and still does today. I’m so proud of Erich for this honor, but also for how he continues to represent our program.
Mark Svagera, Head Men's Basketball Coach

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