In order to be a Hall of Famer of any type, it means to be considered one of the best there ever was. On Saturday, Sept. 22, three former student-athletes will be inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame.
Receiving this prestigious honor will be former Lion football and track athlete Donald Dykes and a duo of former Lady Lion soccer teammates Kim McNally and Kendra Oney. The trio of players will be formerly inducted in an afternoon ceremony in the Hall of Champions in the University Center prior to being introduced at halftime of the Lion football game versus McNeese State.
The induction of these players will increase the Hall of Fame membership to 128 and will mark the first time that two players from the same sport in McNally and Oney, were inducted in the same year since former Lady Lion basketball players Queen Brumfield Nard and Pam Cook Forrest were enshrined in 1998.
As a native of Hammond, Dykes stood out on both the gridiron and the track while at Southeastern in the late 70s. Dykes lettered all four years of his football career and finished with 12 career blocked kicks and six career interceptions. Dykes career efforts earned him a prestigious honor in 1979, as he was selected in the third round of the 1979 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. Dykes played four NFL seasons, including three with the Jets and one with the San Diego Chargers in 1982.
As a track athlete, Dykes was an eight time All-American, excelling in the long jump competition. He won three national championships at Southeastern and helped propel the Lions to the 1975 National Championship. Dykes saw one of his best seasons in 1977, when he set a school and state record with a long jump of 26 feet, 3 inches. At the time, the jump was 17th best in the world.
Both McNally and Oney starred as teammates for the Lady Lions soccer team in the early 2000s. McNally played from 2002-04 and Oney played from 2000-03. The duo paired together in 2002 and 2003, propelling the Lions to consecutive SLC Championships. In 2003, Oney won Southland Player of the Year and set a school and SLC single season record for most game winning goals with seven. Oney finished her career as a Lady Lion second all-time in goals with 38 and points scored (93).
After transferring from Tulsa, McNally played three seasons of soccer as a Lady Lion. She was a three time All Southland selections and played arguably her best season in 2002. That season, McNally recorded a single-season record 52 points along with 21 goals. McNally set Lady Lion records over her career with 127 points scored and 55 goals.
All three athletes were unavailable for comment. For more information on Lion Athletics, visit www.lionsports.net.