Athletic Director Jay Artigues presents Tommy Connors, Cass Hargis and Kari Yost with awards as part of Hall of Fame induction. Jonathan Rhodes/The Lion’s Roar
Former soccer player Kari Yost, baseball player Cass Hargis and football player Tommy Connors were inducted into the 2017 Southeastern Athletics Hall of Fame. For the first time ever, three former Lion athletes that played in the 2000s were inducted into the Southeastern Athletics Hall of Fame at the same time.
The inductees were happy to return to the university to receive the honor and to see some old friends.
“It’s certainly just good to be back,” said Hargis. “It’s good seeing old teammates, old people who worked here and getting back with everybody.”
Hargis was an outfielder and played for the university from 2008 to 2011. At the time that he left the team, he was under then head coach Jay Artigues. He was the all-time leader in hits, runs, triples and games played.
Hargis keeps up with the current baseball team and the progress of the program.
“It’s awesome,” said Hargis. “I’m not just speaking for myself but for everyone that I played with. We are really proud of them. We follow them everywhere that they go. We got a text message group going every time they play. It’s been fun.”
Hargis is glad that the baseball program has elevated from when he played and has gained national exposure.
“Just seeing it go from when we first got here to where it’s at now is what I enjoy the most about coming back,” said Hargis. “When we first got here, the culture was different and the expectations were different. By the time we left, the expectation was to win conference and play in the regionals. To see it come to fruition now being on the outside of it is really fun.”
Hargis is the head coach of the Holy Cross School baseball team and mentioned in his induction speech how he learned how to be a coach from his former baseball coaches, Artigues and Matt Riser.
“I am fortunate enough to be running my own baseball program now,” said Hargis. “Basically, I got my own personality to it, but everything that I do, I got from coach Riser and coach Artigues. The stuff that coach Artigues would yell at me for during practice, I would roll my eyes at. Now, I get on my guys during practice and stop and think, ‘I sound just like coach Artigues.’ That is what I’m most thankful for because it’s something that didn’t just help me as a baseball player, it helped in my career. I talk to coach Riser all the time. As a friend, I ask him about what to do baseballwise.”
Yost was a defender for the Lady Lions from 2003 to 2006 and was named the Southland Conference Player of the Year and Southland Conference Student-Athlete of the Year as a senior. Under coach Blake Hornbuckle, Yost helped the team to win two Southland Conference regular season championships and was selected to All-Southland Conference three times.
Yost enjoyed her time at the university and the experiences that she will always remember.
“Being a part of the athletic department and all of the athletes and the friends that you’ve made is just something that you will never forget,” said Yost. “Winning conference as a senior was huge. It was such a fun game and such a great season. It made the four years worthwhile.”
Yost thanked her teammates in her induction speech for their support on the field and off it and for being there at her induction into the hall of fame.
“I am fortunate to see some of you girls today,” said Yost. “We have all put in three-a-day’s in the middle of August, we all had to be awake at 6 a.m. These are just a few sacrifices that everyone made to ensure the team’s success. The hard work demonstrated by all of you is the reason I am standing here today. Thank you. You girls are unbelievably talented soccer players and lifelong friends.”
Connors played for the Lions football team as a defensive back from 2006 to 2010 and ranks unbelievably talented soccer players and lifelong friends.”
Connors played for the Lions football team as a defensive back from 2006 to 2010 and ranks third all-time in tackles with 355. Connors earned Southland Conference All-Academic honors for three straight seasons and was a two-time first team All-Louisiana selection.
Former teammate Brian Babin did the induction speech for Connors while he was coaching a football game for the Archbishop Shaw High School football team, which he is the head coach of.
“I did not excel at self-motivation,” said Babin on behalf of Connors. “My motivation has always come from my teammates, the personal relationships we developed and the accountability that I felt to never let down my team. Thank you to my coaches, especially coach Mike Lucas. I only had three scholarship offers coming out of high school because I wasn’t fast enough. Coach Lucas and the Southeastern staff were by far the most loyal through the recruiting process.”
Connors will never forget his teammates and the influence they had on his Lion career and experience as a student-athlete.
“My teammates had become my life just because we did everything together,” said Connors. “You form some bonds, and they drive you to your goals, and you use them as a positive influence in your life. I was thankful to have a bunch of guys that were good for that. The memories that I have here will last forever.”