June 1, 2009

Allendale, Mich. - Tim Selgo, Director of Athletics at Grand Valley State, announced that six individuals will be inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2009. New members will include: Emily Edlund (Portage, Mich./Northern), softball (1997-2000); John Flynn (Petoskey, Mich.), basketball (1998-2002); Brian Kelly (Danvers, Mass.), coaching (1991-2003); Carly Miller (Jackson, Mich.), volleyball (1999-2002); Julie Upmeyer (Grosse Pointe, Mich./South) swimming (1999-2002); and Scott VanDyken (Grand Rapids, Mich./Christian), baseball.

The 2009 Hall of Fame class will be inducted at the Hall of Fame banquet on Friday, Oct. 16, at the Kirkhof Center and then honored during halftime of the Grand Valley State-Findlay Homecoming game on Saturday, Oct. 17. Reservations for the 2009 Hall of Fame dinner can be made by calling (616) 331-8800. This year's class will join the 96 members previously inducted into the Hall of Fame. The first GVSU Athletics Hall of Fame class was inducted in 1986. Plaques honoring all inductees are on display at the Grand Valley State Fieldhouse arena.

"We are inducting another outstanding class into our Hall of Fame," said GVSU athletics director Tim Selgo. "These six individuals were outstanding representatives of Grand Valley State."

The following are thumbnail sketches of each 2009 inductees.

Emily Edlund (1997-2000) turned in a stellar career for the Lakers on the softball diamond. Edlund finished her career with an 87-24 career record in the circle and was a member of a Laker squad that turned in a four-year mark of 189-55-1. Edlund led GVSU to two NCAA appearances (1999 and 2000) and a combined 106-20-1 mark her final two seasons. Emily tallied a career earned run average of 1.78 in 714.2 innings pitched and 130 appearances. She tallied 437 strikeouts, 24 shutouts and 78 complete games during her career. Edlund tallied a 22-8 mark her freshman season, followed by a 17-7 record as a sophomore. Emily notched a 24-2 record as a junior with 114 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.78, while her senior season consisted of a 24-7 record with 145 strikeouts and a 1.15 ERA. Edlund finished her career as the all-time leader in career wins (87), a total that currently ranks second in Laker annals. She ranks second in innings pitched, third in shutouts and fourth in complete games and strikeouts.

John Flynn (1999-2002 was a four-year standout for the Lakers on the hardwood and finished his career as the all-time leading scorer in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (1,531) and Grand Valley State (2,220). In addition, Flynn still ranks first in Laker basketball annals in career free throws made (501), second in field goals made (786) and scoring average (19.6). Flynn was the GLIAC Freshman of the Year in 1999, followed by three straight years of being named First-Team All-GLIAC. John was a three-time First-Team Daktronics, Inc. All-Great Lakes Region honoree. Flynn averaged 22.8 points as a sophomore, followed by a junior year in which he averaged 18.1 points per game and led GVSU to the GLIAC Tournament Championship and a berth in the NCAA DII Tournament. Flynn, who played in 113 career games, closed his career by averaging 24.0 points during his senior campaign.

Former Grand Valley State head football coach Brian Kelly spent 13 years (1991-2003) as the leader of the Lakers on the gridiron. Kelly led GVSU to a 118-35-2 overall mark, including a 103-22-2 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference record. Brian guided the Lakers to five GLIAC titles and six NCAA DII playoff appearances. GVSU won eight or more games 10 times during his 13-year career. Kelly tutored 60 All-Americans during his 13 years at the helm, including a single-season record 11 All-Americans during the 2002 season. Brian led GVSU to the NCAA DII National Championship game in 2001, followed by back-to-back DII National Championships in 2002 and 2003. Kelly was named the GLIAC Coach of the Year once during his time with the Lakers and the American Football Coaches Association DII National Coach of the Year twice (2002-03). Kelly turned GVSU into an offensive machine as his 2001 squad averaged 58.4 points and 600.8 yards per game.

Carly Miller (1999-2002) is one of the most decorated players in the history of the Laker volleyball program. Miller finished her career as the all-time leader in career kills (2,154) and attacks (4,955), while holding onto the second (4.92), third (4.67) and fourth-best (4.45) single-season kills per game average. Miller also notched a career attack percentage of .331 to go along with her 639 digs and 227 blocks. Miller guided Grand Valley State to three GLIAC titles, three NCAA DII Great Lakes Regional crowns, three Elite Eight appearances and two NCAA DII Final Four trips during her four-year career. The Lakers were a combined 119-19 during her time in Allendale, including an incredible 65-8 GLIAC mark. Carly was a four-time member of the All-GLIAC First Team, a three-time all-region honoree and the 2001 GLIAC Player of the Year. Miller was an AVCA First Team All-American in 2001 and 2002.

Julie Upmeyer (1999-2002) concluded her swimming career as the top distance freestyler in Laker annals. Upmeyer was an 11-time all-american for Grand Valley State and finished her career as the school record-holder in the 200, 500, 1000 and 1650-meter freestyle. She continues to hold the freshman and varsity record in the 1650 freestyle (17:32.92), while still ranking in the top three all-time in the 200, 500 and 1000 free. Julie captured 10 GLIAC individual championships during her career and was named the GLIAC Women's Swimmer of the Year for the 2000 and 2001 campaigns. Upmeyer was a four-time College Swimming Coaches Association of American Academic All-America and a three-time academic All-GLIAC honoree. Julie was 2002 Grand Valley State Scholar Athlete of the Year and was nominated for the NCAA Woman of the Year award.

Scott VanDyken (1975-78) was a two-sport performer for the Lakers, spending time on the Laker football squad as a quarterback before injuries forced him into baseball on a fulltime basis. VanDyken was a four-year starter on the diamond for the Lakers, recording a 17-8 record in 170.2 innings pitched. VanDyken's 17 wins ranks as the fifth-best career total, while his 146 strikeouts rank seventh in Laker annals. VanDyken averaged 7.7 strikeouts per nine innings for his career and tallied a career earned run average of 3.60. VanDyken's name will always be etched in the history of Laker baseball as he tossed Grand Valley State's first-ever no-hitter on May 18, 1978. He recorded 12 strikeouts and threw 100 pitches, 72 of which were strikes in the 11-0 victory over Anderson University. VanDyken's 17 wins during his career came in an era in which the Laker baseball team played just 30 games per year, compared to the 56-game schedule that GVSU currently plays. Scott was 6-2 with 47 strikeouts in 48.0 innings pitched as a freshman. He was 4-1 during his junior year and 4-2 as a senior with 49 strikeouts in 48.2 innings pitched.