WEST LIBERTY — The 44th-annual induction ceremony for the West Liberty University Athletic Hall of Fame will be held Oct. 4 inside the College Union Ballroom on the WLU campus.

The Class of 2025 includes Damon Brooks (Football), Cory Delguzzo (Baseball), Ed Garczyk (Baseball), C.J. Hester (Men’s Basketball), Mark Johnston (Football), Lena Kalvans (Women’s Basketball), and Hillary Southworth (Women’s Basketball).

The day’s events get under way with a social gathering at 8:30 a.m., followed by breakfast at 9 a.m. and the formal induction ceremony. The inductees will also be recognized on the field during halftime of West Liberty’s football game against West Virginia State at West Family Stadium.

Following are information capsules for this year’s honorees:

DAMON BROOKS

(Football)

A big-play threat every time he touched the ball, Damon Brooks transitioned from running back to wide receiver early in his Hilltopper career and made an immediate impact. Brooks ranked No. 7 nationally in yards per catch (23.0) as a true freshman, earning the first of his four All-WVIAC citations, and was a 1991 NAIA Preseason All-America selection. More than three decades later, he still holds the school career record for kick return yards (1,151) and

ranks third in all-purpose yards (3,919). A four-year starter at wide receiver, Brooks caught 23 touchdown passes, still fourth all-time, and ranks fifth with 2,188 career receiving yards.

Brooks graduated with a Criminal Justice degree and works as a Re-entry Coordinator and Court Navigator in Jefferson County, Ohio. Damon lives in Cadiz, Ohio, with his wife Lisa and has five children and 13 grandchildren.

CORY DELGUZZO

(Baseball)

One of the top offensive performers in West Liberty and West Virginia Conference history, Cory Delguzzo swung a record-setting bat for the Hilltoppers from 1999 to 2002. The sweet-swinging outfielder earned All- WVIAC honors in all four of his seasons with the Black and Gold, highlighted by a first-team berth on the 2000 NCAA Division II North Atlantic All-Region Team.

Delguzzo finished his career scoring more runs (143) and hitting more doubles (53) than any Hilltopper ever and still ranks No. 2 at WLU in career batting average (.377), career hits (214) and career RBIs (124).

After graduating from West Liberty, Delguzzo earned an MBA from Wheeling Jesuit and a J.D. from Capital University Law School. He serves as Regional Counsel for the Northwest Title Family of Companies. Cory and his wife, Alisa, have two sons, Mason and Carter.

ED GARCZYK

(Baseball)

A high-octane offensive catalyst for three consecutive West Virginia Conference baseball championship squads during the late 1980s, Ed Garczyk’s name is a familiar sight among the program’s all-time leaders in multiple offensive categories. The speedy second baseman helped lead Bo McConnaughy’s Hilltoppers to three straight WVIAC titles from 1987-89, earning first-team All-WVIAC honors each season. An outstanding table-setter at the top of the

West Liberty lineup, Garczyk is still the school’s all-time leader in batting average (.381), stolen bases (77), and triples (14) and stands second in runs scored (141) only to fellow 2025 inductee Cory Delguzzo.

Garczyk played two years of minor-league baseball before beginning a career with Broward County Parks and Recreation in Florida. A former golf instructor at Broward College, he’s also a professional musician. His band, Cheyenne Raine, performs regularly at Florida Panthers NHL games.

C.J. HESTER

(Men’s Basketball)

A relentless competitor and dominant two-way player, C.J. Hester epitomized the West Liberty men’s basketball program as a winner on the court and in the classroom.

On the hardwood, Hester became the first Hilltopper to finish with more than 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. Despite standing just 6-4, Hester shattered the previous school rebounding mark with 1,147 rebounds while also ranking among the top scorers with 1,863 points. During Hester’s four years, WLU posted an eye-popping 125-13 (.906) record – the best in NCAA basketball.

Meanwhile, in the classroom, Hester became West Liberty’s first three-time NCAA Division II Academic All-American, earning the prestigious award in 2013, 2014 and 2015. After graduation, Hester earned a Doctor of Dental Surgery from the WVU School of Dentistry and now practices in Pittsburgh. C.J. resides in West Mifflin, Pa., with his wife, Brianna, and their son, Camden.

MARK JOHNSTON

(Football)

A ball-hawking safety for West Liberty football teams of the late 1980s, Mark Johnston received multiple honors for his exploits on the gridiron and in the classroom. The Northeast Ohio native earned back-to-back All-WVIAC laurels in 1986 and 1987 after leading the

Hilltoppers in tackles and interceptions each season. Johnston was the WVIAC’s top-rated defensive back in efficiency in 1986 with 102 tackles and earned a repeat first-team All-WVIAC berth in 1987 with a 108-tackle season. Johnston was honored as an NCAA Division II Academic All-American each of his last two years, making him West Liberty’s first multi-year Academic All-American.

He has built a successful career in corporate sales and spent over 15 years coaching high school football. Mark and his wife, Beth, have two sons, Tyler and Travis.

LENA KALVANS

(Women’s Basketball)

Lena Kalvans was a prolific scorer and rebounder for WLU Hall of Fame coach Lynn Ullom and the West Liberty women’s basketball program as an NCAA Division II All-Region standout and multi-year All-West Virginia Conference honoree. The 6-1 native of St. Petersburg, Russia helped lead the WLU women to three 20-win seasons, two NCAA Tournament bids and a WVIAC Tournament title as the Black and Gold posted an 87-36 record during her four years on the hilltop. Kalvans had 80 career double-figure scoring games, scored 20 or more points on 19 occasions and hit double-figures in 50 of her last 52 games. The three-time All-WVIAC selection racked up 1,579 points and 727 rebounds in her four seasons, closing out her career as a 2007 WBCA NCAA Division II First-Team All-Region honoree and All-America finalist.

HILLARY SOUTHWORTH

(Women’s Basketball)

Hillary Southworth made her mark as one of the elite scorers in West Liberty women’s basketball history from 2011-15. Transferring to WLU after one season at NCAA Division I Appalachian State, Southworth exploded onto the national scene during the 2012-13 season.

Southworth finished her junior year as the nation’s second-leading scorer at 24.1 ppg. and also set a school record with eight consecutive games of 25+ points. She earned consensus first-team 2013 NCAA Division II All-America honors and was named the MEC and Atlantic Region Player of the Year.

Southworth had to sit out the 2014 season due to injury, but returned to the court in 2015 to help lead West Liberty to MEC regular-season and tournament titles and an NCAA Tournament bid. She tallied 1,529 points in her three seasons on the hilltop, averaging an impressive 18.6 ppg. for her career.