Olympic gold medals, Super Bowl rings, All-Star games, USA Outdoor Championships. Nine All-American and 14 All-Conference honors. A combined 17 postseason appearances and numerous school records.
Six of the greatest student-athletes in Arizona State University history were immortalized on Friday afternoon at the Phoenix Country Club as they were inducted into the Sun Devil Athletics Hall of Fame.
The 2014 class is compromised of six student-athletes from six different varsity sports – Lisa Aguilera (Cross Country/Track), Kara Brun (Softball), Maggie (Germaine) Ethier (Gymnastics), Andre Ethier (Baseball), Amy LePeilbet (Soccer), and Grey Ruegamer (Football).
While their dedication and unrelenting drive to be the best, whether on the field, in the gym, around the track or at the diamond, vaulted them to the top of their respective sports, their characteristics away from athletics is what binds the 2014 class together.
Battling and eventually overcoming adversity: Aguilera experienced the highest of highs – setting the American record in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase in 2007 – and also the lowest of lows – failing to make the Olympic team. Andre Ethier was living his dream as a freshman baseball player at ASU, but was cut before the season started and played at Chandler-Gilbert Community College before he earned back his spot with the Devils. Maggie (Germaine) Ethier fell off the balance beam over and over again until she posted perfect score after perfect score.
A strong sense of family and support: Brun looked up to her older brothers so much, specifically their toughness and work ethic, that she never left the field in her four-year career. LePeilbet has won at every level, from Olympic gold medals to National Women’s Soccer League Championships, but still her fondest memories from the game come from her days in the maroon and gold. Ruegamer, more than 15 years removed from his senior season, still counts the team’s equipment manager, administrative assistant and faculty representative among his closest friends.
Sun Devils are for life and Sun Devils are family.