Seven to be inducted into McMaster Athletics Hall of Fame

McMaster Athletics will open Homecoming Weekend with its annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony yet again in 2019, with the introduction of a seven-member class that represents multiple Marauders dynasties.

The ceremony, which will be accompanied by brunch on the morning of Saturday, October 19, will see the induction of seven student-athletes, including Nicole Pirko (Carroll) (Squash, ‘01), Lindsay Sutherland (DeGroot) (Basketball, ‘09), Dan and Mike Pletch (Rugby, ‘06 and ‘08), Jason Pottinger (Football, ‘08 & ‘10) and Jeremy Sparrow (Swimming, ‘99).

For more details and to secure tickets for the induction, follow the link HERE.

2019 McMaster Athletics Hall of Fame Inductees

Nicole Pirko (Carroll) – Squash – Class of 2001

A four-year student-athlete who graduated from McMaster in 2001, Nicole Carroll was a dominant figure on the squash court at the OUAA level and achieved conference all-star status in each of her four seasons. She made McMaster history by winning the school’s first women’s squash gold at the OUAA Championships in 1999, and took home bronze in both 1998 and 2001.

Helping the Marauders to team bronze at the OUAA level in 2001, Carroll also pushed McMaster to the podium at the Canadian University Squash Championships, where the Marauders took home silver in 2000 and bronze in 2001. A three-year Marauders captain, she was named as Team MVP in her final season, and was a finalist for McMaster’s Athlete of the Year Award in 1999 and Dr. Edna Guest Award for outstanding graduating athlete in 2001.

Lindsay Sutherland (DeGroot) – Basketball – Class of 2009

The undisputed leader of one of the best groups to ever represent McMaster on a basketball court, Lindsay DeGroot guided the Marauders to a pair of OUA titles in 2006 and 2008. She was named both an OUA West First Team All-Star and OUA West Player of the Year consecutively in 2007 and 2008, as well as a CIS First Team All-Canadian, and was honoured with the Therese Quigley Award as McMaster’s Female Athlete of the Year both times.

DeGroot capped her four-year tenure with the Marauders by helping her team secure a bronze medal at the CIS Championship tournament, matching McMaster’s best-ever finish at the national championship before 2019’s breakthrough title run.

Dan and Mike Pletch – Rugby – Class of 2006 (Dan) and 2008 (Mike)

Identical twins with matching work ethics, Dan and Mike Pletch arrived at McMaster in 2002 as members of Canada’s U19 national program and helped to found one of the most successful dynasties in OUA men’s rugby history.

With the brothers as their bedrock, the Marauders claimed four OUA titles between 2002 and 2006 and finished as the conference’s runners up in 2004. Each of them earned three OUA All-Star nods, and they were finalists for the Ivor Wynne Award for McMaster’s Male Athlete of the Year three times, with Dan serving as a finalist in 2005 and 2006 and Mike claiming the honour itself in 2007.

Dan and Mike earned the OUA’s Trillium Award as the conference’s Best All-Around Player in 2004 and 2006 respectively, and had the special privilege of representing Canada together at the highest possible level when they competed at the 2007 Rugby World Cup. In total, Dan and Mike earned 31 and 26 caps for Canada respectively.

Continuing to exert a positive influence over his program, Dan has served as the Marauders head coach since 2014.

Jason Pottinger – Football – Class of 2008 and 2010

McMaster’s defence has churned out many high-profile alumni, but few can boast the pedigree of Jason Pottinger.

The linebacker helped the Marauders to consecutive Yates Cup titles in 2002 and 2003, and a finalist’s berth in 2004, and was a three-time OUA all-star over the course of his four-year career. He was named to the conference’s second team in 2003 and its first team in 2004 and 2005, being elevated to CIS First Team All-Canadian status both times.

Pottinger’s dominance at the OUA level saw him win the President’s Trophy as the Standup Defensive Player of the Year consecutively in 2004 and 2005, becoming just the second player in the conference’s history to win the award twice.

Following his varsity tenure, the linebacker was selected second overall in the 2006 CFL Draft by the BC Lions, and embarked on a nine-year professional career.

Jeremy Sparrow – Swimming – Class of 1999

Playing a leading role in the Marauders men’s swimming dynasty of the 1990s, which saw McMaster claim eight consecutive OUAA titles,Jeremy Sparrow took virtual ownership of the middle and long distance freestyle events at the conference level.

He won a total of 10 gold, seven silver and three bronze medals at the OUAA Championships over the course of his four-year career between 1994 and 1998, including a three-year run as the conference champion at 200 metres. Opening his varsity career with a splash, Sparrow was named as the Swimmer of the Meet as a rookie at the 1995 conference championships.

No slouch on the national stage, he collected three gold, five silver and two bronze medals at the CIAU Championships.