On Feb. 3, the Oakland University Athletics honored the 2024 Hollie L. Lepley Hall of Honor class with a day of festivities.
This year’s inductees included former volleyball player Samantha Condon, men’s swimming and diving star Hilton Woods, men’s soccer standout Andy Wagstaff, softball phenom Julie Owen, baseball and men’s basketball sensation Matt McClellan and the 1994 Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving team.
The 2024 Lepley Hall of Honor class was first honored during halftime during the men’s basketball game against Cleveland State. The group enjoyed watching the Golden Grizzlies defeat the Vikings 83-71 before making their way to the Royal Park Hotel in Rochester for the evening’s induction ceremony.
The evening festivities began with a cocktail reception, wherein each former student-athlete was introduced and interviewed. The inductees shared their favorite memories with the crowd and mingled with their former teammates and coaches prior to the induction reception.
Andy Wagstaff, a former midfielder on the men’s soccer team, shared his surprise and gratitude for being named to the 2024 Lepley Hall of Honor class.
“I got inducted into the 2023 Lepley Hall of Honor class with the 1994 men’s soccer team. That would have been enough for me, I never expected to get inducted as an individual,” Wagstaff said. “It never crossed my mind that I would be recognized as an individual honoree, so I was very surprised and thankful to be chosen.”
Originally from England, moving to America to play soccer was a big change for Wagstaff.
“I was very fortunate to be selected to play here [at OU]. I was in England, playing for a professional club. I got let go, and then got the opportunity to come to America,” Wagstaff said. “I played here for four years, had the best time of my life and decided to stay in America for the rest of my life.”
Throughout his collegiate athletic career, Wagstaff was named an NSCAA Athletic All-American in 1992 and earned a spot on the 1994 Umbro All-Midwest College Select Team. Wagstaff shared his favorite memory from his soccer career.
“Our team was in the final four national tournament with 5,000 fans watching us. We were playing against the Seattle Pacific, a team that was known as the ‘seven-headed monster,’” Wagstaff said. “We were the underdogs. Our team ended up winning the game in overtime.”
Samantha Condon, a former volleyball player for the Golden Grizzlies, attributed her success in the sport to her incredible support system.
“I had the best experience at Oakland – with the best friends and the best teammates. They are what helped get me here,” Condon said. “I have two of my teammates here today to support me. They traveled from Chicago and Iowa to be here for me, so that speaks to how amazing they were as teammates.”
Condon shared some of her favorite memories from playing volleyball for the Golden Grizzlies.
“One of the favorites was making the NCAA tournament, which was a groundbreaking experience for Oakland volleyball because we hadn’t done that before. For my volleyball experience to end up with my being in the hall of honor is truly, truly special.”
To learn more about the 2024 Hollie L. Lepley Hall of Honor class, visit the Hall of Honor webpage on the OU Athletics website.
