WNMU Announces 2019 Athletics Hall of Fame Inductees

General 10/4/2019 7:44:00 AM

WNMU Announces 2019 Athletics Hall of Fame Inductees

Silver City, N.M.—Western New Mexico Athletics, in collaboration with the Office of Alumni Affairs, announce the 2019 Hall of Fame Inductees. A total of six individuals, along with the 1984 baseball team, will be honored Friday morning at the Hall of Fame Banquet followed by a ride down North Bullard St. in downtown Silver City in the homecoming parade Saturday. The honorees will also be recognized during halftime at the Mustang football game Saturday evening under the lights.

Two individuals will become the most recent inductees into the Athletics Hall of Fame Friday.

Raymond "Ray" Cross
Athletic Hall of Fame

Raymond "Ray" Cross played for the Mustang football team back in 1961, under then-head coach Al Johnson. In his first year, he saw time as a running back and wide receiver. After two seasons, Cross went on to serve in the military and work in the steel mill, before returning to Silver City in 1966. Cross graduated from Western New Mexico University in 1974.

A scholarship athlete, and captain his junior and senior seasons, the Indiana native returned to the field as a top defensive player in football, as well as a member of the 440-yard relay and the mile relay. In his final two seasons, Cross led the team in tackles and tackle assists on top of 16 interceptions. In the spring, Cross was a member of the 440-yard relay track team that set a school record, as well as the short distance events and mile relay.

Upon completing his Bachelors in Teaching in 1969, Cross was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons as a free agent. An unfortunate knee injury kept him from moving past the training camp. Cross would shift gears, returning to WNMU for his Master's in Education.

Ray Cross dedicated 50 years to the Hammond Public School system, while also influencing the lives of young student-athletes as a football, basketball and track coach. His efforts earned him numerous football and basketball city championships, as well as an induction into the Hammond Football Hall of Fame

Meredith Reischl
Athletic Hall of Fame

Meredith Reischl, formerly Drahota, was a standout student-athlete for the Mustangs from 2003-2007 and a graduate assistant coach from 2007-2010. The native of Phoenix, Arizona dedicated four years to the Mustangs, setting records in nearly every offensive category.

A starting utility player, Meredith finished her career atop the record books, setting a single-season record for the highest stolen base percentage (.941) as a junior in 2006. As a senior she finished her career with the highest slugging percentage (.771), most runs scored in (54), and most home runs (15) in a single season. By the time she graduated, she ranked in the top-5 in 12 different categories including (#3) highest slugging percentage (.630), (#2) highest on-base percentage (.431 ), (#3) most hits (202), (#4) most doubles (43) and (#3) most RBIs (113).

Since graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Minor in History in 2007, and a Master of Arts -Interdisciplinary Studies in 2009, Meredith dedicates her time teaching and coaching softball at the high school and middle school levels in Chandler, Arizona. She and fellow WNMU alumnus Marques Reischl have three beautiful kids and will celebrate their ten-year anniversary this year.

The inductees will be honored at the Hall of Fame Banquet held in Graham Gym on the WNMU Campus, Friday at 10 a.m. In addition to the banquet, Western New Mexico Alumni are welcome to join in on the following events throughout Friday and Saturday.

Athletics will be in full swing Saturday with volleyball at 1 p.m. against St. Edward's, followed by football at 6 p.m. versus UT – Permian Basin. Saturday's game will mark the first football game under the lights in program and school history.

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