LEBANON, Ill. – McKendree University announced that five individuals and one team will be inducted into the 2025 Bearcat Sports Hall of Fame.
Former student-athletes
Matt Cole (Class of 2020, Football),
Caty (Ponce) Happe (Class of 2016, Basketball, Softball),
Michael Strobbe (Class of 2007, Men's Basketball) and
Justin Townsend (Class of 2000, football), former men's and women's water polo coach
Colleen Lischwe and the
1999 Football Team will be honored on Saturday, February 7, 2026 during an awards ceremony at The Hettenhausen Center for the Arts (The Hett).
The Sports Hall of Fame recognizes those who, through leadership and character, have made exceptional contributions to the honor and prestige of the university. Honorees can be inducted as former student-athletes, former coaches, or alumni coaches and sports professionals.
Details regarding the event and ticket availability will be announced this coming fall. For urgent inquiries, please contact
alumni@mckendree.edu or call (618) 537-6824.
Matt Cole – Class of 2020 – Football
- 2019 NCAA All-American
- 2019 GLVC Special Teams Player of the Year
- Two-time all-GLVC
- Had 93 career receptions for 1,618 yards and 17 TDs
- 3,583 All-Purpose Yards with three kick return TDs
- McKendree 25th Anniversary Football Team
- 2nd in receiving TDs, 3rd in receiving yards, 6th in scoring and 8th in receptions
- Played for seven NFL teams in a span of three seasons
- Originally from Chicago, Ill.
- Resides in Chicago
Caty (Ponce) Happe – Class of 2016 – Basketball, Softball
- Four-year starter in basketball and three-year starter in softball
- First in school history in three-pointers made (205), fifth in scoring (1,533), sixth in assists (350) and field goals made (529) and 10th in free-throws made (270).
- 13th member of 1,000 point club
- Second-team all-GLVC in 2013 and 2015
- Appeared in 117 softball games, hitting career-best .283 with 3 HR and 19 RBI in 2012
- GLVC Council of Presidents' Academic Excellence Award
- Five-time Academic all-GLVC
- Softball coach at Edwardsville HS and Liberty Middle School
- Originally from Edwardsville, Ill.
- Resides in Edwardsville
Colleen Lischwe – Water Polo Head Coach
- Accumulated 165 wins as the head men and women's water polo coach
- Led the men to the 2018 MAWPC-West Conference Championship
- 2018 CWPA DII Championships Coach of the Year
- 2017 CWPA Midwest Division Coach of the Year
- Was the only female head coach of a men's NCAA water polo program
- Tragically passed away on January 15, 2025
- Originally from Kirkwood, Mo.
Michael Strobbe – Class of 2007 – Basketball
- Three-time NAIA All-American
- Two-time First-Team All-AMC
- Fourth in school history in rebounds (1,314), eighth in field goals (692) and ninth in scoring (1,875)
- One of nine players to join the 1,000 rebound and point club
- Played 10 seasons of professional basketball in Mexico
- Played for Mexican national team and won two silver medals – Caribbean Olympics and Pan American Games
- Second in NAIA in rebounds per game in 2007 (11.7)
- Averaged 12.8 ppg and 9.3 rebounds ppg throughout his career
- 2003-04 AMC Freshman of the Year
- Originally from Ferguson, Mo.
- Resides in Madison, Ala.
Justin Townsend – Class of 2000 – Football
- 1999 First-Team NAIA All-American and All-Mid-States Football Association
- Anchor of OL that set school record averaging 325.4 rushing yards per game in 1997 and 40 touchdowns in 1999
- Helped McKendree to top-5 national ranking and two playoff appearances
- McKendree 25th Anniversary Football Team
- 1998 NAIA All-American Scholar Athlete
- 1998 and 1999 MSFA All-Academic Team
- Athletic Director, Head Football and Boys Track Coach at Fairfield HS
- Originally from Fairfield, Ill.
- Resides in Fairfield, Ill.
1999 Football Team
- 9-2 overall record
- Advanced to NAIA First Round
- Finished season ranked No. 6 in NAIA rankings
- 1999 MSFA Champion
- Led MSFA in rushing yards per game (312.0), scoring (33.5) and rushing defense (129.5)
- Opened season on eight-game winning streak
- Defeated NCAA Division 1 Dayton 38-31 in overtime
- Head Coach Carl Poelker
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