Sycamores announce 2022 Hall of Fame Class

By Press release submission

Oct 15, 2022

The Indiana State Department of Athletics announced its 30th Sycamore Hall of Fame class on Tuesday afternoon. The 2022 Hall of Fame Class features Mike Blackwell (Football/Baseball/Donor), Amy Cohee (Women's Cross Country/Track & Field), Jake Odum (Men's Basketball), Lauren Podolski (Soccer) and Royce Waltman (Coach/Men's Basketball).

The distinguished, five-person class will be formally inducted on Friday, February 3, in the Sycamore Banquet Center. Ticket information will be released at a later date.

Mike Blackwell – Football/Baseball/Donor – 1967-1971

President/Chief Scientist – Mississippi Oil Company
Intercepted two passes (1969)
Returned interception for a touchdown vs. Ball State (1969)
Had 4 punt returns for 18 yards (1969)
2nd in interceptions (4 – 1970)
Led team 19 punt returns for 140 yards (1970)
Played baseball at Indiana State (1969-1970)
Mike & his wife Mary established a baseball scholarship at Indiana State
Major donor in the renovation and renaming of Bob Warn Field
Major donor for Mike & Mary Blackwell Sports Performance Center

Amy Cohee – Women's Cross Country/Track & Field – 1991-1995

Member Missouri Valley Conference All-Centennial Cross Country Team
Missouri Valley Conference Cross Country Athlete of the Year (1993)
Missouri Valley Conference Cross Country Champion (1993)
Finished second MVC Cross Country Championships (1991)
Two-Time All- Missouri Valley Conference Cross Country (1991, 1993)
Two-time Missouri Valley Conference Cross Country Scholar Athlete (1992, 1993)
All-Region (1991)
Missouri Valley Conference Champion Outdoor 5,000 Meters (17:35.50- 1994)
Two-Time All- Missouri Valley Conference Indoor (1993, 1994)
Two-Time All- Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor (1994)
Three-Time Missouri Valley Conference Track & Field Scholar-Athlete (1994, 1995, 1996)
Member of Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Conference Team Champions (1993, 1994, 1995)
Member of Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Conference Team Champions (1993, 1994)
Member of Missouri Valley Conference Women's Champion Cross Country Teams (1991, 1993)
#7 All-Time in 4K (14:52 - 1992)
#15 All-Time in 5K (18:00 - 1993)
#3 All-Time Outdoor 3,000 Meters (9:53.51 in 1994)
#4 All-Time Outdoor 5,000 Meters (17:21.17 in 1995)

Jake Odum – Men's Basketball – 2010-2014

Two-time 1st Team All-Missouri Valley Conference (2013, 2014)
2nd Team All-Missouri Valley Conference (2012)
Two-time Missouri Valley Conference All-tournament team (2011, 2014)
Honorable Mention All-Missouri Valley Conference (2011)
Missouri Valley Conference All-Newcomer Team (2011)
Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshman Team (2011)
1st Team NABC All-District 16 (2013)
2nd team NABC All-District 16 (2012)
Diamond Head Classic All-tournament team (2012)
Career records: 1st games (134), consecutive starts (130); 2nd assists (603); 3rd steals (204);
5th career 1,568 points
590 free throws made in career
Led team scoring (2013, 2014), rebounding (2012), assists (2012, 2013, 2014)
PAOK - Greece - GBL (2014-2015); Medi Bayreuth (2015-2018)

Lauren Podolski – Soccer – 2004-2007

Missouri Valley Conference All-Centennial Team (2006)
Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year (2004)
1st team All-Missouri Valley Conference (2004, 2005, 2006)
All-Missouri Valley Conference Freshman Team (2004)
Missouri Valley Conference All-Tournament Team (2006)
1st team All-Missouri Valley Conference Academic Team (2006)
All-Missouri Valley Conference Academic honorable mention (2005)
School Career Records: points (70), points per game (1.04), goals (25), assists (20), shots (184), shots on goal (89)
Single Game records: tied 1st assists (9-2006)

Royce Waltman – Coach/Men's Basketball – 1997-2007

Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year (2000)
Only head coach to guide two teams NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament (2000, 2001)
Second all-time career victories (134)
Coached seven All-Missouri Valley Conference players, one Player of the Year & Defensive Player of the Year, Five Missouri Valley Conference All-Newcomer Team members, one Freshman of the Year, three Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshman team members, three All-Defensive Team members, three All-Bench Team members, one Most Improved Team member, 10 All-Academic Team members, one CoSIDA Academic All-American
Head Coach University of Indianapolis (1992-1997/2007-2008); DePauw University (1988-1992)
Won 100 or more games at each school
Led all three schools to the NCAA National Tournament
Let all three schools to conference regular season and tournament championships.
Career record 337-263
ICAC Coach of the Year (1990)
Two-time GLVC Coach of the Year (1996, 1997)
DePauw Hall of Fame (2003)
Bedford County Hall of Fame (2006)
Univ. of Indianapolis Hall of Fame (2011)