The Lewis athletic department announced on Jan. 22 the 2025 Hall of Fame class. This year’s inductees include Isaac Jean-Paul, Amanda Farrough, George DiMatteo, Reetta Laakonen, Joe Falese, the 2001 softball team and the 1981 women’s volleyball team. They will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at the 2025 Flyer Red Dinner on March 26 at the Bolingbrook Golf Club.
Jean-Paul is a two-time Paralympian and medalist for Team USA. Most recently, Isaac Jean-Paul competed in the 2024 Paris Summer Paralympics with Team USA. He won a silver medal in men’s long jump T13. Long jumpers that have depth perception impairments compete in the T13 category. Jean-Paul owns the record for long jump at Lewis, the GLVC and the Paralympics. In 2015, he became a national champion after a 2.21m jump at the NCAA Division II Indoor Championship. During his time at Lewis, he was named an All-American five times and GLVC Indoor Field Athlete of the Year twice. Jean-Paul graduated in 2016.
The 1981 women’s volleyball team was the first and only Lewis women’s volleyball program to appear in the NCAA Division II National Championship game. That season, the team won 51 games, a school record. Karen Lockyer, the women’s volleyball head coach and a Lewis Hall of Famer, led the team through these achievements. In 1981, the tournament was held for the first time. The national championship included only 10 teams in its inaugural tournament. The team beat Springfield, the University of California-Riverside and Florida Southern to qualify for the first ever Division II women’s volleyball national championship game. Lewis would lose to Sacramento State 3-0.
George DiMatteo and his 2001 national runner-up softball team will also be inducted into the Hall of Fame. DiMatteo became the head coach of the softball team in 1984 after serving as an assistant coach for the Lewis baseball team. He would lead the softball team to 13 NCAA Division II Midwest Regionals and 11 conference championships, 10 of which were in the GLVC. During his tenure as head coach, he also earned seven GLVC Coach of the Year honors. This is not DiMatteo’s first hall of fame induction, as he was inducted into the GLVC Hall of Fame in 2022. DiMatteo retired in 2014 after 31 seasons as head coach.
“I am honored to be selected for induction into the Lewis University Athletics Hall of Fame, DiMatteo said. “I am thrilled to be able to join my wife Deb (inducted ’85) along with the many other inductees of the HOF.”
In 2001, the softball team boasted a 55 win season, which is still the program record. The team was led by Kim Mackinson and Amanda Driscoll, who were named to the All-NFCA Great Lakes Region team that year. Mackinson set some program records that season, with 25 wins and 28 complete games. She also had 13 shutouts. Leading the team with hits, triples, and runs scored was Driscoll. Lewis would fall in the national championship to Nebraska-Omaha 4-0.
Those looking to attend the Flyer Red Dinner on March 26 can visit the Lewis Athletic Department website to find out more.
Photo Credits: David Ramos
