27th Class inducted into the Tiger Athletic Hall of Fame

Those inducted were tennis player Dean Clower, baseball player Casey Eckstein, softball pitcher Jessica (Seay) Linke, women's basketball player Montia (Johnson) Storey, contributor Peg Williams, and the 2011 national champion volleyball team.

Cowley College athletic director Jeff Fluty said one of his favorite events of the year is the annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony, and the luncheon is an opportunity to celebrate all that is good about college athletics.

"The 2026 Cowley Tiger Hall of Fame was a tremendous success and a powerful celebration recognizing the best of the best in Tiger Athletics," Fluty said. "From the social at the Burford Theatre, the formal induction banquet at the Wright Room on campus, to the public inductee introductions between the men's and women's basketball games, the entire weekend reflected the pride, tradition, and excellence that define Cowley Athletics. It was an honor to recognize these outstanding individuals and reconnect generations of Cowley Tigers who helped build our legacy."

Sponsors for the Hall of Fame luncheon on Saturday and Social on Friday night at the Burford Theatre were Community National Bank and Trust, RCB Bank, and Union State Bank.

Hall of Fame Bios:

Dean Clower

Dean Clower began his collegiate career as a student-athlete at Cowley College. He was a two-year team captain (2002-2003) and was ranked fifth in the nation in doubles as a freshman and sophomore.

In his first year at the school, he was named "The Rookie of the Year to Watch" by the coaches at the national tournament.

He played No. 1 doubles and No. 3 singles at Cowley and was considered, by then-head coach Larry Grose, to be one of the top doubles players ever to come through the program.

Clower moved on to a two-year career at Lamar University. He finished with a season-best 14-7 record in singles play and 9-9 in doubles at the number one spot as a junior. During his senior season, he posted a 12-6 record in doubles play and a 48th ranking in NCAA Division I. He became the first player in school history to accomplish that feat. 

Clower was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at the age of 23, but did not let that hinder his coaching dreams. Clower, who held the title of interim head tennis coach, was promoted to head coach of the University of Wyoming Cowgirl tennis program in the spring of 2012.
The 2023 season was arguably the greatest in program history as Clower led the Cowgirls to their first Mountain West title. Clower, who was named the league's Coach of the Year for the second time in his career, led Wyoming to its first-ever national postseason tournament, as the Brown & Gold played in the inaugural Universal Tennis NIT. Overall, the Cowgirls went 16-11 and 9-1 in conference action. Clower coached a trio of All-Mountain West honorees.
At the time of his induction, Wyoming had advanced to at least the quarters of the Mountain West Championship Tournament every season under Clower.

Casey Eckstein

Casey Eckstein was an indispensable member of the 1997 and 1998 National Championship Cowley College baseball teams. He was the starting catcher for both years of his Cowley career and was named to the 1998 JUCO World Series All-Tournament Team. During Eckstein's tenure, Cowley captured two conference championships, two regional championships, and two national championships.

Eckstein's abilities behind the plate not only benefited him personally but also aided in the development and success of a multitude of future professional and Division I pitchers during his time at Cowley.

His immeasurable defensive contributions to the team were unlike those of any recent era. Eckstein played in an era when catchers handled every aspect of the game, including managing the pitching staff and calling every pitch, which he did at a professional level.

Eckstein was the ultimate team player, a leader who always put the team before himself. He was willing to help the team in any capacity that he could.

Eckstein went on to walk on as a redshirt junior at Oklahoma State University, where the Cowboys advanced to the College World Series.

Jessica (Seay) Linke

Jessica (Seay) Linke had a memorable freshman season at Cowley College, going 28-1 with an earned run average of 1.66. She struck out 144 batters and walked only 25. She was named a First Team All-American.

She helped the 2013 Lady Tigers repeat as Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division champions and achieve a ranking as high as No. 4 nationally. Along with her All-American honors, Linke was named first-team all-conference and Freshman of the Year.
As a sophomore, she went 24-9 with a 1.67 ERA. She struck out 174 in 175 innings as she was once again named a First Team all-conference and All-American.

Linke helped Cowley finish 43-14 and place seventh at the 2014 national tournament. Aside from softball, she was named a Student Athlete of the Month as a sophomore. Her 52 career wins rank fourth all-time at Cowley.

After Cowley, she played two seasons at Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

As a junior, she went 16-10 with a 3.72 ERA. She tossed 173 1/3 innings, which included eight complete games and two shutouts, as she was named an Honorable Mention all-conference selection.

Linke would go on to finish 14-10 with a 4.69 ERA as a senior. She struck out 112 batters in 136 1/3 innings pitched.

Montia (Johnson) Storey

Montia (Johnson) Storey had a decorated career at Cowley College, becoming just the eighth player in the women's basketball program's history to receive NJCAA All-American recognition.

After averaging only 4.4 points and 5.3 rebounds as a freshman, Storey averaged a double-double during the 2012-2013 basketball season, as she finished the year averaging 11.9 points and 10.1 rebounds. Her stellar play earned her Honorable Mention All-American Honors and helped Cowley to a 29-5 overall record and a 16-2 mark in the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division. Storey shot a team-high 50.2 percent from the floor en route to scoring a team-best 405 points on the season.
After Cowley, she played two seasons of basketball at Kent State University (OH) in the NCAA Division I. As a junior, she played in all 30 games, starting in all but nine of them. She averaged 9.0 points and 7.1 rebounds, leading the team in both categories. She also led the team in field-goal percentage, making 48% of her shots, and finished the season with six double-doubles.

As a senior, she averaged 6.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while shooting a team-best 55.3 percent from the floor.

Peg Williams

Peg Williams is the definition of "Hall of Fame" in her support for Tiger Athletics.  She has "fostered" dozens of Cowley student-athletes over the years.  She has opened her home, offering meals, academic, emotional, and family support to so many who were away from home.  She quickly earned the nickname "Momma Peg" from her foster children and is now affectionately known as "Grandma Peg" to numerous children.

Peg's ties run deep to Cowley and to the Athletic Department.  She is a Cowley Alumna and also taught at the school for many years.  She supports all Cowley sports and attends games throughout the year.  She has also made numerous trips to national tournaments, including those in Hutchinson, KS, and Grand Junction, CO, to support her Tigers. 

Momma Peg has left a positive impact on her student-athletes. The impact is apparent in the many graduation announcements, wedding invitations, and baby announcements she has received over the years from foster kids. There is no doubt that Peg had a hand in helping shape the futures of many Tiger Athletic Alumni!

It is hard to imagine there is anyone who has bled orange and black more than Peg Williams.

2011 Volleyball Team

Having finished as the national runner-up in 2005 and 2009, the Cowley College volleyball team left no doubt as to who the best team in the nation was in 2011 as they defeated Oakland (MI) Community College 23-25, 25-18, 25-21, 25-21 in the title match of the NJCAA Division II National Volleyball Tournament played in Toledo, OH.

Cowley, which was ranked No. 1 throughout the majority of the season, finished the year with a 22-match win streak and a record of 38-2.

With three players named National Junior College Athletic Association All-Americans, the national champion Cowley College volleyball team had the most players named to the All-American list among all NJCAA Division II schools.

Having already been named Jayhawk East Most Valuable Player, all-district, and to the all-tournament team at nationals, outside hitter Martyna Gluchowicz capped her incredible freshman season by being named a First-Team All-American.

Sophomore middle hitter Goda Jankauskaite thrived in her lone season at the school, earning a spot on the Second-Team All-American list. Like Gluchowicz, Jankauskaite was a First-Team all-conference and all-district.

Sophomore setter Molley Scanlon's dream season continued with her being named an honorable mention All-American. Scanlon, who was a Second-Team all-conference and First-Team all-district performer, was named the Most Valuable Player of the National Tournament before receiving All-American honors.

Other players on the team were Georgina Perez, Danika Maggard, Taylor Kean, Emily Barto, SkyLeigh Bingham, Erin Lichter, Shanna Seyfarth, Cathy Hafenstine, Bridget Paulk, and Sabetha Young.

Leading the Cowley College volleyball team to the program's first-ever national championship, Jenifer Bahner was named the AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) Two-Year College Midwest Region Coach of the Year.