(From MSSU Athletics)Missouri Southern Athletics is proud to announce the MSSU Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026, a group of seven outstanding individuals who have left a lasting legacy on Missouri Southern Athletics through achievement, leadership and service.
The 2026 inductees are Jason Adams (Men's Basketball, 2008-12), Dr. Al Cade (Meritorious Service), Jeff Fraley (Men's Track & Field, 2011-16), Stephanie Gockley (Volleyball, 1994-97), Melissa Grider (Softball, 1994-96 & Women's Basketball, 1993-96), Nicole Green Ragsdale (Women's Track & Field, 2009-12) and Landon Zerkel (Football, 2008-12).
These Lion legends will be officially enshrined during the 2026 Hall of Fame Brunch & Induction Ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, at Robert Ellis Young Gymnasium. Doors will open at 9:30 a.m. with the Brunch commencing at 10 a.m.
Registration is currently available online. For any questions or to RSVP, please contact Missouri Southern Athletics at 417-625-9317 or email Lisa Severe (severe-l@mssu.edu).
The 2026 MSSU Athletics Hall of Fame Class will also be honored on the field during MSSU football's home game against Central Missouri later that day at Fred G. Hughes Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m., CT. Tickets can be purchased online at mssulions.com/tickets.
Jason Adams - Men's Basketball (2008-12)
One of the most accomplished players in Missouri Southern men's basketball history, Jason Adams enjoyed a remarkable four-year career from 2008-12, leaving his name throughout the Lions' record book while earning multiple conference honors.
Adams burst onto the scene by earning MIAA Freshman of the Year honors in 2008-09 before being named Second Team All-MIAA in 2009-10 and First Team All-MIAA in both 2010-11 and 2011-12.
A prolific scorer and versatile playmaker, Adams finished his career third in MSSU program history with 1,981 points, while also ranking third in field goals made (726) and field goals attempted (1,482). His 1,981 career points also ranks ninth all-time in the MIAA record books.
Adams appeared in 120 career games, the fourth-most in school history, and remains among the program's all-time leaders in nearly every major statistical category.
In addition to his scoring prowess, Adams ranks fifth in career three-point field goals made (213), fifth in three-point attempts (559), fifth in steals (180), sixth in assists (319), ninth in rebounds (637), ninth in free throw attempts (435), and 10th in free throws made (316), highlighting his ability to impact every facet of the game.
Adams also authored two of the greatest single-game scoring performances in Missouri Southern history. He scored 43 points against Arkansas-Monticello on Nov. 12, 2011, the eighth-highest total in program history, and followed with a 42-point performance against Fort Hays State in the 2012 MIAA Tournament, which ranks 10th all-time.
Dr. Al Cade (Meritorious Service)
A dedicated advocate for Missouri Southern athletics, Dr. Al Cade made a lasting impact on the Lions through his years of service, leadership, and commitment to student-athletes. He served 25 years at Missouri Southern in a multitude of roles including Faculty Athletic Representative before passing away in February 2015.
In 1984, he joined the Missouri Southern faculty as a physical education instructor for the Department of Kinesiology and as assistant football coach, working with the Lions defensive line. In 1993, he returned to his alma mater, Northwest Missouri State University, as an instructor and later taught and served as an assistant football coach at Minnesota State University Mankato.
He returned to Missouri Southern in 1996 as assistant to the dean of the School of Education. He then served as interim dean and later was named the school's dean. Cade also served as chair of the Department of Teacher Education from 2005 to 2012.
Cade worked as faculty advisor for the Southern IMPACT program, a member of the administrative council, shared governance and strategic planning committees, the athletic council, and the campus diversity committee.
Along with serving on various committees for the Missouri Association of Colleges for Teacher Education and the Missouri Advisory Council of Certification for Educators, he served seven years as vice president and president for Missouri Association for Blacks in Higher Education.
He was an executive board member as well as vice president for Boys and Girls Clubs of Southwest Missouri, city of Joplin Human Rights Commission and Joplin Schools and Community Facilities Committee, as well as the Miracle League of Joplin and Southwest Center for Educational Excellence. He was chair of the annual George Washington Carver Art and Essay Contest.
Cade was also involved with Joplin area Special Olympics, Joplin Chamber of Commerce Golden Apple Teacher Award Selection Committee and Langston Hughes Celebration Committee.
A four-year starter on the Northwest Missouri State football team from 1978 to 1981, Cade was a member of the 1979 team that won an MIAA championship. He was a three-time all-conference selection, including 1981 when he was an All-MIAA first-team selection as a defensive lineman, and his 345 career tackles rank among the top 10 in program history. Cade was inducted into Northwest's M-Club Hall of Fame in 2003. He was also named NWMSU's Distinguished Alumni in 2013.
Cade received his Bachelor of Science degree in health and physical education in 1983 and a Master of Science in health and physical education in 1985, both from Northwest Missouri State University. In 2001, he earned his Doctorate of Education from St. Louis University.
In honor of his legacy, Missouri Southern State University created the Dr. Al Cade Beacon of Hope Award for student-athletes who demonstrate exceptional community service and leadership.
Jeff Fraley - Men's Track & Field (2011-16)
One of the most decorated sprinters in Missouri Southern track & field history, Jeff Fraley enjoyed a dominant career from 2011-16, earning seven NCAA Division II All-America honors, capturing 11 MIAA championships, and collecting 20 All-MIAA selections.
Fraley established himself as one of the nation's elite sprinters by earning All-America honors in both the indoor and outdoor seasons. He was a two-time All-American in 2012 in the 200 meters, earned indoor All-America honors in the 60 meters and 200 meters in 2015, and outdoor All-America honors in the 100 meters in 2015, and concluded his career with outdoor All-America finishes in both the 100 and 200 meters in 2016.
His dominance at the conference level was unmatched as he never lost an MIAA conference 200-meter title race. Fraley won MIAA titles in the indoor 200 meters in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015, and added indoor 60-meter championships in 2014 and 2015. Outdoors, he captured conference championships in the 200 meters in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016, along with the 100-meter title in 2015, and consistently contributed to top relay finishes throughout his career.
Fraley helped the Lions capture their first-ever MIAA Outdoor Championship in 2016.
During the 2015 indoor and outdoor championship seasons, Fraley was recognized as the MIAA High Point Award winner at both meets.
Fraley rewrote the Missouri Southern record book, setting school records in seven events. He still owns the program's indoor records in the 60-meter dash (6.68) and 400 meters (48.03), while his outdoor marks of 10.23 in the 100 meters, 20.66 in the 200 meters, and 46.80 in the 400 meters all stand as school records. He currently ranks second in program history in the indoor 200 meters with a time of 21.51 and outdoor 4x100 meter relay (40.93) after setting both records.
In the classroom, Fraley was named a two-time Academic All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) in 2015 and 2016. He also was a four-time All-Academic selection from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Stephanie Gockley - Volleyball (1994-97)
One of the most dominant players in Missouri Southern volleyball history, Stephanie Gockley enjoyed a remarkable four-year career from 1994-97, earning MIAA Freshman of the Year honors in 1994 before becoming a three-time First Team All-MIAA selection and one of the most prolific attackers in program history.
Gockley finished her career as Missouri Southern's all-time leader in kills with 1,940 while setting the school record for career hitting percentage at .395. She remains one of the most accomplished offensive players ever to wear the Green and Gold, leading the Lions in kills in all four seasons of her career with 453 as a freshman, 543 in 1995, 523 in 1996, and 421 in 1997.
Her 1996 season stands among the finest in program history. Gockley set school single-season records with a .452 hitting percentage and 4.63 kills per set while recording 523 kills. She also owns the second-highest single-season hitting percentage (.415) from 1995, ranks fourth at .357 in 1994, and fifth at .352 in 1997, demonstrating remarkable efficiency throughout her career. Her 543 kills in 1995 rank fourth in program history for a single season, while her 523 kills in 1996 rank sixth and her 453 kills in 1994 rank 10th.
Gockley also delivered some of the greatest individual match performances in Missouri Southern history. She shares the school record for kills in a three-set match with 27 against St. Francis in 1995 and owns the program's five-set match record with 31 kills against North Alabama in 1996. In that same match, she posted a remarkable .737 hitting percentage (31 kills, three errors on 38 attempts), the highest ever by a Lion in a five-set contest.
A complete player at the net, Gockley ranks third in program history with 219 solo blocks and 430 total blocks while also ranking eighth in block assists with 211. She was equally valuable in the back row, finishing fifth all-time with 1,497 career digs. She also ranks seventh in career attack attempts (3,934), illustrating both her durability and central role in the Lions' offense.
Throughout her career, Gockley consistently led Missouri Southern in multiple statistical categories. In addition to pacing the team in kills all four seasons, she led the Lions in total blocks from 1994-96, solo blocks from 1994-96, and block assists from 1994-96. She also led the team in assists in both 1996 and 1997 while playing the most sets on the team in 1994, 1996, and 1997.
Melissa Grider - Softball (1994-96) and Women's Basketball (1993-96)
One of the finest two-sport student-athletes in Missouri Southern history, Melissa Grider excelled on both the softball diamond and the basketball court, earning All-America recognition in both sports and rewriting the Lions' record books during her career from 1993-96.
On the softball field, Grider earned Third Team All-America honors in 1995 and established herself as one of the most prolific hitters in MSSU program history and one of the most feared hitters in the conference. She was a three-time All-MIAA selection and an All-Region pick in 1996.
She still owns Missouri Southern career records for batting average (.439), doubles (58), on-base percentage (.469), slugging percentage (.644), and on-base plus slugging (1.113). Her remarkable 1996 campaign remains one of the greatest offensive seasons in school history, as she set single-season records with a .547 batting average, .578 on-base percentage, and a 1.347 OPS, while her .768 slugging percentage ranks second all-time. She also ranks sixth in program history with a .422 batting average during the 1995 season.
A consistent offensive force throughout her softball career, Grider led the Lions in batting average in 1994 (.367) and 1996 (.547), slugging percentage in 1994 (.587) and 1996 (.768), and on-base percentage in all three seasons, posting marks of .384 in 1994, .460 in 1995, and a school-record .578 in 1996. She also led the team in home runs as a freshman in 1994.
Grider's success extended to the hardwood, where she became one of the most decorated players in Missouri Southern women's basketball history. As a senior in 1995-96, she earned All-America honors from Kodak, Division II Bulletin, and the Division II Sports Information Directors Association while also being named NCAA Division II All-Region, MIAA Player of the Year, College Sports Player of the Year, and First Team All-MIAA.
A 1,000-point scorer, Grider finished her basketball career with 1,353 points, ranking sixth in program history, while averaging 17.35 points per game-still the third-highest career scoring average in school history. She also ranks third all-time in free throws made (412) and free throws attempted (561), fifth in three-point field goals made (171), and eighth in steals (150).
Her senior season remains one of the greatest individual campaigns ever by a Lion. Grider averaged a school-record 25.4 points per game while scoring 737 points, both of which rank among the best single-season totals in MIAA history. She also set Missouri Southern single-season records with 220 free throws made and 292 attempted while ranking among the program's leaders in field goals made, three-pointers, steals, and scoring. Her 40-point performance at Northwest Missouri State on Jan. 31, 1996, remains the fourth-highest single-game scoring output in program history, while her 37-point game against Lincoln later that season ranks ninth.
Nicole Green Ragsdale - Women's Track & Field (2009-12)
One of the most accomplished throwers in Missouri Southern track & field history, Nicole Green established herself as one of the nation's elite shot put competitors during her career from 2009-12. She was a five-time NCAA Division II All-American and was a seven-time NCAA qualifier.
Green earned All-American honors in the shot put five times during her career, including indoor and outdoor honors in 2010, indoor honors in 2011, and indoor and outdoor honors in 2012. She qualified for seven NCAA Division II Championships during her career, competing in the shot put at every indoor and outdoor championship from 2009-12.
A dominant performer in the circle, Green owns two of the top marks in Missouri Southern history. Her indoor shot put mark of 49-9.75 (15.18m) at the 2011 NCAA Division II Championships ranks sixth all-time in program history, while her outdoor shot put mark of 49-9.00 (15.16m) at the 2012 NCAA Division II Championships ranks seventh.
Green capped her career with a standout 2012 season, earning All-American honors in both the indoor and outdoor shot put. She placed fifth at the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships with a mark of 48-1.75 (14.67m) and followed with a seventh-place finish at the outdoor championships with a throw of 49-9 (15.16m). She also earned All-MIAA honors during the indoor season after finishing second in the shot put at the MIAA Championships with a mark of 48-11 (14.91m) and placed third outdoors with a mark of 48-0 (14.63m).
During her junior season in 2011, Green earned indoor All-American honors after recording a mark of 15.18m at the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships. She also competed at both NCAA championships that season and finished among the conference's top performers, placing fourth in the shot put and weight throw at the MIAA Indoor Championships while adding a fifth-place finish in the outdoor shot put.
Green first emerged as a national contender in 2010, earning All-American honors in both the indoor and outdoor shot put. She placed fourth at the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships with a throw of 48-9.5 (14.87m) before finishing seventh at the outdoor championships with a mark of 47-1.5 (14.36m). She also contributed to the Lions' third consecutive MIAA Outdoor Championship, placing sixth in the shot put and eighth in the discus at the conference meet.
A three-time All-MIAA selection, Green earned conference honors in the indoor shot put in 2009 and 2012 and the outdoor shot put in 2012. She also competed in multiple throwing events throughout her career, including the discus, hammer throw, and weight throw, showcasing her versatility as a field athlete.
In the classroom, Green was named a 2012 Academic All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). She also was a four-time All-Academic selection from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Landon Zerkel - Football (2008-12)
One of the most productive receivers in Missouri Southern football history, Landon Zerkel established himself as one of the premier pass catchers in the MIAA during his four-year career with the Lions from 2008-12.
A 2011 First Team All-MIAA selection, Zerkel earned First Team All-America honors from BSN and Second Team All-America recognition from Don Hansen following his standout senior campaign. That season, he hauled in 77 receptions for 1,047 yards and six touchdowns, ranking third in program history in both receptions and receiving yards for a single season.
Zerkel finished his career ranked second in Missouri Southern history with 196 receptions and 2,866 receiving yards while ranking third with 19 receiving touchdowns. He also owns multiple places in the Lions' record book, including the third-best single-season reception total (77 in 2011), the ninth-best reception total (52 in 2010), the third-most receiving yards in a season (1,047 in 2011), and the 10th-most receiving yards (759 in 2010). His six touchdown receptions in both 2009 and 2011 remain tied for the 10th-highest single-season total in program history.
Among his memorable performances, Zerkel caught 11 passes for 140 yards at Truman in 2010, tying for the sixth-most receptions in a game in school history. He also recorded one of the finest receiving performances in Lion history against Lincoln in 2011, finishing with eight receptions for 193 yards and three touchdowns at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis. His 193 receiving yards rank sixth on the program's single-game list, while his three touchdown catches are tied for second-most in a game.
Zerkel led the Lions in receptions in 2009 (44), 2011 (77), and 2012 (23), showcasing his consistency throughout his career. Off the field, he was named Academic All-MIAA.
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