SEMO Hall of Fame Class honored during basketball game

During the Southeast Missouri State men’s basketball game against Morehead State on Saturday, the 2022 Athletics Hall of Fame Class was honored at the center of the court during halftime in front of the largest crowd of the season.

2,890 fans came to the Show Me Center to see the Redhawks fight for first place in the Ohio Valley Conference, which made it the ideal time to bring out the alumni and latest Hall of Fame class.

The SEMO men lost to the Eagles 65-59 but the women won 69-55 as alums from both teams were in attendance.

“We want to make sure everyone who ever played in the SEMO uniform feels welcome and is welcomed back here because this is their home,” SEMO women’s basketball coach Rekha Patterson said. “This is this is their program and so to do it in front of them, it is special and we want to make sure that we're making them proud.”

Highlighting the class is Ed Arnzen, who served as the women’s basketball coach from 1983-2002. Arnzen became the head coach of the women’s team after spending three seasons as an assistant coach on the men’s team. He was also a basketball coach at Notre Dame High School during the 1970s.

From the beginning of his 19-year tenure, SEMO became a national power in the Division II circuit. The NCAA Division II women’s basketball tournament first began in 1982. Under Arzen, SEMO made its first appearance in 1983 and made seven more appearances before transitioning to Division I in 1991-92.

SEMO’s last Division II game was, fittingly, in the 1991 national championship game, which ended in an 81-74 loss to North Dakota State.

Arnzen retired in 2002 with a 340-202 record but has still kept a presence within the women’s basketball program to this day. Patterson said she would have lunch with Arnzen at least twice a year and would be present during occasional practices.

“We want to make sure that he is part of this program,” Patterson said. “I mean, he has a banner hanging with his name on there. He's been inducted into the Hall of Fame and as a coach's kid, I want to make sure that we respect those that have come before us and so this program will always show him respect.

“The fact that he's so supportive, I think that means the world to me, she said. “As a coach, that is a wonderful feeling to have your support.”

The Hall of Fame class also featured a football player, a softball player, and two track and field athletes.

Kevin Farley was a thrower who qualified for the NCAA Championships three times from 2011-16. He was also a 10-time Ohio Valley Conference champion, a two-time OVC Indoor Field Athlete of the Year, and an OVC Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year in 2013. He is still the all-time leader in the shot put and weight throw.

Heather Keltner (1997-2001) was twice named OVC Track Athlete of the Year and helped lead SEMO to four conference titles. She was also a 16-time OVC Champion as a sprinter.

Tracie Eudaley (1984-87) was one of only six SEMO softball players to be named an All-American. She was a key player in SEMO’s three first NCAA Division II Tournament teams (1985-87) and holds the school's all-time career records in ERA (0.43), wins (79), complete games (102), shutouts (45) and innings pitched (787.2).

Tony Walker (1988-89) led the SEMO football team with 83 tackles and was a First-Team All-American in 1989. He went on to be drafted in the sixth round by the Indianapolis Colts in 1990 and played 43 games across three NFL seasons.