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Texas A&M - Kingsville Athletics

THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF JAVELINA ATHLETICS
2015 Hall of Fame Class
The Javelinas will induct Tarmo Jallai, Pat Lewandowski and the 1974 and 1975 NAIA title-winning football teams into the Javelina Hall of Fame on Sept. 11. Photos by Fred Nuesch, Javelina Hall of Famer.

General Kelvin Queliz, Director of Sports Information

Two Former Student-Athletes, Two Teams to be Inducted into Hall of Fame



KINGSVILLE, Texas (Athletics News) – 
In recognition of outstanding achievement and contribution to Javelina Athletics, two individuals and two teams will be inducted into the Javelina Sports Hall of Fame on Friday, Sept. 11.

Track and field All-American Tarmo Jallai, women's basketball player Pat Lewandowski, the 1974 football team and 1975 football team will join the prodigious cast of hall of fame members.
 
Jallai set the men's indoor track and field record in the 55-meter hurdles (7.28) in 2005, a year after setting the Javelinas' 110-meter hurdles mark in the 2004 outdoor season (13.67) to earn the 2004 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field title. A seven-time All-American during his Javelina career, the Estonia native went on to compete in the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens and finished sixth in the men's 100m. He won the Lone Star Conference Outdoor Track and Field 110m hurdles in back-to-back years (2004-05).
 
In 2006, he competed at the Xalapa Gala Banamex Veracruz and broke the Estonian record for the 100m hurdles in 13.62 seconds, a record he still holds. He coached high school cross country and track and field in Plano, Texas.
 
A stalwart on the NCAA Division II Elite Eight team in 2001, Lewandowski was a defensive wizard on the hardwood, collecting a Javelina single season record 83 steals to go with her 542 total points. She made 61 three-point field goals and shot 83 percent from the charity stripe that season, leading the Hogs to a 27-7 overall record and 11-3 record in LSC play. She finished her senior season ranked second in school history in career three-point field goals (115) and atop the school's charts in three-point shooting percentage (.385). Her .871 free throw percentage still stands as the best in school history and she sits in the top 10 in seven categories, including points per game (14.5). For her efforts, she was named first team All-LSC South. She was a letterwinner on the Javelina basketball program from 1999-01 and was on the teams that went to back-to-back NCAA Division II tournaments. The 1999-2000 team finished 23-7 and 15-1 in LSC play, earning the conference title and the following season, the Hogs went 27-7 and 11-3 in LSC action, collecting their second consecutive conference crown en route to a regional title. She currently coaches at a high school in the Corpus Christi area.
 
The Javelinas began one of the most impressive runs in college football history by posting a 13-0 record and winning the national title in 1974. The offense was led by the duo dubbed "Thunderbolt and Lightfoot" -- fullback Don Hardeman and running back Larry Collins. Hardeman ran for 1,547 yards and Collins was not far behind at 1,451. The defense allowed only 243 yards and 14 points per game. After slipping past Jacksonville State in the season opener, 20-19, the Javelinas dominated their way into the postseason with a perfect 8-0 mark in LSC play. Hosting the semifinals and championships, Texas A&I escaped the semifinals with a 21-19 victory over Cameron to set up a title matchup with Henderson State. In the championship game, Collins and Hardeman each rushed for over 100 yards (143 and 121, respectively), while quarterback Richard Ritchie threw for 222 yards and two touchdowns as the Hogs went on to win their fourth NAIA championship in school history. A capacity crowd of 15,000 packed Javelina Stadium to see Texas A&I triumph over the Reddies.
 
Continuing to make history, the 1975 team extended its winning streak to 26 with a perfect 12-0 mark, leading to the school's fifth national football championship and second of three consecutive titles. The season opened with a bang as the Hogs beat Hawai'i 43-9 in the first ever game at Aloha Stadium. After slipping by Abilene Christian 24-21, the Hogs were rarely challenged. Other than a 14-6 win over Angelo State, no team could stay within 20 points of the Hogs. The playoffs were a perfect example of A&I's dominance as the Hogs beat Oregon College and Salem of West Virginia by identical 37-0 scores.
 
The 1974-75 teams were coached by College Football, Texas Sports and Javelina Hall of Famer Gil E. Steinke. Both finished the season ranked No. 1 in NAIA.
 
The Javelina Sports Hall of Fame was established in 1972 to honor those who have made outstanding contributions to Texas A&I/Texas A&M University-Kingsville Athletics. Its purpose is to remember those who have brought distinction, honor and excellence to the University's athletics program.
 
Since it was organized, 147 individuals and 12 teams have been enshrined.
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