The Spartan Club of Case Western Reserve University inducted seven new members into its Hall of Fame at a ceremony held on Saturday, May 2, inside the Excelsior Ballroom at the Thwing Center.
The 2026 class of inductees included Anna Kennedy (Women's Soccer, Class of 2012), Dane McLoughlin (Men's Basketball, Class of 2015), Heather Nappi (Volleyball, Class of 2006), Stephanie Nothelle, M.D. (Women's Cross Country/ Track & Field, Class of 2007), Molly O'Brien (Softball, Class of 2015), heritage category inductee John Dankulic (Men's Basketball and Baseball, Western Reserve Class of 1964), and special category inductee Eva May.
The seven honorees joined the 367 other members inducted since the inception of the Spartan Club Hall of Fame in 1975.
In addition, Jim Treleaven (CIT Class of 1969, GRS Class of 1990, management) received the Athletics Distinguished Service Award, in honor of Gary Pillar, for service and contributions above and beyond to the department and the university as a whole.
The ceremony featured Ron Jantz as the master of ceremonies and included a welcome speech by CWRU President Eric Kaler.
More information on this year's honorees can be found below. In addition, the Spartan Club is currently accepting nominations for its next induction class. To nominate a worthy candidate, go to https://athletics.case.edu/sports/2023/6/20/hall-of-fame-nominations.aspx.
Anna Kennedy | Women's Soccer | Class of 2012 (Presented by Tiff Crooks)
One of the most inspiring athletes in the history of Case Western Reserve University, Anna Kennedy battled and beat Hodgkin's Lymphoma during the summer before and well into junior season, going on to earn All-University Athletic Association honors. She was a three-time all-conference goalkeeper, earning first-team recognition in 2011 and honorable mentions in 2009 and 2010. During her time at CWRU, she set program records for shutouts in a season (10) and a career (21), as well as the career victories record (27). Her play helped lead the team to its first NCAA Tournament berth in 2011, and she went on to earn the department's Emily R. Andrews Award for Outstanding Female Senior. Kennedy ranks third in program history in career goals against average (0.81) and save percentage (.841) at the time of her induction.
Dane McLoughlin | Men's Basketball | Class of 2015 (Presented by Bill McLoughlin)
Dane McLoughlin is one of the most accomplished basketball players in the history of the Case Western Reserve University squad. A versatile forward who was both a dynamic three-point shooter and a presence in the post, McLoughlin was a three-time All-University Athletic Association honoree, receiving a spot on the first team during his senior season, during which he also claimed an honorable mention to the All-America Team and was selected to the NABC Great Lakes All-District First Team. He set program records for career three-pointers (231) and three-point percentage (.453), in addition to establishing the single-season records for three-pointers (77 in 2014-15) and three-point percentage (.519 in 2012-13). Academically, McLoughlin was a two-time NABC Honors Court selection, was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team in 2014-15, and was a finalist for the Jostens Trophy in 2015.
Heather Nappi | Volleyball | Class of 2006 (Presented by Tom Nappi)
Heather Nappi remains one of the most impactful players in the history of the Case Western Reserve University volleyball program. At the time of her induction, she was one of just three players in program history with at least 1,000 kills, 1,000 digs, 100 aces, and 100 blocks, and ranked second in career service aces (129), third in kills per set (3.25), fourth in kills (1,336), and sixth in digs (1,526). Nappi was a two-time All-University Athletic Association honoree, claiming honorable mentions to the team in both 2004 and 2005. She also set the program record for kills in a three-set match (21) and four-set match (25), while tying the program record for points in a match (31.5).
Stephanie Nothelle, M.D. | Women's Cross Country / Track & Field | Class of 2007 (Presented by Kathy Nortz Yohann)
Stephanie Nothelle's career stands out as an elite combination of athletic and academic success at CWRU. She remains one of the top distance runners in program history, securing All-America honors with a 33rd-place finish at the 2006 NCAA Cross Country Championship. She was a two-time all-region honoree, including in 2006 when she placed third at the regional championship meet, and secured All-UAA honors twice, including first-team acclaim in 2006 with a fourth-place finish that led the Spartans to the conference title. Academically, she was just the fifth woman in CWRU history to receive the prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship and was named to the Academic All-America First Team in 2007. Nothelle went on to become the first finalist for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award in school history in 2007.
Molly O'Brien | Softball | Class of 2015 (Presented by Josie Henry)
Molly O'Brien helped usher in an era of success for the softball team at Case Western Reserve University. She earned All-University Athletic Association and All-Region First Team honors each year from 2013 through 2015, while also claiming All-UAA Tournament honors each year of her career. A leadoff hitter who played second base, she finished her time as a Spartan as the program's record holder in batting average (.389), runs scored (167), hits (218), triples (13), total bases (325), and stolen bases (65), while setting single-season program records for runs scored (52, 2015), hits (64, 2015), total bases (115, 2015), and stolen bases (22, 2013). She had a batting average above .400 twice in her career (.438 in 2015 and .405 in 2013). She started every game during her career and helped the team set a program record for wins with 32 during her senior campaign. She was also honored with the CWRU's Glenn and Peggy Nicholls Female Athlete of the Year Award in 2015.
John Dankulic | Men's Basketball & Baseball | Western Reserve University Class of 1964 | Heritage Category Inductee (Accepted by Charlotte & Jason Haney)
John Dankulic was a prolific big man for the Reserve Red Cat basketball teams of the mid-1960s. An outstanding shooter in the paint, Dankulic finished his career with over 1,000 points and ranked second in Reserve lore in scoring. In addition to his scoring prowess, Dankulic was a force on the glass, leading the team in rebounds. During one game against rival Case during his senior year, Dankulic scored 33 points and grabbed 22 rebounds in the win. The team's captain during his final year in Red and White, Dankulic was awarded the Eddie L. Finnigan Award as the school's most outstanding basketball player and was selected to the All-PAC Team. He was also a pitcher on the baseball team, flummoxing batters with his sharp-breaking curveball. In other exploits, Dankulic led his fraternity, Beta Theta Pi, to the intramural volleyball championship in 1963.
Eva May | Director of Physical Education | Mather College 1906-36 | Special Category Inductee (Presented by Eddie Kerekes)
Eva Gertrude May served as the director of physical education at Flora Stone Mather College for nearly 30 years, transforming the department during the early 20th century. May impacted all graduates of the college, with the Cleveland Plain Dealer reporting that she directed nearly every student who attended the school during her tenure. The first full-time director of physical education at FSMC, May transformed the department from just one book to a full program of scholarship and activities. She coached students in myriad sports for intramural competitions, including basketball, track and field, hy-lo, hockey, and soccer, and taught classes in fencing, dancing, and swing. When Mather Gymnasium (now Mather Dance Center) opened in 1908, May reimagined physical education, embracing the aesthetic and athletic aspects of training. She helped found the Mather Athletic Association, which remained active until the federation, and guided the letter sweater program at the college, recognizing the top athletes among the students each year.
Jim Treleaven | Football & Wrestling | CIT Class of 1969, GRS Class of 1990 (management) | Athletics Distinguished Service Award
Jim Treleaven was a starter on both the football and wrestling teams at Case in the 1960s, in addition to serving as the president of his fraternity, Phi Delta Theta, and a Student Senator. However, some of his greatest contributions to the university have come since his graduation. He has served on the Spartan Club board, including the Hall of Fame Selection Committee, and has chaired the Visiting Committee for CWRU Athletics. In addition, he has co-chaired the fundraising campaign for the Wyant Athletic and Wellness Center. While his formal affiliations and leadership roles within CWRU athletics are impressive in their own right, including serving as the President of the Alumni Association and on the Weatherhead visiting committee, it has been his interactions with current students that make his contributions stand out. Jim and his wife, Cheryl, often welcome traveling CWRU teams to his home in Chicago for meals before and after competitions, and have hosted summer send-offs for incoming students for the last 20 years. In addition to his work with athletics, Treleaven is a member of the Visiting Committee of the Case School of Engineering and serves on the board of the Case Alumni Association.
