Jeremiah McKibbins, a Class of 2016 communication studies alumnus, set 10 different rushing records during his four years playing football at Chapman. He was a three-time All-Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) selection and four-time team captain.

McKibbins, however, operates with an unassuming excellence.

“Football isn’t something you do alone, it’s built on brotherhood, trust and showing up for the person next to you every single day,” McKibbins said.

Despite his humble attitude towards success, it seems to follow McKibbins. He, along with four other former Chapman athletes, was announced as part of the 2025 Athletics Hall of Fame class.

“This honor isn’t just about stats or wins, it’s about the moments in the locker room, the battles on the field and the lifelong connections made along the way,” he said. “It’s a reminder of what we built together and the legacy we left behind.”

McKibbins captures the authentic greatness many athletes strive to obtain, and his legacy at Chapman rewards him for that. Discipline and hard work is a major part of excelling at anything you do, but the impact you make on anything is often a clear reflection of character.

The Chapman University Athletics Hall of Fame class is set to be inducted during the 42nd Annual Night of Champions and Hall of Fame Induction Weekend on Oct. 24 and Oct. 25, 2025. 

Since 1980, Chapman’s Hall of Fame induction has honored athletic excellence and school spirit. Held each October, the two-day Night of Champions weekend reunites alumni and celebrates new inductees with a Friday banquet, a halftime announcement at Saturday’s home football game and a plaque unveiling on Victory Way.

All five inductees played within one of Chapman’s Division III teams and will make Panther history as a member of the third class in Chapman’s Hall of Fame History: Scott Martino ’01 (soccer), Jennifer Manship ’09 (water polo), Erin Dudzinski ’09 (softball), Brian Rauh ’14 (baseball) and McKibbins ’16 (football).

The Hall of Fame Committee Chair, Jack Bauerle summed up the significance of this event.

“To put it simply, these are the best of the best,” Bauerle said. “Being selected into Chapman’s Hall of Fame, just as any other hall of fame, puts you in elite company. These particular student athletes’ exemplified the pillars of the university, coupled with excellence in the classroom, the athletic field, court or aquatics. We want their legacy to continue and inspire the future Panthers.”

McKibbins further emphasized how not only discipline, but being a good person, defined his time at Chapman.

“I showed up every day with purpose,” he said. “I wasn’t chasing clout, I was chasing growth. I treated my teammates and my community with kindness and respect because, at the end of the day, how you treat people matters more than any stat sheet.”

By definition, exceptional means “unusually good: outstanding,” and to be recognized as such takes more than talent — it requires integrity, consistency and a mindset that elevates those around you. Athletes like McKibbins — and the rest of the 2025 class — embody that standard in the way they lead and live, both on and off the field.

“I believed in doing things the right way, showing up for others and building a reputation you can stand on long after the game’s over,” said McKibbins.

Manship, an accounting and business administration major, is now the second ever aquatics member of the Hall of Fame. Manship is a two-time All-American athlete who set Chapman’s record, scoring 223 goals in 2007. She stands as a trailblazer today, as the first Panther to score 100-plus goals in a season, and ranking second in the highest total goals in school history.

Beyond her athletics, Manship showcased every positive attribute of a teammate. Eric Ploessel, Chapman’s men and women’s water polo coach, described the incredible stature of Manship’s character beyond her skills in the water. 

“(Manship) made all the players around her better,” said Ploessel. “That’s what made her such an amazing player. Besides the records she broke, it’s that she wanted her teammates to score and help them become better players. Finding a star that’s willing to make some of their teammates better is huge for programs.”

Ploessel, who coached Manship for three seasons, further said that her selflessness impacted more than her teammates and the game.

“She wants to make people around her better,” he said.“That included me. We butted heads a lot when I was coaching her but that was because she wanted the best out of me. She was the first player to demand more out of me. I was younger when I coached her with less experience than I do now. Coaching her made me a better coach.”

Manship said receiving the honor has been surreal — and incredibly meaningful. Her words echoed the same humble character that Ploessel described.

“We must celebrate the accomplishments of all past, present and future but to be called out as one of the greats, it somehow does not feel real,” she said.

Rauh, a business administration major, was drafted into the MLB for the Washington Nationals, before bouncing around in the minor leagues, and now provides professional-level baseball training for young athletes. He said that he believes his experience at Chapman built the foundation for his success.

Rauh credits his head coach, Tom Tereschuk, and his pitching coach, Dave Edwards, for playing a huge role in his development as not just a player but as a man.

“Neither of them let me get away with being average — or just good,” he said. “They wanted me to be great, and that’s how I live my life now, whether personally or professionally. That (mindset) was instilled in college with those two coaches who, again, saw more in me and wanted me to be something special.”

Looking back on his experience, Rauh emphasized the importance of embracing the process and finding purpose in each moment.  

“That’s what life’s about,” he said. “It’s not the end goal, it’s who you impact on the way. The relationships. The memories. It’s good to have goals and try to pursue them, but you also want to enjoy the process. When you look back, that’s the stuff you remember: the people I met along the way, the experiences, the games, the road trips and all that.”

Rauh said that it’s not only important to learn from the moments that positively impact you but also to take time to understand the negative ones because, together, they shape who we are.

“I tell a lot of the kids I work with (that) I would give anything to go back and live one of my worst outings I ever had on a baseball field,” Rauh said. “Just to be there in the atmosphere and compete again is something special that not a lot of people get to experience.”

Dudzinski, a marketing major, played softball for Chapman until 2009 but now she balances her life between work and motherhood and this recognition carries an ever deeper meaning.

“It means every ounce of sweat, every long car ride, every cheer from the sidelines was worth it,” Dudzinski said. “And now, as a new mom, I get to share this honor with my kids — to show them firsthand that hard work and passion can take you amazing places… and that, yes, their mom was kind of a big deal.”

Getting to this point in her life did not come easy for Dudzinski, however.

“Graduating in 2009 during the financial crisis wasn’t easy. Jobs were scarce, and no one was hiring,” she said. “But I landed an interview for a sales position, and they were specifically looking for former athletes — people who knew how to compete, hustle and thrive under pressure. I never imagined myself in sales, but now, years later, I’m leading a team and ranking as a top performer.”

Dudzinski also reflected on how her time on the field laid the foundation for everything that followed.

“Chapman didn’t just prepare me for the field — it prepared me for life,” she said. 

From navigating a tough job market after graduation to rising through the ranks in her career, the mindset she built as a student-athlete stayed with her. Now, as she looks ahead to the Hall of Fame induction, she sees it as more than just a personal milestone — it’s a full-circle moment she gets to share with her family.

Martino, a business finance major, graduated from Chapman and says he’s had the pleasure of attending Hall of Fame events in the past, so to be considered and recognized is certainly an honor. He said that learned valuable lessons from playing soccer through the season’s highs and lows.

“We made the tournament the first three years and then in my senior year we did not make it,” Martino said. “The lesson of actually losing and learning how to deal with that and (learning) how to think through that actually was just as impactful as the winning seasons.”

Doug Aiken, assistant athletic director, and Steven Olveda, sports information director, shared their thoughts on the incredible achievements of the inductees.

“Brian Rauh’s streak of 24 wins to start his career was pretty special,” Aiken said. “Not sure that’s been done or will be done again at Chapman or elsewhere. He was as automatic a pitcher as I’ve ever seen. Same with Scott Martino’s 50-point season. Pretty incredible.”

Olveda followed, highlighting other standout athletes.

“Jeremiah was a threat to score every time he touched the ball on the football field,” Olveda said. “Everyone knew it and he would still find a way to break off a big run. Jennifer Manship was our scoring leader for over 15 years and is next in line of deserving student-athletes from the pool.”

He continued: “Erin Dudzinski was such a special player. She would take away hits in center field, double to lead off a game, or steal a base to put herself in scoring position. A champion on the softball diamond.”

As a society, we look to our heroes for inspiration and guidance. The Chapman Hall of Fame Class of 2025 embodies this ideal, representing individuals who not only excelled as athletes and students but also spread positive growth. Their legacies will extend beyond their personal achievements, being honored within Chapman.

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