McNeese Sports Hall of Fame announced 2018 Induction Class

LAKE CHARLES – Six of the greatest athletes to ever compete in their respective sports have been selected as the 2018 inductees into the McNeese Sports Hall of Fame – football’s Jermaine Martin and Bill Moseley, women’s basketball’s Ashlyn and Caitlyn Baggett, track and field’s Ben Chretien, and baseball’s Jace Peterson.

The six will be officially enshrined at the September 29 home football game against Stephen F. Austin. A pregame ceremony will take place in the Cowboy Club Room beginning at 4:45 with an introduction and speeches by each individual. Recognition of the class will also take place at halftime of the game.

Martin continues to hold the top spot in the football record book for most career passes caught (160) and career receiving yards (2,636).

Nicknamed “Flea” for his small frame but cat-like quickness, Martin helped the Cowboys win the 2001 and 2002 Southland Conference championships and the 2002 national title game.

The Lafayette native led the team in receiving in both the 2001 and 2002 seasons with 45 catches in each year while his 11 career touchdown catches ranks him tied for 10th all-time. His best season in terms of stats came in 2000 where he brought in 45 passes for 801 yards, a number that ranks as the eighth-most receiving yards in a season in school history, and accumulated 699 receiving yards in 2001, ranking 12th on the list.

In a game against Northwestern State in 2000, he caught seven passes for 173 yards, an amount that ranks as the fifth-most receiving yards in a game in history. He accumulated five games in his career where he recorded 100 yards or more receiving. He earned all-conference honors and was named McNeese offensive MVP in 2000, 2001 and 2002 making him one of only two players in school history to garner the award three times (James Files, 1972-74).

The Baggetts transformed McNeese Cowgirl basketball into a power in the Southland Conference and the region during their playing days from 2009-13.

Ashlyn was a three-time all-SLC and all-Louisiana selection, two-time SLC all-tournament and tournament MVP in 2011 as she helped lead the Cowgirls to their first-ever NCAA Tournament. Her 2,051 career points scored ranks her second in the school record book as she’s one of just two players to ever score 2,000 points in a career in school history.

The Iota native led the conference in 2013 in total point scored (667), three-pointers made (107) and in three-point shooting (.412).

In her career, she holds school records for most threes made in a season (107) and career (308) while her career mark ranks second all-time in the Southland Conference record book. She was named the Cowgirls’ team MVP in 2011 and co-MVP in 2013 and led the team in scoring from 2011-13. She was also named the league’s women’s basketball Student Athlete of the Year from 2011-13.

Like her twin sister, Caitlyn earned all-conference and all-Louisiana honors three times and was named the team’s MVP in 2012 while sharing the honors with her sister in 2013.

She was a two-time SLC all-tournament team selection and named the 2012 tournament MVP while leading McNeese to its second consecutive NCAA Tournament.

Also a native of Iota, Caitlyn led the team in assists and free throws from 2011-13; holds school records for consecutive free throws made in a game with 17, free throws made in a career (593), and career free throw percentage (.820). She’s also ranked second in the Southland Conference career record book in free throws made. In addition, she was named to the 2013 Capital One Academic All-District team.

Chretien was the 2012 Southland Conference champion in the javelin event who went on to earn First Team All-American honors after finishing fifth at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

The Elton native and former walk-on has a long list of accomplishments from his career that covered the 2008-12 seasons.

He was named all-conference and all-Louisiana, the team’s field events MVP for 2008 and 2012, McNeese Newcomer of the Year in 2008, and the entire track program’s MVP in 2009.

In addition to winning the conference title in 2012 in the javelin, he was a 2012 Olympic Trial qualifier where he finished 15th overall.

Chretien placed second at the SLC Outdoor Championships in 2008 as a freshman and was second in 2009 and 2010. He was named the league’s men’s track Student-Athlete of the Year in 2012, earned SLC All-Academic and USTFCCCA All-Academic honors.

His best throw of 245-feet, 4-inches continues to stand as the school record and he’s currently the throws coach for the McNeese track and field team.

Moseley was a linebacker for the Cowboys from 1973-76 and earned first team all-conference honors as a senior as he led McNeese to the conference championship and an appearance in the inaugural Independence Bowl game where it defeated Tulsa by a 20-16 score.

Nicknamed “Mr. Hustle”, the Vidalia native was named the McNeese team MVP for the 1976 season where he collected 42 tackles to go along with two interceptions. He was also named team captain that same season.

He ranked second on the team with 76 tackles as a junior in 1975 and racked up 159 tackles in his career.

Peterson was a two-sport star for the Cowboys in baseball and football, but it would be on the diamond where he would excel during his three-year career from 2009-11.

The Moss Bluff native was a two-time first team all-Southland Conference selection in 2010 and 2011 and received the team’s MVP award in 2011.

In 2010, he led the Southland Conference with 35 stolen bases, which at the time, tied a school single-season record, and 68 runs scored. In 2011, Peterson topped the league with eight triples while ranking second with 67 runs scored and 30 stolen bases.

He batted a team-high .353 in 2010 and ranked fourth on the team in 2011 with a .335 batting average as he started all 114 games in those two seasons combined. His 82 base hits in 2010 ranks tied for sixth for the most in a single-season while his 183 career hits ranks just outside the top 10 list.

Peterson continues to hold the school career record with 78 stolen bases while ranking fifth with 11 triples, seventh with 149 runs scored, and a .347 career batting average, ranking in the top 20 all-time.

He was drafted by the San Diego Padres as the 58th overall pick in the supplemental first round of the 2011 MLB Draft, making him the fourth-highest draft selection in school history.

Peterson made his Major League debut on April 25, 2014, starting in seven games at third base before being optioned to the Padres’ Triple-A squad. He had three other stints with the Padres the rest of the season.

He was traded to the Atlanta Braves in December 2014 and made the opening day roster as the team’s second baseman. He hit his first career home run on May 16, 2015 against Miami, which also happened to be a grand slam. He stayed with the Braves until signing with the New York Yankees in January of this year. He was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles in April and has appeared in 73 games as a regular starter in both the infield and outfield.