THIBODAUX, La. – Nicholls State University Athletics will induct its 2016 Hall of Fame class on Saturday, Oct. 22 before the football game against Sam Houston State. The newest class includes: Leanne Beeler (softball, 1989-1992), Anatoly Bose (men's basketball, 2007-11), Kenny "Meatball" Ortolano (football, 1975-78), Leah Peterson (softball, 2003-07) and Yale Vannoy (football, 2002-05).
 
The Nicholls Athletics Hall of Fame ceremony will take place in the Harold J. Callais Recreational Center at 12 p.m. and the 2016 class will also be recognized during half time of the football game, scheduled to kickoff at 2:30 p.m.
 
Beeler, a native of Corryton, Tenn., put together an outstanding career behind the plate for the Colonel softball team. A four-year starter, she capped her tenure at Nicholls by being named Southland Conference Player of the Year, Hitter of the Year and First Team All-Southland as a senior. In the 1992 season, Beeler hit .361 with 52 hits, three home runs and led the Southland with 12 doubles. She also recorded 24 runs scored, 22 RBIs, 12 walks and five triples en route to earning the league's highest honors. Beeler, who is currently tied for seventh on the program's all-time doubles list with 27, was a member of the Southland Conference 50th Anniversary All-Time Softball Roster.
 
Hailing from Sydney, Australia, Bose left Nicholls in 2011 as one of the Colonel men's basketball program's most prolific scorers. In 120 career games, he scored 2,051 points (17.1 ppg), which ranks third on the all-time scoring list. In his senior campaign, Bose was the NCAA's eighth leading scorer with 22.0 points per game. That season, he was named First Team All-Southland and Louisiana Men's Basketball Player of the Year. A three-time All-Southland selection, Bose is also the program's leader in free throws made (521), minutes (3,763) and games played. After his career at Nicholls, he went on to play professionally in Australia and is currently playing for BC Astana.
 
A native of Belle Chasse, Ortolano played nose tackle for the Colonel football team from 1975-78. For his career, he totaled 450 tackles which ranks second on the program's all-time list, helped by his team-high 173 stops in 1978. He was selected as a First Team All-Gulf South Conference honoree in 1977 and '78, and also earned AP Honorable Mention All-American in his junior season. In 1975, the Colonels won the Gulf South Conference Championship as Ortolano anchored a defense that still holds the program's record for fewest points (13.2 ppg) and fewest touchdowns (18) allowed. The '76 squad also had a historical season with three shutouts and surrendered just 247.2 yards per game.
 
Peterson starred in the infield for the Colonel softball team from 2003-07. A native of Patterson, she garnered First Team All-Louisiana and Second Team All-Southland in her junior and senior campaigns, and was named 2007 Southland Conference Student-Athlete of the Year. Peterson ended her career with a stellar senior season in '07 as she ranked in the top 10 of the Southland in 10 different categories - first in sac flies (5), second in doubles (14), third in RBIs (45), fourth in hits (65) and total bases (116), seventh in slugging percentage (.634), eighth in batting (.355), ninth in triples (2) and home runs (11), and 10th in runs scored (35). Peterson, who helped guide the Colonels to three postseason appearances, ranks second on the Colonel all-time list in doubles (41), sixth in total bases (263), eighth in hits (167) and RBIs (90) and is tied for eighth in home runs (17).
 
A native of Kingsville, Texas, Vannoy played for the Nicholls football team from 2002-05. He took over the reins at quarterback his last two seasons and led the Colonels to their only Southland Conference championship in 2005. He finished his senior campaign ranking sixth in the Southland in rushing (69.3 ypg), and seventh in passing efficiency (114.1) and total offense (120.3 ypg). Vannoy was named 2005 Southland Conference Player of the Year and Second Team All-Southland Conference after directing Nicholls to a share of the regular season title.
 
The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to strengthen and perpetuate athletic tradition at Nicholls State University. Members in the Athletics Hall of Fame shall consist only of those outstanding persons whose dedication and performance merit the great honors that the University can bestow.