Sept. 1, 2009

THIBODAUX - Five former student-athletes will become the latest inductees into the Nicholls State University Athletic Hall of Fame prior to the Colonel football team's home opener on Sept. 12, the athletic department announced on Tuesday.

"The class of 2009 is a fine addition to the Hall of Fame. Clearly this is a group that distinguished themselves not only on the field of play, but in the classroom as well. These individual are shining examples of what a student-athlete is all about," said Rob Bernardi, Nicholls State Athletics Director.

The latest additions to the Colonel Hall of Fame include two softball players (including one Olympian), one baseball player, a women's basketball player and the football team's all-time leading rusher, bringing the total number of inductees to 73.

The Colonels will host a luncheon ceremony to honor their latest inductees beginning at 11 a.m. on Sept. 12. They will then be officially introduced to Colonel fans at John L. Guidry Stadium during the first home football game of the season, scheduled for a 1 p.m. kickoff against Division I FCS rival Duquesne that same day.

For tickets and more information on the ceremony, Colonel fans can call the athletic department at (985) 448-4974.

Cody Arcement Baseball, 1995-1998

Arcement, who led the Nicholls baseball team to a 1998 Southland Conference Tournament Championship and an NCAA Regional Appearance, becomes the 15th Colonel baseball player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

In his senior season, Arcement was a first-team All-Southland Conference selection and led the SLC in wins with 10. As a four-year letter winner, Arcement left his mark on the Nicholls record books, leading the team in innings pitched three times and in strikeouts and wins twice each. Arcement finished his career with the Colonels with a 25-18 overall record, including 266 strikeouts and 318.0 innings pitched.

Sharon Brander Perkins Softball, 1992-1995

Perkins, known as Sharon Brander during her time at Nicholls, becomes the fourth member of the Colonel softball program to be inducted into the Nicholls Athletics Hall of Fame.

As a four-year letter winner with the Colonels, Brander piled up honors on and off the field. As the Colonels' starting shortstop, Brander was named to the All-Southland Conference Honorable Mention Team as a junior, before a breakthrough senior season netted her first team conference honors. Brander was named to the SLC All-Academic Team and the 1994 Eastern Kentucky Invitational All-Tournament Team.

In 1995, Brander was awarded Entergy Corporation's Louisiana Female Athlete of the Year honors, recognizing not only excellence in athletics, but also in the classroom. The award was given to student athletes who pursued degrees in science and mathematics. At the conclusion of her career, Brander was one of only two Nicholls athletes to have participated on three conference championship teams.

Following her playing career, Brander-Perkins embarked on her coaching career with stops at Southern Miss and Georgia, where she won two SEC championships, before taking over the reigns at Georgia Tech where she won a school record 54-games in 2007.

Dione Meier Softball, 2003-2004

Meier becomes the fifth member of the Colonel softball program to be inducted into the Nicholls Athletics Hall of Fame. In just two seasons, Meier rewrote the Colonel record books by totaling 585 strikeouts, setting a new school record that stands to this day. Meier also set the school records for strikeouts in a single game (20) and in a season (341).

Meier was a two-time All-Southland Conference selection in her time with the Colonels, garnering second team honors as a junior and first team honors as a senior. In the 2004 campaign, Meier led the SLC with a 1.16 ERA and 314 strikeouts en route to being named the conference Pitcher of the Year. Meier led Nicholls to consecutive SLC Tournament appearances and was named to the SLC All-Tournament squad as a senior in 2004, before embarking on her international career, representing her native Canada as a member of the national softball team at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Arrianna Smith Martin Women's Basketball, 1989-1992

A four-year letter winner, Arrianna Smith Martin (known as Arrianna Smith while with the Colonels) becomes the fourth women's basketball player in school history inducted into the Colonel Athletics Hall of Fame.

At the conclusion of her career, Smith was, and currently remains, among the career leaders in several offensive and defensive categories. She remains in the school's top ten list with a 2.3 assists per game average (ninth), 10.4 points per game scoring average (eighth), 103 games played (tied for seventh) and a school-record 289 steals.

The tenacious defender set the Nicholls record for steals in a single game with ten, and also joined the 1,000-point club with 1,076 career points.

Josh Son Football, 2000-2003

The 19th member of the Nicholls football program to be inducted into the school's Athletics Hall of Fame, Josh Son racked up numerous honors in a storied four-year career on the Bayou.

As a freshman in 2000, Son became just the fifth quarterback in school history to lead the team in rushing, earning Southland Conference Freshman of the Year honors.

His 2001 sophomore campaign saw Son become the first QB in school history to lead the team in rushing two seasons in a row. He ranked fifth in the Southland Conference in scoring and seventh in passing. He finished among the nation's top 100 in several categories, ranking 59th in rushing, 62nd in total offense and 78th in scoring. Son also became first Colonel signal-caller since 1989 to run and pass for 100 yards in the same game and was one touchdown shy of breaking Oscar Smith's 1985 record for rushing touchdowns.

As a junior, Son became the only QB in the school's 30-year history to lead team in rushing for three straight seasons. Son ranked third in the SLC and seventh in the nation in rushing; and he ranked in the top five in the SLC in scoring en route to setting the single season rushing record for yards per carry and rushing touchdowns.

Among the numerous awards Son claimed are the following: 2002 and 2003 Second Team All-Louisiana, 2002 and 2003 GTE Academic All-America District VI Team, 2002 and 2003 Southland Conference First Team All-Academic Team and 2002 Southland Conference First Team honors. Son remains the Colonels' all-time leading rusher with 2,658 in his four-year career.