Pictures from left to right are hall of fame inductees Jacob Bender, Terrel Castle, Kasey Frederick, Chuck Hickman, Ashley Ray, and Kadi Whisnant

Baseball

Nicholls Announces 2026 Hall of Fame Honorees

THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University Department of Athletics announced Friday its six-member 2026 Hall of Fame Class -- Jacob Bender (football, 2003-06), Terrel Castle (men's basketball, 1993-95), Kasey Frederick (softball, 2016-19), Chuck Hickman (baseball, 2001-03), Ashley Ray (softball, 2011-12), and Kadi Whisnant (track & field/cross country, 2008-11).

The committee also announced one new selection to the Hall of Distinction – Norby Chabert.

The Hall of Fame class will be inducted on Sept. 26 before the Colonel football contest against Lamar. The ceremony will take place in the Danos Theater in Talbot Hall at 10 a.m. The group will also be recognized during the football game.

Bender spent four years as an offensive lineman for the Colonels, earning 2006 FCS All-American Third Team honors his senior year along with being named All-Southland First Team in his final two seasons. A two-time team captain, Bender was also recognized as one of the top players in the state in '06 as he was named All-Louisiana Second Team. Bender helped lead the Colonels to their first-ever Southland Conference title in 2005 as the offense rushed for a program record 3,648 yards. 

Castle averaged 14.6 points and 3.5 assists in his two seasons for the Colonel men's basketball team and was the third-leading scorer on the 1994-95 Southland championship squad. In his first season, Castle ranked 10th in the SLC at 16.6 points per game and was named All-Southland honorable mention. He followed up with a 12.6 scoring average in his final season as Nicholls posted a 24-6 overall record and an 18-1 mark in league play, winning both the Southland regular season title and tournament crown. The 24 wins is the most for a single season in school history. 

Frederick was a four-year letterwinner for the Colonel softball team, earning All-Southland three times which included two first-team honors. Seeing time at first base and in the outfield, Frederick left Nicholls with a career .314 batting average and ranked in the Top 5 in RBIs (2nd -- 124), home runs (t-4th -- 23), doubles (5th -- 37), and total bases (5th -- 284). Her breakout season came as a sophomore where she hit .303 with 33 RBIs, earning her first of two straight All-SLC First Team selections. In 2018, Frederick posted a career-high .377 batting average with 61 hits including 16 doubles while driving in 42 runs, helping Nicholls to its first Southland regular season title since 1996. She wrapped up her career with another All-SLC performance, batting .281 with six home runs and led the Colonels with 36 RBIs. Frederick garnered All-Louisiana Second Team as a junior and was named Southland All-Tournament in her final two campaigns. 

Hickman served as the Colonels' shortstop for three years and racked up 90-plus hits in each of his last two years, highlighted by a single-season school record 93 in 2002. A career .364 hitter, Hickman was named All-Southland in 2002 and '03 and was an All-South Central Region First Team selection as a junior. His record-breaking season started with a 31-game hitting streak and he went on to lead the Colonels in several categories including batting average (.393), runs (48), doubles (14) and RBIs (46). He followed up with 91 hits as a senior and increased his average to .397, totaling 50 runs scored, and stole 26 bases for the second straight year. 

Ray played two years for the Colonels and earned All-Southland both seasons, headlined by her record-setting debut season in 2011. After ranking second in the Southland in batting average (.368) and belting a league best and single-season school record 17 home runs, Ray was named Southland Conference Softball Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year, Easton All-American Third Team, NFCA All-Region Second Team, and All-Louisiana First Team. Ray's 51 RBIs led the SLC that year, as did her .732 slugging percentage. She followed with a .350 batting average with 29 RBIs as a senior, earning All-SLC and All-Region again. For her career, Ray ranks fifth all-time in school history with a .361 batting average, third in home runs (24) and holds the program's best slugging percentage (.677). She also set the program record with a 16-game hitting streak and her three home runs against Southeastern is the most ever in a single game. 

Whisnant racked up 12 letters for the Colonels, competing in cross country, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field. In 2011, Whistant became just the second Colonel ever to win back-to-back titles as she was crowned the 3,000 Meter Steeplechase Champion for the second year in a row. An NCAA qualifier in 2010, Whisnant was a two-time All-Louisiana honoree as well as a three-time member of the Southland Academic Honor Roll. She left Nicholls as the record holder in the 3K steeplechase and distance medley relay.

For the Hall of Distinction, Chabert graduated from Nicholls before going on to become a Louisiana State Senator. During his time in office, Chabert worked tirelessly for countless contributions to not only athletics, but to the University as a whole. Even after serving his two terms, Chabert continues to advocate for Nicholls Athletics.