McKendree University Announces Inductees for 2025 Sports Hall of Fame
Lebanon, IL (09/05/2025) — McKendree University announced that five individuals and one team will be inducted into the 2025 Bearcat Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, during an awards ceremony at The Hettenhausen Center for the Arts on campus.
Former student-athletes Matt Cole '20, Caty (Ponce) Happe '16, Michael Strobbe '07, and Justin Townsend '00, along with the 1999 football team will be honored. Additionally, former men's and women's water polo coach Colleen Lischwe will be honored posthumously for her achievements.
The Sports Hall of Fame recognizes those who, through leadership and character, have made exceptional contributions to the honor and prestige of the university. Honorees can be inducted as former student-athletes, former coaches, or alumni coaches and sports professionals.
Details regarding the event and ticket availability will be announced this fall. For further information, please contact alumni@mckendree.edu or call (618) 537-6824.
A native and resident of Chicago, Matt Cole played football at McKendree University, graduating with a bachelor's degree in psychology in 2020. He was named 2019 NCAA Division II (DII) All-American and the 2019 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Special Teams Player of the Year, and twice earned All-GLVC honors. Cole recorded 93 career receptions for 1,618 yards and 17 touchdowns, and closed his time as a Bearcat with 3,583 all-purpose yards and three kick-return touchdowns. A member of McKendree's 25th-anniversary football team, Cole finished his collegiate career with the second-most receiving touchdowns, third-most receiving yards, sixth-most total points scored, and eighth-most receptions since the program returned in 1996. Additionally, he played for seven NFL teams within a span of three seasons. He currently serves as a supervising agent for Globe Life.
A native and resident of Edwardsville, Ill., Caty (Ponce) Happe graduated summa cum laude from McKendree in 2016 with a bachelor's degree in math - secondary education. She was a four-year starter in women's basketball and a three-year starter in softball for the Bearcats. Her 205 made three-pointers remains at the top of the program record book and also ranks fifth-best in scoring (1,533), sixth-best in assists (350) and field goals made (529), and 10th-best in free-throws made (270). Happe is the 13th member of the 1,000 point club and was named Second-Team All-GLVC in 2013 and 2015. She appeared in 117 softball games with a career-best of .283 batting average, three homeruns, and 19 RBIs in 2012. She earned the GLVC Council of Presidents' Academic Excellence Award and was a five-time Academic All-GLVC. Currently, she serves as the softball coach at Edwardsville High School and Liberty Middle School.
Originally from Kirkwood, Mo., Colleen Lischwe will be honored posthumously for her achievements and contributions during the Sports Hall of Fame ceremony. She earned a master's degree in human resource management from McKendree in 2018 and accumulated 165 wins as the head men and women's water polo coach. She led the men to the 2018 Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference-West championship and was named Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) DII Championships Coach of the Year in 2018 and CWPA Midwest Division Coach of the Year in 2017. She was also the only female head coach of a men's NCAA water polo program. Lischwe tragically passed away on January 15, 2025.
A native of Ferguson, Mo., and resident of Madison, Ala., Michael Strobbe graduated from McKendree in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in business administration and played basketball for the Bearcats. He was a three-time NAIA All-American and a two-time First-Team All-American Midwest Conference (AMC) winner, and one of the nine players in school history to join the 1,000 rebound and point club. Strobbe currently sits fourth in school history in rebounds (1,314), eighth in field goals (692), and ninth in scoring (1,875). He also played 10 seasons of professional basketball in Mexico, playing for the Mexican national team and winning two silver medals in the Caribbean Olympics and the Pan American Games. Strobbe was second in NAIA in rebounds per game in 2007 (11.7) and posted career averages of 12.8 points per game and 9.3 rebounds per game. He was also named the AMC Freshman of the Year in 2003-2004.
A native and resident of Fairfield, Ill., Justin Townsend graduated cum laude from McKendree in 2000 with a bachelor's degree in physical education. A member of McKendree's 25th anniversary football team, Townsend was named 1999 First-Team NAIA All-American and All-Mid-States Football Association. He was the anchor of an offensive line that helped set school records, averaging 325.4 rushing yards per game in 1997 and 40 touchdowns in 1999, and helping McKendree reach a top-five national ranking and two playoff appearances. He was named an NAIA All-American Scholar Athlete in 1998 and to the MSFA All-Academic Team in 1998 and 1999. Currently, he serves as the athletic director and head football and boy's track coach at Fairfield High School.
Also being inducted into the McKendree Sports Hall of Fame is the 1999 football team, which held a 9-2 overall record, advanced to NAIA first round, and finished the season ranked No. 6 in NAIA rankings. They were named 1999 MSFA Champion and led the MSFA in rushing yards per game (312.0), scoring (33.5), and rushing defense (129.5). This team, led by Head Coach Carl Poelker, opened their season on an eight-game winning streak and defeated now-NCAA Division I Dayton 38-31 in overtime.