Stevenson Athletics Announces 2026 Dick Watts Hall of Fame Class

Stevenson University and Mustang Athletics is proud to announce the 2026 Dick Watts of Hall of Fame Class.

The Stevenson University Athletics Hall of Fame serves to honor those who have brought distinction to and/or made exceptional contributions to the overall development, success and prestige of the Department of Athletics while maintaining high level of core values set by the University including the four core values of excellence, integrity, community and learning.

This year's induction ceremony will be held on October 17th on Homecoming weekend.

The 2026 class includes Ty Bender '15 (Women's Basketball), Christine Isenberg '15 (Women's Volleyball), Kristen Mueller '16 (Softball), Steve Bannick '15 (Men's Lacrosse), Austin Tennessee '16 (Football), Al El Kordi Hubbard '15 (Men's Golf).

This year's Team of Distinction has been awarded the 2015 women's basketball team, and Samantha Murray '13, M '15 has been named this year's contributor honoree.

2026 Class Inductees

Steve Bannick - Men's Lacrosse 2016

Steve Bannick etched his name among the all-time greats in Stevenson men's lacrosse history with a stellar four-year career in the Black and Green. Appearing in 87 games, Bannick was a consistent offensive force, racking up an impressive 269 career points on 140 goals and 129 assists. His all-around impact extended beyond scoring, as he also collected 137 ground balls and caused 18 turnovers.

Bannick's name is firmly planted in the program record book, ranking No. 3 all-time in points, No. 4 in assists, and No. 5 in goals. A four-time All-American, his dominance on the field was further recognized with All-MAC Commonwealth First Team honors in 2012, along with MAC Offensive Player of the Year accolades in both 2014 and 2016.

Austin Tennessee - Football 2016

A true playmaker, Austin Tennessee holds multiple career records, including average yards per punt return (11.0), interception return touchdowns (2), interception return yards (282), passes defended (44), and blocked kicks (5). His impact in a single season was just as remarkable, setting program marks with six interceptions, two interception return touchdowns, 200 interception return yards, 99 fumble return yards, and 18 passes defended.

Tennessee's knack for producing highlight-reel moments was unmatched, including a program-record 99-yard fumble return touchdown against Albright on September 14, 2013. He also delivered standout single-game performances, including four pass breakups against Wilkes on November 5, 2016, ranking among the program's best.

Over the course of his career, Tennessee totaled 95 tackles (76 solo, 19 assisted), scored three defensive touchdowns, and capped off his senior season with six interceptions for 200 yards-averaging an impressive 28.6 yards per return.

His dominance did not go unnoticed. Tennessee earned First Team All-MAC honors in 2014, 2015, and 2016, along with D3football.com All-Region recognition in each of those seasons. In a historic 2016 campaign, he was named a D3football.com and AFCA All-American, MAC Defensive Player of the Year, and Rocky Myers Defensive Back of the Year.

Al El Kordi Hubbard - Men's Golf 2015

Al El Kordi Hubbard's Mustang tenure was headlined by a standout 2015 season, where he captured the MAC Commonwealth Championship individual title and was named MAC Commonwealth Golfer of the Year. A two-time First Team All-MAC Commonwealth selection, he also placed third at the 2013 conference championships and earned Second Team honors in 2014.

His senior campaign showcased his dominance on the course, highlighted by three individual victories at the Stevenson Fall Invitational, the Franklin & Marshall Spring Invitational, and the MAC Commonwealth Championships-cementing his status as one of the program's elite competitors.

Hubbard's name is firmly etched in the Stevenson record book, ranking among the program's all-time best in multiple categories. He sits in the top five in career stroke average (77.18) and single-season scoring average (75.71), while also ranking among the leaders in first-place finishes (3), top-five results (16), and top-10 finishes (22).

A model of consistency and competitive excellence, Hubbard's legacy stands as one of the benchmarks for success in Stevenson golf.

Ty Bender - Women's Basketball 2015

Ty Bender made an immediate and lasting impact during her two-year career with the Mustangs, starting and playing in all 54 games. She averaged 26.0 minutes and 8.1 points per game, finishing her career with 439 points while shooting an efficient 41.3% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range. A well-rounded contributor, Bender totaled 254 rebounds and established herself as a defensive force with 138 steals and 27 blocks. She also facilitated the offense effectively, recording 171 assists, including two of the top three single-season assist totals in program history with 98 and 78, respectively.

Her standout performances earned her 2015 MAC Commonwealth Conference Tournament MVP honors, All-MAC Commonwealth Second Team recognition, and MAC Commonwealth Player of the Week accolades on March 2, 2015, solidifying her legacy as one of the program's most impactful players.

Christine Isenberg - Women's Volleyball 2015

Christine Isenberg established herself as one of the program's all-time greats, highlighted by holding the school record for individual match attack percentage at 66.7%. She ranks sixth in program history with 1,027 career kills and 2,648 attack attempts, while also tying for second with 39 matches played in a single season. Over the course of her career, she tallied 704 kills across more than 225 sets and 79 matches, including a dominant senior season where she ranked second in the conference with 343 kills. A complete all-around player, she contributed 44 service aces, 735 digs, and 59.0 total blocks, while accumulating 784.0 career points and averaging 3.48 points per set.

Her excellence earned numerous accolades, including All-MAC Commonwealth First Team and AVCA Mid-Atlantic Regional First Team honors in 2013, AVCA All-American Honorable Mention recognition, and All-MAC Commonwealth Second Team honors in 2012. She also garnered NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional All-Tournament Team recognition and burst onto the scene in 2011 as both the CAC Rookie of the Year and ECAC South Division III Rookie of the Year, along with First Team and All-Region honors, solidifying her legacy as one of the most decorated players in program history.

Kristen Mueller - Softball 2016

Kristen Mueller holds numerous single-season records, including most at-bats (149) and home runs (9), while also recording the top two marks for stolen bases (19 and 18) and occupying the top three spots for triples in a season (6, 5, and 4). Additionally, she ranks third in single-season RBIs with 33 and holds the top three single-season totals for assists with 114, 112, and 102. Her dominance extended over the course of her career, where she set program records for at-bats (519), runs scored (116), hits (174), games played (168), games started (165), home runs (18), stolen bases (55), and assists (407).

A consistent and reliable performer, Mueller earned All-MAC Commonwealth Second Team honors three times (2013, 2015, 2016).

Team of Distinction

2015 Women's Basketball

The 2015 women's basketball team delivered the most dominant season in program history, finishing an impressive 24-4 overall and 15-1 in MAC Commonwealth play. The Mustangs captured the 2015 MAC Commonwealth Championship in commanding fashion, with Ty Bender earning Tournament MVP honors, before advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament to cap off a remarkable run.

The season was highlighted by individual excellence as well, with two players earning All-MAC Commonwealth honors. Sara Tarbert stood out both on the court and in the classroom, collecting Academic All-MAC recognition, CSC Academic All-America honors, and a spot on the ECAC All-Star Team South-cementing her place among the program's all-time greats.

Contributor

Samantha Murray

Samantha Murray's impact on Stevenson Athletics spans more than a decade, marked by dedication, versatility, and a lasting commitment to the Mustang community. Over 12 years, she served as a four-year member of the women's basketball team, a two-year graduate assistant in Athletics Communications, and six years as an Assistant Director of Athletics Communications.

During her career in sports information, she earned the 2017 NCAA Division III and D3SIDA Recognition Award, the 2018 CoSIDA (CSC) Fred Stabley, Sr. Writing Contest Award (District - General and Season Preview/Recap), and the 2017-18 AVCA Grant Burger Media Award.

Behind the scenes, Murray became one of the most influential storytellers in Stevenson Athletics history. From 2014 to 2021, she played a vital role in preserving and promoting the department's legacy, including the creation and maintenance of record books for the majority of Stevenson's programs. As one of the longest-tenured sports information professionals at Stevenson, her work helped shape how Mustang Athletics is remembered and celebrated-often returning to lend her expertise even after moving on to new opportunities. Today, Murray continues her passion for athletics as the Assistant Athletics Director at St. Paul's School, where she remains dedicated to fostering the growth and success of student-athletes at every level.