The Maryville University Department of Athletics will induct three individuals into the Saints Hall of Fame on Thursday, Sept. 26 during Homecoming 2019. Student-athletes Kayla Eckelkamp (women’s golf), Ron Swanson (men’s cross country) and Asa Toney (men’s basketball) will be honored.
Eckelkamp was Maryville’s first individual to qualify for the NCAA Division II Women’s Golf Tournament in 2012 and was that season’s Great Lakes Valley Conference Golfer of the Year. She still holds the record for lowest career stroke average of 76.58 and garnered the most tournament wins with 17. Eckelkamp set the three lowest single-season scoring averages in program history, including a record 74.92 in 2011-12. She holds the season record for birdies with 41 and in a career with 108. Eckelkamp established the tournament low 36-hole score of 141 of three under par. Academically, she was Maryville’s first CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Division II era when she earned third-team honors for the prestigious award. Eckelkamp graduated from the University in 2012.
Swanson was a four-year runner for the cross country team and graduated magna cum laude from the University in 1996. He won the 1993 and 1994 SLIAC individual men’s championship and was selected the Runner of the Year in both 1993 and 1994. Swanson was the SLIAC Newcomer of the Year his freshman season. His efforts helped the Saints win the 1992 and 1993 SLIAC title. Swanson was a three-time first-team All-SLIAC runner. During his career, he held the cross country school records for the 5K, 6K, 8K and four-mile races. Swanson was a three-time Cross Country and Track Coaches Academic All-American. He was an NCAA Student Athletics Advisory Committee student representative in 1995-96.
Toney earned All-American honors after his senior season and was voted first-team All-GLVC for the second straight occasion. The guard led the Saints to a school-record 23 victories his junior year and was an All-Conference first-team selection. Toney remains the program’s all-time assists leader with 395 and is second with 181 steals. He still ranks fourth in career scoring at 1,503 points and ninth in field goals made. Toney was a relentless driver of the ball and is fourth in free throws converted with 306. He remains the Maryville career leader in games started at 110 contests and in minutes played per game at 30.7. Toney graduated from the University in 2014.
The induction ceremony will be held in the University Auditorium as part of Homecoming 2019. The event is open to the Maryville community and general public. For more information, visit www.maryville.edu/homecoming.