NEWARK, DE -- Three former All-American athletes who moved on to outstanding professional careers, record-breaking performers in swimming
and diving, track and field, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey, and the first media member to be selected highlight the ninth induction class of the University of Delaware Athletics Hall of Fame announced Monday.

The Class of 2005 will be formally inducted on Friday, Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. in a ceremony to be held in the auditorium of the Bob Carpenter Center. The group will again be honored prior to the Delaware football game vs. Massachusetts Nov. 5 at Delaware Stadium. This year’s group of eight inductees increases the UD Athletics Hall of Fame to 77.

This year’s class includes former field hockey and women’s lacrosse all-conference performer Andrea “Ange” Bradley, record-setting freestyle swimmer Nancy Davis, 18-year National Football League standout quarterback Rich Gannon, high-scoring All-American lacrosse player John Grant, record-setting track and field sprinter Dionne Jones, the late “Voice of Delaware Football” Bob Kelley, baseball slugger and current Texas Rangers outfielder Kevin Mench, and 1970’s field hockey and softball standout Joan Schimpf (Samonisky).

“We once again are pleased to induct an outstanding class of former Delaware student-athletes into the UD Athletics Hall of Fame,” said UD Director of Athletics Edgar Johnson, who will host the induction ceremony. “This year’s class includes individuals who not only enjoyed great success while at the University of Delaware, but have moved on to become nationally-recognized sports figures. We are very proud of all the inductees and their accomplishments of the past and present.”

Andrea L. “Ange” Bradley made her mark at Delaware as both a record-breaking goalkeeper in field hockey and as a tough and steady defender in lacrosse in 1984-88. A native of Drexel Hill, PA, she was a four-year starter in both sports and was named the University’s Outstanding Senior Female Athlete of the Year in 1987-88. In field hockey, she set virtually every school record during her career and led nationally-ranked teams to three East Coast Conference regular season titles under head coach Mary Ann Hitchens. In lacrosse, she led nationally-ranked squads to two ECC titles for head coach Janet Smith. She was the ECC Player of the Year in field hockey in 1987 and set seven school records upon graduation, including marks for career saves (477), shutouts (26), and save pct. (.891). She also was a two-time All-ECC selection in lacrosse. An honor student, she earned her degree from Delaware in 1988 and has enjoyed a successful college field hockey coaching career. She currently serves as the head field hockey coach at the University of Richmond.

An outstanding freestyler, Nancy Davis (Herb) had set more school records than any swimmer in Delaware history when she graduated in 1997. A native of Southampton, PA, Davis led the Blue Hens to two conference team titles for head coach John Hayman in 1993-97 and won five individual conference titles during her career. A three-time team Most Valuable Player, she led her UD teams to a four-year dual mark of 33-11 and was named Delaware’s Outstanding Senior Female Athlete of the Year in 1997. She established school records in the 50 freestyle (24.36), 100 freestyle (52.78), 200 freestyle (1:52.94), 500 freestyle (5:00.36), 1,000 freestyle (10:25.10), 1,650 freestyle (17:09.99), 400 medley relay (4:01.93), and 800 freestyle relay (7:49.31), won three straight conference titles in the 1,650 freestyle, two straight titles in the 500 freestyle, and earned All-East honors five times. An honor student in elementary education, she earned her degree from Delaware in 1997. She currently resides in Frederick, MD with her husband, Mark Herb. She is an elementary school teacher and formerly served as part-time head swimming coach at Ursinus College.

One of the most widely-recognized athletes in Delaware history, Rich Gannon followed an All-American career for the Blue Hens with a stellar 18-year tenure in the National Football League. A native of Philadelphia, he was a three-year starting quarterback for coach Tubby Raymond and earned All-American honors in 1986 when he was the Yankee Conference Player of the Year while leading the team to the NCAA quarterfinals. He established 21 school records, including career marks for passing yards (5,927), total offense (7,436), and rushing yards by a quarterback (1,509), and was named UD’s Outstanding Senior Male Athlete of the Year in 1986-87. He was a fourth round pick in the 1987 draft and went on to an outstanding NFL career with Minnesota, Washington, Kansas City, and Oakland in 1987-2004. He was a three-time All-Pro, was the NFL Most Valuable Player in 2002, and led the Raiders to the 2003 Super Bowl. A 1987 graduate of Delaware, Gannon retired in August and currently is a football analyst for CBS Television. He resides with his wife and two daughters in Excelsior, MN.

In just two seasons with the Delaware men’s lacrosse program in 1998-99, John Grant established himself as one of the most exciting and successful athletes in school history and remains one of the top professional lacrosse players in the world. A dominating offensive player with a combination of strength, speed, and a blazing shot, Grant recorded 81 goals and 96 assists for 177 points in just 32 career games for the Blue Hens under coach Bob Shillinglaw. A native of Ontario, Canada, he was a two-time USILA All-American, earning first team laurels as a senior in 1999 when he led all NCAA Division I players with 110 points and was named the winner of the prestigious Enner Award as the USILA National Player of the Year. He led Delaware to its best season in school history in 1999 when the Blue Hens went 14-3 and advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals. A year later he served as an assistant coach for the Blue Hens. A 2000 graduate of Delaware, Grant has moved on to an All-Star career with professional indoor and outdoor teams in Rochester, NY, where he now resides.

One of the most dominating track performers in Delaware history, Dionne Jones (Dendy) was virtually unbeatable in the sprint events during her stellar career in 1988-91 for head coach Sue McGrath-Powell. A seven-time letterwinner, Jones established seven school records and won 15 conference titles, more than any female athlete in UD history. A native of Camden, NJ, she won eight East Coast Conference outdoor sprint titles and seven indoor titles and is the only athlete in school history be named the league meet Outstanding Performer three times, earning the honors indoors in 1990 and 1991 and outdoors in 1991. She won three straight ECC indoor 55 meter titles and three consecutive outdoor 100 meter titles at one point and also led Blue Hen teams to three conference team titles. A 1992 Delaware graduate, she set school records in the indoor 55 meters (7.21), 200 meters (25.60), and mile relay, and the outdoor 100 meters (11.81), 200 meters (24.81), 400 meter relay (47.75), and mile relay (3:55.37). She is a nurse and presently resides in Claymont, DE with her husband, Mark and their three children.

A noted broadcaster, sportswriter, and publicist, Bob Kelley made his mark at the University of Delaware as the distinctive and knowledgeable “Voice of the Blue Hens” on WILM and WDEL radio broadcasts for 38 football seasons between 1950-87 and for 17 men’s basketball seasons in 1962-79. A native of Yonkers, NY, Kelley came to Delaware as a sportswriter for the Wilmington Morning News and began his broadcasting career covering local high school games before being hired by Dave Nelson in 1950. Nelson often credited Kelley with playing a key role in building the great tradition of Delaware football. He later served as publicity director for Delaware Park (horse racing) for 17 years and was a founding member of the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame. He passed away in 1988 at the age of 60 and was inducted into the DSMHF posthumously in 1989. The Delaware Stadium Press Box is named in his honor. He will be represented at the induction ceremony by his wife, Janice, who resides in Wilmington, DE.

The greatest slugger in Delaware’s rich baseball history, Kevin Mench was among the nation’s top players for three seasons under coach Bob Hannah in 1997-99 and has gone on to an outstanding career as an outfielder for the major league Texas Rangers. A native of Newark, DE and a 2000 graduate of Delaware, Mench was a three-time all-conference selection, a two-time conference Player of the Year, and a two-time All-American, establishing numerous school records, including marks for home runs in a season (33) and career standards for home runs (71), batting average (.409), and slugging percentage (.875). He captured the America East conference “Triple Crown” in 1998 when he batted .455, led the NCAA with 33 home runs, and knocked in 72 runs to earn Collegiate Baseball Magazine National Player of the Year and consensus All-American honors. He led the Hens to a three-year record of 123-45, two conference titles, and NCAA Tournament berths in 1998 and 1999. He is currently batting .271 with 25 home runs and 70 runs batted in for the Rangers. He resides in Keller, TX.

An exceptional all-around athlete, Joan Schimpf (Samonisky) enjoyed great success in field hockey and softball at the University of Delaware in 1976-79 and was also an accomplished amateur golfer. She lettered three years each in field hockey and softball and served as team captain for both squads. As a midfielder for coach Mary Ann Hitchens, Schimpf led the field hockey team to a three-year mark of 38-13-9 and three straight AIAW national top four finishes, including a national runner-up spot in 1978. In softball, she was a four-year standout outfielder for coach Kay Ice who batted .401 for her career and graduated holding numerous school records, including marks for career hits, home runs, and stolen bases. She was named Delaware’s Outstanding Senior Female Athlete of the Year in 1978-79. A Wilmington, DE native, she graduated with honors from Delaware in 1979 and moved on to a career as one of Delaware’s top high school field hockey coaches and athletics administrators. The wife of current UD men’s soccer head coach Marc Samonisky, Joan currently serves as director of athletics and head field hockey coach at the Sanford School in Hockessin, DE after serving in the same role at Caravel Academy in Bear, DE. They reside in Newark, DE with their two daughters.