The Central Methodist Department of Athletics welcomed seven individuals and two teams as the newest inductees of the Hairston Hall of Fame. The ceremony occurred Saturday morning, and new members were recognized at halftime of the men’s game that afternoon.

2012-13 Women’s 

Basketball Team 

The 2012-13 women’s basketball team finished the year with a 25-8 record and a12-6 mark in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. The Eagles raced out to a 16-1 record in the first half of the season, which included upset wins over NCAA Division I Chicago State and No. 9 MidAmerica Nazarene. Central jumped into the national rankings on December 12, 2012, the first national ranking for the program since the conference moved from Division II to Division I in 2008-09 and the first ranking since the 1999-00 season. CMU was ranked as high as No. 17 and finished third in the conference regular season standings. The Eagles made an appearance in the Heart Tournament championship game and qualified for the program’s first-ever national tournament at the NAIA Division I level in school history. It also marked the first national postseason appearance since the 1999-00 season.

Team members include - Head Coach: James Arnold, Assistant Coaches: Greg Ray and Janette Burgin, Graduate Assistant Nicole Trawick, and Student Assistant Dustyn Yung. Players: Kyra Williams, Britney Joseph, Jasmine Poteete, Nakia Robinson, Alyssa Elson, Raylyn Nuss, Rebekah McTeer, Brittney Hotsenpiller, Kaitlyn Klapperich, Audrey Patton, Sammie Gathercole, Brooke Paulsell, Emille Buckler, Towanda Sutton, Taylor Cornelison, and Ashley Nyakundi.

1983-84 Men’s 

Basketball Team

The 1983 Men’s Basketball team finished the year with a 22-9 record and won the Heart Regular Season Championship, the third title for the program in a four-year span.  

Team members include - Head Coach Ken Ash, Paul Phillips, Kelly Reed III, Paul Hinton, Gene Baker, Darryl Pannier, Glen Moore, Doug Wright, Ken Pellham, Kenny Wyatt, Dick Tharp, Steve Pierson, Danny Widhalm, Dewey Gachet, Jon Paar, Eric Krause, Troy Lowery, Paul Ammonette, Mario Denson, Rob Angstead, Rick Trigg, and Stan Martin.

Raylyn Nuss ’13 

Raylyn Nuss was a four-year member of the women’s basketball program from 2009-13. The native of O’Fallon, Missouri, played in 122 career games for the Eagles, scoring 983 career points along with 231 three-point field goals. She saved her best season for last, earning Heart All-Conference Second Team Honors and was named an NAIA Honorable Mention All-American in 2012-13. She led Central to a 25-8 record and an appearance in the Heart Tournament Championship game as a senior. Additionally, she was a part of the program’s first NAIA Division I National Tournament. Nuss was lethal from long range, as she knocked down 86 three-point field goals in her final season, which was good for No. 8 in the country in 2012-13. She was also a two-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete and was named the Darla Pannier Most Outstanding Female Athlete as a senior. Nuss graduated with a bachelor of science degree in biology and is now an accomplished professional cyclist. 

Chelsea Dykman ’10

Chelsea Dykman was a phenomenal softball player at both the high school and collegiate levels. After a dominant high school career that saw her lead Salisbury to a state championship, three conference titles, and a pair of district championships, she was recruited as a pitcher by the University of Illinois–Chicago. She attended for one year before deciding to return home to play for CMU. In three seasons with the Eagles, Dykman posted 52 career wins with a 2.09 earned run average and 551 total strikeouts. All three of those marks land her in the Top 10 of the program’s career record books. She produced her best season during her sophomore campaign in 2008, tallying a 19-8 record and a 1.51 earned run average with 212 total strikeouts. She was a two-time Heart First Team All-Conference selection in both 2009 and 2010. Dykman graduated from CMU in 2010 and married fellow alumni Nic Dykman in 2015. They have two sons.  

Peter Muldoon ’10 

Peter Muldoon had a stellar track career for Central Methodist University in the late 2000s, racking up both conference and national recognition in the racewalk. Muldoon qualified for nationals a total of six times. He earned All-America recognition three times, once during the indoor season (2008) in the 3,000m racewalk and twice during the outdoor (2008 and 2009) in the 5,000m racewalk. In his final year with the Eagles, Muldoon swept both the indoor and outdoor Heart of America Conference Championships. He graduated from Central Methodist in 2010.  

Bobby Strumlauf ’01

Bobby Strumlauf played for the Eagles’ Baseball program for four seasons from 1997-2000. A devastating hitter during his time with Central, Strumlauf’s name still can be found in the Top 10 of five career statistical hitting categories. Those categories include career doubles (No. 3 – 41), batting average (No. 4 – batting average), RBI (No. 5 – 119), home runs (T-4th – 25) and hits (No. 8 – 162). He graduated from Central Methodist with a bachelor’s degree in Education in 2001.  

Kenny Wyatt ’84 

Kenny Wyatt, a 1984 graduate of Central Methodist, is being inducted into the Hall of Fame accompanied by a very impressive set of teaching and coaching credentials. In 37 years as a Missouri High School Boys’ Basketball Coach and Administrator, his record stands as 759-265. That is a .741 winning percentage. In 29 years leading his alma mater, Salisbury High School, he racked up a 606-198 record. His Salisbury teams made six final four appearances, garnering two state championships (2013 and 2023), two runner-up finishes (2012 and 2021), and two third-place finishes (2005 and 2024). A six-time KMZU Dream Team Coach of the Year, Wyatt showed countless students what it took to succeed as athletes and as people. Kenny is also a member of the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and was named the 2022-23 MSHSAA Boys Basketball Coach of the Year. Kenny and his wife, Jan, are the parents of two sons, Austin and Zach, and they have four grandchildren.  

Kevin Cantwell ’80 

Kevin Cantwell was a four-year member of the Central Methodist Men’s Basketball team from 1975-79, including the 1976-77 Hall of Fame team that finished with one of the highest winning percentages in program history. Cantwell is a member of the 1,000-point club with 1,143 career points, which was good enough for No. 7 all-time at the conclusion of his playing days. He has remained involved with both Central and the basketball program since he graduated. Cantwell played a key role in bringing the United States Basketball Writers annual awards dinner to St. Louis, which recognizes the Oscar Robertson National Player of the Year along with five other prestigious awards for collegiate basketball. Kevin is married to Mary (Presnell) Cantwell (80’) and has two married children and five grandchildren. They reside in Weldon Spring, Missouri.

Dennis Hagedorn ’79 

Dennis Hagedorn began his time at Central Methodist College in the fall of 1975 under Coach Tom Bartow, playing for him for two years. This included the 1976-77 Hall of Fame team. He finished his junior and senior years under Hall of Fame Coach Ken Ash. During Dennis’ four years, he was a three-time Heart All-Conference selection, including Honorable Mention (1976-77), Second Team (1977-78), and First Team (1978-79). He finished his career as a member of the 1,000-point club with 1,161 career points, good enough for No. 6 all-time in school history at the conclusion of his time as an Eagle. Dennis graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education in 1979 and was a teacher and coach at Versailles High School. He is married to Gina Gordon ’79. They have two children and two grandchildren.