1-General | 10/18/2018 2:54:00 PM

MIAMI SHORES, Fla.-The eighth class of the Barry University Athletics Wall of Honor will be inducted on Nov. 13, 2018 in a ceremony on campus.

The four student-athletes inducted represent the cream of the crop for Buccaneer Athletics. They totaled nine All-America commendations, nine Scholar All-America awards, one Sunshine State Conference player of the year, three SSC Scholar-Athletes of the year, an NCAA Woman of the Year finalist and a Barry University President's Award.

In addition, three Buccaneers are receiving meritorious service commendation.

The 2018 student-athlete inductees are Meg Denholm (rowing), Nicholas Ellingsworth-Perez (men's basketball), Grace S. Collins (softball) and Daniel Stapff (men's golf). Barry University President Sister Linda Bevilacqua, former men's basketball coach and administrator Cesar Odio and baseball's David Alexander received meritorious service commendation.

Sister Linda Bevilacqua, OP, PhD

Meritorious Service
President, Barry University
2004-2019
B.S. Education, 1962

Sister Linda Bevilacqua, OP, PhD, presided over a Golden Age of Buccaneer Athletics. During her tenure, Barry won 14 of the 19 current NCAA national championships -- volleyball, women's tennis, rowing, women's golf, men's golf and men's tennis. Always a loyal fan and ardent supporter of our student-athletes, Sister Linda has woven commitment of academic excellence into Barry's intercollegiate athletic program. With a 90%+ graduation rate, the Bucs received the NCAA President's Award four years successively and set many program records for academic accomplishment.

Cesar Odio

Meritorious Service
Head coach, Men's Basketball/Assistant AD
1994-2016

Cesar Odio is the winningest coach in Barry University basketball history, compiling a 266-218 record, two Sunshine State Conference Coach of the Year awards, and three trips to the NCAA Tournament. He mentored 22 All-Sunshine State Conference players, including 2004-05 SSC Player of the Year Nick Ellingsworth-Perez. While he led the team for 17 years, Coach Odio's impact extended well beyond the court. He connected with so many different people and exemplified the meaning of living out Barry's Core Commitments. He embodied the Barry Mission in his day-to-day contact with student-athletes, not only on his team but from every sport. He knew the names from every team and made an effort every day to say something positive to each student he contacted. From his playing days, Cesar was always known for toughness, leadership and devotion to his family. Coach Odio was not only a coach, but a devoted family-man, mentor, friend and father-figure to countless student-athletes and many in the South Florida basketball community. He was committed to insuring that his athletes completed their education. Even while battling cancer for nine years, he always lived by his motto, "Every day is a great day!" The Bucs renamed the floor in the Health & Sports Center Cesar Odio Court in spring of 2018.

David Alexander

Meritorious Service
Baseball
1987-90
B.S. Accounting, 1990

David Alexander played in the early days of the baseball program under coach Bruce Barclay. He earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees from Barry. Very active in the campus community during his playing days, he remained an active and integral part of the Barry community after graduation. He served on the Alumni Board of Directors, including a stint as President. He was a member of the committee to select a new university president after the retirement of Sister Jeanne O'Laughlin and was instrumental in the hiring of Sister Linda Bevilacqua. Serving in a financial leadership role at Memorial Healthcare System, he helped develop the scholarship fund that Memorial has with the university. Currently, the Senior Vice President, Finance for Acute Care Division at Universal Health Services, his financial acumen and leadership has led to over $3 billion in public financing during his career. Through it all, David and his wife Angie have continued to live the Barry University Mission of service and reflection in the community.

Grace S. Collins

Softball
BA, History and BA Philosophy, 2012

Grace Collins is one of the most decorated softball players in Barry history. She won three All-America awards, including a first-team NFCA selection as a junior in 2011, and four straight NFCA Scholar All-America awards. She led the conference in batting as a junior and complied a school-record hitting streak. In addition, she was the 2012 Barry University President's Award winner as the most outstanding senior, the only student-athlete to ever win the award. As a junior, she received the St. Catherine's Medal for service and leadership. A two-time Sister Jeanne O'Laughlin Service Award winner, she is the only student-athlete to win the award twice. She was selected as the Sunshine State Conference Woman of the Year and finished as a Top-9 finalist for the NCAA award. After getting her law degree (juris doctorate) at Florida, she worked at the Women's Sports Foundation and The Citadel advocating for Title IX. She was the Vice President-Service for the Barry Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, served as the captain of the Ethics Bowl Team, organized the Barry chapter of America's Moms for Soldiers. She was enshrined in the SSC Hall of Fame in June of 2018.

Meg Denholm

Rowing
B.S, Sport Management, 2006

Meg Denholm is a story of the triumph of opportunity. Coming to Barry University as a freshman having played various sports in high school, she had not planned a college athletic career. Approached by then rowing coach Paul Mokha for the novice rowing team, an activity she had never pursued, she went on to be a three-time CRCA All-American, the only one in Barry history. She helped lead the team to the 2006 Sunshine State Conference championship and a runner up finish in the 2006 National Regatta in one of the closest races in event history. In addition, she was also a two-time CRCA Scholar All-American.  After Meg graduated in 2006, she went on to get a dual Master's Degree from Barry, Masters of Business Administration and Masters of Sport Management. While getting her Master's Degree she started working for the Miami Heat where she currently works as Senior Manager, Corporate Sales Administration.  She was able to experience two NBA Championships with the Heat in 2012 and 2013. 

Nick Ellingsworth-Perez

Men's Basketball
B.S., Sport Management, 2006

Nick Ellingsworth-Perez was one of the top stars on the men's basketball team and helped lead the Bucs to the Sunshine State Conference championship and the NCAA Tournament for the first time. After transferring from Spring Hill College, he became the team's second leading scorer and leading rebounder as a sophomore. As a junior, he earned second-team All-SSC honors as he became the leader in both categories. He saved his best for last, becoming the SSC Player of the Year and an All-American by both Basketball Times and Daktronics as a senior. He was the SSC Player of the Year and Barry University Male Athlete of the Year in 2004-05. He led the SSC in rebounding and was second in scoring. He set what were, at the time, school records for rebounds in a season, free throws made and attempted for his career and career rebound average. He was just the third player in school history to score more than 1000 points.

Daniel Stapff

Men's Golf
B.S., Finance, 2012

A two-time All-American and Golf Coaches Association of America Scholar All-American, Daniel Stapff claimed three All-South Region and three All-Sunshine State Conference honors. He is a three-time recipient of the SSC and Barry University Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year Awards. He was the 2011 SSC Golfer of the Year and a 2012 College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-American, in addition to winning the NCAA Division II Elite 88 and Elite 89 awards in 2010 and 2012, respectively. Stapff had four career victories, including two as a junior. He had a 72.95 career scoring average, and shot in the 60s 18 times, while compiling 57 par-or-better rounds, which ranks second at Barry. His 362 birdies rank fourth, and his seven eagles are tied for ninth in Barry history. His 111 counting scores are fourth all time, and his 77.6 finish percentage is seventh.