2026 Hall of Fame Class Includes Five Individuals and 2002 Baseball Team
10/7/2026 1:36:00 PM | Baseball, Football, Men's Basketball, Softball
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Five individuals and one team comprise Southeast Missouri's 2026 Hall of Fame Class which will be inducted on January 22, 2027 at the Show Me Center. Banterra Bank will serve as the presenting sponsor for this year's induction dinner and ceremony.
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Rachel Anderson (Softball, 2017-2021), Mike Ford (Football, 2013-2017), Ronny Rankin (Basketball, 1984-1986), Shae Simmons (Baseball, 2010-2012), Dan Wieser (Football & Baseball, 1974-1977) and the 2002 Baseball Team complete this year's class.
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For reservations and ticket information, CLICK HERE.
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Rachel Anderson (Softball, 2017-2021)
One of the greatest players in Southeast Missouri softball history, Rachel Anderson was the 2017 Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year, 2019 OVC Player of the Year and a four-time First-Team All-OVC outfielder during her remarkable five-year career. Anderson became the first softball All-American during the program's NCAA Division I era when she claimed third-team honors in 2019. She was also the first softball player to earn First-Team Academic All-America accolades in SEMO's Division I history. Anderson was a true five-tool athlete that hit for average, hit for power, had speed on the basepaths, throwing ability and was excellent defensively. She garnered National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region honors three times in her career. Anderson broke SEMO single-season records in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, triples, total bases, games played and games started. She ended her career as the program's all-time career leader in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, at-bats, runs, hits, triples, total bases, walks, games played and games started. Anderson started all 231 games of her career and was a two-time OVC Medal of Honor recipient. She was the 2020-21 SEMO Female Athlete of the Year.Â
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Mike Ford (Football, 2013-2017)
Mike Ford played three seasons as a defensive back at Southeast Missouri. During his time as a Redhawk, Ford accumulated 116 tackles (84 solo), 34 passes defended, seven interceptions, 10 tackles for loss and five sacks. He was named Second-Team All-Ohio Valley Conference in 2016. Ford ranks tied for 18th among SEMO's all-time career leaders in interceptions. He is presently with the Atlanta Falcons in his ninth NFL season. Prior to Atlanta, Ford spent three years with the Detroit Lions (2018-20), one with the Denver Broncos (2021), two with the Falcons (2022, 2025), and two with the Cleveland Browns (2023-24). He is the longest tenured NFL player in SEMO history. Ford is widely respected across the NFL for his relentless hustle and previously was among NFL Pro Bowl Special Teams finalists on multiple occasions.
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Ronny Rankin (Basketball, 1984-1986)
Ronny Rankin ended his Southeast Missouri basketball career with 1,277 points and, to this day, ranks among the program's all-time career leaders in scoring (10th), scoring average (4th, 20.6 ppg), field goals made (7th, 483), free throws made (7th, 311) and free throw percentage (5th, .838). Rankin led the team in scoring during both of his SEMO
seasons, finishing with 621 points in 1984-85 and 656 points in 1985-86. Those totals rank third and fourth among the school's single-season leaders, respectively. He was the Most Valuable Player of the NCAA South Central Regional after making the game-winning layup with two seconds left to beat Delta and scoring 35 points, pulling down 10 rebounds, recording three blocks and collecting four steals to send SEMO to the 1985-86 NCAA National Finals with a win over Cheney. Rankin was inducted into the SEMO Athletics Hall of Fame as a member of 1985-86 team in 2007 and was selected in the seventh round by the Sacramento Kings in the 1986 NBA Draft.
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Shae Simmons (Baseball, 2010-2012)
Shae Simmons was a relief pitcher at Southeast Missouri for three seasons putting together a three-year college career that would lead to a career in professional baseball. Simmons was a Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Freshman All-American and became the program's second Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year in 2010. He was also
named to the league's All-Freshman Team and earned First-Team All-OVC honors his rookie season. Simmons then finished his college career as a Second-Team All-OVC selection in 2012. In 2012, Simmons led the OVC with 89 strikeouts and he ranks among SEMO's top 10 career leaders in saves (t3rd, 10), appearances (t10th, 63) and
strikeouts/nine innings (8th, 9.98). He was drafted in the 22nd round by the Atlanta Braves in the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft. He was promoted to the Atlanta Braves big league team from Double A in 2014, where he pitched in 26 games. Simmons recorded his first career MLB save against the Miami Marlins during his second career appearance. He was later part of the Seattle Mariners and Chicago Cubs organizations before ending his professional baseball career after the 2018 season. Simmons is now a paramedic for the North Scott County Ambulance Service and works as the pitching coach at Scott City High School, where he graduated.
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Dan Wieser (Football & Baseball, 1974-1977)
Dan Wieser was a multi-sport athlete playing both football and baseball for four years at Southeast Missouri. Wieser was a two-time All-MIAA honoree in football and garnered All-Conference honors two seasons at shortstop. He earned All-America honors in 1976 when he was a part of SEMO's baseball team which finished third at the College World Series. Wieser was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 1977 and won the Silver Glove Award in 1979. He played with the Royals until 1982. Wieser was inducted with the 1976 SEMO Baseball team into the school's Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006.
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2002 Baseball Team
The 2002 Southeast Missouri baseball team was the first to win a regular season Ohio Valley Conference title. The team finished the season with an overall record of 37-20 and a conference clip of 16-5. The 2002 team tied a program record of 37 wins, a record that stood for 14 years. Head Coach Mark Hogan was named OVC Coach of the Year and Brad Purcell was tabbed OVC Pitcher of the Year. Purcell's 117 innings pitched still stand as SEMO's all-time single-season record, whils 12 wins still rank second. In all, SEMO had three First-Team All-OVC members (Denver Stuckey, 3B; Vern Hatton, OF; Brad Purcell, P) and five Second-Team selections (Tristan McDonald, C; Clemente Bonilla, 2B; Zach Borowiak, SS; Brandon Smith, P; Tim Alvarez, P) on that team. The Redhawks won their second OVC Tournament title and punched their ticket to the NCAA Regional in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. SEMO's first NCAA Tournament victory against NCAA Regional host Alabama that season.
Players: Tristen McDonald, David Kurtz, David Lawson, Mark Frazier, Josh Eftink, Brent Self, Donnie Fuller, Matt Baldwin, Clemente Bonilla, Zach Borowiak, Brian Hopkins,
Brice Nicholas, Scott Reinagel, Eric Hoffman, Andy Sheridan, Ryan Govek, Denver Stuckey, Brandon Smith, Vern Hatton, James Beever, Brad Simmons, Andy Davidson,
Tim Alvarez, Brad Purcell, Adam Sherry, Ryan Cheo. Coaches: Head Coach Mark Hogan, Jeff Hilz, Jeremy Tyson, Scott Southard. Athletic Trainer: Lance McNamara.
Bat Boy: Dustin McKinnis.
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Rachel Anderson (Softball, 2017-2021), Mike Ford (Football, 2013-2017), Ronny Rankin (Basketball, 1984-1986), Shae Simmons (Baseball, 2010-2012), Dan Wieser (Football & Baseball, 1974-1977) and the 2002 Baseball Team complete this year's class.
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For reservations and ticket information, CLICK HERE.
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One of the greatest players in Southeast Missouri softball history, Rachel Anderson was the 2017 Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year, 2019 OVC Player of the Year and a four-time First-Team All-OVC outfielder during her remarkable five-year career. Anderson became the first softball All-American during the program's NCAA Division I era when she claimed third-team honors in 2019. She was also the first softball player to earn First-Team Academic All-America accolades in SEMO's Division I history. Anderson was a true five-tool athlete that hit for average, hit for power, had speed on the basepaths, throwing ability and was excellent defensively. She garnered National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region honors three times in her career. Anderson broke SEMO single-season records in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, triples, total bases, games played and games started. She ended her career as the program's all-time career leader in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, at-bats, runs, hits, triples, total bases, walks, games played and games started. Anderson started all 231 games of her career and was a two-time OVC Medal of Honor recipient. She was the 2020-21 SEMO Female Athlete of the Year.Â
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Mike Ford (Football, 2013-2017)
Mike Ford played three seasons as a defensive back at Southeast Missouri. During his time as a Redhawk, Ford accumulated 116 tackles (84 solo), 34 passes defended, seven interceptions, 10 tackles for loss and five sacks. He was named Second-Team All-Ohio Valley Conference in 2016. Ford ranks tied for 18th among SEMO's all-time career leaders in interceptions. He is presently with the Atlanta Falcons in his ninth NFL season. Prior to Atlanta, Ford spent three years with the Detroit Lions (2018-20), one with the Denver Broncos (2021), two with the Falcons (2022, 2025), and two with the Cleveland Browns (2023-24). He is the longest tenured NFL player in SEMO history. Ford is widely respected across the NFL for his relentless hustle and previously was among NFL Pro Bowl Special Teams finalists on multiple occasions.
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Ronny Rankin (Basketball, 1984-1986)
Ronny Rankin ended his Southeast Missouri basketball career with 1,277 points and, to this day, ranks among the program's all-time career leaders in scoring (10th), scoring average (4th, 20.6 ppg), field goals made (7th, 483), free throws made (7th, 311) and free throw percentage (5th, .838). Rankin led the team in scoring during both of his SEMO
seasons, finishing with 621 points in 1984-85 and 656 points in 1985-86. Those totals rank third and fourth among the school's single-season leaders, respectively. He was the Most Valuable Player of the NCAA South Central Regional after making the game-winning layup with two seconds left to beat Delta and scoring 35 points, pulling down 10 rebounds, recording three blocks and collecting four steals to send SEMO to the 1985-86 NCAA National Finals with a win over Cheney. Rankin was inducted into the SEMO Athletics Hall of Fame as a member of 1985-86 team in 2007 and was selected in the seventh round by the Sacramento Kings in the 1986 NBA Draft.
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Shae Simmons (Baseball, 2010-2012)
Shae Simmons was a relief pitcher at Southeast Missouri for three seasons putting together a three-year college career that would lead to a career in professional baseball. Simmons was a Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Freshman All-American and became the program's second Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year in 2010. He was also
named to the league's All-Freshman Team and earned First-Team All-OVC honors his rookie season. Simmons then finished his college career as a Second-Team All-OVC selection in 2012. In 2012, Simmons led the OVC with 89 strikeouts and he ranks among SEMO's top 10 career leaders in saves (t3rd, 10), appearances (t10th, 63) and
strikeouts/nine innings (8th, 9.98). He was drafted in the 22nd round by the Atlanta Braves in the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft. He was promoted to the Atlanta Braves big league team from Double A in 2014, where he pitched in 26 games. Simmons recorded his first career MLB save against the Miami Marlins during his second career appearance. He was later part of the Seattle Mariners and Chicago Cubs organizations before ending his professional baseball career after the 2018 season. Simmons is now a paramedic for the North Scott County Ambulance Service and works as the pitching coach at Scott City High School, where he graduated.
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Dan Wieser (Football & Baseball, 1974-1977)
Dan Wieser was a multi-sport athlete playing both football and baseball for four years at Southeast Missouri. Wieser was a two-time All-MIAA honoree in football and garnered All-Conference honors two seasons at shortstop. He earned All-America honors in 1976 when he was a part of SEMO's baseball team which finished third at the College World Series. Wieser was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 1977 and won the Silver Glove Award in 1979. He played with the Royals until 1982. Wieser was inducted with the 1976 SEMO Baseball team into the school's Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006.
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2002 Baseball Team
The 2002 Southeast Missouri baseball team was the first to win a regular season Ohio Valley Conference title. The team finished the season with an overall record of 37-20 and a conference clip of 16-5. The 2002 team tied a program record of 37 wins, a record that stood for 14 years. Head Coach Mark Hogan was named OVC Coach of the Year and Brad Purcell was tabbed OVC Pitcher of the Year. Purcell's 117 innings pitched still stand as SEMO's all-time single-season record, whils 12 wins still rank second. In all, SEMO had three First-Team All-OVC members (Denver Stuckey, 3B; Vern Hatton, OF; Brad Purcell, P) and five Second-Team selections (Tristan McDonald, C; Clemente Bonilla, 2B; Zach Borowiak, SS; Brandon Smith, P; Tim Alvarez, P) on that team. The Redhawks won their second OVC Tournament title and punched their ticket to the NCAA Regional in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. SEMO's first NCAA Tournament victory against NCAA Regional host Alabama that season.
Players: Tristen McDonald, David Kurtz, David Lawson, Mark Frazier, Josh Eftink, Brent Self, Donnie Fuller, Matt Baldwin, Clemente Bonilla, Zach Borowiak, Brian Hopkins,
Brice Nicholas, Scott Reinagel, Eric Hoffman, Andy Sheridan, Ryan Govek, Denver Stuckey, Brandon Smith, Vern Hatton, James Beever, Brad Simmons, Andy Davidson,
Tim Alvarez, Brad Purcell, Adam Sherry, Ryan Cheo. Coaches: Head Coach Mark Hogan, Jeff Hilz, Jeremy Tyson, Scott Southard. Athletic Trainer: Lance McNamara.
Bat Boy: Dustin McKinnis.
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