Grand Valley State inducted seven new members into the GVSU Athletics Hall of Fame tonight at the Charles H. Irwin Dinner. The 2023 class is the 37th class inducted into the athletics Hall of Fame.   

"We are inducting an incredible class that represents everything that is great about Grand Valley State and GVSU athletics," said Director of Athletics Keri Becker. "Not only do they come into the Hall of Fame with outstanding athletic and administrative credentials, they also come in as outstanding individuals and we are excited to have them join an incredible group of Laker Hall of Famers."
 
Josh Bourke (Windsor, Ontario), Football (2001-05)
Josh Bourke ranks as one of the top offensive linemen in Grand Valley State football history. As a member of the Laker football program from 2001 – 2005, GVSU was 64-5 overall, including a mark 54-2 during his four years as a letterman. GVSU played in four National Championship games, winning titles in 2002, 2003 and 2005 during his career. Bourke was a two-time All-GLIAC honoree and a consensus First-Team All-American as a senior in 2005. GVSU was the most prolific offensive team in college football history during his career, setting 47 team, GLIAC and NCAA single-season records. In addition to his Hall of Fame collegiate career, Bourke was selected to the Canadian Football League Hall of Fame in 2023. A nine-year veteran in the CFL, Bourke was a seven-time All-Star, voted the top offensive lineman in the league twice and claimed two Grey Cup titles.   

Brandon Carr (Flint, Mich./Carman-Ainsworth), Football (2004-07)
Brandon Carr will go down as the top cornerback in GVSU football history. A shutdown corner, Carr tallied 206 tackles, picked off 11 passes, and tallied a program-record 50 pass breakups. Grand Valley State was 50-4 during his career with four GLIAC Championships, two NCAA DII National Championships (2005-2006) and a NCAA DII record 40-game winning streak. Carr was a two-time First-Team All-GLIAC performer, the 2007 GLIAC Defensive Back of the Year and two-time consensus First-Team All-American. Following his legendary play for GVSU, Carr turned in a stellar National Football League career. A fifth-round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2008, Carr started every game he played in (192) during his time in the league. Throughout his 12-year career Carr also played for the Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens. Brandon was a nominee as the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award three times. 

Irie Dennis, (New Albany, Ohio), Soccer (2006-09)
Irie Dennis turned in a stellar career for Grand Valley State on the pitch and was a key piece in the beginning of a 15-year run of dominance that is unmatched. During her career (2006 – 2009) GVSU was 84-4-6 overall with four GLIAC regular season titles, three GLIAC Tournament crowns, three NCAA Midwest Regional titles, three NCAA Final Four berths and a National Championship in 2009. As a senior, Dennis was a First-Team All-American and the National Player of the Year as selected by the United Soccer Coaches. In addition, Dennis was the GLIAC Offensive Player of the Year, earned D2CCA All-America honors and was named to the NCAA All-Tournament team in 2009. Dennis scored seven goals and tallied eight assists for 22 total points during the championship season. During her career Ire tallied 31 goals, dished out 30 assists and scored 92 total points.   

Justin Ringler (Reed City, Mich.), Men's Basketball (2007-11)
Justin Ringler was a model of consistency for the Grand Valley State men's basketball program. He played in 126 games during his career, scoring 1,488 points, pulling down 734 rebounds, dishing out 303 assists and recording 160 steals. He is the only player in program history to conclude his career ranked in the top 10 of those four categories. Justin ranks in the top 10 of 11 career categories and top 20 of 12 single-season categories. Ringler was a three-time All-GLIAC performer, including earning First-Team honors as a junior and senior. In addition, Ringler was also selected to GLIAC All-Defensive team three times during his career. Grand Valley State captured a NCAA regional title and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight, reached three NCAA tournaments and won a GLIAC regular-season and tournament title during his career. 

Tim Selgo (Pettisville, Ohio), Administration (1996-2016)
Tim Selgo was the architect of Grand Valley State athletics, and it was his vision that created the greatest athletics department at the NCAA Division II level. GVSU dominated the landscape, both regionally and nationally during his era and became the benchmark for Division II athletics. Grand Valley State claimed 19 team National Championships, 11 NACDA Directors' Cup titles and 18 GLIAC Presidents' Cup crowns during his 20-year career. A true leader, Selgo built a broad-base department that excelled in each of the Lakers' 20 sports. In addition, he recruited a talented cast of coaches that earned 135 GLIAC Coach of the Year honors and 28 National Coach of the Year awards. He played a role on multiple NCAA committees, including serving as the Chair of the NCAA DII Management Council. Selgo served as the President of NACDA and was honored with the NACDA Lifetime Achievement Award.  

Briauna Taylor (Livonia, Mich./Franklin), Women's Basketball/Softball (2009-14)
Briauna Taylor will go down as one of the greatest athletes to wear a Grand Valley State uniform, earning All-GLIAC, all-region and all-america honors between basketball and softball. On the softball diamond Taylor was a prolific performer and ranks in the top 10 of 26 statistical categories for both single-season and career. Taylor tallied a .393 career batting average with 238 hits, 33 home runs and 169 RBI. She was a three-time all-region performer and a two-time all-america honoree. Briauna led GVSU to four NCAA Tournaments and a berth in the 2013 World Series. On the hardwood Taylor scored 1,466 points, pulled down 679 rebounds, dished out 230 assists and tallied 154 steals. A two-time First-Team All-GLIAC honoree, Taylor ranks in the top 10 of 17 career and single-season categories on the hardwood. 

Candice Wheat (Pontiac, Mich.), Track & Field (2007-10).  
Candice Wheat will go down as one of the most accomplished sprinters in Grand Valley State track history. Wheat was a nine-time NCAA DII All-American, earning five plaudits during the indoor seasons and four during the outdoor campaigns from 2007-2010. Candice tallied runner-up finishes in the 100 outdoor hurdles and 60 indoor hurdles, while adding third place finishes in the 4x400 relay and 100 outdoor hurdles. Wheat, who was a five-time GLIAC Champion, was named the 2009 and 2010 GLIAC Track Athlete of the Year. Her 8.29 time in the 60 indoor hurdles ranks first in Laker annals, while her 13.63 time in the 100 outdoor hurdles is the second all-time. Wheat ranks third all-time for the Lakers in GLIAC Championship points scored with 70.25 and 12th all-time in outdoor NCAA points scored with 20.25. GVSU claimed eight GLIAC team championships and finished on the podium five times during NCAA Championship action. 
 
This year's class will join the 179 members previously inducted into the Hall of Fame. The first GVSU Athletics Hall of Fame class was inducted in 1986 and plaques honoring all inductees are on display at the Grand Valley State Fieldhouse Championship lobby.

Charles "Chuck" Irwin was a member of the pioneer staff at Grand Valley State College. He was the College's first athletic director and the chairman of the physical education department from 1963-1974. Irwin established the foundation for the intercollegiate athletic program at Grand Valley, but also believed that individual lifetime sports should be an important part of the physical education curriculum.

In the developing years at Grand Valley the opportunity to build strength of character as well as physical strength was stressed. The members of both the physical education department and the coaching staff were hired by Professor Irwin with the idea that they, too, held that conviction. Irwin's coaching philosophy emphasized the importance of teaching.  He expected coaches to set examples of the highest standards for their student athletes."You should never put the whole emphasis on winning.  Athletics should be a learning experience...not an exploitation of the players to the public."

Upon his retirement in 1974, Charles H. Irwin was conferred the title of Professor Emeritus by the College Board of Control. He continued to be loyally involved with Grand Valley State University until his untimely death in August of 1983.