Missouri Southern State University announced this week that it would recognize seven new inductees at the 2026 Hall of Fame brunch and induction ceremony Saturday, Sept. 26, at Robert Ellis Young Gymnasium.
Those inductees will be:
• Jason Adams, men's basketball, 2008-12.
• Dr. Al Cade, meritorious service.
• Jeff Fraley, men's track and field, 2011-16.
• Stephanie Gockley, volleyball, 1994-97.
• Melissa Grider, softball, 1994-96 and women's basketball, 1993-96.
• Nicole Green Ragsdale, women's track and field, 2009-12.
• Landon Zerkel, football, 2008-12.
Doors will open for the event at 9:30 a.m. with the brunch at 10 a.m.
For any questions or to RSVP, contact Missouri Southern Athletics at 417-625-9317 or email Lisa Severe at severe-l@mssu.edu.
The new class will also be honored on the field during MSSU football's home game against the University of Central Missouri later that day at Fred G. Hughes Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
Adams
Through his four-year career, Adams, became one of the most accomplished Lions in program history, leaving his name throughout the Lions record book while earning multiple conference honors.
Adams burst onto the scene by earning MIAA Freshman of the Year honors in 2008-09 before being named second-team all-MIAA in 2009-10 and first-team all-MIAA in both 2010-11 and 2011-12.
He made a name for himself as a top scorer and with his versatility as a playmaker. Adams finished his career third in MSSU program history with 1,981 points, while also ranking third in field goals made (726) and field goals attempted (1,482). His career total also ranks ninth in the MIAA record books.
Adams appeared in 120 career games, the fourth-most in school history, and remains among the program's all-time leaders in nearly every major statistical category.
He got a big part of his scoring from beyond the 3-point line. He ranks fifth in career 3-point field goals made (213) and fifth in 3-point attempts (559). He got it done defensively as well ranking fifth in steals (180). He ranks sixth in assists (319), ninth in rebounds (637), ninth in free throw attempts (435) and 10th in free throws made (316), showing his ability in every area of the game.
Adams also authored two of the greatest single-game scoring performances in Southern history. He scored 43 points against the University of Arkansas-Monticello on Nov. 12, 2011, the eighth-highest total in program history, and followed with a 42-point performance against Fort Hays State University in the 2012 MIAA Tournament, which ranks 10th of all time.
Cade
Cade impacted Southern through his years of service, leadership and commitment to student-athletes. He served 25 years at MSSU in many roles, including faculty athletic representative. He died in February 2015.
In 1984, he joined the Southern faculty as a physical education instructor for the department of kinesiology and as assistant football coach, working with the Lions defensive line.
After some time away from MSSU, Cade returned in 1996 as assistant to the dean of the school of education. He then served as interim dean and later was named the school's dean. He also served as chair of the department of teacher education from 2005-2012.
Cade worked as faculty adviser for the Southern IMPACT program, and was a member of the administrative council, shared governance and strategic planning committees, the athletic council and the campus diversity committee.
He also served beyond MSSU's campus. For seven years, he worked as vice president and president for the Missouri Association for Blacks in Higher Education.
He was an executive board member as well as vice president for Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Missouri, city of Joplin Human Rights Commission and Joplin Schools and Community Facilities Committee, as well as the Miracle League of Joplin and Southwest Center for Educational Excellence. He was chair of the annual George Washington Carver Art and Essay Contest.
Cade was also involved with Joplin-area Special Olympics, the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce Golden Apple Teacher Award Selection Committee and the Langston Hughes Celebration Committee.
In honor of his legacy, MSSU created the Dr. Al Cade Beacon of Hope Award for student-athletes who demonstrate exceptional community service and leadership.
Fraley
One of the most decorated sprinters in Southern track & field history, Fraley enjoyed a dominant career from 2011-16, earning seven NCAA Division II All-American honors, capturing 11 MIAA championships and collecting 20 all-MIAA selections.
Fraley established himself as one of the nation's elite sprinters by earning All-America honors in both the indoor and outdoor seasons. He was a two-time All-American in 2012 in the 200 meters, earned indoor All-American honors in the 60 meters and 200 meters in 2015, and outdoor All-American honors in the 100 meters in 2015, and concluded his career with outdoor All-American finishes in both the 100 and 200 meters in 2016.
His dominance at the conference level was unmatched as he never lost an MIAA conference 200-meter title race. He added many MIAA honors. Fraley helped the Lions capture their first-ever MIAA outdoor championship in 2016.
During the 2015 indoor and outdoor championship seasons, Fraley was recognized as the MIAA High Point Award winner at both meets.
Fraley rewrote the Southern record book, setting school records in seven events and still owns some records. He ranks second in program history in the indoor 200 meters with a time of 21.51 and outdoor 4x100 meter relay (40.93) after setting both records.
Gockley
In Gockley's four-year career from 1994-97, she earned MIAA Freshman of the Year honors in 1994 before becoming a three-time first-team all-MIAA selection.
Gockley finished her career as Southern's all-time leader in kills with 1,940 while setting the school record for career hitting percentage at .395.
She shares the school record for kills in a three-set match with 27 against St. Francis in 1995 and owns the program's five-set match record with 31 kills against North Alabama in 1996. In that same match, she posted a remarkable .737 hitting percentage (31 kills, three errors on 38 attempts), the highest ever by a Lion in a five-set contest.
Gockley ranks third in program history with 219 solo blocks and 430 total blocks while also ranking eighth in block assists with 211. She also finished fifth all-time with 1,497 career digs.
Grider
Grider got it done on both the softball diamond and the basketball court, earning All-American recognition in both sports. She put her name in the MSSU record books for both as well.
On the softball field, Grider earned third-team All-American honors in 1995 and established herself as one of the most prolific hitters in MSSU program history and one of the most feared hitters in the conference. She was a three-time all-MIAA selection and an all-region pick in 1996.
On the hardwood, she became one of the most decorated players in Missouri Southern women's basketball history. As a senior in 1995-96, she earned All-American honors from Kodak, Division II Bulletin and the Division II Sports Information Directors Association while also being named NCAA Division II All-Region, MIAA Player of the Year, College Sports Player of the Year and first-team all-MIAA.
Her senior season remains one of the greatest individual campaigns ever by a Lion. Grider averaged a school-record 25.4 points per game while scoring 737 points, both of which rank among the best single-season totals in MIAA history.
Green
Green became a five-time NCAA Division II All-American and was a seven-time NCAA qualifier in shot put.
She owns two of the top marks in Southern history. Her indoor shot put mark of 49 feet, 9.75 inches (15.18 meters) at the 2011 NCAA Division II championships ranks sixth all-time in program history, while her outdoor shot put mark of 49 feet, 9 inches (15.16 meters) at the 2012 NCAA Division II championships ranks seventh.
Green capped her career with a standout 2012 season, earning All-American honors in both the indoor and outdoor shot put. She placed fifth at the NCAA Division II indoor championships and followed with a seventh-place finish at the outdoor championships.
A three-time all-MIAA selection, Green earned conference honors in the indoor shot put in 2009 and 2012 and the outdoor shot put in 2012. She also competed in multiple throwing events throughout her career, including the discus, hammer throw and weight throw.
Zerkel
Zerkel established himself as one of the premier pass catchers in the MIAA during his four-year career with the Lions from 2008-12.
A 2011 first-team all-MIAA selection, Zerkel earned first-team All-American honors from BSN and second-team All-American recognition from Don Hansen following his standout senior campaign. That season, he hauled in 77 receptions for 1,047 yards and six touchdowns, ranking third in program history in both receptions and receiving yards for a single season.
Zerkel finished his career ranked second in Southern history with 196 receptions and 2,866 receiving yards while ranking third with 19 receiving touchdowns. He also owns multiple places in the Lions record book.
Among his memorable performances, Zerkel caught 11 passes for 140 yards during a game in 2010, tying for the sixth-most receptions in a game in school history. He also recorded one of the finest receiving performances in Lion history against Lincoln University in 2011, finishing with eight receptions for 193 yards and three touchdowns at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis. His 193 receiving yards rank sixth on the program's single-game list, while his three touchdown catches are tied for second most in a game.
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