Six pillars of Emory University Athletics were recognized Tuesday afternoon with their announced inductions to the first full Hall of Fame Class of the University Athletic Association.
The UAA, which formally formed as a collegiate conference in 1987 and rose to national prominence over the years, released its first-ever induction class of the newly created Richard A. Rasmussen UAA Hall of Fame. Thirty-six prominent figures representing the eight institutions were chosen to headline the inaugural full class. Of the group that were selected, six were Emory Eagles – the second-most out of the member schools.
Three titans of the Emory women's tennis program earned the distinction: student-athletes, Mary Ellen Gordon and Gabrielle Clark, and head coach/student-athlete, Amy Bryant. Legends of Emory women's soccer, Lauren Gorodetsky, and women's swimming & diving, Ruth Westby, were chosen for the class as was track & field stalwart, Chris Williams. Clark and Gorodetsky were recognized earlier this month with their selections to the Emory Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2025, joining Bryant, Gordon and Williams as Emory Hall of Famers.
To be recognized with induction to the UAA Hall of Fame, an individual must have made outstanding contributions towards the conference or displayed excellence in UAA competition.
Amy Bryant (Women's Tennis/Women's Soccer, 1992-96; EWT Head Coach 2000-22)
Across her 23-year coaching career, Bryant guided her teams to seven NCAA team championships and captured 18 conference titles. Under her leadership, the Eagles went 428-116, advancing to 21 national quarterfinals, 18 national semifinals and had 13 appearances in the national championship match. She mentored six Division III singles national champions (the most in DIII during that span) and five DIII doubles national champions while her players claimed 103 All-America honors, 13 conference Most Valuable Player awards, five NCAA postgraduate scholarships and seven Academic All-America selections. Bryant was the first woman in NCAA history to win the national team championship as both a coach and player and captained the 1996 women's tennis team to the first-ever national championship in the history of Emory University. As a player, she was the first Eagle to earn All-American status in both singles and doubles and led the team to four UAA titles as she was a First Team All-UAA selection and the league's MVP as a senior. Bryant was also a standout on the soccer team where she was a two-time All-Region selection, a two-time All-UAA honoree, and helped Emory claim a share of the 1994 conference championship. She ended her career as the program record holder in both goals and points.
Mary Ellen Gordon (Women's Tennis, 2000-04)
Mary Ellen Gordon was one of the premier Division III athletes during her time with the Emory women's tennis program and finished off her career as the most decorated player in her sport in NCAA history. During her stint with the Eagles, she claimed two NCAA Division III singles championships in 2003 and 2004 and was a four-time national doubles champion, becoming the first player in NCAA history, man or woman, to win the doubles crown all four years. Her back-to-back singles and doubles titles enabled her to earn the distinction of being the first female player in NCAA history to accomplish that feat. Selected to the All-UAA First Team at both No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles all four years, she was the first female in conference history to receive the MVP award every season. She still holds the EWT record with 115 singles wins and now ranks third all-time with 104 doubles victories. Gordon helped the Eagles to a record of 85-10 (48-2 across her final two seasons), four UAA championships, and spearheaded Emory in becoming the first D-III program to make three consecutive appearances in the finals of the NCAA Team Championships, with the Eagles taking home first place in 2003 and 2004.
Gabrielle Clark (Women's Tennis, 2010-14)
Gabrielle Clark led the Eagles to three UAA championships during her career while earning UAA Most Valuable Player twice and was an All-UAA selection in each of her four seasons. She was an eight-time All-American and led the Eagles to a team national championship in 2014. Clark became the second player in team history and fifth woman in Division III history to win multiple national championships in singles, winning the crown in 2012 and 2014. Her win as a sophomore represented a monumental victory as she became the first Black woman to win a NCAA Singles Championship at any level (Division I, II or III). The 2014 Division III Senior Player of the Year finished her career 111 doubles wins, second-most in team history, and ranks second on the all-time list with 108 singles wins, one of just three players in program history to reach the century mark in both. She is tied with Gordon for the most combined victories in team history with 219.
Lauren Gorodetsky (Women's Soccer, 2010-14)
Lauren Gorodetsky's career on the soccer field cemented herself among the all-time greats in NCAA Division III history. She became the eighth player ever to earn four All-America honors at the DIII level and is the only player in Emory history to be selected as an All-American three or more times. She made UAA history by being the first player to be chosen as the league's Player of the Year three times and was a four-time All-UAA First Team selection. Gorodetsky led the Eagles to the UAA championship in 2011 and steered the team to four NCAA postseason appearances, including three trips to the Round of 16 and a berth to the national championship game in 2012. Her teams put together the winningest stretch in Emory women's soccer history, posting a record of 64-9-14 across her four seasons. She was also a four-year member of the softball program where she started all but two of a possible 173 games and finished her career tied for the program record in stolen bases. She was a two-time Academic All-American for women's soccer and was awarded the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.
Ruth Westby (Women's Swimming & Diving, 2007-10)
Ruth Westby compiled one of the most accomplished careers not only in Emory University and UAA history but in NCAA swimming & diving history. Her presence sparked four consecutive NCAA top four for the Eagles, including the 2010 national championship, and led the Blue & Gold to the UAA title in each of her four seasons. At the conference meets, Westby was a 19-time event champion, earned 25 All-UAA finishes and was tabbed the UAA Swimmer of the Year in 2008 and 2010. At nationals, Westby garnered a staggering 27 All-America honors out of a possible 28 events – the most in Emory history – and was a five-time national champion. In 2008, she became the first Eagle to win gold in the 50 Freestyle and was a four-time relay national champion including the first-ever wins in the 200 and 400 Freestyle Relays in program history. She was a two-time Academic All-American, including First Team honors as a senior, and was a recipient of the NCAA postgraduate scholarship.
Chris Williams (Men's Track & Field, 1992-96)
At the time of his graduation, Chris Williams was the school record holder in the outdoor 100-, 200-, and 400-meter dash, high jump, long jump, and decathlon, and the indoor 200- and 400-meter dash, high jump, and pentathlon. As a UAA performer, Williams received the indoor UAA Most Outstanding Performer Award four times, was a three-time outdoor Most Outstanding Performer selection, and led the Eagles to both UAA championships in 1996. He earned a remarkable 19 All-UAA honors during outdoor competition and was a 15-time All-UAA honoree for indoors. He won a combined 16 conference titles including 13 as an individual. He became the first athlete in team history to earn a combined five All-America honors and was the national runner-up in the 400m Dash at both the 1993 and 1994 NCAA Championships.
