Valpo Athletics Announces Hall of Fame Class of 2017

Three individuals will be inducted into the Valparaiso University Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday, Feb. 11. Lubos Barton ’02, Rod Moore ’68, ATC, LAT, and Angie Porché ’10 Rundh comprise the 20th class in Hall of Fame history.

Lubos was a standout for the Crusaders on the basketball court from 1998 through 2002, helping lead the team to three Mid-Continent Conference regular season titles, three conference tournament championships, and three NCAA Tournament appearances. Lubos was named the Mid-Con Player of the Year as a senior in 2002, capping his career with Honorable Mention All-American honors from the Associated Press as well.

The conference’s Newcomer of the Year in 1999 as a freshman, Lubos earned All-Conference accolades in each of his four seasons — including First Team honors twice — and was the conference’s Tournament MVP as a sophomore in 2000. Lubos owns Valpo’s single-season and career steals records. He also ranks fifth in Crusader history in career scoring, sixth in career rebounding, and seventh in career assists.

Rod retired from his post as the head athletic trainer for the Valparaiso University athletic department this past September after nearly 50 years in the role. Rod became the department’s head athletic trainer in 1967 while completing his undergraduate work and served in the same role until his September retirement. Rod, who worked directly with all Crusader athletic programs during his time at Valpo, served as the primary athletic trainer for the men’s basketball team throughout his 49-year tenure and worked with the football program for more than four decades — including a 33-year stretch without missing a Crusader football game.

Beyond Valparaiso University, Rod lent his athletic training expertise to numerous other events. He served as the head athletic trainer at a NCAA College Division Track and Field Championship and as a staff athletic trainer for numerous NCAA Championship events. In the summer of 1996, Rod worked at the field hockey venue at the Atlanta Olympics. He has also been active with the Lutheran Basketball Association of America (LBAA) since its Tournament of Champions moved to Valparaiso University in 1971, overseeing officials and athletic trainers, and has served on the LBAA board of directors since 1997.

Angie is the most decorated student-athlete to ever take the court for the Valpo volleyball program. Angie is by far the Crusaders’ all-time leader in kills (2,046) and attacks (5,171) and also ranks among Valpo’s all-time top-10 in service aces and hitting percentage. The program’s first ever All-American, she twice received Honorable Mention All-American accolades from the American Volleyball Coaches Association and was also a two-time All-Midwest Region honoree.

A four-time All-League recipient, Angie was named the Freshman of the Year in the Mid-Continent Conference in 2006 before the Crusaders’ move to the Horizon League. She earned Horizon League Player of the Year accolades in 2008 as a junior. During her four-year career, Angie helped lead the Crusaders to 91 victories on the court. Also a success in the classroom, she was an Academic All-District honoree and a Third Team Academic All-American as a senior. Angie was a national finalist for the 2009 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award as well.

The Valparaiso University Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Banquet will be held on Saturday, Feb. 11, in the Hilltop Gymnasium. The banquet is slated to begin at 3 p.m. The cost of the banquet is $30 per person, and reservations can be made by contacting Drew Turro at 219.464.5461 or via email at drew.turro@valpo.edu. The deadline for making reservations is Friday, Feb. 3. The inductees will also be recognized at halftime of the men’s basketball game that evening.