The Upper Iowa Athletics Department will celebrate its Hall of Fame Day on Sept. 9, 2023. Six former Peacocks, including four new honorees from last year's spring meetings, will be inducted into the legendary group of Peacock alumni. The four newest honorees include Jill Williams ('93), Jena (Kilburg) Ernst ('08), Jill (Preeshl) Norton ('11) and Josh McKeon ('11). The quartet will be joined by Rachael Schmidt ('09) and Rochelle (Schmidt) Engels ('09), who will be recognized as part of the 2021 class of inductees.

Hall of Fame Day at UIU will begin at 8:15 a.m. in the Student Center Ballrooms with a social. Breakfast will be served at 9 a.m. and the inductions and acceptance speeches will follow. The six inductees will then be part of Fayette's Watermelon Days Parade, which begins at 11 a.m. Fans, friends and family can hang out in downtown Fayette for Watermelon Days or head to the Peacock Tailgate Area until the Peacock football team's home opener against St. Ambrose University at 3 p.m. All Hall of Fame members in attendance at the game will be recognized on the field at halftime.

More details on the six inductees can be found below. To register for the breakfast, click on the following link: Hall of Fame Registration
 
JILL WILLIAMS (COACH)
Graduated 1993 - Physical Education K-12 and Recreation Administration Major

• Secured a career record of 525-244 at Kirkwood CC as head volleyball coach
• Played both volleyball and basketball for the Peacocks
• 9x District Coach of the Year
• Named ICCAC Conference Coach of the Year
• She is currently ranked within the top-twenty of the NJCAA volleyball coaching records (active coaches in all divisions).
• 7x Iowa Community College Athletic Conference regular-season championships
• Qualified for the NJCAA Division II Tournament nine times (2010, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021(*spring), 2021, 2022). Placing at each National Tournament showing, (6th, 9th, 7th, 7th, 4th, 9th, 7th, 8th and 8th)
• Coached 21 volleyball All-Americans and 145 combined all-conference selections and all-region performers during her time at KCC.

JENA (KILBURG) ERNST (ATHLETE) - SOFTBALL
Graduated 2008 – Accounting/Financial Management Major

• Named All-NSIC First Team Outfielder in 2007 and NSIC All-Tournament Team in 2007
• Led the Peacock softball team through the NCAA Division III to Division II transition
• Career .355 hitter in four seasons with 219 hits (program record until All-American Katie Crogan beat it in 2022)… career slugging percentage of .576 with 46 doubles, 13 triples and 12 homers
• Career-leader in steals with 61, leader in doubles with 46 (until Crogan topped that in 2022), second all-time in triples (13), second in runs scored (122).

 
JILL (PREESHL) NORTON (ATHLETE) - WOMEN'S GOLF
Graduated 2011 - Education Major

• Two-time NSIC Golfer of the Year
• Medalist at the 2011 NSIC Women's Golf Championships
• Two-time All-NSIC performer
• Part of four-consecutive berths to the NCAA postseason as a team

 
JOSH MCKEON (ATHLETE) - BASEBALL
Graduated 2011 - Marketing Major

• 2011: 1^st Team All-NSIC, 1^st Team All-Region (NCBWA, Daktronics and ABCA)
• Signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians… posted 37 strikeouts in 33 innings
• 2011: McKeon was 5-3, but dominated with a 1.67 ERA in 11 starts and 80.2 innings. McKeon only allowed 15 earned runs all season, while striking out 99 opponents. The 99 strikeouts are 3rd most in program history; Randy Donisthorpe (101-'95)/Travis Mueller (100-'96). McKeon averaged 11.05 strikeouts per 9 innings, threw 6 complete games and earned 2 shutouts while holding opponents to a .189 average. In NSIC-only games, McKeon was 4-2 with a 1.15 ERA in 7 starts; in his 54.2 innings, he allowed 7 earned runs, struck out 71 and opponents hit .168.
• McKeon led or ranked among the best in several NSIC categories, including:
  • Ranked 1^st in opponent batting average (.189), innings pitched (80.2), strikeouts (99), innings/game (7.33), strikeouts/game (11.05), hits allowed/game (6.14), games started (11)
  • Ranked 2^nd in runs allowed/game (2.45) and 3^rd in ERA (1.67)

   
RACHAEL SCHMIDT (ATHLETE) - WOMEN'S GOLF
Graduated 2009- Sports Management Major

• Rachael helped lead the Peacocks to the NCAA Super Region 3 Title and qualified the team for the NCAA Division II Championships in 2009
• Named to the NGCA All-American team four times while qualifying for the NCAA Division II Championships every spring (2006–09)
• Earned 20 tournament wins during her four-year career at UIU
• Carried a 78.13 stroke average in her four NCAA championship appearances: 10th (2006), 32nd (2007), 15th (2008 and 2009)
• Named 2008 NSIC Women's Golfer of the Year
• Holds the top two season scoring averages in UIU history: 77.30 in 2007–08 and 77.43   in 2008–09

 
ROCHELLE (SCHMIDT) ENGELS (ATHLETE) - WOMEN'S GOLF
Graduated 2009- Sports Management Major

• Rochelle helped lead the Peacocks to the NCAA Super Region 3 Title and qualified the team for the NCAA Division II Championships in 2009
• Named to the NGCA All- American team as a senior in 2009
•  Earned eight tournament wins during her four-year UIU career
• Named 2009 NSIC Women's Golfer of the Year
• Earned medalist honors at both the NSIC Women's Golf Championships and the NCAA Super Region 3 Championships as a senior
• Holds the third-best season scoring average, and four of the top 12, in UIU history at 77.89 in 2008–09