PENSACOLA, Fla. – The UWF athletics department will induct four student-athletes and two national championship-winning teams as part of the 2024 Athletics Hall of Fame Class later this fall.
Among the group which encompasses four sports are the 2004 and 2005 NCAA Division II National Championships men's tennis teams, along with Richard Dixon from men's soccer, Monika Kochanova from women's tennis, Carlos Rodriguez from men's golf and Bruno Savi from men's tennis.
The four individual recipients combined to win eight All-America plaudits, four Gulf South Conference All-Decade honors, and eight GSC Player of the Year awards.
An induction ceremony and brunch is planned for Saturday, Nov. 9 at 9:30 a.m. at Scenic Hills, and the class will be recognized that evening at PenAir Field during the Argonauts' football game against North Greenville.
Tickets to the ceremony and brunch can be purchased for $40. Contact Karen Emmons at
kemmons@uwf.edu for more information.
Below are brief bios on the newest additions to the UWF Athletics Hall of Fame:
2004 Men's Tennis National Championship Team
30-2 record, defeated Valdosta State 5-2 in the title match
30 victories established a school record for victories in a season that stoop until the 2017 squad surpassed it with 32.
Radovan Chrz named the ITA South Region Senior Player of the Year
Radovan Chrz (singles & doubles), German Dalmargo (doubles), Guillame DeVerbizier (singles) and Paulius Jurkenas (singles) were each named All-Americans
Guillame DeVerbizier won GSC Player of the Year
Radovan Chrz, Paulius Jurkenas, Jonas Mouly and DeVerbizier were all named First Team All-GSC
UWF fell to Valdosta State, 5-3, in the GSC finals before defeating the Blazers in the national champions three weeks later.
Chrz was named a GSC Top Eight Award winner
2005 Men's Tennis National Championship Team
29-2 record, defeated North Florida 5-0 in the title match
Derrick Racine named ITA/Wilson National Coach of the Year
Senior Mario Vergara named ITA South Region Arthur Ashe Award for Leadership and Sportsmanship
Freshman Diego Zorzi named ITA South Region Rookie Player of the Year
Zorzi went 18-3 in singles and was named GSC Freshman of the Year, while being ranked No. 2 nationally
Paulius Jurkenas and Zorzi were named All-Americans in singles, while Jurkenas and Mario Vergara were doubles All-Americans
Jurkenas was named a GSC Top Ten Award winner as he became only the seventh player in GSC men's tennis history to earn four consecutive All-GSC selections and the first to have all four First Team honors
Richard Dixon, Men's Soccer, 2008-12
4x All-Region (2008, 2009, 2010-1st Team & 2012) only one in UWF history
2x GSC Player of the Year (2009 & 2012)
3x All-GSC (2009 & 2012 1st Team; 2008 2nd Team)
GSC First Team All-Decade Team (2010s)
Becomes the 10th men's soccer inductee
Monika Kochanova, Women's Tennis, 2013-15
ITA All-America in Singles in 2014
ITA All-American in Doubles in 2014 and 2015
2014 ITA South Region Senior Player of the Year
2013 and 2014 GSC Player of the Year
First Team All-GSC in 2013, 2014 and 2015
GSC First Team All-Decade (2010s)
Becomes the eighth women's tennis inductee
Carlos Rodriguez, Men's Golf, 2009-12
Graduated third in school history with a 73.2 stroke average
In his two final two seasons, he had a 72.09 average over 66 rounds, with All-America honors both years
His 71.3 average in 2012 earned him First Team All-America plaudits and a spot on the GCAA All-Nicklaus Team as one of the top 24 players across all divisions
3-x GSC All-Tournament Team
2011 GSC Medalist
2012 GSC Player of the Year
GSC First Team All-Decade (2010s)
Becomes the 12th men's golf inductee
Bruno Savi, Men's Tennis, 2012-14
2014 ITA National Senior Player of the Year
ITA All-America in Singles in 2012, 2013 and 2014
ITA All-America in Doubles in 2012
2014 ITA South Region Player of the Year
GSC Player of the Year in 2012, 2013 and 2014
All-GSC first team in 2012, 2013 and 2014
Went a perfect 24-0 in singles play in 2014 with 11 wins vs nationally ranked opponents
Won team national title in 2014 with UWF
Went 31-3 in singles play in 2013, going 9-0 in GSC play
GSC Player of the Decade (2010s)
Becomes the 15th men's tennis inductee
