Chowan Athletics Set to Induct Five into 2024 Hall of Fame
Five Former Chowan Standouts Set to be Inducted into CU “Jim Garrison” Sports Hall of Fame
MURFREESBORO, N.C. – The Chowan University Department of Athletics is set to induct five former student-athletes into the CU “Jim Garrison” Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, November 9th, 2024. This year’s class features a plethora of talent that was showcased in both their respective fields of play and in the classroom. All five of these inductees are members of the “All-Time Teams” that were selected in 2020. The class features Allie Kolezynski De Witt (c/o ’12), Ransheda Jennings (c/o 2012), Michael Kellett (c/o 2007), Melvin Rogers (c/o 2011), and Michelle Williams (c/o 1998).
- Fans will be introduced to this year’s class at Saturday’s last home football game against Erskine. At halftime the induction class will be recognized for their induction. The official induction ceremony will be Saturday evening at 5:00pm in the J.M. Jenkins Center.
| Allie Kolezynski De Witt, Softball |
Allie (Kolezynski) De Witt attended Chowan University from 2008-2012 and was the softball program’s first National Letter of Intent signee. The Strongsville, Ohio native helped build momentum for the tradition-rich program in the early years of Chowan’s Division II status and transition into the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA).
She racked up a career batting average of .372 and owns two DII-era program records with 252 career hits and 105 career stolen bases. Allie piled up 39 career wins and 338 strikeouts and posted an unblemished 17-0 record on the mound against league opponents including one no-hitter. She ranks in the top ten of numerous statistical single-season and career categories including: batting average, hits, slugging percentage, on base percentage, doubles, triples, RBIs, stolen bases, wins, ERA, and strikeouts.
Allie led the team to three consecutive CIAA Northern Division titles, the program’s first CIAA championship, and NCAA Atlantic Regional appearance in 2010. She was a three-time All-CIAA selection, three-time CIAA Commissioner’s All-Academic Team honoree, two-time NCCSIA All-State selection, NCCAA All-American, and All-Region, Daktronics All-Region, Capital One Academic All-American, and NFCA Scholar-Athlete team member. As a senior, De Witt was named the 2012 CIAA Woman of the Year, the highest honor bestowed on a female CIAA student-athlete. Allie was named to the Chowan All-D2 Softball Team in 2020.
Off the field, she served a three-year term on the NCAA Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), including a two-year stint as vice-chair, and became a co-advisor as an administrator at Chowan.
Upon graduating with a degree in Business Administration, Allie spent four years as Assistant Athletics Director/Director of Athletics Communications at Chowan while earning a Master of Business Administration from Cleveland State University (2013). She led all communication efforts for an expanding number of varsity sports and oversaw all business transactions for the CU athletics department. She also served two seasons as the head coach for the newly created women’s cross country team. She was recognized by the CIAA in 2013, earning the Commissioner’s Service Award for representing the CIAA SAAC on a national level and also for her work at Chowan. Allie earned CIAA Sports Information Director of the Year in 2014 and 2016 and was honored in 2017 with the Distinguished Young Alumni award from her Alma mater.
Allie currently serves as Senior Associate Commissioner at the Mountain East Conference. She leads the administration and operations for all of the conference’s championship events and plays a key role in the governance structure as the league’s Senior Woman Administrator. De Witt works with the MEC’s Supervisors of Officials, campus administration, and coaches on regular-season operations for all sports while managing the league’s finances. Allie and her husband, Brian, have a son, Clark.
| Ransheda Jennings, Women’s Basketball |
Ransheda Jennings, a native of Suffolk, Virginia, is a distinguished leader both on and off the basketball court. A graduate of Kings Fork High School, Jennings attended Chowan University from 2008 to 2012, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education, graduating cum laude.
During her time at Chowan, Ransheda excelled as a standout on the women’s basketball team, earning numerous awards and recognition for her performance. She was chosen as CIAA Player of the Week four times in her career, was a two-time All-CIAA selection, and member of the 2011 CIAA All-Tournament team.In her junior year, Ransheda earned the United States Marine Corps Excellence in Leadership Award for her academic and athletic prowess. Ransheda was named to the Chowan All-D2 Women’s Basketball Team in 2020.
Ransheda ranks 3rd all-time in women’s basketball scoring with 1,281 career points. She ranks 2nd in single-season scoring average after she posted 16.4 points per game in the 2010-2011 season. Overall she averaged just under 13 points an outing, 4.4 rebounds, 2.2 steals, and 2.2 assists per game over her four seasons for the Hawks. In addition to her athletic achievements, Ransheda maintained academic excellence, earning spots on both the Dean’s List and President’s List, and graduating with cum laude honors.
Following her graduation, Ransheda enlisted in the U.S. Army in August 2013, embarking on a distinguished military career. She completed Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, SC, and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Lee, VA. Over the years, she has served in key assignments, including:
- Support of the 2-7 Infantry Battalion at Fort Stewart, Georgia
- NCO General Support Equipment (GSE), 40th CSC, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii
- Platoon Sergeant, 194th DSSB, Camp Humphreys, South Korea
- Drill Sergeant, 16th OD BN, Fort Lee, Virginia
- Instructor, 832nd OD BN, Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia
Ransheda has also deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) from November 2017 to July 2018 and again from November 2019 to August 2020, as well as Operation Atlantic Resolve from February 2015 to June 2015. Throughout her military career, Ransheda has received numerous awards, including:
- Meritorious Service Medal
- Army Commendation Medal (4)
- Army Achievement Medal (3)
- Army Good Conduct Medals (3)
- National Defense Service Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
- NCO Development Ribbon with numeral 2
- Army Service Ribbon
- Army Overseas Ribbon
Ransheda Jennings is a true testament to excellence, leadership, and perseverance, excelling in both her athletic and military careers. Her passion for service and dedication to her craft make her a model of inspiration for future generations.
| Michael Kellett, Baseball |
Michael Kellett came to Chowan University in the fall of 2004 after being recruited to play baseball under then-head coach, Aaron Carroll. Michael quickly made a name for himself in the Chowan blue and white as one of the best all-time offensive players to play at Hawkins Field.
The Huntersville, North Carolina native transferred from Gardner-Webb University to Chowan where he tallied a career .376 career batting average, ranking him 2nd all-time offensively. He also ranks 2nd in all-time on-base percentage (.469). Michael’s accomplishments over his three-years playing career garnered him All-NCCAA (2x) South Region honors, All-NCCAA All-American honors (2x), NCCAA National Player of the Week (2005), and an NCCAA Scholar-Athlete Award (2007). In his senior year he hit at a .415 clip, which led the squad, in 50 games played with 13 doubles and 3 homeruns. Michael played first base as well as outfield and designated hitter over his career.
Michael’s academic career at Chowan was just as impressive as his athletic career. The criminal justice major graduated with high honors and was awarded the most outstanding male student award for Criminal Justice. He was also inducted into the Alpha Phi Sigma Honor Society. Michael was chosen as a 2007 commencement speaker as one the university’s most outstanding students. Michael passed the torch to his younger brother, John, who followed in his footsteps on the baseball diamond wearing the Chowan Blue and White. John went on to become a notable player in his own right under Carroll. Michael was named to the Chowan All-D3 Baseball Team in 2020.
Following graduation from Chowan, Michael attended Halifax Community College for the Basic Law Enforcement Training Program. Choosing to continue his career locally, Michael was sworn into the Ahoskie Police Department in February 2008. Over the years he excelled in his position and then became a K-9 handler in 2011. Later that same year he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Michael continues to be an asset to the community, giving back through both his professional and personal life. He has coached and mentored local students and athletes in the Roanoke-Chowan Community.
Michael resides in nearby Northampton County, North Carolina. He has been an avid sportsman his entire life, hunting and fishing all over the country. He still plays on a competitive travel softball team made up of law enforcement officers from North Carolina and Virginia. Michael has won many games, awards, and events in his life, but one of his biggest victories was overcoming cancer. He was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2017 and in 2023 was given a clean bill of health.
| Mevin Rogers, Football |
Melvin Rogers came to Chowan University in the fall of 2006 as a well-touted local talent. The Margarettsville, North Carolina native attended Northampton County High School-East and played under Diego Hasty and Mark Long, who also played at Chowan and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022. Fortunately for Chowan, Melvin wanted to stay close to family and close to his roots and chose Chowan to continue his education and playing career.
Melvin was a four-year member of the football team. In his first two seasons, Melvin served as a defensive nose guard. Melvin was called over to the offensive side of the ball in his junior year, where blocking for offensive backs came most natural. In his junior and senior seasons, Melvin excelled. Offensive lineman rarely garner stats that show up in a story line, but “Big Melvin” as he is affectionately known, pancaked his way to become one of the best offensive lineman in the South Region. Melvin protected former Chowan quarterback, CJ Westler, who in just two seasons posted over 4,000 yards of offense and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019. It’s safe to say that “Big Melvin” had a hand in Westler’s statistical success as a quarterback. Melvin was also named to the Chowan University All-D2 Football Team in 2020.
Melvin was a two-time All-CIAA performer as an offensive lineman (2009-2010). His picture hangs in the Pond Center as he was the first-ever Chowan offensive lineman to earn All-CIAA honors. In May of 2011, Melvin graduated from Chowan University with a degree in physical education.
Melvin put his degree to use after leaving Chowan by coaching locally at both Gates County High School and Northampton County High School. Following his coaching stint, Melvin decided to pursue a career in truck driving. After a couple of years of working the roads, Melvin enjoyed it so much that he started his own trucking business, Melvin C Rogers LLC, which he has managed for the past ten years.
Melvin and his life partner Shanita Davis live in nearby Magarettesville, North Carolina. Together they have a daughter named Makayla and a son named Emmanuel. They are lifelong members of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Northampton County.
| Michelle Mitchell Williams, Softball & Women’s Basketball |
Michelle Mitchell Williams came to Chowan in the fall of 1993 after being recruited by then-head coach, Jack Goldberg, to play softball. The Rapphannock, Virginia native quickly made a name for herself as a starting catcher on the softball team, a shooting guard on the women’s basketball team, and a middle blocker on the volleyball team.
While she played and excelled in both volleyball and basketball during her time at Chowan, it was softball that she loved and excelled. Her coaches and teammates knew her as “Mickey”, and it stuck over her four years as a then-Brave. “Mickey” was a backbone on the most successful softball team in program history (1995) when the then-Braves posted 36 wins and just 9 losses. The squad was touted as one the best teams on the east coast with the 1995 team boasting now five Hall of Fame inductees. “Mickey” started all-four years as a catcher, calling pitches for the program’s best pitcher of record and in ERA in Mandy McCain. The up-the-gut combination of McCain, Mitchell, Kim Hetherington (second base), Jennifer Murden (shortstop), and Meredith Long (center field) was certainly an impressive gathering of talent-now all members of the Hall of Fame.
“Mickey” was known for her smart pitch calling, arm accuracy, and blocking skills behind the plate. In the batter’s box she hit at a .357 career clip with 142 career games under her belt. “Mickey” went from season to season at Chowan, playing three sports, basically unheard of in the college ranks. After volleyball season, she moved into basketball season. In the 1995-1996 season she averaged 11.4 points a game for the then-Braves and was the second leading scorer on the team. Following basketball season, she put on her catcher’s gear and went to work. She helped the softball team amass more than 100 wins over four years. In 1998 she was named Chowan’s Female Athlete of the Year.
Following graduation from Chowan in 1998 with a degree in Education, Michelle worked in the financial industry for six years. In 2006, she began working for the Department of Labor as a Federal contractor. Over the course of 10 years, Michelle worked for the Office of Job Corps and Veterans Employment and Training Service. In 2016, she joined the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development’s Business Center as a Federal civil servant. During her tenure with Rural Development, Michelle also served as the Chief of Staff for the Business Center’s Chief Operating Officer and Senior Advisor to the Chief Enterprise Officer. In November 2023, Michelle joined Foreign Agricultural Service. Michelle is a Federal civil servant for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service as a Management Analyst in Business Operations. In this leadership role, Michelle oversees mission-critical projects and provides expert advice and consultation to the Chief Operating Officer on the development of international trade policies and program operations to meet the agency’s strategic goals and objectives.
Michelle has been married to her wife, Debra Williams, for six years and resides in Stafford, VA. Michelle is a proud mother of one son, Christian Chevalier. Christian is currently a junior at the University of Mary Washington and studying to obtain his bachelor’s degree in business administration. Michelle is also a proud mom to a beautiful Pembroke Welsh corgi named Athena. In her free time, Michelle enjoys spending time with her family, throwing Frisbee with her corgi, swimming, attending concerts, and being an avid sports fan.