Enshrining elite Bears into the Mo State Athletics Hall of Fame

Missouri State inducted seven former athletes, an iconic sportswriter and a national championship team as part of its 2025-26 Athletics Hall of Fame class.

FORMER ATHLETE HONOREES

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Chenille Bayless Gaumer, volleyball, 2000-03
The standout setter was a four-year All-MVC performer and remains Mo State’s career assists leader (5,431). Bayless helped lead the Bears to an MVC championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2003.

Curt Brand, track and field, 1985-87
Brand is the school record holder in the indoor (6-foot-10) and outdoor (7-foot-0) high jump. He was a two-time Mid-Continent Conference high-jump champion in 1986 and ’87, both indoors. He also claimed the Mid-Continent outdoor high-jump title in 1986 and finished third in the triple jump that year.

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Alize Johnson, basketball, 2016-18
Johnson was Mo State’s second NBA draft pick of the Division I era. He was selected in the 2018 draft by the Indiana Pacers. Before that, he was a two-time NABC All-District and All-MVC first-team selection. He finished second in the 2018 MVC Player of the Year voting. He also earned MVC Newcomer of the Year and MVC All-Tournament Team laurels in 2016-17.

Smiling woman in dark blue and man in maroon jacket hold a clear athletics award plaque against a black backdrop. The plaque shows text including 'ANDREINA "ANDI" ROJAS' and 'MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY'.

Andi Rojas, swimming and diving, 2004-08
A four-time All-MVC honoree, the Venezuelan sensation was the 2005-06 Missouri Valley Conference Swimmer of the Year. She won seven individual MVC championships, including three in the 200-yard individual medley, two in the 100-yard butterfly and two in the 200-yard butterfly. She was part of MVC team championship runs in 2005, 2006 and 2008 and was a four-time MVC Scholar-Athlete Team honoree.

Smiling Black woman in red dress & white man in maroon blazer hold a "Missouri State University Athletics Hall of Fame" award plaque against a black backdrop.

Tyonna Snow, basketball, 2012-16
Snow became the first player in MVC history to earn Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Tournament MVP in the same season. She did so en route to an NCAA Tournament run in her senior season. She was also a three-time All-MVC player and three-time member of the MVC All-Defensive Team.

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Kyle Weems, basketball, 2008-12
Weems had a 13-year professional career after his collegiate career. He was an AP All-America honorable mention selection in 2012 and a two-time All-MVC first team selection. Weems was also named the 2011 MVC Larry Bird Player of the Year after leading the Bears to a 28-9 record, the MVC regular-season title and an appearance in the NIT. He led the Bears in scoring, rebounding, steals and blocked shots each of his last three seasons. He is still Missouri State’s all-time leader in games played (134). Weems ranks No. 2 all-time in program history in scoring (1,868) and No. 4 in rebounds (844) and is also the Great Southern Bank all-time leader in both categories.

Two smiling men against a black backdrop. The taller man on the left wears a magenta polo and jeans, arm around the shorter man on the right, who wears a maroon corduroy blazer, white shirt, and holds a clear athletics award plaque.

Bob Zimmermann, baseball, 2001-03
Zimmermann played a significant role in the Bears’ 2003 NCAA College World Series run and went on to be drafted by the Los Angeles Angels that year. In 2001, he earned Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-America, ABCA All-Region and MVC Freshman of the Year honors. In his junior season, he earned NCAA All-Regional Tournament honors.

DON PAYTON AWARD

Two smiling men hold a red-accented "Athletics Hall of Fame" award plaque against a black background. The left man has a beard, glasses, a black fedora, and a red shirt under a black corduroy jacket. The right man wears a burgundy corduroy jacket.

Lyndal Scranton
The Payton Award honors people whose accomplishments related to Mo State athletics fall outside the realm of coaches or athletes. Scranton is an Ozarks area journalist and long-time Bears beat writer. He worked for the Springfield News-Leader from 1979 to 2015, covering local and regional sports stories. He became Missouri State’s primary beat writer in 1989 and served in that capacity until his retirement. He has since become the public relations director for Lucas Oil Speedway and a contributing sports reporter for the Springfield Daily Citizen.

TEAM INDUCTEE

Four men of varying ages stand against a black backdrop. Three older men wear a blue sweater, black track jacket, and plaid suit with a yellow tie. A younger man on the right smiles in a maroon corduroy blazer. They are celebrating their induction into the Athletics Hall of Fame.

1963 men’s golf squad
Under legendary Head Coach Andy McDonald, the Bears won their first-ever NCAA College Division (now division II) national championship. Team members Bill Lucas, Larry Gooch, John Henage, Dick Baxter, Jim Wheeler and Bruce Hollowell guided Mo State to victory. The Bears hosted the national championship meet that year.