Eastern Michigan Athletics
E-Club to Induct Six into the EMU Athletic Hall of Fame
8/5/2026 1:00:00 PM | Baseball, Women's XC, Football, Soccer, Women's Track & Field, Swimming & Diving, General, E-Club
Ceremony will be held Friday, Sept. 25, in the George Gervin GameAbove Center
Click Here to Register for the Event.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University E-Club Alumni Chapter, the official varsity athletic letterwinners club, has announced today, Aug. 5, the addition of six members into the E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame. The Class of 2026 will be honored at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony Friday, Sept. 25, at 6:30 p.m.
This year's EMU Hall of Fame class showcases six outstanding honorees: Madeleine (Pilchard) Batson, a three-time MAC Women's Swimmer of the Year with 10 individual conference titles, back-to-back team championships, and EMU's first CSCAA All-American honor; Richard A. "Butch" Palmer, a two-time First Team All-MAC cornerback with 33 consecutive starts, 10 career interceptions, and national recognition after a four-interception performance against Western Michigan in 1991; Jussi Rautiainen, EMU men's soccer's all-time leader in points, goals, assists, and hat tricks, who earned All-America honors in 1987; Ashley "A-Rod" Rodrigues, the 2009 MAC Women's Soccer Player of the Year and owner of program records for career goals and single-match goals, points, and assists; Howard "How" Simmons, a standout infielder, two-time MAC champion, Team USA representative, and one of EMU baseball's top offensive performers; Susan R. Tomanek, a four-time MAC women's track champion, three-time NCAA qualifier, and 1,500-meter record holder for more than two decades.
Additionally, Ken Bruchanski, co-captain of EMU's 1975 College World Series team and an E-Club Hall of Fame alumnus whose more than 50 years of leadership, philanthropy, and service to Eastern Michigan, will receive the Ron Oestrike Distinguished Service Award.
This year's class will mark the 49th anniversary of the E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame with a dinner followed by a ceremony at 6:30 p.m. inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. The Class of 2026 will then be recognized during the EMU football game Saturday, Sept. 26, against Lindenwood University.
Reservations are $60 and include the dinner reception and ceremony. To register online using a credit card, please visit https://tiny.emueagles.com/3pwjew8a
The biographies for the Eastern Michigan University Athletics Hall of Fame 2026 inductees follow below.
Madeleine (Pilchard) Batson – Women's Swimming & Diving
Graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2009…Four-year letter winner as a member of the EMU women's swimming & diving team from 2004-08…10-time Mid-American Conference (MAC) Individual Champion in the 50, 100, 200, and 500 freestyle…Member of seven MAC Championship relay teams, including the 200, 400, and 800 freestyle relays and the 400-medley relay team…Named MAC Swimmer of the Year in 2006, 2007, and 2008 and earned the MAC's Most Outstanding Senior of the Year in 2008…Earned All-MAC First Team honors four times (2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008)…Selected to the Academic All-MAC Team (2006, 2007, and 2008)…Two-time ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District Second Team selection (2006 and 2007)…EMU's First CSCAA All-American, earning the honor twice…Named CollegeSwimming.com Mid-Major All-American in 2008…Holds the all-time MAC 200 freestyle record…Appears in EMU's all-time top-10 records five times, holding the program's top time for both the 100 and 200 freestyle…Member of the Eagles back-to-back MAC Championship Titles (2006 and 2007)…Guided the swim team to a 34-10 record during her four years…Was an NCAA National Qualifier in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, and 200 freestyle in 2008
Richard A. "Butch" Palmer - Football
Graduated in 1994…Earned three varsity football letters as a cornerback (1991, 1992, 1993)…Started 33 consecutive games for EMU and had 10 interceptions…Led EMU to victory over Western Michigan in 1991 by intercepting four passes and returning the final one for 76 yards…Named National Player of the Week for the EMU vs. WMU game by Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News…Finished the 1991 season with seven interceptions (tied for sixth nationally)…Named First-Team All Mid-American Conference in 1991 and 1993…Earned distinguished scholar athlete status, being named Academic All-MAC three times…Selected MAC Defensive Player of the Week twice (1991 and 1993)…Received the EMU Football Team Award: Elton J. Rynearson Scholar-Athlete Award in 1993…Ranks in the top 10 in both career and season for interceptions and interception return yards…Was also a member of EMUs men's track team as a long jumper and triple jumper helping the team win three outdoor MAC Championships (1990, 1991, 1992)…Selected as the MAC Humanitarian Award from Wolverine Human Services in 1993
Jussi Rautiainen - Men's Soccer
Graduated in 1989…Earned four varsity letters as a member of the EMU men's soccer team (1983, 1985, 1986, 1987)…Led EMU to a 41-29-1 record during his four years of play…Earned team most valuable player twice (1986 and 1987) and Offensive Player of the Year in 1985…Selected All Mid-American Conference Team in 1986 and 1987…Named NCAA DI Second Team in 1987…Ranks number one in EMU's record books for career points (137), points in a season (55), career goals (54), career assists (29), goals in a season (23), hattricks (7), and goals in a game (5)…Was part of FC Haka in Finland for the 1987-90 season…Finnish Cup Champion as a player in 1988 and again as Team Manager in 1997…Played for FC Haka in their historic 1989-90 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup first-round matchup against Hungarian side Ferencvárosi TC…Awarded the FC Haka club's highest honor, the Juuson Plaketti, in 2022 for his continued impact on the team, including organizing the Haka Old Boys alumni
Ashley "A-Rod" Rodrigues - Women's Soccer
Graduated in 2010…Member of the women's soccer team from 2006-09…Two-time First Team All Mid-American Conference (MAC) selection (2007 and 2009)…One of five players in program history to record a hat-trick, doing so versus Buffalo, Oct. 19, 2007…One of just three Eagles to tally three assists in a game, achieving the feat against Eastern Illinois, Sept. 7, 2008…In 2009, she scored 10 goals, tying for the 10th-most in single-season history, while racking up 21 points…Holds the program single-match records for goals (3), points (7), and assists (3)…Earned MAC Player of the Year as a senior (2009)…Finished career with 53 points, 21 goals, and 11 assists – ranking in the top ten of EMU records…Named to the MAC All-Tournament Team (2009)…Earned NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region First Team honors (2009)…First-Team Academic All-MAC two-time selection (2007 and 2009)…International career: Member of the Guyana Women's National Soccer Team (Birth country of both parents)…Played in the 2010 CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifiers (Team Guyana)…Played in the 2016 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Championship (Team Guyana)
Howard (How) Simmons - Baseball
Graduated in 1993…Was an outstanding baseball player for EMU from 1979-82…Earned four varsity letters as a member of the EMU baseball team…All Mid-American Conference (MAC) Second Team selection in 1982…Helped lead EMU to two MAC Championships and two regional runner-up finishes (1981, 1982)…Selected to the NCAA Mid-West Regional All-Tournament Team in 1981 hitting for a .421 average…Was a single season leader for at-bats, hits, and runs…Ranked in the all-time EMU records for at-bats, hits, doubles, triples, runs scored, and RBIs…Defensively assisted in completing 93 double plays and 807 assist/put outs as a middle infielder…In 1981, led the MAC in runs scored, was 10th in batting, and fifth in RBIs…Selected to the United States Baseball Team by the U.S. Baseball Federation in 1981…Played on the U.S. team that received Gold Medals in the first World Games and Intercontinental Cup Games, beating the Cuban National Team in 10 innings in the final medal round…Was selected as a finalist in the 1984 Olympic/Pan Am Baseball Trials…Played for team Orleans in the Cape Cod League…Returned to EMU as an infield coach for the 1983 and 1984 seasons
Susan R. Tomanek - Women's Track & Field
Graduated in 1988…Member of the women's cross country, indoor and outdoor track teams from 1985-1988…Outstanding runner who won four individual Mid-American Conference (MAC) titles and ran on five championship relay teams…In outdoor track: on the winning 4x400-meter relay team in both 1986 and 1987, and won the individual 1,500-meter run title in 1987, which was the MAC outdoor season record that stood for 21 years…In indoor track: won the 800-meter title in both 1985 and 1986, the 1,000-meter crown in 1987, ran on the 4x400-meter relay team in 1985, and ran on the winning 4x800-meter relay team in both 1986 and 1987…Was an All-MAC cross country selection in 1986…Ranks in the EMU All-time records for 800-meter run with 2:07.65 and the 1500-meter run with 4:18.09…In 1987, ran on the the 4x800-meter relay team with a time of 8:46.27 which was the top time in the U.S….Three-time NCAA qualifier: 1000-meter run in 1986 and 1987; and the 1,500-meter run in 1988, placing eighth…Served as the women's cross country and indoor track and field teams graduate assistant in 1988…Teacher and a coach of 26 years in the Novi Community School District
Ken Bruchanski – Ron Oestrike Distinguished Service Award
Graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 1975 with a degree in Accounting, earning summa cum laude honors…Member of the EMU Baseball Team from 1973–75 and co-captain of the historic 1975 College World Series team…Helped lead the Hurons to the 1975 Mid-American Conference Championship, NCAA Mid-East Regional Championship, and the program's first College World Series appearance…EMU's first-ever Academic All-American earning the honor twice and the first EMU student-athlete to receive an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship which he used to get his master's degree from Purdue University…Signed a professional contract with the Detroit Tigers following his collegiate career before becoming a Certified Public Accountant and Chief Financial Officer…Inducted into the EMU E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990…Lifetime member of the E-Club Letterwinners Alumni Chapter…Served as a key leader in the growth and success of the E-Club Letterwinners Alumni Chapter, helping strengthen alumni engagement and support for EMU Athletics…Served the EMU Foundation Board of Trustee's from 2002-2007 and as treasurer from 2003-2007…Instrumental in preserving and celebrating the legacy of EMU Baseball, including leading efforts to recognize the 50th Anniversary of the 1975 College World Series team and launching a matching gift challenge to benefit the program…Has dedicated more than 50 years of his time, leadership, mentorship, and philanthropy to advancing Eastern Michigan University and supporting generations of EMU student-athletes
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University E-Club Alumni Chapter, the official varsity athletic letterwinners club, has announced today, Aug. 5, the addition of six members into the E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame. The Class of 2026 will be honored at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony Friday, Sept. 25, at 6:30 p.m.
This year's EMU Hall of Fame class showcases six outstanding honorees: Madeleine (Pilchard) Batson, a three-time MAC Women's Swimmer of the Year with 10 individual conference titles, back-to-back team championships, and EMU's first CSCAA All-American honor; Richard A. "Butch" Palmer, a two-time First Team All-MAC cornerback with 33 consecutive starts, 10 career interceptions, and national recognition after a four-interception performance against Western Michigan in 1991; Jussi Rautiainen, EMU men's soccer's all-time leader in points, goals, assists, and hat tricks, who earned All-America honors in 1987; Ashley "A-Rod" Rodrigues, the 2009 MAC Women's Soccer Player of the Year and owner of program records for career goals and single-match goals, points, and assists; Howard "How" Simmons, a standout infielder, two-time MAC champion, Team USA representative, and one of EMU baseball's top offensive performers; Susan R. Tomanek, a four-time MAC women's track champion, three-time NCAA qualifier, and 1,500-meter record holder for more than two decades.
Additionally, Ken Bruchanski, co-captain of EMU's 1975 College World Series team and an E-Club Hall of Fame alumnus whose more than 50 years of leadership, philanthropy, and service to Eastern Michigan, will receive the Ron Oestrike Distinguished Service Award.
This year's class will mark the 49th anniversary of the E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame with a dinner followed by a ceremony at 6:30 p.m. inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. The Class of 2026 will then be recognized during the EMU football game Saturday, Sept. 26, against Lindenwood University.
Reservations are $60 and include the dinner reception and ceremony. To register online using a credit card, please visit https://tiny.emueagles.com/3pwjew8a
The biographies for the Eastern Michigan University Athletics Hall of Fame 2026 inductees follow below.
Madeleine (Pilchard) Batson – Women's Swimming & Diving
Graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2009…Four-year letter winner as a member of the EMU women's swimming & diving team from 2004-08…10-time Mid-American Conference (MAC) Individual Champion in the 50, 100, 200, and 500 freestyle…Member of seven MAC Championship relay teams, including the 200, 400, and 800 freestyle relays and the 400-medley relay team…Named MAC Swimmer of the Year in 2006, 2007, and 2008 and earned the MAC's Most Outstanding Senior of the Year in 2008…Earned All-MAC First Team honors four times (2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008)…Selected to the Academic All-MAC Team (2006, 2007, and 2008)…Two-time ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District Second Team selection (2006 and 2007)…EMU's First CSCAA All-American, earning the honor twice…Named CollegeSwimming.com Mid-Major All-American in 2008…Holds the all-time MAC 200 freestyle record…Appears in EMU's all-time top-10 records five times, holding the program's top time for both the 100 and 200 freestyle…Member of the Eagles back-to-back MAC Championship Titles (2006 and 2007)…Guided the swim team to a 34-10 record during her four years…Was an NCAA National Qualifier in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, and 200 freestyle in 2008
Richard A. "Butch" Palmer - Football
Graduated in 1994…Earned three varsity football letters as a cornerback (1991, 1992, 1993)…Started 33 consecutive games for EMU and had 10 interceptions…Led EMU to victory over Western Michigan in 1991 by intercepting four passes and returning the final one for 76 yards…Named National Player of the Week for the EMU vs. WMU game by Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News…Finished the 1991 season with seven interceptions (tied for sixth nationally)…Named First-Team All Mid-American Conference in 1991 and 1993…Earned distinguished scholar athlete status, being named Academic All-MAC three times…Selected MAC Defensive Player of the Week twice (1991 and 1993)…Received the EMU Football Team Award: Elton J. Rynearson Scholar-Athlete Award in 1993…Ranks in the top 10 in both career and season for interceptions and interception return yards…Was also a member of EMUs men's track team as a long jumper and triple jumper helping the team win three outdoor MAC Championships (1990, 1991, 1992)…Selected as the MAC Humanitarian Award from Wolverine Human Services in 1993
Jussi Rautiainen - Men's Soccer
Graduated in 1989…Earned four varsity letters as a member of the EMU men's soccer team (1983, 1985, 1986, 1987)…Led EMU to a 41-29-1 record during his four years of play…Earned team most valuable player twice (1986 and 1987) and Offensive Player of the Year in 1985…Selected All Mid-American Conference Team in 1986 and 1987…Named NCAA DI Second Team in 1987…Ranks number one in EMU's record books for career points (137), points in a season (55), career goals (54), career assists (29), goals in a season (23), hattricks (7), and goals in a game (5)…Was part of FC Haka in Finland for the 1987-90 season…Finnish Cup Champion as a player in 1988 and again as Team Manager in 1997…Played for FC Haka in their historic 1989-90 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup first-round matchup against Hungarian side Ferencvárosi TC…Awarded the FC Haka club's highest honor, the Juuson Plaketti, in 2022 for his continued impact on the team, including organizing the Haka Old Boys alumni
Ashley "A-Rod" Rodrigues - Women's Soccer
Graduated in 2010…Member of the women's soccer team from 2006-09…Two-time First Team All Mid-American Conference (MAC) selection (2007 and 2009)…One of five players in program history to record a hat-trick, doing so versus Buffalo, Oct. 19, 2007…One of just three Eagles to tally three assists in a game, achieving the feat against Eastern Illinois, Sept. 7, 2008…In 2009, she scored 10 goals, tying for the 10th-most in single-season history, while racking up 21 points…Holds the program single-match records for goals (3), points (7), and assists (3)…Earned MAC Player of the Year as a senior (2009)…Finished career with 53 points, 21 goals, and 11 assists – ranking in the top ten of EMU records…Named to the MAC All-Tournament Team (2009)…Earned NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region First Team honors (2009)…First-Team Academic All-MAC two-time selection (2007 and 2009)…International career: Member of the Guyana Women's National Soccer Team (Birth country of both parents)…Played in the 2010 CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifiers (Team Guyana)…Played in the 2016 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Championship (Team Guyana)
Howard (How) Simmons - Baseball
Graduated in 1993…Was an outstanding baseball player for EMU from 1979-82…Earned four varsity letters as a member of the EMU baseball team…All Mid-American Conference (MAC) Second Team selection in 1982…Helped lead EMU to two MAC Championships and two regional runner-up finishes (1981, 1982)…Selected to the NCAA Mid-West Regional All-Tournament Team in 1981 hitting for a .421 average…Was a single season leader for at-bats, hits, and runs…Ranked in the all-time EMU records for at-bats, hits, doubles, triples, runs scored, and RBIs…Defensively assisted in completing 93 double plays and 807 assist/put outs as a middle infielder…In 1981, led the MAC in runs scored, was 10th in batting, and fifth in RBIs…Selected to the United States Baseball Team by the U.S. Baseball Federation in 1981…Played on the U.S. team that received Gold Medals in the first World Games and Intercontinental Cup Games, beating the Cuban National Team in 10 innings in the final medal round…Was selected as a finalist in the 1984 Olympic/Pan Am Baseball Trials…Played for team Orleans in the Cape Cod League…Returned to EMU as an infield coach for the 1983 and 1984 seasons
Susan R. Tomanek - Women's Track & Field
Graduated in 1988…Member of the women's cross country, indoor and outdoor track teams from 1985-1988…Outstanding runner who won four individual Mid-American Conference (MAC) titles and ran on five championship relay teams…In outdoor track: on the winning 4x400-meter relay team in both 1986 and 1987, and won the individual 1,500-meter run title in 1987, which was the MAC outdoor season record that stood for 21 years…In indoor track: won the 800-meter title in both 1985 and 1986, the 1,000-meter crown in 1987, ran on the 4x400-meter relay team in 1985, and ran on the winning 4x800-meter relay team in both 1986 and 1987…Was an All-MAC cross country selection in 1986…Ranks in the EMU All-time records for 800-meter run with 2:07.65 and the 1500-meter run with 4:18.09…In 1987, ran on the the 4x800-meter relay team with a time of 8:46.27 which was the top time in the U.S….Three-time NCAA qualifier: 1000-meter run in 1986 and 1987; and the 1,500-meter run in 1988, placing eighth…Served as the women's cross country and indoor track and field teams graduate assistant in 1988…Teacher and a coach of 26 years in the Novi Community School District
Ken Bruchanski – Ron Oestrike Distinguished Service Award
Graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 1975 with a degree in Accounting, earning summa cum laude honors…Member of the EMU Baseball Team from 1973–75 and co-captain of the historic 1975 College World Series team…Helped lead the Hurons to the 1975 Mid-American Conference Championship, NCAA Mid-East Regional Championship, and the program's first College World Series appearance…EMU's first-ever Academic All-American earning the honor twice and the first EMU student-athlete to receive an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship which he used to get his master's degree from Purdue University…Signed a professional contract with the Detroit Tigers following his collegiate career before becoming a Certified Public Accountant and Chief Financial Officer…Inducted into the EMU E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990…Lifetime member of the E-Club Letterwinners Alumni Chapter…Served as a key leader in the growth and success of the E-Club Letterwinners Alumni Chapter, helping strengthen alumni engagement and support for EMU Athletics…Served the EMU Foundation Board of Trustee's from 2002-2007 and as treasurer from 2003-2007…Instrumental in preserving and celebrating the legacy of EMU Baseball, including leading efforts to recognize the 50th Anniversary of the 1975 College World Series team and launching a matching gift challenge to benefit the program…Has dedicated more than 50 years of his time, leadership, mentorship, and philanthropy to advancing Eastern Michigan University and supporting generations of EMU student-athletes
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