Panthers Hall Of Fame Class Announced

Eastern Illinois Athletics will induct a record setting class into the Panthers Hall of Fame as the Class of 2019 was announced on Friday.   This year’s Hall of Fame Class includes Jimmy Garoppolo, Erik Lora, Jade Riebold and Mick Viken; all of whom earned both All-American and OVC Athlete of the Year honors during their distinguished careers.  The 2019 EIU Hall of Fame Ceremony will take place the weekend of Sept. 28 when the Panthers host Tennessee Tech.

Garoppolo (2010-13) was a record setting quarterback for Eastern Illinois before he became the franchise quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers.  During his four-years at EIU Garoppolo set every EIU and Ohio Valley Conference single season and career passing record.  Garoppolo passed for 13,156 career yards with 118 touchdowns.  During his senior season, Garoppolo helped lead the Panthers to a No. 2 national ranking as he passed for 5,050 yards and 53 touchdowns.   Garoppolo would win the 2013 Walter Payton Award and be drafted in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots.  Garoppolo won a pair of Super Bowl Championships while on the Patriots roster.  He placed 10th in the Walter Payton Award voting as a junior and was the OVC Player of the Year as a senior.

Lora (2009-13) was on the receiving end of many of Garoppolo’s passes during his career as he was a two-time first team All-American while finishing fourth in voting for the Walter Payton Award in 2012.  During that 2012 season Lora set the FCS record for receptions in a season finishing the year with 136 catches.  Lora would finish his career as the EIU and OVC leader in both single season and career receptions, yards and touchdowns.  As a senior in 2013 he helped lead the Panthers to a No. 2 national ranking signing as an undrafted free agent with the Minnesota Vikings.  Lora spent time in camp with three NFL teams and is currently the Assistant Athletic Director for Development at EIU.  Lora was the 2012 OVC Player of the Year as a junior while placing seventh in voting for the Walter Payton Award during his senior year.

Riebold (2012-14) was perhaps the most decorated female athlete in EIU history as she was a four-time All-American in the pole vault including a two-time first team finisher.  Riebold placed second at the NCAA Indoor National Championships in the pole vault in 2013 and was third at the NCAA Outdoor National Championships that same season.  She holds the EIU record for the indoor and outdoor pole vault while also holding the OVC indoor record at 14’.  She was a four-time OVC Female Field Athlete of the Year and qualified to participate in the 2012 US Olympic Trials.  Riebold currently works in pharmaceutical sales.

Viken (2011-14) dominated the pole vault for the Panthers winning seven Ohio Valley Conference titles in the event during his four years on the roster.  He currently holds the OVC pole record for both indoor and outdoor and is the school record holder in the indoor pole vault.  His outdoor pole vault school record was broken after he set it at 18’0.50”.  He was the OVC Indoor and Outdoor Freshman of the Year and OVC Athlete of the Year in 2012.  Viken was a four-time All-American in the pole vault earning the distinction three times during the outdoor season and once during the indoor season.  He placed eighth at the NCAA Indoor National Championships in 2013.  Viken currently works as a business development consultant.

Eastern Illinois Athletics will induct a record setting class into the Panthers Hall of Fame as the Class of 2019 was announced on Friday.   This year’s Hall of Fame Class includes Jimmy Garoppolo, Erik Lora, Jade Riebold and Mick Viken; all of whom earned both All-American and OVC Athlete of the Year honors during their distinguished careers.  The 2019 EIU Hall of Fame Ceremony will take place the weekend of Sept. 28 when the Panthers host Tennessee Tech.

Garoppolo (2010-13) was a record setting quarterback for Eastern Illinois before he became the franchise quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers.  During his four-years at EIU Garoppolo set every EIU and Ohio Valley Conference single season and career passing record.  Garoppolo passed for 13,156 career yards with 118 touchdowns.  During his senior season, Garoppolo helped lead the Panthers to a No. 2 national ranking as he passed for 5,050 yards and 53 touchdowns.   Garoppolo would win the 2013 Walter Payton Award and be drafted in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots.  Garoppolo won a pair of Super Bowl Championships while on the Patriots roster.  He placed 10th in the Walter Payton Award voting as a junior and was the OVC Player of the Year as a senior.

Lora (2009-13) was on the receiving end of many of Garoppolo’s passes during his career as he was a two-time first team All-American while finishing fourth in voting for the Walter Payton Award in 2012.  During that 2012 season Lora set the FCS record for receptions in a season finishing the year with 136 catches.  Lora would finish his career as the EIU and OVC leader in both single season and career receptions, yards and touchdowns.  As a senior in 2013 he helped lead the Panthers to a No. 2 national ranking signing as an undrafted free agent with the Minnesota Vikings.  Lora spent time in camp with three NFL teams and is currently the Assistant Athletic Director for Development at EIU.  Lora was the 2012 OVC Player of the Year as a junior while placing seventh in voting for the Walter Payton Award during his senior year.

Riebold (2012-14) was perhaps the most decorated female athlete in EIU history as she was a four-time All-American in the pole vault including a two-time first team finisher.  Riebold placed second at the NCAA Indoor National Championships in the pole vault in 2013 and was third at the NCAA Outdoor National Championships that same season.  She holds the EIU record for the indoor and outdoor pole vault while also holding the OVC indoor record at 14’.  She was a four-time OVC Female Field Athlete of the Year and qualified to participate in the 2012 US Olympic Trials.  Riebold currently works in pharmaceutical sales.

Viken (2011-14) dominated the pole vault for the Panthers winning seven Ohio Valley Conference titles in the event during his four years on the roster.  He currently holds the OVC pole record for both indoor and outdoor and is the school record holder in the indoor pole vault.  His outdoor pole vault school record was broken after he set it at 18’0.50”.  He was the OVC Indoor and Outdoor Freshman of the Year and OVC Athlete of the Year in 2012.  Viken was a four-time All-American in the pole vault earning the distinction three times during the outdoor season and once during the indoor season.  He placed eighth at the NCAA Indoor National Championships in 2013.  Viken currently works as a business development consultant.