by: Kerry Lippold Jr.
On Jan. 25, during halftime of the Parkland Men’s Basketball game, six were inducted into Parkland’s 2019 Athletics Hall of Fame class. The prestigious ceremony started as early as the 2007 class in which there are now 86 members consisting of student athletes, teams, and administrators who have passed through our athletic programs at Parkland. These recent inductees have not only found success at Parkland but also took their athletic careers to much higher levels.
Will Bailey is one of those standout individuals with a long list of achievements following his time as a Cobra. At Parkland, Bailey played a key role during his first season on the basketball team averaging 18 points per game, leading the country in assists, and achieving 1st Team All-Conference.
Bailey also helped lead the 1994-1995 men’s basketball team to a number one ranking and led them to the NJCAA National Tournament. Bailey continued his athletic career at the University of Alabama at Birmingham leading his team in assists, helping the team to the National Invitation Tournament, and earning the team’s defensive player of the season. This brought an end to his playing career and a beginning to coaching where he has secured six conference titles, multiple NCAA appearances up to the Sweet 16 along with an NIT appearance. He now coaches at St. Louis University where he has helped take the team to an Atlantic 10 Championship and a NCAA Tournament bid.
Neely Hawkins, Parkland class of 2005, was the second inductee for her accomplishments as a Cobra with the softball program. Along with this induction, Hawkins has also been honored as the 2005 Parkland Softball team was inducted into the 2012 Athletics Hall of Fame class. With this team, she succeeded in going from a NJCAA National Tournament 5th place finish in her first season, to Runner-Up in the same tournament as well as a 2nd Team All-American designation during the 2005 season. Hawkins continued her studies at Eastern Illinois University where she completed a degree in Family Services and pursued health care and real estate until her daughters, Eylnn and Ivy, were born.
In 2008, the Parkland Men’s Soccer team succeeded with a record of 17-1-2 and ranked 13th in NJCAA Division 1, a Cobra first, with the help of Devon Munch. Munch was the third inductee with accolades such as the first men’s soccer player for NJCAA All-American recognition, First Team All-Region 24, Region 24 Defender of the Year, and First Team All-MWAC. Following his studies at Parkland, Munch pursued Criminal Justice and served three years with the Canadian Armed Forces as an infantryman. He is currently working as a Special Operations Response Team member in his hometown of Pickering, Ontario in Canada.
Matt Neaville, previously a professional basketball player in the NBA Pro Am, IBA, NBA D-league Pre-Draft Camp, WMPBA, and the CBA, once walked the halls as a Cobra on the Men’s Basketball team and was the fourth inductee. Following his career as a professional basketball player, he now owns Neaville Basketball Academy and teaches Physical Education for Urbana High School. Before his professional career though, Neaville accomplished rankings at 4th in the country for scoring, 2nd in free throw percentage, most three-pointers in a game for NJCAA, NJCAA 3rd Team All-American, Freshman and Conference Player of the Year, and still owns the Parkland scoring record from his time on the 2005-2006 men’s basketball team.
Rachel Robinson, one of the two recent volleyball inductees, was once a Parkland Female Athlete of the Year, MWAC Player of the Year, 2nd Team All-American, 1st Team All-Conference, and Academic All-American. Following her time at Parkland, Robinson went on to study Business Administration at the University of Evansville where she also played Division 1 volleyball. She now works as a packaging consultant for Container and Packaging in Boise, ID where she enjoys time with her two dogs, being active, collecting antiques, and exploring the west.
Our second volleyball inductee, Jennifer Sykes, had begun her time as a Cobra just one year after Robinson where she was awarded 1st Team All-American, MWAC Player of the Year, All-Region Team, 1st Team All-Tournament at NJCAA, and National All-American Scholar Athlete. After Parkland, she attended Bradley University to pursue Volleyball and academics which she continued to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Palmer College of Chiropractic, and finally graduated as a Doctor of Chiropractic.
To read more about the inductees, see Joey Gruner’s press release.
