FULTON, Mo.- The William Woods University Athletic Department is pleased to announce the honorees for the 2025 class of the William Woods Athletics Hall of Fame. The committee has chosen three individual nominees, one team, and an athletic administrator to receive the prestigious honor. Each nominee has displayed exceptional character and poise in their representation of William Woods University and due to their efforts have left a lasting impact on the University.
"The 2025 William Woods University Hall of Fame class is loaded with high achievers. From an exceptional Athletic Administrator, to one of the best teams in our school's history, to three individual standouts, this group really set the bar high for Owl Athletics." mentioned Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Brian Spielbauer. "I look forward to welcoming them back to campus over Alumni Weekend and congratulating them as they take their well-earned spots in the Hall of Fame!"
The first of the three individual nominees is Jon Williams. He is one of the most accomplished middle-distance runners in WWU men's track and field history. Standing as one of only four men in program history to earn NAIA All-American honors in an individual event, finishing eighth in the 800 meters at the 2013 NAIA Indoor National Championships (1:54.40). Williams qualified twice for the NAIA Outdoor National Championships in the 800 meters, placing 11th in 2012 (1:53.45) and 10th in 2013 (1:52.70). At the American Midwest Conference level, he captured the 2012 AMC Indoor Championship in the 800 meters and earned several additional podium finishes across the 400-, 600-, and 800-meter events. Williams remains the William Woods school record holder in the indoor 800 meters (1:54.32) and outdoor 800 meters (1:52.17), ranks second all-time in the indoor 1,000 meters, and third all-time in the indoor 600-yard dash.
Kelsey (Schulte) Chrisman is inducted for her elite two-way career with the Owls softball program from 2009–2012. Offensively, she posted a career batting average of .358, ranking among the program's top performers with 223 hits, 165 RBIs (fifth all-time), 39 doubles, 30 triples (fifth all-time), and 28 home runs (third all-time), while appearing in 206 career games. In the circle, Chrisman compiled a 55–32 pitching record with 405 strikeouts, ranking fifth all-time in appearances, innings pitched, and strikeouts, while also ranking sixth in career wins and complete games (61). Her honors include AMC Player of the Year, AMC Freshman of the Year, four AMC First Team selections, three NFCA All-Region First Team honors, two NAIA Scholar-Athlete awards, and four NFCA Scholar-Athlete recognitions.
Rosemary Hyland-Karlish is recognized as a pioneer of William Woods women's basketball and one of the most efficient scorers in program history. Competing from 1977–1981, she ranks seventh all-time in career scoring and fifth in single-season scoring with 566 points. She also ranks third in both single-season (232) and career (597) field goals made and stands second all-time in career field-goal percentage at .704. Hyland-Karlish helped lead the Owls to a 25–2 record during the 1977–78 season and to 20-plus win seasons in each of the following two years. She earned All-MAIA Women's Small College honors in three consecutive seasons (1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80), establishing herself as one of the most dominant players of her era.
The 1996 William Woods University softball team is honored after producing the most successful season in program history. The Owls finished 63–12 overall, setting program records for wins (63) and winning percentage (.840), while capturing the AMC regular season and tournament championships and the Region V Tournament title. This team finished ninth at the NAIA National Tournament and was ranked as high as No. 4 nationally—an achievement matched by only one other Owls softball team. That squad set or ranks among the top marks in the William Woods record book, including runs scored (542), hits (723), doubles (117), RBIs (458), total bases (975), saves (16), at-bats (2,074), batting average (.349), slugging percentage (.470), on-base percentage (.400), walks (178), stolen bases (134), and triples (45). The team also produced two NAIA and four NFCA All-Americans, and five All-Conference and four All-Region players. The Owls had the AMC Pitcher of the Year and the Region V Pitcher, Player, and Coach of the Year, with 18 Academic All-AMC selections and three NAIA Scholar-Athletes.
Closing out the 2025 William Woods Athletics Hall of Fame Class is the founder of the Hall itself, Jason Vittone. During his tenure as Director of Athletics, Vittone guided Woods Athletics to unprecedented success, highlighted by five consecutive American Midwest Conference Presidents' Cup titles. Under his leadership, the department experienced significant growth with the addition of men's and women's tennis, bowling, and wrestling, as well as the addition of outdoor life sports featuring archery and shotgun sports. His leadership earned him AMC Athletic Director of the Year honors in both the 2013–14 and 2015–16 seasons.
While serving as the Director of Athletics, Vittone played a key role in elevating the national profile of William Woods Athletics, working closely with the city of Independence, Missouri, the AMC, and the NAIA to coordinate and serve as Tournament Director for the 2014 and 2015 NAIA Women's Basketball Division I National Championships. He also assisted in organizing the 2016 NAIA Cross Country National Championships and, as previously mentioned, he established the William Woods University Athletics Hall of Fame, creating a lasting platform to honor excellence across generations.
Prior to becoming Director of Athletics, Vittone served as Sports Information Director, overseeing day-to-day media relations for all sports while directing the Champions of Character program.
Hall of Fame ceremonies will take place on Alumni Weekend this Spring (April 10th) at 7:30 p.m. in the historic McNutt Campus Center.
