University announces 2014 class for Varsity ‘T’ Hall of Fame

January 28, 2014 | Athletics, Events, UToday

By Paul Helgren

Six former student-athletes will be inducted into The University of Toledo Varsity ‘T’ Hall of Fame Saturday, Feb. 22, in Savage Arena.

Social hour for the event will begin at 6 p.m. and dinner will follow at 7 p.m.

The Varsity ‘T’ Hall of Fame also will present the Distinguished Service Award to longtime radio voice of the Rockets Mark Beier.

Tickets for the induction are $45 and can be purchased by calling the Athletic Development Office at 419.530.5087 or 419.530.4183.

The 2014 Varsity ‘T’ Hall of Fame inductees are:

Engel, Greco and Ingram

Brian Engel, Men’s Tennis, 1969-1973. He was a three-time Mid-American Conference Champion, at No. 6 singles in 1970, No. 5 singles in 1971 and at No. 2 doubles in 1970. A four-year letterman, Engel was a key part of three MAC Championship teams in 1970, 1971 and 1973. The 1972 team finished as MAC runners-up. Engel moved up to No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles as a junior, and played No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles as a senior. He graduated from UT with a degree in business and later attended the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern. Engel helped found the National Junior Tennis League of Toledo, which has brought tennis to more than 1,000 disadvantaged youth.

John Greco, Football, 2004-2007. He was a three-time All-MAC selection at left tackle, one of only a handful of Rockets to earn first-team all-league honors in three consecutive seasons. He started 49 consecutive games in his career — every game for four seasons — including 36 straight at left tackle. Twice he was named to the watch list for the Rotary Lombardi Award as the nation’s best lineman or linebacker. As a freshman, he started in 12 games at right tackle, helping the Rockets to a MAC Championship and a berth in the Motor City Bowl. As a sophomore, he assumed the left tackle position vacated by current Hall of Famer Nick Kaczur and went on to earn first-team All-MAC honors. The Rockets went 9-3 that season and won the GMAC Bowl vs. UTEP. As a junior in 2006, Greco was the team co-captain and started all 13 games at left tackle, earning first-team All-MAC honors. He again earned first-team league honors as a senior, and was a third-team All-America selection by Rivals.com. Greco was selected to play in the East-West Shrine Game. The Sporting News ranked him No. 8 offensive tackle in the nation. Greco was selected in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams, the highest draft pick out of UT since Dan Williams was taken in the first round in 1993. After three seasons in St. Louis, he was traded to the Cleveland Browns, where he is a starter at offensive guard.

Justin Ingram, Men’s Basketball, 2003-2007. He was a senior co-captain on the 2006-07 men’s basketball team that won the MAC regular-season championship. He averaged 14.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists on his way to first-team All-MAC honors that season as the Rockets went 14-2 in conference play. Ingram was a star almost from the moment he arrived at UT, averaging 10.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists to earn MAC Freshman of the Year honors in 2003-04. As a sophomore, he averaged 9.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists. He moved from point guard to shooting guard as a junior, earning second-team All-MAC honors while averaging 14.6 points and guiding the Rockets to the MAC Tournament Championship Game. For his career, Ingram ranks eighth all-time in scoring (1,494 points), fourth in three-pointers (213), third in free-throw percentage (81.6 percent) and third in steals (217). He is the co-leader in games played with 123. The Rockets’ record in his four seasons was 75-48, 47-23 in MAC play. Since his graduation from UT, Ingram has enjoyed a successful professional career playing basketball in Europe.

McKinley-Deal, Parmele and Shaw

Megan McKinley-Deal, Women’s Swimming and Diving, 2004-2008. She was one of the best divers in UT history, earning All-MAC honors in her junior and senior seasons. She is one of only four UT women’s swimmers to earn All-America honors. In her senior year, McKinley was an NCAA qualifier and first-team All-MAC selection. She was the MAC Diver of the Year that season, winning both the one-meter and three-meter boards at the MAC Championships. She was the first UT diver to qualify for the NCAA Championships since 1995, placing 10th in the three-meter and 22nd in the one-meter to earn All-America recognition. With McKinley’s points alone, The University of Toledo was ranked 33rd overall in scoring at the NCAAs. McKinley still holds both the one- and three-meter school records. As a junior, McKinley earned second-team All-MAC honors, placing second in the three-meter and third in the one-meter at the MAC Championships. She also competed in the NCAA Diving Regionals, taking seventh in the one-meter and ninth in the three-meter. McKinley placed fourth in the three-meter as a freshman and fourth in the one-meter as a sophomore.

Jalen Parmele, Football, 2004-2007. He was a first-team All-MAC running back in 2006 and 2007 for the Rockets. As a junior in 2006, Parmele rushed for 1,131 yards and eight touchdowns. He gained more than 100 yards in each of UT’s final four games, including 173 vs. Ball State. As a senior, Parmele rushed for 1,511 yards, ninth in the nation that season and the fourth highest total in school history. He also scored 14 touchdowns and was third in the balloting for MAC Player of the Year. He rushed for 241 yards on 38 carries in a 43-40 win over Ohio, the third highest single-game total in UT history. He finished his UT career with 3,119 yards rushing, the fourth highest mark for a Rocket at the time. After the season, Parmele was invited to the Hula Bowl, where he rushed for 46 yards. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft by Miami. He has since played for Baltimore, Jacksonville and Tennessee as a kickoff returner and backup running back.

Casey Shaw, Men’s Basketball, 1995-1998. He was named second team All-MAC in 1996-97 and 1997-98, and made the MAC All-Freshman team in 1994-95. He also was an outstanding student, earning third-team Academic All-America honors as a senior in 1997-98, and making the Academic All-MAC team in his junior and senior seasons. Shaw ranks sixth all-time at UT with 1,562 points and fifth with 871 rebounds. He led the Rockets in scoring and rebounds twice, with 16.3 points and 9.0 rebounds as a junior and 14.2 points and 10.0 rebounds as a senior. He ranks second in UT history with 107 blocked shots and sixth in field goal percentage (.546). A two-time captain, Shaw was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round of the 1998 draft and had a successful professional basketball career in Europe. He is married to former UT women’s basketball player and Varsity ‘T’ Hall of Famer Dana Drew-Shaw. They live in Indiana and have four children.