Windsor, ON – The University of Windsor Alumni Association and the Department of Athletics are pleased to announce the 2024 induction class for the University of Windsor’s Alumni Sports Hall of Fame. The ceremony will take place on Sunday, November 24, 2024, inside the Alumni Auditorium in the CAW Student Centre.
Lancer athlete inductees for this year’s class include Tracy Higgs (track & field), Damian Porter (football), Jordie Preston (hockey), Greg Surmacz (basketball), and Kyle Williamson (volleyball).
In addition, the 2014 Queen’s Cup OUA champion Lancer men’s hockey team will also be recognized with the Alumni Sports Hall of Fame’s Team Achievement award.
Tracy Higgs (BHK ’96) was a decorated women’s track and field athlete and a two-time CIAU gold medalist in the 60 metre hurdles and 4×200 m relay. Incredibly, she was a member of five CIAU national championship teams throughout her career and was also a four-time OWIAA gold medalist. Tracy was a team captain for the Lancers for four seasons and she still holds the seventh fastest time ever in Lancer history in the 60m hurdles.
Damian Porter (BA ’01) was an Olympic Shield recipient as the University of Windsor’s male athlete of the year after an outstanding university career on the gridiron. He was a two-time CIAU football all-Canadian and a three-time OUA all-star for his outstanding play on the defensive side for the Lancers. Also named the OUA’s outstanding stand-up defensive player of the year in 2000, Damian was inducted into the Gino Fracas Wall of Honour and named to the Lancer football’s all-time team as one of the program’s greatest players.
A forward with the Lancer hockey team from 2003-07, Jordie Preston (BA ’07) had a tremendous career with the Blue and Gold and is one of the program’s most decorated players. During his time with the Lancers, Jordie captured the Bill L’Heureux trophy as the OUA’s player of the year after leading the country in scoring in the 2006-07 season. He was named both a U SPORTS all-Canadian and an OUA all-star throughout his university career and he ranks 9th all-time in program history in career scoring with 129 points.
From 2006-09, Greg Surmacz (BHK ’22) was a dominant force on the court for the Lancers as he was widely considered one of the most talented players in the Canadian University men’s basketball. Greg was a two-time U SPORTS men’s basketball all-Canadian, three-time OUA all-star, and was named the OUA men’s basketball most valuable player. Also named the Olympic Shield recipient as the University of Windsor’s male athlete of the year, he helped lead the Lancers to the Wilson Cup OUA provincial championship and a national championship tournament berth in 2007.
Kyle Williamson (BA ’13) was the first men’s volleyball player in University of Windsor history to be named a U SPORTS all-Canadian, cementing his place as one of the best to ever wear the blue and gold. He was recognized as the OUA men’s volleyball player of the year in 2011 following a brilliant season on the court as one of the country’s most dominant players. He was also a two-time U SPORTS all-Canadian, a three-time OUA all-star and he was named the Olympic Shield recipient as the University of Windsor male athlete of the year.
The Lancer men’s hockey team (2013-14) captured the 103rd Queen’s Cup for only the second time in school history with a thrilling 3-2 defeat of McGill University before a sold-out crowd in their home arena in Windsor. It was the men’s hockey program’s second OUA championship banner and first since 1997-98. The Lancers championship victory included a 50-save performance from goaltender Parker Van Buskirk which propelled the Lancers back the U SPORTS men’s hockey championship tournament for the first time since 1999.
For more information on the University of Windsor Alumni Sports Hall of Fame or to register for the event, please visit www.uwindsor.ca/alumni/SHOF24.