Drury University has finalized its 30th Athletics Hall of Fame induction class, which will include six legendary DU figures who will be enshrined as members of the Class of 2025-26 on Jan. 10 at the Judy Thompson Executive Conference Center in O’Reilly Enterprise Center.
Bailee Nunn
One of the most decorated athletes in Drury history, Bailee (Nunn) Berger (women’s swimming) captured 14 individual NCAA Division II national titles during her storied career, helping the DU women to three consecutive national runner-up finishes (2017-19). The Marshfield, Missouri, product earned NCAA-II Swimmer of the Year honors as a sophomore in 2018 and was tabbed GLVC Swimmer of the Year three times.
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The first of two women’s basketball standouts selected for this year’s enshrinement class, Daejah Bernard (women’s basketball) helped lift the Lady Panthers to unprecedented heights during her four-year career. A two-time All-America selection will go down as one of the greatest defenders in Drury history, as the St. Joseph, Missouri, native was selected as the GLVC’s Defensive Player of the Year in three straight seasons (2018-20) and led the nation in steals as a junior in 2018-19.
A standout on the volleyball court throughout her collegiate career for Drury, Brooke (Antenen) Byl (volleyball) was the first Panther to earn NCAA Division II All-Midwest Region honors as a senior in 2016. A native of Naperville, Illinois, Byl was a two-time All-GLVC honoree and helped the Panthers post back-to-back 20-win campaigns for the first time in nearly a quarter century in 2015-16. She capped her DU career ranked fifth on the Panthers’ all-time assists list with a total 3,709.
One of the top offensive threats in Drury baseball history, Caleb Cole (baseball) was a four-time All-GLVC honoree who remains near the top of nearly every statistical leaderboard. The Lee’s Summit, Missouri, product earned First-Team All-Midwest Region honors in 2013 and 2014, in addition to his selection as GLVC Freshman of the Year in 2011. Drury’s career record-holder for RBIs (190), Cole also ranks among the Panthers’ all-time leaders in hits (267), doubles (45) and batting average (.344).
Hailey Diestelkamp
Perhaps the most recognizable name associated with Lady Panthers basketball, Hailey Diestelkamp’s (women’s basketball) list of career accolades ranks among the most impressive in the history of Drury University — and all of southwest Missouri. A two-time NCAA Division II National Player of the Year, she ranks as the only player in DU history to top the 2,000-point and 1,000-rebound plateaus. An Owensville, Missouri, product, Diestelkamp was a three-time First-Team All-GLVC pick.
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Not only one of Drury’s winningest head coaches, but also one of the most successful in the history of GLVC tennis, Jarrod Smith (tennis) served as head coach of the Drury women’s tennis program for 18 years and led the Panthers men’s program for 13 seasons before shifting his focus to leading DU’s pickleball program. At the time of his transition, Smith ranked among the top five NCAA-II women’s tennis coaches for winning percentage, as well as one of the top 10 men’s coaches in the same category.
The cost of the brunch and induction ceremony is $35 per person. For reservations or additional information, please contact Ed Beach with Drury Athletics by phone at (417) 873-4097, or by email at ebeach@drury.edu.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Drury announces 2025-26 Athletics Hall of Fame induction class
