NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The Christopher Newport Department of Athletics announced the Hall of Fame Class of 2022 today, as the Captains prepare to enshrine a talented group of five athletes from five different sports.
The Hall of Fame Class of 2022 includes basketball star Tra Benefield, a top-ten scorer and rebounder for the Captains, alongside two-time volleyball All-American Rachel Conway. They are joined by 2014 All-American and Conference Player of the Year Billy Steel from the baseball team with two-time field hockey All-American Kim Tomlin and NCAA tournament legend Justin Wolfe from the Captains' men's soccer program.
Following today's announcement, the five former Captains will be officially inducted in a special Hall of Fame ceremony on Friday, September 30 and will be recognized on the field at halftime of the CNU vs. Rowan University football game at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 1.
About the Inductees:
Tra Benefield
Men's Basketball (2010-14)
- Three-time VaSID All-State and Two-Time D3hoops.com All-Region Pick
- Four-time All-Conference selection including Rookie of the Year honors in 2011
- One of only four players ranked top-ten in career scoring (1,794 pts) and rebounding (750 reb)
Benefield became only the third player in program history to finish his career in the top-ten all-time at CNU in both scoring (1,794 career points, ranking sixth) and rebounding (750 career rebounds, ranking eighth). The talented wing averaged 16.9 points in his career and is one of only five CNU players to knock down 700 or more field goals in his career.
Tra was a first team All-Region pick once and twice earned All-Region honors in his career. He was a three-time All-State and four-time All-Conference pick also, including capturing USA South Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year honors in 2011.
Rachel Conway
Volleyball (2012-15)
- Two-time AVCA All-American and First Team All-Region Selection
- Named 2014 Conference Player of the Year
- Finished career ranked fourth all-time in assists (3,521)
Conway registered one of the most prolific careers in Christopher Newport volleyball history as a two-time second team All-American. She was All-Conference three times including during the 2014 season when she was selected the Conference Player of the Year. As the floor general, Conway helped lead CNU to the NCAA National Quarterfinals as a sophomore, second round as a junior, and back to the Elite Eight in 2014 as a senior.
She still ranks fourth all-time at Christopher Newport in career assists with 3,521 in her career. She posted the first and only 60-assist match since the NCAA switched to 25-point sets and holds two of the top-ten single season marks for assists in program history.
Billy Steel
Baseball (2011-14)
- Second Team ABCA All-American and Conference Player of the Year in 2014
- Two-Time All-Region selection and two-time All-Conference
- Ranks in top-five all-time at CNU in runs, hits, RBI, doubles, triples, and total bases
A four-year starter at shortstop for the nationally-ranked Captains, Steel was a second team All-American and a two-time All-Region selection during his career. A consistent threat in the lineup throughout his career, Steel graduated as the all-time leader in games played and starts and remains second on that list today. A two-time All-Region pick, Steel was named the Capital Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2014 after hitting .427 with an OPS of 1.266 during his final season.
Steel remains one of the top players in program history statistically, ranking ninth in OBP (.466), fourth in total hits (223), and fourth in runs scored (163). He is the all-time leader in doubles and also ranks in the top-ten in triples, RBI, total bases, walks, HBP, and sacrifice bunts. Defensively, he ranks second only to fellow Hall of Famer Trae Bailey in career assists with 476 and second in career double plays turned with 94.
Kim Tomlin
Field Hockey (2007-09)
- Only the second two-time All-American in program history
- 2011 DIII Independent's NCAA Woman of the Year Nominee
- Two-time First Team All-Region and All-State selection
Helping guide Christopher Newport to three consecutive Round of 16 finishes in the NCAA Tournament, Tomlin was a dangerous asset in the midfield for the Captains' field hockey team. She became just the second two-time All-American in program history after picking up second team honors in both her junior and senior seasons from the NFHCA and WomensFieldHockey.com. She earned first team All-State and All-Region accolades while going on to earn a spot in the NFHCA Senior All-Star Game following the 2009 campaign.
Tomlin scored 43 career points with 17 goals and nine assists during her tenure. She also ranks in the top-ten all-time with seven defensive saves, helping lock down both sides of the field for the Captains. In 2009, she became the first Captain to record two goals and two defensive saves in the same contest when she accomplished the feat against Sweet Briar.
Justin Wolfe
Men's Soccer (2008-11)
- Two-time All-Region, All-State, and Three-time All-Conference Selection
- All-time leader in goal ranking first in wins (55), GAA (0.69), and second in shutouts (29)
- Postseason hero registered five career shutouts in NCAA Tournament including two PK Shootout wins
Engineering the finest postseason run in Christopher Newport men's soccer history, Justin Wolfe was between the pipes for four straight NCAA Tournaments including back-to-back runs to the National Quarterfinals. His legend grows from his postseason success as Wolfe stood tall against the toughest of competition, logging five shutouts and a pair of penalty kick shootout wins in NCAA Tournament action.
A two-time All-Region selection, Wolfe garnered All-League honors three times and was a two-time All-State pick. He remains the program's all-time leader in wins with 55 and goals-against average (0.69) while ranking second in career shutouts and third in save percentage. All three of his full seasons as the starter rank in the top-ten single season marks at CNU in GAA, save percentage, and wins.
