CALIFORNIA (April 22) – California (PA) inducted five members into the Athletic Hall of Fame, plus recognized the Silver Anniversary of the 1998 NCAA National Championship softball team, at a banquet on Saturday morning in the South Wing of the Convocation Center.

The Class of 2023 in the Athletic Hall of Fame include Erik Harris, Class of 2013 (football); Paula Jackson, Class of 2011 and 2012 (women's soccer); Eric Kush, Class of 2012 (football); Kyle Petty, Class of 2013 (baseball); and Brent Kincaid, Class of 1997 (men's basketball).
 
Harris (New Oxford, Pa./New Oxford) was a three-year starting defensive back for the Vulcans and played from 2008-11. He helped Cal reach the NCAA Playoffs in four-straight seasons, winning back-to-back regional championships in 2008 and 2009 plus the 2008 PSAC Championship. Harris earned All-PSAC West status in each of his last two seasons, including first-team laurels as a junior when he received all-region status from multiple organizations. Over his last three seasons, Harris registered nine interceptions and 216 tackles (120 solo) while starting 37 games. He is currently in his seventh season in the NFL and plays for the Atlanta Falcons. He becomes the third defensive back since 2020 to be selected to the Athletic Hall of Fame.

Jackson (Kingston, Jamaica/Wolmer's Trust) was a three-year starting goalkeeper for the Vulcans from 2009-11. She helped Cal win its first PSAC Championship in 2011 while also capturing a pair of regional titles in three appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Jackson earned All-PSAC laurels in each of her three seasons with the program and received All-America laurels as both a junior and senior. Also a First-Team Academic All-American, she holds all-time school records with a 0.51 goals-against average (GAA), 55 wins and 34 shutouts. Jackson becomes the first goalkeeper – men's or women's – in school history to be selected to the Athletic Hall of Fame.

Kush (Bridgeville, Pa./Chartiers Valley) was a three-year starting offensive lineman for the Vulcans and played from 2008-12. Following a medical redshirt as a freshman, he helped the Vulcans claim a third-straight regional title in 2009 before returning to the NCAA Playoffs in each of the next two seasons. Kush started 32 games in his career, including 22 at center over his final two years. He was named a D2Football.com Second-Team All-American as a senior and was selected to the East-West Shrine Game. Kush was chosen in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL Draft and played eight seasons in the NFL. In the spring of 2020, he was chosen to the D2Football.com All-Decade Second-Team for 2010-19. Kush becomes the first offensive lineman to be selected to the Athletic Hall of Fame since 2013.

Petty (Stewartsville, N.J./Phillipsburg) was a two-way standout for the Vulcans from 2010-13. He was the starting catcher as a freshman when Cal won the 2010 PSAC Championship. Petty started games at seven different positions during his collegiate career and was a consensus All-American at catcher in 2013 after being named the PSAC West Athlete of the Year. He finished his career with a .373 average while also earning 12 victories and 11 saves in 45 career pitching appearances. Petty was selected in the 23rd round of the 2013 MLB Draft and played five seasons in the minor leagues with the Seattle Mariners. He was twice named a Minor League All-Star and advanced to Class AA. Petty becomes the third player from the 2010 PSAC Championship Team selected to the Athletic Hall of Fame.

Kincaid (Paducah, Ky./Tilghman) was a three-year starter for the Vulcans and played from 1992-96. He helped Cal reach the NCAA Tournament in four-straight seasons, advance to the 1996 Final Four, and win a pair of PSAC Championships. He was an All-PSAC West Second-Team selection in back-to-back years and ranked third in the country as a junior in three-pointers per game. Kincaid ranks ninth all-time in school history with 1,502 points and still holds the career record with 325 three-pointers made, fourth-most in PSAC history. Kincad is the fourth member from the 1996 Final Four Team selected to the Athletic Hall of Fame.

In addition to the inductees, Cal recognized the Silver Anniversary of the 1998 softball team which became the last NCAA Division II softball to repeat as NCAA National Championships. The Vulcans finished the year with a 47-7 overall record under head coach Rick Bertaganolli to mark the program's fourth-straight year with at least 45 victories. Cal won a third-consecutive PSAC Championship before making a fourth appearance in five years at the NCAA National Championship. The Vulcans won 28 of the last 29 games in the regular season with 17 victories being by shutout. Cal posted a 20-0 record in PSAC West play for the fourth-straight year, as it out-scored divisional opponents by a staggering 139-8 margin. At the championship finals, the Vulcans started play with three-straight wins, including a 2-1 victory over Coker and a 5-0 win against Barry. Cal then dropped a 4-3 contest to Ferris State in extra innings before advancing to the championship. In a rematch with Barry, the Vulcans posted a 2-1 victory to secure back-to-back National Championships for the program. The 1998 California Vulcans featured five current members inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame – Dana Boyer, Tara Douglas, Danielle Penner, Lith Webb and Meaggan Wilton.