ST. LOUIS – Missouri Baptist University is proud to announce the 2025 Spartan Athletics Hall of Fame class, honoring four former student-athletes who made lasting contributions to their programs and elevated the standard of excellence for Spartan Athletics. This year's inductees include baseball standout Brian Yaeger, women's basketball great LaTrice McMichel (Crawford), men's track and field Olympian Nick Christie, and women's volleyball defensive leader Haley Pouliezos.

"This year's Hall of Fame class represents the very best of what it means to be a Spartan," said Director of Athletics Jeff Fore. "Each of these inductees achieved excellence in competition, elevated their programs, and set standards that continue to inspire our student-athletes today. We're proud to celebrate their accomplishments and the lasting impact they've made on Missouri Baptist University."

Brian Yaeger | Baseball (1995–97)
Brian Yaeger becomes the latest former Missouri Baptist University baseball standout to join the Spartan Athletics Hall of Fame. Yaeger made a major impact in just two seasons with the Spartans, cementing himself among the most prolific hitters in program history.

In 1995-96, he was named the American Midwest Conference (AMC) Offensive Player of the Year, earning First-Team All-AMC honors along with two Player of the Week awards. Yaeger also collected First-Team South Independent League, South Independent League Player of the Year, and First-Team Midwest Region accolades, capping the season as an NAIA All-American. That year, he hit .406 with 15 home runs, 16 doubles, 56 RBI, and 63 hits in 52 games, while posting an .800 slugging percentage and a 1.400 OPS.

Yaeger followed up his breakout campaign with another standout performance in 1996-97, again earning First-Team All-AMC recognition. He hit .402 with seven home runs and 39 RBI while setting a school record for walks in a single season. Yaeger graduated from Missouri Baptist in 1997, leaving behind one of the most decorated offensive careers in Spartan baseball history.

LaTrice McMichel (Crawford) | Women's Basketball (2004–06)
LaTrice McMichel (Crawford) becomes the second women's basketball student-athlete to be welcomed into the Spartan Athletics Hall of Fame, joining Class of 2018 inductee Andrea Seabaugh.

McMichel made the most of her two seasons at Missouri Baptist, becoming the most decorated Spartan in women's basketball history. In her first season in Navy & White in 2004-05, she earned AMC Newcomer of the Year, All-AMC First Team, and NAIA All-American Honorable Mention honors. Year two was even more fruitful as she was named All-AMC First Team, AMC Most Valuable Player, and improved to NAIA All-America Second Team status. She helped lead the Spartans to a 23-6 overall record, a 12-2 mark in AMC play, the regular-season championship, and the program's first national ranking in 2005-06.

During her time at MBU, McMichel set the program record for most points in a single game (46) and the single-season records for field goals made (244), points scored (757), and free throws made (209).

Nick Christie | Men's Track & Field (2013–15)
Nick Christie becomes the third men's track and field student-athlete to be inducted into the Spartan Athletics Hall of Fame.

One of the most decorated athletes in Missouri Baptist history, Christie captured three NAIA national championships between 2013 and 2015, including a record-setting performance in the 3,000-meter racewalk in 2015. He also won three American Midwest Conference titles during his collegiate career and helped elevate MBU's racewalking program to national prominence. Christie remains the NAIA indoor record holder in the 3,000-meter racewalk with a time of 11:46.20 and set multiple school and national records during his time as a Spartan.

Since graduating, Christie has become one of the United States' most accomplished racewalkers. A 15-time U.S. National Championships winner and six-time National Indoor Championships winner, he has represented Team USA on the international stage, earning a silver medal at the NACAC Championships and multiple top-eight finishes at the Pan American Games. Christie also claimed victory at the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials 20k Racewalk and competed at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, continuing to build on a career that began at Missouri Baptist University.

Haley Pouliezos | Women's Volleyball (2014–15)
Haley Pouliezos becomes the eighth women's volleyball player in Missouri Baptist University history to be inducted into the Spartan Athletics Hall of Fame.

In just two seasons in the Navy and White, Pouliezos established herself as one of the premier defensive players in the nation and one of the most decorated athletes in program history. A two-time NAIA Libero of the Year and two-time All-American, she earned Second Team honors in 2014 before moving up to the First Team in 2015. Pouliezos was also named All-AMC First Team and AMC Libero of the Year in both seasons, collecting a total of seven AMC Defender of the Week awards during her senior campaign.

Her 2014 season set the standard for excellence, as she led the NAIA with 971 total digs and 6.74 digs per set while appearing in all 42 matches. The following year, she ranked fifth nationally in total digs (816) and 11th in digs per set (5.79), again earning Tachikara-NAIA Libero of the Year honors and AVCA All-Midwest Region recognition. Pouliezos finished her MBU career ranked third all-time in digs despite playing only two seasons and added Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete and Academic All-AMC distinctions to cap an exceptional collegiate career.

Induction Ceremony
The 2025 MBU Athletics Hall of Fame Class will be formally inducted during Homecoming Weekend, on Friday, Nov. 7, at 6 p.m. at  Tapawingo National Golf Club in St. Louis, Mo. For tickets, click  HERE.