2015 D.C. Divas Hall of Fame Fan Finalists
Here are the 20 fan finalists for the D.C. Divas Hall of Fame Class of 2015, in alphabetical order:
Patrice Bowman
Offensive line, 2002-2006
Assistant offensive line coach, 2008, 2011-2012
Versatile athlete who played nearly every position on the offensive line, as well as linebacker and fullback, in her career…nicknamed “Papouse”…second team All-American in 2004…was the veteran starting center – and one of the oldest members – of the Divas’ 2006 national championship team…later served as the Divas’ assistant offensive line coach under three different coaching staffs (for Coach Ezra Cooper in 2008, Coach Tim Smart in 2011, and Coach Alison Fischer in 2012).
Nancy Buermeyer
Offensive line, 2001-2006
Smart, imposing lineman who was the starting center for the original Divas team in 2001…a consummate teammate who helped her fellow offensive linemen develop into a dominating unit in the early years…first team All-American in 2004…was the team’s starting center until she suffered a knee injury in 2005…finished her career playing guard and center on the Divas’ 2006 national championship team.
Gayle Dilla
Offensive line, 2001-2008
One of the strongest and most powerful linemen in team history…dominant force on the Divas’ front wall for eight seasons from 2001-2008…nicknamed “Go-Go”…was recognized as a first team All-American in 2003, 2004, and 2005…was also elected as a team captain each of those three seasons…after a year on injured reserve, suited up for her final season in 2008 at the age of 45…husband Jamie was a Divas assistant coach from 2002-2006.
Alison Fischer
Defensive back, 2001-2009, 2011
Head coach, 2012-present
Started tackle football as a 35-year-old rookie, yet managed to put together a ten-year career in the Divas’ defensive backfield…one of eight players to play a full decade for the Divas…named a team captain in three seasons (2002, 2007, and 2011)…recognized as a second team All-American in 2009…was hired as the head coach of the D.C. Divas in 2012, becoming one of the few female head coaches in women’s football…has led the Divas to three division titles and three top five finishes in her first three seasons as head coach.
LaShawn Foust
Running back, 2002-2010
Reliable, durable athlete who played nine seasons, the longest tenure by any Divas running back…shared the backfield rushing duties with Donna Wilkinson and Monica Livingston, but still rushed for over 1,500 yards from 2003-2006…scored the decisive fourth-quarter touchdown that helped the Divas defeat the Detroit Demolition, 24-22, in 2007…ranks third in Divas history with 36 career rushing touchdowns…won a national title with the Divas in 2006 and was a veteran backfield leader on the Divas’ 2009 conference championship team.
Claudia Hogan
Fullback, 2002-2009
One of the toughest, most hard-nosed players in Divas history…played eight grueling seasons at the fullback position…took joy in fiercely protecting the Divas quarterbacks…led the way for a host of Divas running backs, many of whom rushed for 1,000-yard seasons behind her blocking…second team All-American in 2003 and a first team All-American in 2004…suffered a knee injury in the first half of the 2009 national championship game that ended a stellar career.
Tara Kallal
Wide receiver, 2001-2009, 2011
Wide receivers coach, 2012-present
Prolific wide receiver who scored touchdowns through the air and on the ground…played ten seasons for the Divas, one of eight players to spend at least a decade in a Divas uniform…first team All-American in 2003 and 2007…second team All-American in 2004…only player to lead the team in receiving touchdowns four different seasons (2001, 2004, 2006, and 2007)… ranks third in team history with 44 career touchdowns…transitioned from playing to teaching wide receivers in 2012…has served as the Divas’ wide receivers coach for the past three seasons.
Monica Livingston
Running back, 2002-2007
Elusive running back who stood out in a crowded backfield…set a Divas team record with an 80-yard touchdown run in her first career game against the Rochester Raptors in 2002…rushed for over 1,000 yards and 13 touchdowns from 2002-2005 despite sharing carries with Donna Wilkinson and LaShawn Foust…second team All-American in 2004…had her talented career cut short when she suffered a devastating leg injury against the Cincinnati Sizzle on June 11, 2005…after two years of rehabilitation, authored an inspirational finish to her career by returning to rush for one final career touchdown against the Cape Fear Thunder on June 30, 2007.
Vickie Lucas
Defensive back, 2003-2009
Versatile all-purpose player who had one of the greatest defensive seasons in franchise history in 2005…led the team in tackles and also recorded eight turnovers (five fumble recoveries and three interceptions) that year…returned two of those three interceptions for touchdowns…won the 2005 Posey Award as the women’s football player of the year in the national capital region, becoming the first defensive player to win the award…first team All-American in 2007 and second team All-American in 2004…named a team captain six times (2004-2009), one of only three players to be named team captain more than three times…a dynamic performer on special teams…scored 14 career touchdowns…returned two kicks for touchdowns in her final season in 2009.
Tessa Nelson
Defensive line, 2002-2009
Assistant coach/special teams coach, 2010-present
Made headlines for being a ferocious tackler over eight seasons in addition to being a grandmother…led the Divas in tackles in 2003 before succumbing to a knee injury late in the year…team captain in 2003…first team All-American in 2003 and 2007…after a year on injured reserve, played one final season for the Divas’ conference championship team in 2009…has served as a Divas assistant coach for the last five seasons under three different head coaches.
Jamie Nicholas
Defensive line, 2001-2004
Earned the nickname “Big Girl” as a starting lineman on the original Divas team in 2001…played defensive tackle and was an immovable force in the middle of the field…a key member of the Divas’ defensive line for four years, helping the Divas win their first two division championships in 2003 and 2004…retired from playing in 2004 and has served as an invaluable advocate of the Divas franchise ever since…for over a decade, has supported the Divas through her printing business and has enthusiastically volunteered her time in numerous other ways to help the Divas organization thrive and grow.
Stacy Palmer
Kicker/punter/tight end, 2001-2006
Extremely accurate kicker in an era of women’s football when kickers were not widespread…won several games for the Divas with her kicking ability…booted the game-winning extra point with under two minutes to play to defeat the Baltimore Burn, 7-6, on May 4, 2002…retired in 2006 with the team record in career PAT kicks made…was also an outstanding punter and handled kickoffs for six seasons…played sparingly as a tight end on offense, where she was known as a tough blocker and caught two career touchdown passes.
Rachelle Pecovsky
Running back, 2006-2009, 2011
Perhaps the final key acquisition that fueled the Divas’ national championship run in 2006…won an NWFA national championship with the Philadelphia Liberty Belles in 2001…joined the Divas in 2006 and promptly set a franchise record with 1,432 rushing yards that season…was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2006 NWFA national championship game after rushing for 186 yards and three touchdowns in the Divas’ 28-7 victory over the Oklahoma City Lightning…earned a mention in Sports Illustrated magazine for her performance…won the 2006 Posey Award as the women’s football player of the year in the national capital region…team captain and first team All-American in 2007…ranks fourth in team history with 34 career rushing touchdowns.
Jessica (Banks) Poawui
Offensive line, 2005-2009, 2011
Consistent starter on the offensive line who was equally effective as a run blocker and a pass blocker…played both the guard and tackle positions and earned a reputation as a tough but cerebral competitor…starter for the Divas’ national championship team in 2006…occasionally lined up in the backfield that season and scored a rushing touchdown against the Harrisburg Angels on May 6, 2006…retired after five seasons but returned to the team following a one-year absence…after originally planning to be an assistant coach for the Divas, suited up again for a sixth and final season in 2011.
Natalie Randolph
Wide receiver, 2004-2008
Receiver who was equally as effective as a rusher…rushed for a touchdown in her first career game in 2004…set a Divas single-season record in 2005 with 12.5 yards per rushing attempt that year…third-leading receiver on the Divas’ 2006 national championship team…retired from the Divas after five seasons…made national headlines in 2010 when she was hired as the head football coach at Coolidge High School in DC, becoming one of the first women to coach a high school football team…displayed poise and class in the media spotlight, which brought positive attention to both the Divas organization and the sport of women’s football…coached four seasons at Coolidge, leading them to two playoff appearances and a berth in the 2011 Turkey Bowl before stepping down in 2013.
Michelle Riddle
Offensive line, 2002-2010
Played nine seasons on the Divas’ offensive line, the longest tenure of any Hall of Fame-eligible offensive lineman…her physical blocking at the guard position paved the way for many great Divas running backs…first team All-American in 2003, 2004, and 2007…was a key part of seven division championship teams…ended her career by playing for Team USA in the 2010 Women’s World Championships…one of five Divas to earn a gold medal in international football competition.
Subrena Rivers
Linebacker/defensive line, 2004-2007
Unrelenting pass rusher who is among the Divas’ all-time leaders in sacks…came to the Divas in 2004 after three seasons with the Baltimore Burn…was an All-American with the Burn in 2003…began her Divas career as a linebacker before moving to the defensive line…responded with a stellar campaign in her first season on the line in 2005, leading the quad in sacks that season…the Divas compiled a 32-0 regular season record in her four years in uniform…a key member of the Divas’ 2006 defense that pitched eight straight shutouts en route to the national championship.
Deb Troell
Quarterback, 2001-2004
Started at quarterback in the Divas’ inaugural season in 2001…threw the first touchdown pass in team history, a nine-yard score to Brooke Hargrove, to help the Divas win their first ever home game, 10-6, over the Connecticut Crush…victory over Connecticut was the first win in Divas history…started most of the 2002 season, leading the Divas to a 6-3 record, the first winning record in team history…team captain in 2001 and 2002…played two more seasons as a backup and mentor to current Divas starting quarterback Allyson Hamlin…retired with a winning record in 15 career games as the Divas’ starting quarterback.
T.K. Washington
Defensive line, 2003-2008, 2011-2012
Fearsome defender who ranks among the all-time team leaders in tackles and sacks…her relentless energy on the defensive line allowed her to break up numerous plays in the opponents’ backfield…first team All-American for three straight seasons in 2003, 2004, and 2005…was a key member of the 2006 Divas defense, which pitched eight straight shutout victories on the way to the national title…after a two-year absence, returned in 2011 and played two more seasons…team captain in 2011…continued to make critical defensive plays for the Divas in her final season in 2012, leading the team to the seventh division title of her career.
Brianna Wilkins
Offensive line, 2007-2012
One of the most talented offensive linemen in team history…started at the tackle position and was named the team’s rookie of the year in 2007…second team All-American in 2008…spent the 2009 season on injured reserve with a knee injury…moved to the center position and solidified the Divas’ interior line her final three years…proved to be a strong center with excellent footwork…second team All-American in 2010…first team All-American in 2011 and 2012.
