The NJCAA Region 4 Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2025 Inductees and it includes three former Madison College student-athletes. Former WolfPack women's volleyball national champion and All-American Vanessa Clarson, former WolfPack baseball All-American Nick Gile, and former WolfPack women's basketball All-American Rachel Slaney will represent Madison College as part of the nine-member enshrinement class. The trio bumps Madison College up to 17 members in the hall of fame, including 14 student-athletes and three national championship teams.

Vanessa Clarson

A native of Black Earth, Wisconsin, Clarson was a key member of Madison College's first NJCAA Division III Women's Volleyball National Championship team in 2013. One year earlier, the 5'1" libero and defensive specialist led the WolfPack with 532 digs en route to First Team All-North Central Community College Conference and All-Region 4 accolades, and a spot on the Region 4 All-Tournament Team. Madison College secured its first N4C crown during Clarson's freshman season and were ready to take on the nation the following fall.

Behind a then-school record 612 digs and a team-high 45 aces, Clarson guided the Pack to conference and region titles on their path to the program's second national tournament appearance. Following three straight sweeps, Clarson and the WolfPack hoisted their first national championship trophy. Her efforts that season resulted in a First Team NJCAA All-American honor, as well as first team selections from the conference and region.

Over her two years at Madison College, Clarson's teams were a combined 58-8 with four championships. She racked up program record 1,144 digs and remains the only player in school history to reach 1,000 digs in her career. Clarson joins teammates Hannah Grahn and Terissa Bierd, as well as the 2013 championship team, in the Region 4 Hall of Fame.

Nick Gile

The Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, native, played a significant role in helping Madison College return to its annual late-May trip to Oklahoma after a two-year hiatus. The 5'11" infielder swing a consistently hot bat as he paced the WolfPack with 55 runs batted in while hitting .335 with 53 hits - 20 of which went for extra bases - and 43 runs scored. Gile earned Second Team All-North Central Community College Conference and All-Region 4 accolades as he helped Madison College to a 35-22 record with a Region 4 championship and a sixth place finish at the NJCAA Division II World Series.

He returned in 2019 and tore apart opposing pitching, compiling team highs of 73 hits, a .442 average, 56 RBI, and 31 extra base hits. In addition, he racked up 57 runs scored and 14 stolen bases. That level of production earned Gile a NJCAA First Team All-American selection, to go along with the double-dip of Region 4 Player of the Year and Region 4 Defensive Player of the Year. Following a successful defense of their Region 4 crown, the WolfPack returned to Enid, where Gile played the role of hero with a 12th-inning, walk-off home run in the quarterfinals. He finished the four-game week with eight hits, seven runs, and five RBI, which was good enough to be named to the NJCAA All-Tournament Team.

While at Madison College, Gile broke the school's all-time record for runs batted in with 111 and for doubles with 34. He also ranks ninth in total hits, tenth in total runs and home runs, and 13th in career batting average. After his time with the WolfPack, he spent one season each at NCAA Division I Creighton University and Illinois State University. He's currently a member of the Colorado Rockies organization and playing in their minor league system.

Rachel Slaney

Slaney arrived at Madison College simply to be a student, and after then-women's basketball coach Jessica Pelzel convinced her to add the athlete portion, she went on to completely rewrite the women's basketball record books. The 5'11" forward from Barneveld, Wisconsin, averaged 15.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.1 steals as part of a team that ranked #1 in the nation for nine weeks. Slaney went on to receive NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American honors, First Team All-N4C and All-Region 4 accolades, and Region 4 Tournament MVP after guiding the WolfPack to a region title. 

As a sophomore, Slaney completely dominated the competition, posting averages of 25.3 points, 13.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 3.9 steals, and 1.0 blocks as she led the team in every offensive category. She finished fifth nationally in scoring and was tops in the country for free throws made and attempted. Slaney's 683 points were the second-best season in team history as she went on to earn NJCAA Second Team All-American, Co-Player of the Year in both Region 4 and the N4C, first team all-region and all-conference, and a spot on the Region 4 All-Tournament Team.

For her two years at Madison College, Slaney led the WolfPack to a 47-11 record and became the school's all-time leading scorer with 1,161 points. She also ranks third all-time in rebounds, fourth for steals, 11th in blocks, and 12th in assists. Slaney left Madison to play two more seasons at NCAA Division I Cleveland State University.

"Congratulations to Vanessa, Nick, and Rachel on their induction into the Region 4 Hall of Fame," stated Jason Verhelst, Madison College Director of Athletics. "Each of them was a tremendous student-athlete in their sports at Madison College and is very deserving of the honor."

Region 4 Hall of Fame Inductees from Madison College

Past Induction Releases: Class of 2024 | Class of 2020 | Class of 2019 | Class of 2018 | Class of 2017

For more on the Region 4 Hall of Fame: Information | Individuals | Teams 

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