THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — California Lutheran University Athletics is proud to announce the upcoming induction of five individuals and one team into the CLU Alumni Hall of Fame. The ceremony will take place on Friday, October 17, 2025 at 6:00pm in the Gilbert Arena.
The 2025 Hall of Fame Class represents excellence across generations of student-athletes, coaches, and teams who have made a lasting impact on CLU Athletics.
This year's inductees include:
Nick Boggan '13 — Few players in Kingsmen Baseball history have matched the power, consistency and production that Nick Boggan brought to the diamond from 2010 to 2013. A two-time All-American, Boggan graduated as one of the most decorated offensive players in program history. Boggan's breakout sophomore season in 2011 saw him named a Third Team All-American, one of just two underclassmen in the nation to earn the honor. He led the Kingsmen in nearly every offensive category: .409 batting average; .698 slugging percentage; .492 on base percentage; 10 home runs; and 45 RBIs. His slugging percentage, RBIs and home runs led the SCIAC. In 2013, Boggan cemented his place among the greats with a historic senior campaign. He was named a First Team All-American and West Region Player of the Year after setting Cal Lutheran single-season records for RBIs (67) and slugging percentage (.746). That season, he batted .412 with 13 home runs and 73 hits while leading the team with 24 multi-hit games and 19 multi-RBI performances. He ranked second in the nation in both home runs and RBIs and 10th in slugging percentage. By the end of his Kingsmen career, Boggan ranked first in program history in RBIs (157) and total bases (338), second in hits (199) and home runs (29), fourth in runs scored (125) and ninth in career batting average (.376). He appeared in 150 games for Cal Lutheran, fourth-most all time.
Joy (Cyprian '10) Buechler — Joy Cyprian stands among the most accomplished players in Regals Water Polo history — a dynamic scorer, relentless competitor and academic standout who helped shape the foundation of one of Cal Lutheran's most successful programs. A two-time All-American and three-time All-SCIAC selection, Cyprian was a key figure in elevating the Regals to national prominence during her collegiate career. She played a pivotal role on two National Championship teams (2007, 2010) as well as the 2009 SCIAC Championship team during her time at Cal Lutheran. Known for her scoring instincts and water IQ, Cyprian finished her career ranked first all-time in the program in goals (223) and assists (143) and third in ejections drawn (168). Off the field, Cyprian was equally impressive. In 2010, she was honored as the Cal Lutheran Scholar-Athlete of the Year, exemplifying a unique balance of athletic excellence and academic achievement.
Butch Eskridge '77 — Whether he was hauling in passes on the gridiron or dishing out assists on the hardwood, Butch Eskridge was a standout dual-sport athlete who made a lasting impact on Kingsmen Football and Basketball during the mid-1970s. Eskridge's football career took off quickly — after beginning his first year on the freshman team, he was promoted to varsity for the final three games of the season. He became a three-year starter at wide receiver, earning Most Improved Player and All-Lutheran Honorable Mention honors in 1973. In 1975, he helped lead the Kingsmen to an NAIA Division II national championship appearance as both a receiver and a punter, setting a Division II semifinal record with a 54.7-yard punting average, including a 57-yard bomb. Eskridge led the team in receptions in both 1975 (33) and 1976 (47), finishing his career second all-time in receiving touchdowns (17) and receptions (107) at the time of his graduation. He was also a weapon in special teams, ranking second all-time in punting average (39.15 yards) by the end of his career and serving as the holder for field goals and extra points. For his toughness and leadership, Eskridge was honored with the Davey Spurlock "Fighting Heart" Award in 1976, recognizing his unwavering determination and team-first mindset. On the basketball court, Eskridge was equally impactful. After playing on the freshman team in his first year, he became a three-year starter and a floor general, earning Team MVP honors his senior season and becoming the program leader in career assists per game (4.2) upon graduation. His play garnered him a spot in the 1976 NAIA District III All-Star Game.
Michelle Lawrence '17 — One of the most decorated volleyball players in Cal Lutheran history, Michelle Lawrence left an indelible mark on the Regals program during a dominant three-year run from 2014 to 2016 — a stretch that included three All-America honors, a national championship and a place among the top offensive performers in school history. After transferring from Division I Colorado State, Lawrence made an immediate impact in her debut 2014 season, pacing the team with 366 kills. In 2015, Lawrence helped lead the Regals to their first NCAA Championship in school history. She was named SCIAC Player of the Year, earned Second Team All-America honors and was selected as the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Thousand Oaks Regional. She tallied 382 kills, averaging 3.86 per set, and added 288 digs and 92 blocks. In the postseason, she delivered standout performances — including 19 kills and 18 digs in the NCAA Semifinal and 8 kills in the title match against Wittenberg. As a senior, Lawrence capped her career with a third All-America honor. At the time of her graduation, she had climbed to sixth in program history in kills (1,014) and third in blocks (234), despite only playing in three seasons for the Regals.
Lynn Thompson '66 — A true two-sport standout during the formative years of Kingsmen Athletics, Lynn Thompson made his mark on both the football field and baseball diamond from 1962 to 1966, earning four varsity letters in each sport and exemplifying leadership, toughness and consistency. In football, Thompson was a versatile player — a two-way starter, punt returner and offensive weapon. He was named the team's Most Improved Player in 1963 as a sophomore. In 1964, he played 349 minutes en route to the Ironman Award and served as a team captain. His senior season in 1965 was especially distinguished: He was named First Team All-Lutheran Offense and First Team District III Offense and received both the Davey Spurlock "Fighting Heart" Award and the Youth Leadership Award from the President's Council on Physical Fitness for Ventura County. That year, he finished second on the team in receptions and third in rushing yards – all while captaining a team that led the nation in total offense and allowed only seven points per game defensively. On the baseball field, Thompson was equally consistent. A .300+ hitter in all four seasons, he posted a remarkable .398 batting average in 1963, one of the highest in program history. He was also a team captain in both 1965 and 1966, helping set the tone for the emerging Kingsmen Baseball program.
2015 Regals Volleyball — The 2015 Cal Lutheran Regals Volleyball Team earned its place in Cal Lutheran history as the first NCAA team to bring a national championship home to Thousand Oaks. Led by Head Coach Kellee Roesel and her staff, including National Assistant Coach of the Year
Kevin Judd, the Regals worked their way through a challenging schedule to finish 14-2 in the SCIAC and capture a share of the regular season conference title. The Regals earned numerous individual awards along the way, with a roster comprised of All-American Michelle Lawrence, All-Region Sarah Pappas and three additional All-SCIACs in Allie Eason, Monica Lundgren and Jamie Smith. In the NCAA Championships, the Regals advanced past a competitive regional at home — defeating nationally ranked Colorado College, UT-Dallas and No. 1 Washington-St. Louis — to reach the Final Four in Grand Rapids, Michigan. There, they continued their dominant play, culminating in a three-set sweep of Wittenberg in the final. Finishing the season with a 31-5 overall record, the Regals became only the third team in program history to surpass 30 wins, and in doing so, brought home Cal Lutheran's first-ever NCAA national title.
"We are excited to recognize and honor these incredible men and women who laid a foundation of greatness, athletically and academically, in the Cal Lutheran Athletic program," said Associate Vice President/Athletics Director Dr. Howard Davis. "Our team has been working for months to ensure that the program and the entire evening are befitting of these inductees' magical contribution to CLU and their amazing accomplishments."
The induction ceremony on October 17 will be part of Homecoming Weekend, bringing together alumni, families, and fans to honor the newest members of the Hall of Fame. Ticket purchase includes dinner and drinks. Pricing is $85 for an individual ticket and $800 for a table for 10.
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
"In the celebration of these great student-athletes," continued Davis, "I would be remiss not to express my gratitude, and the entire CLU Athletic Department's gratitude, to the work of the Hall of Fame Selection Committee, especially Chairman Krister Swanson."
