Trine adds 2 to Athletic Hall of Fame

Trine University added two members to its Athletic Hall of Fame during Homecoming.

This year’s inductees are Joel Bickel, who holds the lowest golf score in MIAA history, and basketball standout Jared Boll.

Joel Bickel

Joel Bickel redefined the measure of success for the men’s golf team. Over his four years, he garnered four MIAA wins and broke numerous school and conference records. In 2005, he shot the lowest score in MIAA history with a 65 at The Medalist, a record that still holds today.  He went on to break the record for the conference’s lowest cumulative single season average at 71.2. For these successes, Bickel was named the MIAA Medalist of the Year in his junior year. He is the only golfer in Trine’s history to achieve this honor and the only player to garner three first team all-conference selections in 2004, 2005, and 2006.

Bickel also set the standard for the Trine golf team. He holds the record for the lowest career stroke average at 73.3 and the record for most scores under par with 11. He topped his career at Trine with a selection to the All-Region team his senior year. 

Coach Bill SanGiacomo said, “He was an outstandingly talented golfer and could have turned professional during his four years at Trine. He chose to remain at school an additional year after graduation to finish his degree. He had a tremendous dedication not only on the course but also to his studies and his success in the classroom. What a great strength of character.”

Bickel graduated from Trine in 2009 with a degree in golf management. He serves as an insurance representative for Colonial Life and resides in Jacksonville, Florida.  

Jared Boll

Impacting the team right away as a freshman in 1995, Jared Boll earned WHAC All-Defensive Team honors each of his four years, and WHAC All-Conference team and WHAC Academic All-Conference each of his last three years. In 1998 and 2000, he was named an NAIA All-American Honorable Mention; in these two years, Tri-State University won the Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference Championship title. 

Boll was a three-time captain and Robert Greim Award winner for outstanding senior male athlete on campus. He is on both of the top ten lists in Trine/Tri-State Single Season and Career Records in 13 categories, including first in the all-time record for blocked shots and blocked shot average and second in rebounds. He holds the WHAC record for most career blocked shots at 209.

Teammate Greg Pohlgeers said, “When speaking of Jared’s athletic achievements, the most impressive ones are not found in the record books. What made Jared stand out were his intangible qualities. He was a tremendous leader, an unselfish teammate, and most importantly an outstanding individual and better friend. He was the unequivocal leader of our team. Because of him, we had tremendous success.”

Boll graduated in 2000 with a degree in civil engineering and resides in Jackson, Michigan, with his wife of 13 years, Sarah. They have two daughters, Ella and Avery. He is a utility and drainage engineer at the Michigan Department of Transportation.

Photos: Joel Bickel, left photo, and Jared Boll, right photo, receive plaques in recognition of being named to the Trine University Athletic Hall of Fame from Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., Trine president, left, and Matt Land, assistant vice president of athletics. (Photos by Dean Orewiler)