Eight former Saints athletes will be enshrined into the Carroll College Hall of Fame this Saturday, which is homecoming weekend. The new inductees consist of football players Neil Campbell, Bryan Carothers, Shawn Clark, Tim Connors and Terry Thelen; basketball players Shawn Nelson and Brandon Boedecker; and volleyball player Cheryl Cavalli.

Brandon Boedecker

Boedecker was a three-year starter for the Saints roundball squad from 1992-95. The 6-foot-6 post player "was an outstanding leader, and the best defender in the Frontier Conference for three years," according to CC coach Gary Turcott. "His quickness, size and determination were key to his ability to consistently stop our opponent's best post players. During his years at Carroll, Brandon developed a hook shot that no one could stop. His senior year, he was named first team All-Conference, and was by far the best post player in the league."

In 1995, Boedecker was the Frontier Conference's third-leading rebounder, averaging 6.4 boards per game. He also ranked fifth in the league in scoring, with a 15.7 points per game average. In the semi-finals of the conference playoffs, he scored 24 points and collected 15 rebounds in an 80-77 win over Montana Tech.

Neil Campbell

Campbell, a Capital High alum, transferred to Carroll from the University of Montana as a junior. He played two seasons for Saints, in 1978 and 79, and was a two-time All-Conference first team selection at inside linebacker. Campbell was a member of the first Hilltop team to qualify for Nationals in 1978, and served as team captain in 1979.

"Neil was a hard nosed, tough competitor," wrote teammate Tim Burton. "Campbell was an outstanding linebacker and a great tackler," wrote former CC coach Bob Petrino. "He had the ability to play sideline to sideline."

His senior year, the 5-11, 200-pound Campbell anchored a Saints defense which led the District in fewest total yards allowed, at 212 yards per game. Campbell was instrumental in a 6-3 victory over Ricks College, when he stopped two drives with a pair of fumble recoveries.

Brian Carothers

Bryan Carothers was a four-year gridiron starter from 1975-78. He played split-end as a freshman, and then defensive back his final three seasons, making second team All-Conference in 1976 and 1978.

"Carothers played the cover corner, and was a great cornerback and a hard hitter," wrote former Carroll coach Bob Petrino.

In a 29-27 win over Eastern Washington, "Bryan Carothers knocked down the potential tying 2-point conversion, after covering nearly half the field to get to a wide open receiver," according to the Independent Record.

As a senior, Carothers was a member of a Saints squad which went undefeated during the regular season, set a Carroll record of nine victories and was the first team in school history to qualify for the NAIA playoffs. In the Saints first-ever playoff game, a loss to Linfield College, Carothers stalled a Wildcats drive by pirating one of Carroll's two interceptions.

Cheryl Cavalli

Cheryl Cavalli played Carroll volleyball from 1980-83. Cavalli was a 4-time All-Conference spiker, receiving second team citations her first two years, and first team honors as a junior and senior. She was the team captain her last two seasons.

In 1983, Cavalli helped lead the Saints to their then best record ever, of 27-18. In two matches at a tournament in Butte before the league playoffs -- a win over Northern Montana and a loss to Montana Tech -- Cavalli posted 13 ace serves. Carroll went on to place runner-up in the Frontier Tournament. Cavalli achieved 11 kills in a victory over Northern, and in two matches against Western Montana and Tech, she led the team with a 95-percent passing accuracy.

"Cheryl was one of the hardest workers I ever coached," wrote Saints coach Charlie Brown. "She had a great attitude and drive for excellence. She was short for her position, but played like a taller player."

Shawn Clark

Clark was a 6-foot-0, 220-pound defensive end for the Saints from 1986-89. Clark started all four years for the Hilltoppers, making all-conference his last three seasons. He was second team once and twice selected to the first team. Carroll won conference titles and qualified for the NAIA playoffs every year he played. As a sophomore in the 1987 national tourney, in a 36-26 loss to Pacific Lutheran University, he sparked the defense with two quarterback sacks and six tackles.

In 1988, Clark led the club with 14 quarterback hurries, and tied for the lead with nine sacks and four fumble recoveries. He was third with 21 assisted tackles, while amassing 43 total tackles.

"I think Shawn's biggest asset was his tenacity," said Ed Beniger, who was Clark's defensive line coach at Carroll. "He was a model citizen off the field, and on the field he had a great heart and never quit."

Tim Connors

Connors gridded for the Hilltop from 1987-90, being a member of three consecutive Frontier championship teams and participating in three NAIA playoffs. He was a three-time all-conference first team selection at safety, from 1988-90.

In 1988, he led the club with 73 tackles, and tied Carroll's single game record with three interceptions in one game. His junior year, the 5-9, 175-pounder paced the club with six interceptions, in addition to compiling nine pass deflections and 69 tackles. In 1990, Connors posted five interceptions, six pass deflections and 60 tackles. He finished with career totals of 202 tackles and 15 interceptions. His final two seasons, he served as team captain.

"Tim's greatest attributes were his intelligence and courage," wrote teammate Chris Ward. "He could quickly read what was going on in a game and just as quickly come up and make the play, oftentimes beating a bigger, stronger opponent."

Shawn Nelson

Nelson was a 6-3 cage guard for the Saints from 1992-95, starting his sophomore through senior years.

"Shawn was a tremendous 3-point shooter and a great team leader, and also excelled on the defensive end," wrote Carroll basketball coach Gary Turcott. "As a senior, he led the league in scoring and was the Frontier Conference's top 3-point shooter. He was always assigned the responsibility of guarding our opponents best perimeter players. Shawn enjoyed playing defense and loved the challenge."

In 1995, Nelson's 19 points per game average topped the Frontier, and he was named first team all-conference. He established school game and season records for 3-point field goals. His best game was a 38-point effort, when he canned 10 shots from beyond the three-point arc.

Terry Thelen

Thelen was a 6-1, 205-pound defensive back and punter for Carroll. He was a 3-time All-Conference punter, in addition to making three All-Conference squads at safety - second team in 1985, and first team in 1986 and 1987.

The Saints won conference championships and played in the NAIA playoffs all three years. In 1987, Thelen helped Carroll's defense to a No. 1 national ranking most of the year. He finished with 14 career interceptions, including two games with three picks, tying the school record.

"Terry was a gifted player who always knew where the ball was going," wrote teammate Bart Aby. "His punting was unbelievable and changed the field position when the offense couldn't move the ball. Terry was a quite leader and was elected defensive captain his senior year."