JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Sept. 4, 2026) – Five former Buccaneer standouts representing five ETSU programs have been selected for induction into the ETSU Athletics Hall of Fame as members of the Class of 2026.
The 2026 class features Shane Byrne (baseball), Thomas O'Gara (track & field/cross country), Gabriella Wahl (women's golf), Tiffany (Vandergriff) McVay (softball), and Yevgeniya Stupak (women's tennis).
The group will be recognized at a ceremony at ETSU's Martin Center on Friday, September 25. A reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. with the formal ceremony beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are available here.
Shane Byrne – Baseball
A standout for the Buccaneer baseball program, Byrne concluded his ETSU career as one of the most productive offensive players in program history before being selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 25th round of the 2006 MLB Draft.
Byrne earned First Team All-Southern Conference honors from the media and Second Team recognition from the league's coaches in 2005 before adding Second Team All-Atlantic Sun honors in 2006.
His name remains prominent throughout the ETSU record book. Byrne ranks third in program history in career hits (290) and runs scored (198), second in triples (14) and fourth in at-bats (871). His 70 runs during the 2005 season are tied for third-most in a single season in program history.
Byrne led the Buccaneers in hits in both 2005 and 2006 and ranked seventh nationally with 1.34 runs scored per game during his standout 2005 campaign.
Thomas O'Gara – Track & Field/Cross Country
O'Gara established himself among the elite distance runners in ETSU and Southern Conference history during his Buccaneer career.
His signature season came in 1988 when he captured the Southern Conference Cross Country Championship before earning NCAA All-America honors with a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Cross Country Championships.
O'Gara was a four-time All-SoCon performer, recording top-10 finishes at the conference championship in 1985, 1986, 1988, and 1989. In addition to his championship performance in 1988, O'Gara finished third at the SoCon Championship in 1986 and runner-up in 1989.
His impact on the conference was recognized decades later when he was selected to the Southern Conference's 100th Anniversary Team, honoring him as one of the league's all-time great distance runners.
Gabriella Wahl – Women's Golf
Wahl put together one of the most decorated careers in ETSU women's golf history, earning recognition for her accomplishments both on the course and in the classroom.
As a freshman in 2012, Wahl captured the Atlantic Sun Individual Championship and was named the conference's Freshman of the Year. She earned First Team All-Atlantic Sun honors in each of her first two seasons and later added Atlantic Sun Scholar-Athlete of the Year recognition in 2014.
Wahl made an immediate impact on the ETSU record book, establishing a then-program-record 74.4 stroke average during her freshman campaign. She went on to lead the Buccaneers in stroke average in three consecutive seasons from 2012 through 2014.
Her career culminated with a trip to the 2014 NCAA Championships. Wahl finished seventh at the NCAA East Regional to earn a spot at the national championship, becoming one of only two players in program history to advance to the NCAA Championships as an individual.
Tiffany (Vandergriff) McVay – Softball
A member of ETSU's inaugural softball team, McVay helped lay the foundation for the Buccaneer program while establishing herself as one of its early standouts. A versatile two-way player, she made an impact in the circle, at the plate and in the field throughout her ETSU career.
She earned Second Team All-Southern Conference and SoCon All-Tournament honors while being named ETSU's Team MVP in 2003. McVay was also recognized as the Southern Conference Pitcher of the Week in 2001 and Player of the Week in 2002, showcasing the versatility that defined her career.
In 2001, she led ETSU in every major pitching category while ranking among the top five in the SoCon with 202.1 innings pitched and 106 strikeouts. Two years later, she posted a 14-10 record and 2.36 ERA while leading the Buccaneers in ERA, strikeouts, shutouts, saves and opponent batting average.
McVay was equally capable offensively, leading ETSU with a .308 batting average in 2001 and pacing the team in hits and stolen bases in 2002. She capped her career by helping lead ETSU to its first Southern Conference Tournament Championship game appearance in 2003, leaving a lasting mark on a program she helped build from its beginning.
Yevgeniya Stupak – Women's Tennis
Stupak finished her Buccaneer career as one of the most winning and decorated players in ETSU women's tennis history.
A three-time First Team All-Atlantic Sun selection from 2007-09, Stupak was named the Atlantic Sun Player of the Year in 2009 after a standout campaign that saw her climb to No. 123 in the national singles rankings.
Stupak posted an 8-1 record in conference play that season, helping the Buccaneers earn a share of the Atlantic Sun regular-season championship. She competed at the No. 1 singles position and represented ETSU in ITA Regional competition during her career.
In 2010, Stupak tied the ETSU all-time record for career singles victories, putting the finishing touches on a career that established her among the premier players in program history.
The five members of the Class of 2026 will join the distinguished group of former student-athletes, coaches, and contributors whose accomplishments have helped shape the history and tradition of ETSU Athletics.
