GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Colorado Mesa University Athletic Department announced their class for the 2026 Hall of Honor on Monday (Oct. 12) afternoon. This year's class is the largest since the 1990s with four inductees and all four were all-American's for their respective program at least one time in their career.
 
James Martinez starred for the Mavericks on the wrestling mat from 2011-2015. Martinez became the department's first-ever NCAA National Champion when he won the 157-pound title in 2015 with a last second takedown against his opponent from Anderson (S.C.).
 
For his career, the Rifle, Colo. native was a three-time NCAA All-American, three-time RMAC Champion, a two-time NWCA All-Academic team recipient and qualified for the NCAA Tournament all four years he was eligible to do so. He finished his career with 115 wins and only 35 losses including his redshirt year during the 2010-11 season, second-most since the program was brought back in 2006.
 
Austin Kaiser was an outfielder that played for the Mavericks from 2010-14. The Colorado Springs native earned American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) National Player of the Year, the Tino Martinez Award (National Player of the Year) and the Josh Willingham Award (National Most Valuable Player) during his senior season in 2014. He was the consensus South Central Region Player of the Year and First Team All-American.
 
During that season, he led the Mavericks to the NCAA National Championship game where they wound up losing to Southern Indiana in 12 innings. He finished his senior season batting .482 with 110 hits, 24 doubles, five triples, 11 home runs and 29 stolen bases. The 110 hits still ranks second in single-season program history.
 
Ryan Stephan was one of the most dominant players in the storied history of Colorado Mesa basketball. The big man was the 2016 Ron Lenz National Player of the Year and a finalist for the Bevo Francis Small College Basketball Player of the Year. He was a first team all-American, a two-time All-Region selection and the 2016 RMAC Player of the Year.
 
The Lakewood, Colo. native finished his career with 2,073 points which ranks No. 2 in program history behind Jon Baskin's 2,227 points. Stephan made 560 free-throws which is the top mark in program history and hauled in 800 rebounds ranking him fifth all-time.
 
Makayla Kovac was one of the most feared hitters in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference history when she starred for the Mavericks from 2013-2016. Kovac was a two-time NFCA All-American, three-time RMAC Player of the Year and four-time All-RMAC selection.
 
The Erie, Colo. native ranks top-5 in program history with a .432 batting average, .864 slugging percentage and 203 games played in her career. She hit 62 home runs in her career which is still the top mark in program history and ranks second in hits (279), runs scored (222) and RBIs (246).
 
The quartet will be honored during the homecoming festivities from Thursday (Oct. 15) through the football game on Saturday (Oct. 17). Visit the Colorado Mesa Homecoming website HERE