By: Mark Reinhiller
College of DuPage will honor its class of 2025 Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, June 7, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Lisle Naperville.
The class includes Bethany Ester Atchison, a high jump champion and three-time All-American; Deb DiMatteo, an award-winning and national championship softball coach; George Hawthorne, an All-American offensive lineman and wrestler; Kris Morton Holtquist, softball All-American; Joe Roman, a long-time assistant football coach during the Bob MacDougall era; and Gar Simers, the baseball team’s first All-American.
“Our Class of 2025 pays tribute to successful Chaparral coaches and athletes, and we look forward to another memorable ceremony that truly is a highlight of the athletic calendar at COD,” said Jane Vatchev, Hall of Fame committee chair. “Our six inductees represent the best in their sports with two successful coaches in Joe and Deb, our first baseball inductee, and a tremendous football and wrestler. COD’s women’s inductees excelled in the sports of softball and track and field and are well represented by Kris and Bethany. It promises to be another great night of celebration.”
Since it originated in 2019, the Athletic Hall of Fame has inducted 31 members and will bring the number of honorees to 37 in June.
Bethany Ester Atchison (2009-10)
A two-year standout for fellow Hall of Famer Vatchev’s track and field teams, Atchison earned three All-American honors over her career, capped by winning the NJCAA championship in the high jump in 2010, clearing 5-3. As a freshman, the Winfield native and Wheaton North High School alum competed in seven events at the NJCAAs, finishing third in the high jump and running on the runner-up 4 x 100 relay. As a sophomore captain, she competed in four events (triple jump, long jump, 4 x 400 relay and high jump). She completed her collegiate career competing at NCAA D1 Eastern Illinois. She earned NJCAA All-Academic honors and named the 2009 Region IV female athlete of the meet.
Deb DiMatteo (1994-2015)
DiMatteo was an award-winning softball coach for the Chaparrals, leading the program to four NJCAA championships in her 10 seasons at the helm after serving two seasons as an associate head coach. She also served COD as an associate professor of physical education. Her tenure included a 329-114 record, eight consecutive appearances in the NJCAA World Series, four national championships (1998, 2000, 2001 and 2004) and two runner-up finishes (1997 and 2003). DiMatteo was named the NJCAA Softball Coach of the Year in 2000, 2001 and 2004. She is a member of the NJCAA Coaches, Benedictine and Lewis athletic Hall of Fames.
George Hawthorne (1985-87)
NJCAA Hall of Famer Hawthorne played two seasons (1985 and 1986) as an offensive lineman for fellow Hall of Famer MacDougall’s storied football teams. He earned first-team All-American honors in 1986 and went on to play two seasons at the University of Iowa. He spent two preseason camps with the Cleveland Browns and played one season of Arena League Football with the Arizona Rattlers. The Chicago native also competed for two seasons at heavyweight for the Chaparrals’ wrestling program, qualifying both years for the NJCAA championship held at COD.
Kris Morton Holtquist (1997-98)
A two-year standout for the Chaparrals and fellow Hall of Famer DiMatteo, Holtquist helped her teams reach the NJCAA title game twice, finishing second in 1997 and winning the program’s first national championship in 1998. She was a first-team All-American in 1998, along with earning All-Region IV and N4C honors the same season. An educator and coach in Glen Ellyn, she spent 10 seasons as an assistant coach at her alma mater, Glenbard South High School. Her teams placed at five IHSA state tournaments, winning titles in 2012 and 2013.
Joe Roman (1975-1996)
Roman spent 20 seasons as defensive coordinator for the Chaparrals under fellow NJCAA Hall of Famer MacDougall. From 1975 to 1996, the Chaparrals built a legacy, capped by the 36-game winning streak (1993-95) that remains the longest run in NJCAA history. He later served as an assistant at Joliet, where the Wolves were national champions in 2002. He spent more than 16 seasons coaching football with several teams in Germany and Austria. He was named to the NJCAA Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 2016.
Gar Simers (1979)
Simers made the most of his one season of baseball, earning the program’s first All-American honor in 1979. The Wheaton native hit .506 on the season, establishing single-season home run (11) and RBI (42) records. He finished third in the nation in batting average and first in RBI/game (1.62). He was the N4C’s most valuable player, hitting .568 in conference play. He was selected to the state’s junior college North-South All-Star Game at Wrigley Field, where he was the only player to homer in the two games played. His one season at COD led him to a scholarship at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, playing for the final season of baseball with the Mustangs.