Missouri Baptist University announces 2012 inductees into the Spartan Hall of Fame

ST. LOUIS, MO (10/19/2012)(readMedia)-- Missouri Baptist University will induct three more standout athletes into the Spartan Hall of Fame during a ceremony on Nov. 9 at the Carl and Deloris Petty Sports and Recreation Complex.

Phil Goedeker (men's volleyball), Ana Mercado (women's volleyball) and Brian Buchmeier (baseball) will join the 36 current inductees. In order to be inducted, nominees must be among the top athletes in the history of MBU, and graduates must wait five years to be eligible for the award.

Tickets for the dinner and awards ceremony are $25 and may be purchased by emailing honm@mobap.edu.

Phil Goedeker, son of Steve and Joan Goedeker, came to MBU in the fall of 2002 and began playing volleyball at the University in the spring of 2003. In his time at MBU, Goedeker became one of the all-time greats in his sport to don a Spartan uniform.

Goedeker was named the MAMVIC West Conference Most Valuable Player in his sophomore season, and in both 2005 and 2006, he was named an All-Conference First Team selection.

During his senior year, Goedeker led the Spartans to a second-place finish nationally in New Orleans. While there, he was also named All-American First Team All-Tournament.

He graduated as the all-time kills and aces leader at MBU, a record that he still holds today.

After graduation, Goedeker played on the American Volleyball Professionals (AVP) tour. In 2010, he was named the AVP Barefoot Wine Midwest Region champion. He advanced to the AVP draw in San Francisco, where he placed second. Goedeker now lives in St. Louis and is married to Maddison. They are expecting their first child in February 2013.

Ana Mercado played volleyball for the Spartans from 2005-2006. In her first season as a transfer student, Mercado was named AMC Newcomer of the Year, Most Valuable Player, First Team All-Conference and Academic All-Conference. That season, she was also named as an NAIA First Team All-American as well as the Region V Player of the Year.

Her second year was even more impressive. Mercado again took home AMC MVP, First Team All-Conference and Academic All-Conference honors. She then duplicated her national awards from 2005, earning Region V Player of the Year and NAIA All-American First Team honors. Mercado was also named the Tachikara-NAIA Player of the Year, a first for the Missouri Baptist volleyball program.

Since her time at MBU, Mercado has continued her success as a professional player in Mexico. She won a championship and was named the best hitter in the professional league of Veracruz in 2009. She was named MVP in both 2009 and 2011 in addition to spending 10 years as part of the Mexican National Volleyball Team.

Mercado is the daughter of Jose Jorge Mercado Gonzalez Rubio and Cecilia Mercado. She currently resides in Mexico and is a project coordinator at Badger Meter – Border Operations.

Brian Buchmeier was a standout baseball player for MBU from 1997 to 2000. In his time at the University, he was a three-time All-Conference selection and an All-Region and NAIA All-American in 1998. Buchmeier showed himself to be just as dedicated to his school work, earning Academic All-Conference honors in three consecutive seasons (1998-2000).

During his time as a Spartan, Buchmeier had a collegiate batting average of .358 and a slugging percentage of .652. He amassed 29 home runs in those three seasons while holding a fielding percentage of .961.

Buchmeier put together a hitting streak of 15 games during the spring of 1998 and is one of only three players to score five runs in one game (vs. SIUE, March 26, 1998). In 2000, he recorded 26 doubles for the season, ranking him second all-time at MBU.

After graduation, Buchmeier played professionally for the Springfield Capitals of the Frontier League in 2001. Currently, Buchmeier lives in St. Louis and is a financial consultant and Certified Financial Planner.

Missouri Baptist University is a Christ-centered university located in Saint Louis. MBU offers more than 40 undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees in education, business and religion and its new terminal degree, the Doctor of Education. In addition to its 66-acre West St. Louis County campus, MBU offers degree programs at 10 regional learning centers throughout Saint Louis, in Southern Illinois and online. For more information, go to www.mobap.edu or call 1-877-434-1115.