The six-person class includes Coach Margie Knight ’79, Michelle (Gravdahl) Deck ’13, Brendan Kincaid ’08, Tara (McGovern) Gurria ’12, Johnny Rodriguez ’12 and Chelsea Tavik ’13.
Salisbury University’s Hall of Fame welcomed the Class of 2023 during Alumni Homecoming in the fall. The six-person class includes Coach Margie Knight ’79, Michelle (Gravdahl) Deck ’13, Brendan Kincaid ’08, Tara (McGovern) Gurria ’12, Johnny Rodriguez ’12 and Chelsea Tavik ’13.
One of the true titans of Sea Gull athletics, the late Knight served as a head coach for the Salisbury softball and volleyball teams for a combined 40 seasons, earning Capital Athletic Conference (CAC, now Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference) Coach of the Year 18 times.
Deck guided the softball team to four CAC championships, four NCAA Tournament appearances and a berth in the 2013 national championship series. She earned three NFCA All-America nods, including first team in 2013, and was named NFCA National Catcher of the Year in 2013.
Kincaid ruled the tennis courts with 100 combined wins across singles and doubles competitions. He also assisted SU football win the 2006 Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) South Atlantic Bowl championship and earn a bid into the 2007 NCAA Tournament.
McGovern helped the Sea Gulls win their fifth field hockey national championship in 2009, assisting on the only goal of the game. SU qualified for the NCAA Tournament all four seasons with McGovern and won a trio of CAC championships in 2008, 2009 and 2011.
Rodriguez was integral in men’s lacrosse capturing the program’s ninth national championship in 2011 and reach the NCAA title game in 2010. SU reached four consecutive NCAA Tournaments with Rodriguez on the roster and took home three CAC crowns in 2009, 2011 and 2012.
One of the most decorated athletes in Sea Gull history, Tavik owns a pair of Salisbury’s 24 individual national championships and the only two women’s individual crowns. She captured the 2012 indoor shot put championship and capped her career with a personal-best shot put to win the 2013 outdoor crown.