MOUNT VERNON – Three impactful Rams will be enshrined in Cornell College's Athletics Hall of Fame during Saturday's Homecoming activities on campus.
 
The 2023 Hall of Fame class features first team volleyball all-American Kathleen O'Connor '14, three-time wrestling all-American Chris Heilman '08 and swimmer Bill Maxson '74, an influential lifetime contributor to the sport.
 
The Hall of Fame inductions will be held Saturday in conjunction with the Alumni C Club Breakfast at 8 a.m. in the Smith Dining Room at the Thomas Commons.
 
The new inductees will also be recognized at halftime of Saturday's football game against Beloit at Van Metre Field at Ash Park. Kickoff is 2 p.m.
 
Kathleen O'Connor
O'Connor was a difference-maker on the volleyball court, culminating a banner-filled career as the program's only AVCA First Team All-American in 2013. The hard-swinging outside hitter from Waukegan, Ill., earned AVCA Honorable Mention All-America accolades in 2011.
 
A four-time first team all-conference honoree, O'Connor was voted Conference Player of the Year three consecutive seasons (Midwest Conference – 2012-13, Iowa Conference – 2011). She was tabbed AVCA Division III National Player of the Week in October of her senior season.
 
Her name etched in the school record books 30 times, O'Connor is the Rams' career leader in kills (1,743), kills per set (3.77) and points (2,081.5). The versatile six-rotation player also ranks among Cornell's career best in service aces (185, fourth), digs (1,393, fifth) and blocks (247, ninth). O'Connor accumulated at least 400 kills and 500 points in each of her four seasons for coach Jeff Meeker.  
 
O'Connor helped propel the volleyball program to its first three NCAA Tournament appearances from 2011-13. With No. 11 paving the way, the Rams compiled a four-year record of 93-38, including 31-5 in conference play. The Rams fashioned glossy season records of 28-4 in 2013 and 28-6 in 2011.
 
O'Connor was named Cornell's 2013-14 Ellen Whale Senior Female Athlete of the Year, 2012-13 Junior Female Athlete of the Year and 2010-11 First-Year Female Athlete of the Year. In 2010, she claimed Iowa Conference Freshman of the Year honors.      
 
Chris Heilman
Heilman, of Colorado Springs, Colo., is among seven wrestlers in Cornell's storied history to earn all-America honors three times in a career. The 125-pounder placed third at the 2008 NCAA Championships, after taking fourth in 2007 and seventh in 2006.
 
As a senior, Heilman captured individual gold at the 2008 Iowa Conference Championships. He concluded that terrific campaign with a 38-4 record, marking the sixth-most wins and sixth-best winning percentage ever by a Ram. 
 
Heilman steered the Rams to their highest-ever NCAA Division III team finish in 2008, placing seventh with 40.5 points. The 2006-07 squad took 12th at nationals. In Heilman's sophomore year, the 2005-06 Rams set a program record for most dual wins in a season (15-9-1).
 
Heilman is No. 1 on the program's all-time charts for technical falls in a career (23) and season (nine). He stands No. 4 in career victories (132-31) and No. 5 in career winning percentage (80.9). Heilman, who won 106 matches over his final three seasons, was tabbed Cornell's 2007-08 Paul K. Scott Senior Male Athlete of the Year. 
 
Heilman is in his 10th season as assistant wrestling coach and recruiting coordinator at Air Force. He's perennially brought in top-30 nationally-ranked recruiting classes to the Academy.
 
Bill Maxson
Maxson's passion for the sport of swimming carried well beyond his years on the Hilltop, where he specialized in the backstroke and individual medley as a four-year letterman for the Rams. He then coached Cornell's women's swim club for two seasons.
 
Following a successful 10-year coaching stint, Maxson ascended to leadership roles at the highest levels in the sport, including Chairman/CEO of USA Swimming and the United States Sports Insurance Corporation (USSIC) from 1990-94. In November 2022, Maxson was presented with the Impact Award at the USA Swimming Golden Goggle Awards for lifetime service.
 
Maxson served four decades on the Board of Directors for USA Swimming (1985-2018), where he chaired the finance, marketing and diversity committees. He held roles with the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee as Board of Directors (1992-95), Membership Services Committee (1992-2000) and Membership Committee (2000-04).
 
Maxson was Chairman/CEO (2010-18) and on the Board of Directors (2010-22) for the United States Swimming Foundation. He is also a member of the St. Louis Sports Commission.
 
During his early coaching days, Maxson mentored one member from his Sheridan Swim Club in Quincy, Ill., who competed at the 1976 Olympics.