Xavier University announced Friday a new six-member class that will be inducted in 2021 into the P. Douglas O' Keefe Xavier University Athletic Hall of Fame, which will bring the total number of members in the Hall of Fame to 149.
This year’s class includes a pair of men’s basketball players who led Xavier to championship success, Justin E. Cage (’07) and Gary L. Lumpkin (’99), and a star from one of the most successful eras in women’s basketball, Amy N. Waugh (’03).
Luke C. Spencer (’13) helped moved men’s soccer into the national spotlight, while Dennis F. Caponi (’67) enjoyed success on the football field. Doug D. Matthews (’09) put together the most successful playing career in men’s tennis history and has been the head men’s and women’s tennis coach at Xavier since 2015.
The date of the Hall of Fame induction awards dinner will be Saturday, Nov. 20 at Cintas Center. The class will also be honored at the noon men’s basketball game vs. Norfolk State on Nov. 21. Waugh will also be honored at the 4 p.m. women’s basketball game vs. Valparaiso on Nov. 21.
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Cage, who started all four years as a Musketeer basketball standout, was part of three NCAA Tournament teams, including as a freshman starter for XU’s first-ever NCAA Elite Eight team in 2004.
Cage, who was selected to the Atlantic 10 Conference All-Defensive Team in each of his final three seasons, started his final 113 straight games and played in 131 career games, helping Xavier win 89 games. The 2004 squad, which ended the season on what XU fans still refer to as The Run, defeated previously unbeaten No. 1 Saint Joseph’s 87-67 as part of the A-10 Tournament performance. XU defeated Louisville, Mississippi State and Texas in the 2004 NCAA Tournament before falling 66-63 to Duke in the Musketeers’ first-ever NCAA Regional Final appearance.
Cage is in his 15th season playing professional basketball overseas, including his 14th in Belgium.
Caponi, a four-year letter winner at fullback and linebacker for Xavier football, entered Xavier in the fall of 1963 on full scholarship and played freshman football because freshmen were not allowed on varsity. In 1964, he made the varsity team as starting fullback and defensive linebacker. Due to limited substitutions, he needed to play both ways. In 1965 unlimited substitution was introduced by the NCAA and a new defensive position was created, called the X Man, and Caponi was the first to play at that rover position. The team had its best record in years at 8-2.
Caponi was drafted in the 15th round of the 1967 NFL Draft by Kansas City and in the first round of the CFL Draft by the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. Caponi enlisted in the Military from 1967-70 where he received the Army Commendation Medal for distinguished meritorious service. He coached and played football for the Giessen and the Eagles in USA Europe during his time in the military. Caponi went on to play professional football for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League in 1970 but suffered a season-ending knee injury. He then played semi-professional football for the Semi-Pro Toronto Bramalea Satellites in ’71 where he was voted captain and led the team to a championship. He retired from football in 1972.
Lumpkin was a four-year starter at point guard in Xavier’s first four seasons in the Atlantic 10 Conference after making the jump from the MCC in 1995. Lumpkin still ranks in the top 20 in scoring in Xavier history with 1,507 points and eighth in assists (470), . Xavier won 83 games in his four seasons, including 70 wins over his final three seasons along with two NCAA Tournament berths and a third-place finish in the 1999 NIT.
Lumpkin is back home in Delaware and entering his second year as the head coach at his alma mater, William Penn High School.
Matthews was a member of the Xavier men's tennis team from 2005-09, leading Xavier to back-to-back Atlantic 10 Conference championships in his junior and senior years and the first-ever men's tennis team appearances in the NCAA Tournament in 2008 and 2009. While at XU he compiled a 75-47 career singles record, which ranks fourth all-time at Xavier. In doubles, he ranks third all-time with a 75-52 career record and he is second all-time at Xavier in total wins with a 150-99 career record.
The long list of accomplishments Matthews earned as a student-athlete while at Xavier include being named to the Atlantic 10 All-Conference team four consecutive years, earning an Atlantic 10's Rookie of the Year award in 2006, and being named the Atlantic 10's Most Outstanding Performer in 2008 and 2009.
Matthews has won 16 Cincinnati Met Championships, including singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles. In 2014 he paired with his wife Kara, a former standout from the Xavier women’s tennis team, to earn the nation’s No. 1 ranking for a husband and wife doubles team.
Spencer played on two Xavier men’s soccer championship teams and also made a big impact on the Musketeer record book.
Spencer finished his career with the Musketeers third all-time in career points (79), sixth all-time in career assists (21), and tied fourth all-time in career goals (29). Spencer was voted first-team All-Atlantic 10 Conference in 2012 and second-team in 2011.
Spencer was drafted No. 23 by the New England Revolution in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft. After battling injury early in his professional career, Spencer returned to the pitch in 2016 as a player with FC Cincinnati before joining Louisville City FC in 2017 and leading the team in scoring. Spencer won two USL Championships with Louisville City in 2017 and 2018. In 2018 he was named Finals MVP for scoring the only goal in a 1-0 victory. Spencer retired from playing after the 2020 season and is currently the Louisville City Boys Academy Director.
Waugh, a four-year standout on the women’s basketball team, earned All-Atlantic 10 Conference honors three times, including 2000 Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year, second team in 2002 and first team in 2003. She helped lead the Musketeers to three NCAA Tournaments including Xavier's first-ever Elite Eight squad.
In addition to three NCAA Tournament appearances, Waugh was part of two conference championships in 2000 and 2001.
Waugh finished her career 10th on Xavier’s all-time scoring list (1,523 points), first in career free throw percentage (85.4), second in 3-point field goals made (282), third in 3-point field goal percentage (41.6) and fifth in assists (515).
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