Athletic Hall of Fame
The Gustavus Adolphus College Hall of Fame was established in 1978 at which time 19 "Charter Members" were inducted either as coaches or as athletes. As of the fall of 2022, 348 individuals (321 athletes, 16 coaches and 11 benefactors) have been elected to the Hall of Fame.
The former Hall of Fame room on the second floor of the Lund Center was originally partially endowed by the families of both Dwight Holcombe's (the only father/son combination holding membership in the Hall). The hardwood plaque upon which the individual plates are permanently displayed, now in the Hall of Champions, was donated by the family of former football coach and Hall of Fame member Jocko Nelson, who passed away in 1978.
Molly Nemes Hamer
Gymnastics, Track & Field
Inducted: 2016
A strong desire for perfection coupled with the speed of a sprinter allowed Molly Nemes Hamer to become a standout all-around gymnast for the renowned Gustavus gymnastics program in the late 1990s. An intense competitor with an unbreakable focus in the gym, Hamer made an immediate impact for the Gusties in her first year of competition earning All-America honors with 10th place finish in the all-around at the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association National Championships. Her sophomore season she added her second All-America distinction with a fifth place finish on the vault at the national meet as the Gusties just missed a national team title with a runner-up finish. Hamer would become one of the elite competitors in small college gymnastics her junior season earning All-America honors in the all-around (third place), floor exercise (fifth place), and vault (sixth place). She saved her best for last winning the national title in the floor exercise and placing fourth on the uneven bars and sixth in the all-around in her senior season. Her eight All-America certificates ranks fourth all-time in the program’s history.
In addition to her success in the gym, Hamer was also a standout on the outdoor track and field team specializing in the long jump and triple jump events. She was one of the top long jumpers in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) finishing second in 1999 and third in 2000 and 2001. She also took second in the triple jump in 2000.
After graduating in 2001 with a degree in management, Nemes has spent her entire professional career in the financial services industry, working both in the field and in the corporate office. She is currently a Marketing Communication Manager for EFS Advisors. Molly and her husband Todd Hamer live in Lakeville with their daughter Kolby, and son Callen.