WEATHERFORD – Athletic Director Todd Helton, on behalf of the SWOSU Athletic Hall of Fame Committee, has announced the Class of 2026 inductees: Kaitlyn (Dillon) Bagwell, Emily (Miller) Beisel, Kala (Freeman) Jones, and Pat Lewis.
The 2026 Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, August 7, at the Pioneer Event Center. The event is open to the public, with tickets priced at $30 per person. The 20th Annual SWOSU Athletic Auction will follow on Saturday, August 8, where the inductees will be recognized again. Tickets, tables, and sponsorship opportunities for the Athletic Auction are available at swosuathleticauction.com. Thank you to ASAP Energy, Inc., Underwriting Sponsor of the SWOSU Athletic Auction.
A limited number of tickets and tables are still available for the Hall of Fame Banquet and Athletic Auction. To purchase, contact the SWOSU Office of Institutional Advancement at 580-774-3122 or email
Aaron Jeffreys, SWOSU Athletic Association Coordinator, at aaron.jeffreys@swosu.edu.
Kaitlyn (Dillon) Bagwell established herself as one of the most decorated and impactful volleyball players in SWOSU history during her four-year career from 2016-19. A four-year starter at libero, Bagwell remains the program's all-time leader in digs (2,347) and reception percentage (.969) while ranking second in career service aces (118), a category in which she held the school record upon graduation. She became the first and remains the only player in SWOSU volleyball history to surpass 2,000 career digs and is the only volleyball player in program history to earn Great American Conference Player of the Year honors twice, claiming GAC Defensive Player of the Year awards in both 2018 and 2019. A three-time All-GAC selection, including First Team honors in 2018 and 2019, Bagwell was named to the Great American Conference All-Decade Team and earned NCAA All-Central Region recognition as a junior. Throughout her career, she was selected as GAC Defensive Player of the Week seven times and helped lead the Bulldogs to four consecutive appearances in the GAC Tournament. Her sophomore season produced a school-record 685 digs, while her junior campaign included 621 digs, the third-highest single-season total in program history. Equally accomplished in the classroom, Bagwell earned Academic All-GAC honors throughout her career, was selected to attend the NCAA Leadership Forum following her senior season and was named SWOSU Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2019. Following her playing career, Bagwell transitioned into coaching and administration at SWOSU, first serving as a graduate assistant volleyball coach before becoming the Bulldogs' assistant volleyball coach. In addition to her coaching duties, she serves in the SWOSU Athletic Department as the University's Compliance Coordinator and Senior Woman Administrator. Through her record-breaking performances, conference accolades, and continued service to Bulldog Athletics, Bagwell has earned her place in the SWOSU Athletic Hall of Fame.
Emily (Miller) Beisel competed for the SWOSU rodeo program during the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons and established herself as one of the top all-around competitors in the Central Plains Region. A two-time College National Finals Rodeo qualifier while competing for the Bulldogs, Beisel earned Reserve All-Around Region Champion honors as a senior and capped her collegiate career by finishing sixth in the women's all-around standings at the 2014 CNFR after qualifying in both barrel racing and goat tying. Her success at SWOSU followed an outstanding two-year career at Garden City Community College, where she was a two-time Central Plains Region All-Around Cowgirl and barrel racing champion, earned Rookie of the Year honors at the 2011 CNFR, and qualified twice for the College National Finals Rodeo. In recognition of her accomplishments, she was inducted into the Garden City Community College Athletics Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2020. Beisel graduated from SWOSU in 2014 with a bachelor's degree in Health Science and later graduated with honors from the University of Oklahoma in 2016, earning a bachelor's degree in Dental Hygiene. Throughout her professional career, she has become one of the sport's most accomplished competitors. A seven-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier, Beisel has claimed nine NFR go-round victories, was the Reserve NFR Champion in 2019, posted the fastest time of the 2021 NFR, and captured the 2017 RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo championship. A 13-time Prairie Circuit Finals qualifier and six-time Prairie Circuit Finals champion, she also finished as the 2025 NFR Open Reserve Champion and Reserve Champion at The American Rodeo. Beisel has competed seven times at the prestigious Calgary Stampede, advancing to the finals on five occasions, and has amassed more than $2.5 million in career earnings. In recognition of her impact on the sport, she was named to the Cowgirl Magazine 30 Under 30 Class of 2021. Through her collegiate success at SWOSU and her remarkable accomplishments on the national stage, Beisel has earned her place in the SWOSU Athletic Hall of Fame.
Kala (Freeman) Jones was a foundational member of the SWOSU women's golf program and became the program's first four-year letterwinner while helping establish a tradition of success for Bulldog golf from 1995-99. As a freshman, Jones earned NAIA All-America honors in 1996 before continuing her standout collegiate career during SWOSU's transition to NCAA Division II competition. She was a two-time First Team Lone Star Conference selection in 1998 and 1999, earned Lone Star Conference All-Academic honors both seasons, and was named SWOSU Female Athlete of the Year in 1998. Jones helped lead the Bulldogs to three national tournament appearances during her collegiate career and concluded her time at SWOSU by receiving Honorable Mention All-America recognition from the Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) in 1999. That same year, she was selected as the NCAA Oklahoma Woman of the Year, recognizing her achievements in athletics, academics, leadership, and service. Jones graduated from SWOSU in 1999 with a degree in Health and Physical Education and a minor in Spanish. She later earned a master's degree from Northwestern Oklahoma State University and has devoted more than two decades to education in the state of Oklahoma as a teacher, coach, and administrator. Since 2020, she has served as Elementary Principal at Pond Creek-Hunter Public Schools after previously teaching and coaching at several Oklahoma schools. Through her accomplishments as a student-athlete and her lasting impact as an educator and leader, Jones has earned her place in the SWOSU Athletic Hall of Fame.
Pat Lewis was one of the top receivers in SWOSU football history during his four-year career from 1978-81. A key contributor in 38 games for the Bulldogs, Lewis finished his collegiate career with 66 receptions for 1,194 yards and 12 touchdowns. As a junior, he earned Honorable Mention All-Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference recognition after recording 22 receptions for 433 yards and four touchdowns while also ranking among the conference leaders in kickoff returns. Lewis enjoyed a record-setting senior season in 1981, hauling in 34 receptions for 635 yards and eight touchdowns. His eight touchdown receptions established a new SWOSU single-season record, while his 131-yard receiving performance against Eastern New Mexico set a school record for receiving yards in a game at the time. Following his senior campaign, Lewis earned First Team All-Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference and NAIA District IX honors while also receiving Honorable Mention NAIA All-America recognition. He was one of only twelve Oklahoma athletes selected to The Associated Press Little All-America Team and joined fellow Bulldogs Ed Farmer and D.K. Guyton among the honorees. Following his playing career, Lewis earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resources from Southern Nazarene University and enjoyed a distinguished 36-year career with Oklahoma Gas and Electric, retiring as Community Affairs Manager. He has remained active in community leadership throughout Oklahoma, serving in leadership roles with the South OKC Chamber of Commerce, Northwest OKC Chamber, and Oklahoma Festival of the Arts while continuing to support Bulldog football as a member of the SWOSU Football Legacy Committee. Through his accomplishments on the field and his continued commitment to SWOSU and his community, Lewis has earned his place in the SWOSU Athletic Hall of Fame.
