All members of the 2026 KSU Hall of Fame Class. Photo courtesy of KSU Athletics
Kennesaw State Athletics welcomed five former Owls into its Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 induction class, recognizing athletes from five different sports for their accomplishments on the court and field as well as their impact on KSU.
The class includes Jeff Karlsson of men’s golf, Simon Pritchard of men’s tennis, Kristi Piedimonte of volleyball, Andre Dorsey of men’s track and field and Annie Phillips of women’s soccer.
The athletes will be honored during an induction ceremony Nov. 6 at NorthStar Church in Kennesaw and introduced during the Nov. 7 football game against Delaware at Walens Family Field at Fifth Third Stadium.
Karlsson put Kennesaw State on the map in its conference for men’s golf. In 2011, he was named Atlantic Sun Conference Men’s Golfer of the Year while leading the Owls to their first conference championship. Karlsson holds several KSU records, including the lowest three-round tournament score at 199, four individual tournament wins and a 70.61 season scoring average.
Karlsson became the second KSU golfer to reach the PGA Tour. He also recorded a top-50 finish at the 2012 NCAA Championships and placed sixth at the 2011 NCAA Regional.
Piedimonte played a major role in the rise of Kennesaw State volleyball. As the Owls’ setter, she helped KSU win its first regular-season conference championship in 2016 before earning both the regular season and tournament titles in 2017. The 2017 season was also the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance.
Piedimonte was named the conference’s Setter of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year during her senior season. She finished her career with 4,005 assists, second most in program history, and 119 service aces.
Pritchard was a four-year captain who helped guide KSU men’s tennis through a period of growth. He helped the Owls make their first conference tournament appearance and reach the conference semifinals for the first time.
Pritchard earned four consecutive First Team All-Conference selections from 2014-17. He finished his career as Kennesaw State’s all-time leader in doubles victories and third in singles wins.
One of Pritchard’s favorite memories from his time at Kennesaw State came during a 4-3 victory over Florida Gulf Coast in Fort Myers, Florida. His teammate, Fermin Calvo, clinched the match, leading the team to celebrate together on the court.
“Fermin Calvo clinched the match for us, and we all stormed the court when he won,” he said.
Pritchard has remained with Kennesaw State following his playing career, joining the tennis coaching staff in 2018-19. He currently serves as associate head coach.
For Pritchard, his teammates were an important part of his Kennesaw State experience. He lived with three teammates from his freshman year through his senior year and credits those relationships as a major part of his career.
“My teammates were what made my time at Kennesaw so special,” he said. “Without them, I wouldn’t be receiving this induction.”
Dorsey is one of the most decorated athletes in Kennesaw State track and field history. He helped the Owls win eight consecutive conference indoor and outdoor championships while achieving 28 combined all-conference honors and 17 individual conference championships.
A five-time All-American, Dorsey earned the conference’s Most Outstanding Performer honor seven times and finished his career with 16 school and conference championship meet records.
Phillips finishes the class after a huge career with KSU women’s soccer from 2004-07. She finished her career with 78 points, fifth-most in program history, and is still one of 10 players in school history to record a hat trick.
Phillips earned Conference Player of the Year and First Team All-Conference honors in 2007 after helping the Owls set a Division I program record with 17 wins. She recorded six game-winning goals that season, which is the second-most in a single season in program history.
The five inductees represent different eras and programs within KSU Athletics, but each left a lasting mark on the university through athletic achievement, leadership and contributions to their teams.
