WASHINGTON - Four deserving former student-athletes were celebrated by family, friends and fans at their induction into the Stafford H. "Pop" Cassell Hall of Fame at American University on Saturday, March 2. The Class of 2024 was honored in Claudio Grossman Hall at the Washington College of Law.

Men's swimming & diving's Frank Byskov (CAS/BA ‘01, CAS/MS ‘02), women's soccer's Friederike Engel (CAS/BS ‘11), wrestling's Ryan Flores (CAS/BA ‘13) and women's basketball's Lisa Strack (KSB/BSBA '12) were the inductees into the Cassell Hall of Fame which now includes a total of 99 athletic standouts at AU.

All attendees enjoyed a cocktail reception from 4:30 to 6 p.m. After an introduction from Director of Athletics and Recreation Dr. Billy Walker and remarks by American University President Sylvia Burwell, dinner was served. It was the final Hall of Fame ceremony for both Walker and Burwell, as Walker is set to retire at the end of June, and Burwell will be leaving her post at the University this summer as well.

Byskov was the first to be honored and was presented by friend and former teammate Erik Alda, a three-time AU graduate.

Up next was Engel, who was presented by her teammate's mother Debbie Sheppard, who became a second mother to Engel who came to AU from Germany.  

Flores was presented by former AU wrestling head coach Mark Cody, and Strack was presented by former Army West Point women's basketball head coach Dave Magarity.

Guests were treated to video introductions of all three inductees, which can be seen above.

American University's Stafford H. Cassell Hall of Fame has been in existence since 1969. Sponsored by the Cassell Family, the Hall of Fame was developed to recognize the achievement of individuals associated with American University Athletics and Recreation. Cassell was a legendary coach, athletic director, and vice president at the university.