A trio of former Franklin College greats were inducted into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame on Thursday evening, with the 2026 class of Amy (Shidler) Long, Chad Rupp and Robyn (Burns) Witty being honored in a ceremony in the Branigin Room. Friends and family of the inductees were on hand along with previously enshrined Hall of Famers, Franklin administrators and current Grizzly coaches and athletes.

Long, a standout golfer who graduated in 2001 but still holds school and HCAC records, was introduced by her husband Josh. Rupp, a 2009 graduate who quarterbacked the football team to the NCAA Division III national quarterfinals as a senior, was brought out by Griz head coach Mike Leonard. Witty, a two-time All America who starred in track and cross country before graduating in 2006, was presented by her former coach, Paul Sargent. The three new Hall of Famers touched on different themes during their induction speeches, including the competitive spirit, overcoming adversity and the enjoyable experiences with teammates and coaches.

Each inductee received a plaque and medal during the induction ceremony, then formally added their faces to the Hall of Fame wall in the Spurlock Center lobby. Those will be on display throughout Homecoming weekend and beyond.

For more on the 2026 Athletic Hall of Fame class and their accomplishments, click here.