Iowa State University Athletics
Iowa State Enshrines Six Into Athletics Hall of Fame
10.24.2025 | Athletics
AMES, Iowa – Six former Cyclone athletes/administrator were bestowed the highest honor by the Iowa State Athletics Department Friday night at the Sukup End Zone Club. Chris Bono (wrestling), Erin Dethloff (women's gymnastics), A.J. Klein (football), Richard Larsen (men's gymnastics), Erica Martinez (softball) and Gene Smith (athletics director) received their Hall of Fame rings as members of the Iowa State Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2025.
Dethloff, who currently resides in Omaha, ranks as one of the most decorated women's gymnasts in Cyclone history. A seven-time All-American and two-time Big 12 champion, Dethloff was a key cog in the school's greatest team, the 2006 Big 12 champion and NCAA Super Six squad.
Dethloff is an active member of the ISU Letterwinners Club who has returned to many Letterwinner Club reunions/events in the last decade. However, this weekend's trip to the school she loves has a different feeling to it.
She is now a member of an exclusive club.
"My time at Iowa State was amazing," Dethloff said. "I met some of the best people here and it made me who I am today. Iowa State has impacted my life, and I can't thank everyone enough for this huge honor."
Tonight's induction was the 28th Iowa State Athletics Hall of Fame class, and we can thank one of the inductees for that.
Gene Smith was Iowa State's Athletics Director from 1993-2000, and when he arrived in Ames, the school didn't have a Hall of Fame. He did something about it, establishing a Letterwinners Club and Hall of Fame to properly honor Iowa State's incredible athletic legacy.
He now bears the fruit of his labor as an ISU Hall-of-Famer.
"This is such an honor," Smith said. "I certainly loved my time at Iowa State and all the people in Iowa. I was so blessed to be surrounded by so many great people. When I came to interview and met with the search committee, I wasn't certain that a place like Ames, Iowa would embrace someone like me. I am city guy and obviously a person of color. But the people were just so genuinely kind. I went away from away from the interview saying I hope I get the offer because the people were so cool. That pushed me over the edge and made me realize this was the right place for me."
A total of 216 athletes/administrators have been enshrined into the Iowa State Athletics Hall of Fame since its inaugural class in 1997.
Chris Bono (1994-97) – Wrestling
- Three-time All-American (1995-1997)
- NCAA Champion at 150 pounds (1996)
- Runner-up NCAA Champion at 150 pounds (1997)
- Two-time conference champion (1996- Big Eight; 1997- Big 12)
- Most Outstanding Wrestler at the 1997 Big 12 Championship
- Iowa State Male Athlete of the Year (1997)
- Ended career with a 130-35 mark, the fifth-most wins in school history
- Helped the Cyclones finish second at the NCAA Championship (1996)
- Three-time World Team member (2001, 2002, 2005)
- Enjoyed a two-time stint as an ISU assistant coach (1998-2005; 2010)
- Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee (2018)
Erin Dethloff (2003-06) – Women's Gymnastics
- Seven-time All-American (2003-06)
- First Team All-American in all-around (2006)
- Two-time Big 12 Champion on bars (2004, 2006)
- Qualified to four NCAA Championships (2003-2006)
- Earned All-Big 12 recognition nine times (2003-2006)
- Three-time NCAA Regional champion (2003, 2005, 2006)
- Big 12 Newcomer of the Year (2003)
- First Cyclone freshman to earn All-America honors (2003)
- Leader on ISU's Big 12 Champion and NCAA Super Six team (2006)
A.J. Klein (2009-12) – Football
- Two-Time First Team All-Big 12 linebacker (2011, 2012)
- Honorable Mention All-American (2012)
- Big 12 Co-Defensive Player of the Year (2011)
- Three-time All-Big 12 pick (2010-2012)
- Fourth-most tackles in Iowa State history with 361
- NCAA record four career interception returns for touchdowns by a linebacker
- A member of three Bowl teams (2009, 2011, 2012)
- Fifth round NFL Draft pick (2013)
- Started 82 games in an 11-year NFL career (2013-2023)
Richard Larsen (1972-75) – Men's Gymnastics
- NCAA Champion on high bar (1975)
- Big Eight Champion on high bar (1975)
- All-American on high bar (1975)
- Performed a 9.70 in the finals to win the NCAA high bar title (1975)
- Team co-captain (1975)
- Ended career with school record on vault (9.70)
- Member of four Big Eight champion teams (1972-1975)
- Member of two NCAA Championship teams (1973, 1974)
Erica Martinez (2000-03) – Softball
- Third Team All-American- Easton (2002)
- Three-time First Team All-Big 12 selection (2001-2003)
- Two-time NCAA All-Region pick (2001-2002)
- Ranks in ISU's career Top 10 in batting average (.311) and strikeouts thrown (391)
- Led the team in 10 hitting/pitching categories in 2002
- Led the Big 12 in batting (.383) and tossed 175 strikeouts in 2002, both ISU season Top 10 marks
- Ended career with school records in home runs (27), RBI (88) and walks (71)
- One of four All-Americans in Iowa State softball history
Gene Smith (1993-2000) – Athletics Director
- Facilitated massive facility improvement, including the Jacobson Athletics Building (1996)
- Helped with the renaming of the football stadium to Jack Trice Stadium (1997)
- Implemented the Iowa State Athletics Hall of Fame (1997)
- Hired Dan McCarney, who led ISU to its first bowl win and five bowl games in a six-year period
- Hired Tim Floyd, who led ISU men's hoops to the 1996 Big Eight Tournament title and 1997 Sweet Sixteen
- Hired Larry Eustachy, who led ISU to back-to-back Big 12 regular-season men's hoops titles (2000, 2001)
- Hired Bill Fennelly, who resurrected ISU women's hoops with 22 NCAA Tournament appearances
- In his final season as AD, ISU claimed five Big 12 titles in the month of March (2000)
- Two-time Sports Business Journal A.D. of the Year (2010, 2016)
- Inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame (2024)
- Earned the Gerald R. Ford Award by the NCAA (2025)
