NEWPORT NEWS — The Christopher Newport Department of Athletics announced the Hall of Fame Class of 2024 today as the Captains prepare to enshrine six new members this Fall.
The Hall of Fame Class of 2024 includes contributions from six standouts on and off the field of play. First, the two-time Rector of the CNU Board of Visitors and basketball alumna Lindsey Carney Smith will be enshrined after her contributions in support of Captains athletics. On the playing field, this year’s class includes five student-athletes from multiple sports.
As members of the cross country and men’s indoor and outdoor track and field programs, Jeff Dover and Grayson Reid established themselves as precedent-setting distance runners for CNU. Joining the Hall of Fame as the second ever men’s lacrosse player to be enshrined, Tony Cruz helped elevate the CNU Men’s Lacrosse program to national prominence. And on the soccer field, both Jimmy Grace, for the men, and Victoria Perry, for the women, enjoyed record-breaking success both individually and as leaders on nationally-ranked teams.
Following today’s announcement, the six Captains will be officially inducted in a special Hall of Fame ceremony on Thursday, October 17 and will be recognized on the field at halftime of the CNU vs. Rowan University football game at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 19.
About the Inductees:
Lindsey Carney Smith
Athletics Leadership
As a student-athlete at Christopher Newport, Lindsey Carney Smith graduated in 2001 with a degree in Governmental Administration and went on to earn her law degree from the College of William & Mary. She earned All-Conference distinction as a point guard on the women’s basketball team and led the Captains in assists and steals during her junior and senior seasons.
Her contributions following her graduation include serving as a member of the Board of Visitors, the chair of the Athletic Advisory Council, and an adjunct professor in the pre-law program. A distinguished leader in the Hampton Roads community, Carney Smith served as Rector of the Board of Visitors at Christopher Newport University from 2020 through 2024. She has been a champion of the CNU Athletics programs throughout her tenure as a student, alumni, and leader in the community.
Tony Cruz
Men’s Lacrosse (2015-18)
Tony wrapped up his career as the most accomplished faceoff specialist in program history. He secured All-State honors twice and was thrice named All-Conference before his career culminated in honorable mention All-American honors in his senior year.
The two-time IMLCA All-Region pick helped usher in a new wave of success for CNU Men’s Lacrosse, including an at-large berth into the 2018 NCAA Tournament where CNU defeated Roanoke, 17-11, for the first postseason victory in program history. He left CNU as the program’s career record holder with 773 faceoff victories and a .610 faceoff percentage. His 773 wins ranked in the top-20 all-time at Division III at the conclusion of his career while Cruz also established a new standard with 68 career appearances while finishing second on the all-time charts with 272 ground balls.
Jeff Dover
Men’s Cross Country/Track & Field (2014-18)
Arguably the finest distance runner in Christopher Newport Track & Field history, Jeff put together an unforgettable career between 2014 and 2018. He earned the 2018 Capital Athletic Conference Male Athlete of the Year honor, becoming the first Captain in school history and the first distance runner in league history to receive the CAC’s top athletic award.
Dover stands as the most decorated distance runner in CNU history as a five-time All-American including three certificates following his standout senior season. After earning All-American plaudits in cross country during the fall, he also finished as the national runner-up in the mile and in sixth place in the 3000 during the Indoor national meet, helping lift CNU to the program’s top team performance since 1998. He became the first athlete in league history to compete in six consecutive NCAA Cross Country and Track & Field Championships after advancing to each postseason event in his final two years at CNU. Along with his athletic achievements, Dover was a perennial Academic All-Conference selection and earned a spot on the USTFCCCA National All-Academic Team.
Jimmy Grace
Men’s Soccer (2013-17)
One of the most talented midfielders in program history, Jimmy became the first player in the illustrious history of CNU Men’s Soccer to garner first team All-American honors from the coaches’ association multiple times in his career. He earned Capital Athletic Conference Player of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons and graduated as one of the most decorated athletes in CAC history, becoming the first player in league lore to win multiple Player of the Year plaques and Rookie of the Year honors as well.
A four-time All-Region and All-Conference selection, the CNU midfielder helped pace the nation’s second-leading scoring offense in his senior season as the Captains averaged 3.67 goals per game. Grace concluded his career ranked tied for sixth in career goals and ninth in career points while playing in 86 career games, also tied for sixth all-time at Christopher Newport.
Victoria Perry
Women’s Soccer (2013-16)
Victoria helped set the stage for the ascension of Christopher Newport women’s soccer among the national elite between the 2013 and 2016 seasons. Punctuating her exceptional career with her senior season in 2016, Perry became just the fourth All-American in program history and the first player to garner second team recognition from the coaches association. The designation was the culminating moment of one of the finest careers in CNU Women’s Soccer lore after she became just the second player to earn All-Region honors at least three times in her career.
A three-time first team All-Conference selection, the Purcellville, Va. native became the program’s all-time leading scorer with 109 points while setting an impressive standard for career assists with 31. To this day, she remains second on the scoring chart, third in career goals, and second in career assists and is the only player in program history to log 30 career goals and 30 career assists in her career.
Grayson Reid
Cross Country/Track & Field (2014-18)
Undoubtedly the finest cross country runner in Christopher Newport athletics history, Grayson punctuated his impressive tenure with the most decorated season in CNU cross country history during his senior campaign. Already named a two-time Cross Country Athlete of the Year by the Capital Athletic Conference heading into his final season, Reid collected his third straight and was named the Region Athlete of the Year for a second consecutive season.
He became the first runner in conference history to win the league’s top honor three years in a row and would go on to establish a program best finish at nationals as well. At the NCAA Championships, he earned All-American honors after finishing fifth with a time of 24:20.60, setting a new standard for a Captain at the national meet in program history. He ran at nationals three times, helping guide CNU back to the event for the first time since 1994 and eventually leading the Captains to the finest team finish ever with a third-place showing in the 2018 national championship meet. Additionally, he added an All-American certificate in the 5000 and was a record-breaking track & field athlete throughout his four-year career.
