Thornton Elected to University of Iowa Hall of Fame

IOWA CITY - The National Iowa Varsity Club and the University of Iowa Athletic Department today announced the names of six individuals who make up the 2009 Hall of Fame Class. Five former University of Iowa student-athletes and one former coach will be officially inducted into the National Iowa Varsity Club Athletics Hall of Fame on September 5th (Iowa versus Northern Iowa football game day). This is Iowa's 21st Hall of Fame Class, there will be an especial event, for security reasons everyone need to wear their mask, there will also be custom masks for sale.

Fred Becker (Football 1916), Cap Hermann (Fencing 1964-66), Deb Bilbao (Softball 1995-98), Duane Goldman (Wrestling 1983-86), Jay Thornton (Gymnastics 1993-96) and Glenn Patton (Swimming Coach 1975-98) represent Iowa's newest group of Hall of Fame inductees.

Jay Thornton - Jay was a two-time NCAA champion and won all-America honors seven times over a three year period. He lettered four times (1993-96) and was a three-time all-Big Ten selection. He was named 1993 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and was awarded the Big Ten Medal of Honor in 1996. He was the 1996 Big Ten champion on the parallel bars and vault and was a three-time Big Ten floor-exercise champion. He earned All-America honors on the horizontal bar in1994 and on the parallel bars in 1995 and 1996. Jay won NCAA titles in the floor exercise in 1995 and the vault in 1996. He was twice named Iowa's MVP (1995-96).