Tony Romo may be the headliner for Saturday’s Eastern Athletic Hall of Fame Cermony, but four others will enter the privileged group this weekend as well.

Former basketball player Henry Domercant, baseball player and former Eastern assistant baseball coach Sean Lyons, former NAIA wrestling champion Don Neece and friend of athletics Ed Corley will also be inducted.

Corley and Lyons will be in attendance for the ceremony, while Domercant and Neece will not attend.

Lyons, class of 1999, was a standout at Eastern as both a coach and a player for the Panthers. His 182 runs tied for a school record, and he was named an All-Ohio Valley Conference outfielder three times. Lyons is in the top 10 in 11 Eastern offensive categories. His career batting average of .349 is still eighth-best.

During his six years as an assistant at Eastern, the Panthers won the OVC Tournament in 2008, and won the regular season title in 2009.

He is currently in his first year as an assistant coach at Bradley.

He said he was in shock when he found out he was getting inducted last spring.

“Obviously it is a great honor,” Lyons said. “I am just excited that the selection committee thought I was worthy of joining the group with such great athletes and friends of the department. It is truly a great honor.”

Lyons said he is humbled to join a class that includes a national player of the year, as well as two All Americans.

Domercant, class of 2003, is one of the most decorated players in Eastern basketball history. He is the all-time leader in points for both Eastern and the OVC all-time leader in point scored with 2,602.

He holds 15 Eastern individual and season scoring records. His 21.7 points per game is a career average for Eastern and he was named 2002 OVC Player of the Year. He will not attend the event because he is currently playing professionally in Europe.

Corley, inducted for being a friend of Eastern athletics, was a professor of economics at Eastern for 36 years before retiring in 2003. He has been the individual Panther Club Fund Drive leader the last five years, helping raise nearly $50,000.

He said he found out about the induction last spring by a phone call from Athletic Director Barbara Burke.

“I taught for 36 years and I had a lot of athletes in my classes,” Corley said. “I always enjoyed going to the games and keeping up with the players.”

Corley said he even taught Domercant during his time at Eastern.

“I had him one of my last years teaching,” Corley said. “I remember he was very hard working and that he was a good student.”

Don Neece, class of 1965, was a standout wrestler for the Panthers when they competed in the NAIA. In 1965, he was named NAIA First Team All-American by winning the national championship in the 190-lb. class. He earned his first All-American honor for placing fourth in the 1962 NAIA tournament.

He recently retired as Assistant Superintendent at East Alton-Wood River High School in Alton.

Sports information director Rich Moser said he would not be in attendance because he is on vacation with his family in Hawaii.

The four, including Romo will be honored at the Hall of Fame luncheon 10 a.m. Saturday morning.

The class will also be honored with a ceremony during the Eastern football game against Tennessee Tech Saturday. Kickoff for the game is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

Dan Cusack can be reached at 581-7944 or dscusack@eiu.edu.