The University of Maryland Eastern Shore celebrated its Homecoming by inducting five new members into the Hawk Athletics Hall of Fame. The event honored Ciani Byrom, Angela Tyer Chisley, T’nia Falbo Moore, Michael Myers, and Michael James Royale during the biannual ceremony on Friday and the home basketball games on Saturday in Princess Anne.
The class includes standout athletes from men’s and women’s basketball, football, women’s cross country and track and field, and women’s bowling. Royale, a football and track and field competitor, was inducted posthumously and represented by family and former teammates.
Ciani Byrom – Women’s Basketball
Byrom played women’s basketball for UMES from 2015-19, finishing with 1,209 points and 353 assists. She ranks fifth in program history in scoring, second in assists, second in assists per game (3.9), seventh in points per game (13.3), and fifth in free throws made (316). As a senior, she led the MEAC in assists per game (5.1) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.8), earned first-team All-MEAC honors and BOXTOROW second-team All-American recognition. Byrom was also the team MVP and named Female Student Athlete of the Year at the Harry’s Awards and Female Citizen Athlete of the Year.
Angela Tyer Chisley – Women’s Cross Country and Track and Field
Chisley competed from 1981-85 and served as team captain from 1982-85. She was part of the 1983 MEAC Women’s Cross Country Championship team, with All-American designations, and earned All-MEAC honors from 1982-85. She set UMES records in the 500-meter (1:14.69) and 600-meter (1:34.90) races, and helped set records in the 4×400 and 4×800 relays. The university named her Most Outstanding Female Athlete (1983-84) and MVP (1984-85) for track.
T’nia Falbo Moore – Women’s Bowling
Moore bowled for UMES from 2009-13 and was team captain from 2011-13. She helped the Hawks secure four national championships: the 2011 and 2012 NCAA Division I National Championships and the 2011 and 2013 USBC Collegiate Bowling National Championships. Moore earned 2012 NCAA Finals Most Outstanding Player, 2013 USBC All-Tournament Team, and was a 2012 and 2013 NTCA third-team All-American. She also won the 2012 MEAC Bowler of the Year and 2013 MEAC Woman of the Year awards.
Michael Myers – Men’s Basketball
Myers played for UMES during the 2014-15 season, averaging 15.8 points and 7.0 rebounds while starting 32 of 33 games. He earned third-team All-MEAC honors and UMES Male Athlete of the Year. Myers was a finalist for the Lou Henson National Mid-Major Player of the Year, named to the BOXTOROW Division I All-American Team, and earned NABC first-team All-District honors. The 18 wins that season marked the most in program history in 41 years.
Michael James Royale – Football and Track and Field
Royale played football from 1971-74 as a defensive back and return specialist and competed in track and field. A team captain wearing No. 22, he earned first-team All-MEAC honors as a returner in 1974, averaging 17.9 yards per kickoff return and scoring a touchdown. In 1973, he averaged 27.9 yards per kickoff return with another touchdown. Post-college, Royale joined the Baltimore Colts training camp in 1976 and played for the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders as a cornerback and kickoff return specialist before an injury ended his career. He was inducted posthumously with family and former teammates representing him.
Maryland Sports Blog Take
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s newest Hawk Athletics Hall of Fame class spans multiple men’s and women’s programs and several decades of competition. The inductees include championship contributors, conference honorees, statistical leaders and a former football return specialist whose college career also included track and field.
By honoring the five inductees during Homecoming and home basketball games, the university recognized accomplishments from across its athletic programs. The class also links Royale’s football career in the 1970s with the more recent careers of Byrom, Chisley, Moore and Myers.
Source: Original report
