University of Detroit Mercy Athletics

Hall of Fame Story on Karpala-Humphrey

The Titans of the early 2000's had a lot of talent on the track, but it was in the field events where this student-athlete dominated, becoming one of the best throwers in the history of the Horizon League.

That dominance came in competition and in the classroom in Andrea Karpala. 

Karpala - who won over 20 events in her collegiate career - was the Horizon League Field Newcomer of the Year in 2002 for both indoor and outdoor track and was tabbed the Outstanding Field Performer for indoor and outdoor in 2004, helping the Titans win the 2002 conference team indoor title as well as three additional runner-up efforts in outdoor and indoor. 
 
She won the weight throw three times in her collegiate career and the hammer three times as well, one of just two Horizon League athletes to win those events at least three times. She was an eight-time Horizon League champion, overall, also winning the shot put twice.
 
Karpala was a three-time NCAA Regional qualifier, earning 16th in the hammer in 2004. She is still the Titan record holder in the weight with a toss of 59' 5" as a senior in 2005 and left as the school record holder in the hammer at 177' 9", a mark that is now second in program history.
 
She was also a model student-athlete, earning three USTFCCCA All-Academic accolades – the only student-athlete in program history to receive that honor three times. She was also a multiple recipients of the Horizon League All-Academic Team and Honor Roll and the Titan Athletic Director's Honor Roll.

She was honored as the 2005 Detroit Mercy President's Award, given to a graduating senior has shown academic and athletic excellence, are leaders on and off the field, and represent the true essence of being a Titan student-athlete and graduated with honors in Electronic Critique in 2005 and earned her MBA in 2007.

She was also a team leader and a role model for all her teammates to look up to and an active member on campus and a member of SAAC.