Induction Class
Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame To Reveal 2012 Induction Class At Press Event
New Class Will Honor The Greatest Sports Superstars In The History of Fresno County
2012 Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees:
Carie Dever- Boaz- Softball
Haruo Imamura- Judo
Roscoe Pondexter- Basketball
Melissa Price- Lewis – Track n Field
Jamie Southern- Wiggins- Softball
Mike Watney- Coaching
1994 Fresno City Wrestling- Team
1989 Fresno Pacific Volleyball- Team
2012 Harold Zinkin Sr. Award- Len Ross
Fresno, Ca. (May 22, 2012) The Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame 54th Enshrinement Class will spotlight these athletes that have elevated themselves on the world stage. Two world class collegiate softball pitchers, a track athlete leaping to incredible heights, a college golf coaching legend that is in a class of his own. The greatest promoter of golf and sportsmanship to youth of the Central Valley, the 1994 Fresno City College State Champion grapplers, 1989 Fresno Pacific National Champion Volleyball Team which bumped all competitors, and an Olympic Class Judo Champion. One of two bookend brothers that catapulted San Joaquin Memorial Boy’s Basketball Team to national glory and the recipient of the 2012 Harold Zinkin Senior Award will headline this year’s class.
As the Fresno State head golf coach, he has established a level of excellence and tradition. From winning conference championships to coaching All-Americans, he has propelled Bulldog golf into a nationally prominent, highly competitive golf program.
A powerful combination of swift lighting in her arm as well as her bat made her one the greatest softball players of her generation. A 4 time NCAA All-American Softball Player, arguably one of the greatest athletes in the history of Fresno State Women’s Softball. The 2005 WAC Female Athlete of The Year, 4 time Academic All-American, USA Softball Player National Player of the Week and 2004 John Wooden Award National Finalist.
He began his study of judo when he was just ten years old in Tamana, Japan under his first judo instructor, Hiroyuki Nishii. In 1960, this Olympic caliber judo sensation competed and won the U.S. National Championship 180 pound division and the overall Grand Championship. In 1962, he again won the U.S. National Championship 180 pound division title. In 1976, he began a U.S. and Japan judo exchange program with an All Star Junior team from the San Joaquin Valley visiting Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima and many towns in Southern Japan. Japan has sent teams to Fresno in exchange and the program continues today.
The Media is Cordially Invited to the 2012 Induction Class Press Event
Date: Tuesday, September 25th 2012
Time: 11:00 a.m. Refreshments to be served
Location: Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame Office
River View Shopping Center - 9423 N. Fort Washington Ave. Ste. 105 Fresno CA. 93730
For more information log on to www.fresnoahof.org or contact Raymond O’Canto (559) 233-5868 or email rocanto@ntdmediaonline.com