2012 SOFTBALL INDUCTEE CARIE DEVER-BOAZ Dever-Boaz, a three-sport standout from Woodlake High School and Cal-Hi Sports Small School Athlete of the Year; was Margie Wright’s first softball recruit at Fresno State. Choosing the Bulldogs over UCLA, Dever-Boaz would post an 84-12 pitching record, toss 58 shutouts and post six no-hitters. During those four seasons, the…
2012 WRESTLING TEAM INDUCTEE 1994 FRESNO CITY COLLEGE WRESTLING Coach Bill Musick had the same goal every year: “Go undefeated in duals and tournaments.” Even though his teams had won state community college titles in 1975, 1989 and 1993 and taken the state dual-meet title in 1992, his goal didn’t become reality until the magical…
2012 VOLLEYBALL TEAM INDUCTEE 1989 FRESNO PACIFIC UNIVERSITY VOLLEYBALL Playing with machine-like precision, nerves of steel and emotional electricity, the sixth-seeded Sunbirds completed their march to the NAIA national championship with a sweep of Hawaii Pacific 15-3, 17-15 in Hawaii. It was Fresno Pacific’s first national title in any sport. Going into the tournament, the…
2011 FOOTBALL INDUCTEE ELBERT WOODS While the 6-foot-2, 231-pound fullback carried the Cincinnati Bengals to the Super Bowl with his fast legs and elusive moves, his personality captivated America during a sensational 1988 rookie season. The Edison High School graduate rushed for 1,066 yards and scored 15 touchdowns on the ground during the regular season…
2011 COACHING-BASEBALL INDUCTEE KEN PAPI A love of baseball, commitment to youth and loyalty to Fresno High School underpinned a coaching career that ranks among the greatest in Central Section history. Papi had coached 37 varsity seasons for the Warriors at the time of his induction, winning 580 games, second-most in the section history, and…
2011 FOOTBALL INDUCTEE LORENZO NEAL Arguably the best blocking back in NFL history, he paved the way for the 1,000-yard rushers over 11 consecutive seasons and was named to the All-Decade Team of the 2000s by The Sporting News. Neal, a fourth-round pick in the 1993 draft, created holes for some of the best tailbacks…
2011 BASEBALL INDUCTEE DAN GLADDEN The outfielder with a fiery streak was a prime example of how wrong the scouts can be. No speed and no power, the scouts said. Undrafted after his last season at Fresno State, he asked Fresno Giants General Manager Bill Thompson for a tryout. Gladden went from a Single-A chance…
2011 SOFTBALL INDUCTEE COURTNEY DALE-BOLDT What began as a wish to play a team sport with her friends and was nurtured by hours of practice with her dad, Jerry, culminated in national championships, All-America honors, and MVP award in Japan Women’s Professional Softball League. She rose to stardom as a two-way threat, as an overpowering…
2011 BASKETBALL INDUCTEE BRUCE BOWEN His name is synonymous with championships, defense, hustle, durability, and clutch 3-point shots for the San Antonio Spurs during their run to NBA glory during the 2000s. A self-made player who wasn’t drafted out of Cal State-Fullerton, the 6-foot-7, 200-pound swingman played two years in France and had early stints…
2011 SPORTS HISTORIAN INDUCTEE BOB BARNETT An interest in sports that began as a youngster listening to basketball games on the radio became a passion that produced a complete and accurate history of high school athletics in the central San Joaquin Valley. Barnett began researching and documenting Valley high school sports in 1985 after being…