2011 BASKETBALL TEAM INDUCTEE 1972-73 SAN JOAQUIN MEMORIAL BOYS BASKETBALL Perhaps the most dominating basketball teams in the Central Section history, the Panthers of Coach Tom Cleary won not only back-to-back section titles but also twice reigned supreme in the Tournament of Champions, the precursor of the state championship. No central San Joaquin Valley team…
2010 SPORTS BROADCASTING INDUCTEE BILL WOODWARD An eye for detail, a passion for the preparation, and a distinctive, reassuring voice – perfect for story-telling – brought the Selma native acclaim as the radio “Voice of the Bulldogs” during 37 seasons of broadcasting Fresno State sports. Woodward was the Red Wave’s eyewitness to history from 1972…
2010 TRACK & FIELD INDUCTEE JERRY WILSON Taking up the hurdles in junior high school, Wilson blossomed into a 6-foot-2, 190-pounder and a world-class star during the golden age of track and field in the 1960s and 1970s. During his career, Wilson beat many of the best hurdlers of the era, including fellow American Charles…
2010 AUTO RACING INDUCTEE GARY SCELZI Sclezi got his first taste of drag racing on sand tracks as a teenager, later tasted success in the Sportsman classes and blossomed into one of the most dominant drivers in National Hot Rod Association history. The Fresno native’s name is all over the NHRA record book. Lightning quick…
2010 COACHING-WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL INDUCTEE DENNIS JANZEN The Janzen name is synonymous with women’s volleyball, national championships and Fresno Pacific University. But even more impressive than his five NAIA titles and the coaching of 62 All-Americans is the fact that 96 percent of his volleyball players had graduated at the time of his induction into the…
2010 COACHING-TRACK & FIELD INDUCTEE GENE ESTES The Craigmount/Lewiston, Idaho native believed in teamwork, loyalty to staff and athletes, and keeping a low profile during an extraordinary coaching career at Fresno State capped by his induction into the U.S. Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2000. Estes competed in the discus and shot put…
2010 VOLLEYBALL INDUCTEE TRACY AINGER-SCHULTE Quite possibly the best all-around female athlete in Fresno County history, she was a four-year letter-winner and star performer in basketball, volleyball, and tennis at Reedley High School. She appeared poised to make her mark at the collegiate level in basketball, a sport where she set the Reedley career scoring…
2010 BASKETBALL TEAM INDUCTEE 1955 FRESNO CITY COLLEGE BASKETBALL The Rams had it all: height on the front line, speed in the backcourt, good shooters everywhere and a demanding coach in Joe Kelly, who could match wits against everyone. Using these ingredients, the team put together a magical season, winning the state championship before a…
2010 BASEBALL TEAM INDUCTEE 1950 SANGER HIGH SCHOOL VALLEY CHAMPION BASEBALL After claiming his first San Joaquin Valley high school championship in 1947 and making the playoffs the following two seasons, Sanger High coach Huntley Dayton knew that his team in the spring of 1950 had the makings of something special. Like many small-town coaches…
2009 FOOTBALL INDUCTEE MARQUEZ POPE Ten-year NFL veterarn Marquez Pope stated, “I just always asked the Lord to send me wherever he thought I should be and I guess he wanted me to be in California.” The native of Nashville, Tennessee was recruited by many colleges who were interested in his abilities on the football…