10 individuals, three teams inducted into Central Missouri State Athletic Hall of Fame

(WARRENSBURG, Mo.) - Ten individuals and three teams make up the 2004 class of inductees for the Central Missouri State University Athletic Hall of Fame. This is the 13^th class to enter CMSU’s Athletics Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, February 28 in the Elliott Union Ballroom at 9:30 a.m.

Student-Athletes are inducted from the early era (30 years prior to induction date) and the modern era (the past three decades). Additional categories include coaches, special recognition, and teams. Following are the 2004 inductees into Central’s Athletic Hall of Fame:

~ Early Era (pre-1973) ~

Clark Frost

Mules Football - 1965-68

Clark Frost was a four-year letterwinner for the Mules from 1965-68. A two-time All-MIAA selection, earning honorable mention honors as a junior and first-team accolades as a senior, he twice led Central in receiving. As a senior, he caught 34 passes for 717 yards (an average of 21.1 yards per catch) and eight touchdowns. His career totals include 67 receptions for 1,184 yards (17.7 yards per reception) and 10 TDs.

He helped lead Central to a 7-2-1 record and a Mineral Water Bowl berth as a senior in 1968, the second post-season appearance in school history. That team was inducted into the Central Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994.

~ Modern Era (1973-Present) ~

Alexandr Alexin

Mules Track & Field/Cross Country - 1996-98

Arguably the finest thinclad in Central Missouri State history, Alexandr Alexin won four individual championships and was a six-time track & field All-American. Alexin won the NCAA Division II cross country title in 1996, the 1996 and 1997 indoor mile national championships, and the 1996 outdoor 1500-meter crown.

He holds the Mules’ indoor records in the mile and 3,000-meter run, and in the outdoor 1,500.

Jeff Kremer

Mules Track & Field - 1994-98

The 1998 Vernon Kennedy Award Winner, Jeff Kremer was a seven-time All-American in track and field. In addition to his 1998 national championship in the discus, Kremer earned All-America honors in the discus and shot put at the 1997 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, and in the indoor weight throw and shot put and outdoor shot put and hammer throw in 1998.

He holds the Mules’ records in the weight throw, discus, and hammer throw, and ranks second in school history in both the indoor and outdoor shot put.

Bob Poisal

Mules Baseball - 1992-95

Bob Poisal was a key member of the Mules first NCAA Division II Baseball Championship in 1994. A picture of what hard work and determination can produce, he went from walk-on to two-time All-American. In 1994, Poisal won 12 games in helping to lead Central to the national title, and he followed that performance in 1995 by winning 13 decisions, making him the only pitcher in Central history to post 12 or more wins twice in his career.

He ranks fourth in school history in wins with 27, and sixth in career innings pitched with 229 1/3. His 78 strikeouts in 1995 is fourth in school single-season history, while his 115.2 innings pitched that season is a school record.

Poisal was also recognized for his achievements in the classroom, as he was named first-team Academic All-American in 1995.

Ron Tabb

Mules Track & Field/Cross Country - 1974-76

Ron Tabb was the first great distance runner in Central Missouri State history. A four-time All-American, he placed among the elite in the cross country national championships in 1974 and 1976, and also claimed All-America honors in the three-mile run in 1975 and in the 10,000-meter run in 1976.

Now in his third season as the head cross-country and track & field coach at Pacific University, Tabb went on to great things after completing his eligibility at Central Missouri State. A member of the 1980 United States Olympic Team, Tabb currently posts the sixth fastest marathon mark in U.S. history, a time of 2:09:31 at the 1983 Boston Marathon. He is one of only four Americans to run more than 20 marathons under 2:20 and is the only American to win major marathons on five different continents. Tabb also competed in the 1983 World Championships and the 1986 Goodwill Games.

~ Coaches ~

Terry Noland

Mules Football - 1983-96

From 1983-1996, Terry Noland posted a record of 78-65-2. Noland owns the school records for wins, seasons as head coach, and conference titles, and he is responsible for getting Central Missouri State on the map as one of the premier programs in the Midwest. Noland’s squads won or shared four Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Association titles (1983, 1986, 1987, and 1988) and produced 15 All-Americans.

Named MIAA Coach of the Year in 1986 when his Mules won their first undisputed league crown since 1926 and tied the school record for wins with nine, Noland also had three players earn Academic All-America honors, and he sent nine players on to the professional ranks. His 1986 Mules football team has been inducted into the CMSU Athletic Hall of Fame, as have three of his former players--Scott Loveland, Bart Woods, and Jeff Wright.

Noland now serves as Vice President of Sports Development for the YMCA of Greater Kansas City.

Jim Wooldridge

Mules Basketball - 1985-90

Jim Wooldridge directed the Mules basketball program for six years, posting an overall record of 131-48. Four of his six teams won at least 20 games, while every squad posted at least 17 wins. His .732 winning percentage ranks fourth on the Mules all-time chart, while his 131 wins follows only Tad Reid (178 victories in 15 years) and Earl Keth (159 wins in 15 seasons). His teams finished second in the MIAA tournament in 1986, 1989 and 1990, and advanced to the NCAA Regional finals twice, finishing as runners up in both 1989 and 1990.

An assistant coach at Central from 1982-85, he helped Lynn Nance (Hall of Fame class of 1996) win the 1983-84 National Championship and MIAA titles in 1983-84 and 1984-85.

Wooldridge is now in his fourth season as head coach at Kansas State University.

~ Teams ~

1995 Jennies Softball Team

In 1995, the Jennies Softball Team, under the direction of head coach Rhesa Sumrell, went 49-11, establishing a school record for wins in a single season. The Jennies finished 14-2 and won the MIAA North Division, and then claimed the conference championship by out-scoring their four MIAA Tournament opponents 24-2. Coach Sumrell’s squad went on to place second in the NCAA Division II Central Regional Tournament.

Four Jennies–pitcher Mandee Berg, third baseman Susan Punzo, catcher Beth Savage, and designated player Sue Weihs–were chosen first-team All-Region, while pitcher Kara Virtue was a second-team Academic All-American.

1996 Jennies Volleyball Team

Coach Peggy Martin’s squad boasted a mark of 34-6, 15-1 in the MIAA. The Jennies claimed Central’s 12^th consecutive MIAA title, won the regional tournament, and advanced to the national championships, ultimately placing fourth in NCAA Division II.

Middle hitter Chris Kalehuawehe and outside hitter Sara Dallas were both named All-America, while Jaime St. Marie joined them on the All-Region team.

1997 Mules Baseball Team

In 1997, Coach Brad Hill’s Mules baseball team finished with a 39-13 record, 17-2 and first in the MIAA. The Mules won both the MIAA Tournament and the Central Regional Tournament to advance to the NCAA Division II College World Series, where they would ultimately go 1-2.

All-America honors went to first baseman Dave Goodwin and second baseman Ben Slemmer, third baseman Aaron Christensen was an Academic All-America selection, and pitchers Eric Massey and Eric Clark were All-Region.

~ Special Recognition ~

Dean Vogelaar

Dean Vogelaar has been a Mule since 1967 when he joined the Central Missouri State football team as a strong safety. After two seasons with Coach Howard Mahanes’ squad, Vogelaar began his career in public relations. In fact, just two days after competing in the 1968 Mineral Water Bowl, he began working in the CMSU public relations office as the assistant sports information director under Jim Trecek (SID) and Carl Foster (PR Director). That spring, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communications (emphasis in public relations). He added a master’s degree in public relations in 1971.

In 1970, Vogelaar was promoted to sports information director, and in the summer of 1973, he was hired part-time by the Kansas City Royals to assist with promotion of the Major League All-Star game. After returning to Central in the fall to cover the Mules football team, he was hired full time by the Royals as travelling secretary and assistant public relations director. Ultimately, Vogelaar became vice president for public relations and community relations, a position he held until 1995.

While at Central, the Odessa (Mo.) Senior High School graduate also worked with the campus television and radio stations and with the Muleskinner. He also hosted a morning sports show at KOKO Radio.

Today, Vogelaar is vice president for business development for Community First National Bank in Steamboat Springs, Colo. He and his wife, Cathy, have three children–Deana, Reschille, and Gary–and four grandchildren.

Adrian and Margaret Harmon

Adrian and Margaret Harmon could be considered the first family of Central Athletic Boosters. In 1929, Adrian attended his first Mules game. In 1949 they became season ticket holders, later becoming charter members of the Mule Train Athletic Booster Club.

They have supported Central Missouri State financially–the School of Business is named in their honor–and with their time, opening their home to Central student-athletes in the days before residence halls and loaning their personal airplane to CMSU coaches for use in recruiting trips.

All three of the Harmon’s children–sons Lynn and Tom , and daughter Deborah–attended University High School. Both sons attended Boy’s State at CMSU (Tom continued to work with the organization for a number of years after graduation from college), and the Harmons were instrumental in the Challenge Fund, which insure that Boys State will forever find its home on the CMSU campus. Lynn later became a member of the CMSU Board of Governors, and the Harmon’s daughter-in-law, Tammy Noah-Harmon, was a standout on the Jennies 1984 National Championship team.

The Harmons, who remain fixtures at Central athletic events, have eight grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

The February 28 induction brunch is open to the public. Tickets are $12.00 and can be obtained by contacting the Central Missouri State athletics office at 543-4250 by February 23. The 2003 inductees also will be introduced and recognized at halftime of the February 28 Mules basketball game vs. Washburn.

To be eligible for selection to the Hall of Fame in the student-athlete or team categories, nominees must have completed their eligibility or competition at least five years prior to selection. Student-athlete nominees must have earned at least two varsity letters at Central Missouri. Qualifications and criteria are based primarily upon accomplishments at Central Missouri, but also may include accomplishments outside the university. Nominees in the coaches category must have completed their service to Central Missouri at least five years prior to selection. Nominees in the special recognition category can be selected without any restrictions on their dates of employment or service.