ALAMOSA, Colo. (August 10, 2015) - The Adams State University Hall of Fame committee is pleased to announce the induction of eight individuals and a collection of three baseball teams into this year's ASU Hall of Fame class.

Former Adams State President Dr. David Svaldi will also be recognized as the Ted & Janet Morrison Special Citation Recipient. Svaldi served as ASU's President from 2005-2015.

The inductees will be honored alongside their family and friends at the annual hall of fame ceremony on Friday, October 16^th at 6:00 p.m. MT. The ceremony will take place at the Student Union Building Banquet Room. Preceding the event will be a social at 5:00 p.m. in the Vistas Restaurant in Rex Stadium.

Tickets are available through the athletic office and may be purchased by contacting Dianne Lee, Associate A.D. for Internal Affairs/Senior Woman Administrator.

Fans are encouraged to RSVP using this form by October 2^nd.
 

Dianne Lee
diannelee@adams.edu	(office) 719-587-7401

 

Ticket Pricing
Single Ticket	$35
Table Reservation (10 tickets)	$300

 
The Hall of Fame inductees will also be honored at halftime of the football game against Black Hills State University on Saturday, October 17^th. That conference game is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. MT kickoff.
 
Bob Anderson '67 | Wrestling
As a transfer from El Camino (Calif.) Junior College, Bob Anderson made an immediate impact for Adams State by placing fourth at the 1965 NAIA National Tournament held in Terre Haute, Ind. His first NAIA All-American honor led to a NCAA Division I All-American nod as he placed sixth in the University division of the NCAA tournament. With this distinction, Anderson became one of the first All-Americans at Adams State. He followed with another NAIA All-American award in 1966 while serving as the team's co-captain. That season, Adams State placed third at the NAIA National Tournament which was the highest finish for the wrestling program at the time. Anderson was also a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Champion with Adams State. While in Alamosa, Adams State went undefeated in dual meets and won two Mountain Intercollegite Wresting Association (MIWA) championships. 

With his collegiate career over, Anderson entered the coaching realm in 1967 with Adams State as an assistant. Anderson, along with head coach Frank Powell, led the program to a runner-up finish at the NAIA National Tournament held in Lock Haven, Pa.

Anderson went on to win the 1968 Western Regional Olympic Trials and the 1968 Olympic trials in Greco Roman. He eventually earned a spot on the U.S.A. Olympic wrestling team as an alternate for the 1968, 1972, and 1976 games.  After the conclusion of international competition, Anderson would coach a Junior World team, a World Cup team, and a U.S.A. wrestling team. As an Olympic coach he mentored Rulon Gardner, Dan Henderson, Heath Sims, and Randy Couture.

Anderson went on to win two gold medals and a silver medal at the Pan Am games. In 2003 he earned the title of Masters World Champion where he went without a point scored against him. The rare accomplishment led to a featured article in Sports Illustrated. He followed with a silver medal in 2004 at the World Championships in Greco Roman.

Aaron Braun '09 | Cross Country, Track & Field
Aaron Braun finished his illustrious Adams State career as a 15-time All-American. As a junior in 2009 he was declared the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Indoor Track Athlete of the Year and the Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year.

He went on to earn NCAA Division II individual titles for the indoor mile (2009 & 2010) as well as a pair of RMAC titles. His conference crowns came in the 1500 meters during the outdoor season of 2009 and as a member of the distance medley relay team for the 2009 indoor season. He also tallied three runner-up performances at NCAA DII Championship meets.

As a cross country runner he finished second at both the 2007 and 2008 NCAA DII National Championships. At the 2008 RMAC Championships he crossed the finish line in 24:35.3 for first place honors.

Collegiately he tallied personal-best marks of 4:06.98 in the mile, 7:51.68 in the 3000 meters, and 13:36.85 in the 5000 meters. In cross country he recorded a 10,000 meters time of 30:05.6, 8,000 meters time of 23:38, and a four mile mark of 19:27.4.

Braun was a member of one indoor track & field national championship team and two cross country national championship teams. He holds three school records (3000 meters-indoor, 5000 meters-outdoor, 5000 meters-indoor) and is a member of the school record holding distance medley relay team.

Curt Christensen '88 | Track & Field
Although the strongest tradition of success for Adams State comes in the form of distance runners, Curt Christensen was able to flourish and show the nation that Adams State was much more than that. As a triple jumper, Christensen captured three RMAC crowns from 1985-87. His jump at the 1987 conference meet of 51' set a school record that stood for 27 years. His individual success played a vital role in Adams State claiming conference championships during all three of those seasons.

At the 1986 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Kansas City, Mo. he captured a national title in the triple jump with a distance of 49' 5.25". At that meet, Adams State recorded 67 team points to finish second. Away from athletic competition, Christensen was named a NAIA Scholar-Athlete in 1987.

Aucencio Martinez '10 | Cross Country, Track & Field
Aucencio Martinez ran to a pair of national titles during the 2006 indoor track and field season. The first came in the mile with a time of 4:07.44. The other came as a member of the distance medley relay team. Grouped with teammates Reid Ellis, Jake Streeter, and Nick Lara the DMR team finished in 9:50.48 to beat Abilene Christian by 0.85 of a second.  His first of 10 All-American honors came as a freshman at the 2003 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships where he finished sixth in the 1500 meters. He earned a 13^th place finish at the 2005 NCAA DII Cross Country Championships and followed with a 10^th place mark in 2006.

He finished with a 10,000 meter personal-best time of 29:45.3 and an 8,000 personal-best mark of 26:35.0. He clocked personal-bests in track as a senior in 2007 with marks of 3:44.15 in the 1500 meters and 4:00.69 in the mile. He is a member of the school record holding distance medley relay team.

Steve Nichols '74 | Track & Field
It was a memorable 1973-74 track and field campaign for Steve Nichols. During that senior season for Nichols, he clocked a time of 49.5 seconds for an individual title in the 440 meter dash at the NAIA indoor championships in Kansas City, Mo. Earlier in the indoor season, he set a school record in the event (47.3) that still stands today.

The success translated into the outdoor season as Nichols was an RMAC champion in the 440 yard dash (48.7) and 880 yard run (1:59.0). His efforts helped secure a RMAC team championship as Adams State finished with 181 points; beating Colorado School of Mines by 49 points.

By the end of his collegiate eligibility, Nichols held RMAC records and titles in the 100 yard dash (9.8), 220 yard dash (21.8), and 440 yard dash. He was also a member of the RMAC record-setting mile relay (3:22.8).

Dee Dee Shiplett | Volleyball, Basketball, Softball
There was no such thing as an offseason for Dee Dee Shiplett during her time at Adams State from 1983-88. As a three sport athlete, Shiplett competed in volleyball, basketball, and softball; earning a total of nine varsity letters.

On the basketball court she emerged onto the scene during her freshman season of 1983-84. She ranked within the top 25 for scoring amongst Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) players that season as Adams State earned an RMAC Championship under Hall of Fame coach Jack 'Doc' Cotton. During her junior campaign of 1985-86 she was selected to the Second Team All-RMAC and ranked second in the conference with a 51 percent shooting clip from the field.

On the diamond she was a NAIA District 7 All-American Honorable Mention selection in 1986. In 1987 she threw a no-hitter against Colorado School of Mines and posted a 1.34 season ERA while hitting .474. In her final season of 1988 she ranked first in the RMAC in hitting, hitting percentage, and runs batted in. In total she was a two-time RMAC All-Conference selection as a pitcher (1987 & 1988). She was also tabbed All-NAIA District 7 as a utility player in 1988. That same season, Adams State was crowned RMAC Champions.

Shiplett also lettered twice in volleyball (1985 & 1986) under head coach Vivian Frausto.

Mark Steward | Track & Field
It was Mark Steward's time to shine when the indoor track and field season came around. Steward won back-to-back individual titles in the mile at the NAIA Championships in 1985 and 1986. His winning pace at the 1985 meet in Kansas City, Mo. registered at 4:09.79. In 1986 the championship site remained the same as he improved his winning time to 4:08.69. Steward was also a member of the distance medley relay in 1986 that took home first-place honors. Steward along with teammates Paul Sims, Travis McKinley, and Maurice Smith finished in 10:05.73. At the time, the finish became the third fastest DMR mark at the NAIA indoor championship meet. Steward's efforts at the 1986 national meet helped Adams State finish in second-place with a total of 67 points. At the time it was the best finish for Adams State at an indoor national meet. He finished his collegiate career as a five-time NAIA All-American.

Richard Tamble '68 | Wrestling
By the time Richard Tamble came to Alamosa in 1966 he was already a wrestling champion for El Camino (Calif.) Junior College. The accolades continued to stack up with Adams State from 1966-68 as a wrestler at the 115 weight class. Tamble was a two-time RMAC champion, two-time Mountain intercollegiate champion, and a two-time NAIA All-American. As a co-captain during his senior season, Tamble led Adams State to its first-ever wrestling national championship in 1968. The collegiate success quickly served as a spring board into international competition as Tamble became the first-ever Adams State athlete to represent their country in Olympic competition (Mexico City, 1968).

Tamble went on to serve in the U.S. Army after being drafted in 1969. His wrestling career continued through his service as a coach and wrestler for the 7^th Corps Army team in Germany. In 1971 he was named Inter-service wrestling champion in freestyle and Greco Roman and finished second in the A.A.U. National Championships. He was then assigned to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point to serve as an assistant wrestling coach and military tactics instructor.

1958, 1959, & 1960 Baseball teams
Under the leadership of Hall of Fame coach Spud Orr, Adams State emerged onto the scene from 1958-1960. In 1958 Adams State advanced into the NAIA regional tournament but was ultimately eliminated with losses to St. Cloud State (9-0) and Sul Ross State University (7-6). In all three seasons Adams State finished second in the RMAC standings. During this span the program climbed all the way to 10^th in the national rankings and went on a 12-game winning streak. The program also snapped Colorado State University's 39-game winning streak with Orr at the helm.

During the 1958 season, Adams State finished with a 14-7 record and tallied the best record of any NAIA team in Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. Sophomore pitcher Darrell Westbrook led the pitching staff with a 5-0 record and a 1.55 ERA entering the NAIA Tournament. Westbrook, a Sanford, Colo. native, also notched two shutout victories. Freshman Jim Workman produced a 4-1 pitching record and also finished second on the team with a .435 batting average along with 23 RBI's. Ben Brown led Adams State with a .436 batting average and 16 stolen bases. 

As a team, Adams State hit .314 in 1958 and finished with a .943 fielding percentage. 

Members of the 1958 team to reach the NAIA regional tournament included Bill Waters, Ben Brown, Jerry Booher, Gabby Picone, Tom Bobicki, Bill Latham, Dick Lee, Jim Colbert, Bill Blatnick, Bob Reed, Don Bucher, Bob Miller, Jim Workman, Bill Humphrey, Doug Anderson, and Darrell Westbrook.