The Wichita Sports Hall of Fame announced its 2016 class of inductees this week. Wichita State basketball players Fred VanVleet and Ron Baker are both included on the list.
The Wichita Sports Hall of Fame recognizes athletes, coaches, and media professionals who have brought honor to the City of Wichita. This year’s class of inductees honors eight people in addition to Baker and VanVleet, who both graduate this year.
In a press release, the organization described Baker as “an unheralded recruit from Scott City, who has blossomed into one of college basketball’s premier players.” Baker was a three- time All-MVC player and two-time All-American as well as a top 10 all-time leading WSU scorer and one of the greatest defenders in MVC history.
Accolades for VanVleet include a three-time All-MVC player and two-time All-American. VanVleet is one of the top all-time leaders in assists and scoring for the Shockers.
The Wichita Sports Hall of Fame calls VanVleet “a leading defender and one of the greatest dribble drive player in MVC history.”
The complete list of inductees, per the Wichita Sports Hall of Fame:
Ron Baker--Ron was an unheralded recruit from Scott City, who has blossomed into one of college basketball’s premier players. He was a three- time All-MVC player and two-time All-American. Ron also is a top 10 all-time leading WSU scorer and one of the greatest defenders in MVC history.
Caroline Bruce McAndrew--As a 14 time state champion at Trinity HS, Caroline was a 13 time All-American selection in five different events, a seven time Pac-10 Conference champion, a two-time NCAA Champion at Stanford, and had top finishes in several international competitions at the highest level, including the 2004 Olympics. She is a Kansas Sports HOF inductee.
Mae Ceurvorst--Mae was the Missouri Valley Tennis Association champion in 1931-32-33. She played in three US Tennis Opens and in 1934 Mae made it to the quarterfinals. Mae was also one of the best women basketball players in Wichita history. She was a 1931 AAU Basketball All-American for the 1931 national champion runner-ups, the Wichita Thurstons.
Jason Duda--Jason Duda had his number 11 retired as a Wichita Thunder player and coach. As a three time all-star, he has to his credit the most games played, most goals, most assists, most points, most hat tricks and most consecutive games played, 225 games.
Mark Folger--Mark was a South HS state champion gymnast in the parallel bars, an All Big-8 gymnast and NCAA medalist for the Oklahoma Sooners. Mark founded and ran Folger's Gymnastics from 1986 to 2014. Folger's Gymnasts went on to win NCAA National Titles in division one and division three as well as conference titles in the SEC, Big-12 and MIC. In 2009, Mark was the USA Gymnastics National Junior Olympic Coach of the Year.
Goebel Family--The Goebel Family/Star Lumber & Supply Co., has provided financial and moral support to Newman athletics for many years. Many buildings on campus have had Goebel family contributions and the Newman baseball park was built by the family. The family has been inducted into the Newman University HOF.
Bill Koch--Bill Koch was the winning skipper of the 1992 America’s Cup, the world’s most important yachting competition. Koch was also the winning skipper in the 1990 and 1991 Maxi Yacht World Championships. He has been inducted into the Kansas Sports HOF and America’s Cup HOF. Koch was also named “Kansan of the Year” in 1993 and 1994.
J. D. Schneider--J. D. Schneider erected a dynasty in the NBC tournament with his Wichita, Hutchinson and El Dorado Broncos, as vice president and director of operations. His teams won the NBC World Series five times – 1989, 1990, 1996, 1998 and 2009. Schneider has been inducted into the N.B.C. HOF, Kansas Baseball HOF and El Dorado Baseball HOF.
Jim Thomas--Jim was a member of the 1978 National Champion Southeast HS baseball team. He was also an assistant baseball coach at Wichita State University from 1992 to 2013. He helped lead the Shockers to their first College World Series appearance in 1982. He was an All-American second baseman in 1981-82. Played professionally nine years with the Astros and Angels organization. Inductee in the Kansas Baseball HOF, Southeast HOF and the Shocker HOF.
Fred VanVleet--Fred was a three time All-MVC player and two-time All-American. One of the top all-time leaders in WSU assists, scoring, a leading defender and one of the greatest dribble drive player in MVC history.
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