CC Spokane will induct 16 individuals, two teams into hall of fame
Sixteen individuals and two teams will be inducted into the Community Colleges of Spokane Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday during a 1 p.m. luncheon in the Student Union Building on the Spokane Falls campus at Fort Wright.
The individuals include John Troppmann, the school’s first strength and conditioning coach, a position he held for 25 years; Dave Keller, a star athlete and head baseball coach for 12 years; Kammie Jacobs and Chana (Bonnett) Owens, who turned their athletic talents into stints as assistant coaches; and Karl Benson, who went from the baseball field at SFCC in the early 1970s into being commissioner of the Mid-American and Western Athletic conferences.
Troppmann arrived in 1988 as an assistant football coach. In 27 years before retiring in 2015 he directed the SFCC health/fitness technician program and sent seven years as chair of the physical education department.
Keller (1988-90 as an athlete, 1997-2008 as coach) was a member of the 1982 Kirkland, Washington, team that won the Little League baseball World Series, defeating Taiwan in the finals. At SFCC, he set records in runs (88) and hits (120) that still stand and earned All-East Region and All-NWAACC honors. As baseball coach, he won 263 games, the most in school history.
Jacobs (1991-93, East Valley), soccer, was a two-time all-conference midfielder as CCS, a two-year school with a new women’s program, played against four-year schools. She led the Sasquatch to the conference championship in 1992. After her playing days, she spent four years as the CCS assistant coach.
(Bonnett) Owens (1999-01, Rogers), golf, two-time all-region and All-NWAACC tournament, won 2000 conference championship, fourth in 2001 and helped lead Sasquatch to titles both years. Returned to CCS as women’s assistant golf coach from 2006-08.
Benson (1970-72, Pullman) was a team leader and defensive anchor for the baseball Spartans who went on to a coaching and administrative career culminating in the conference commissioner positions.
Mark Sutherland (1983-85; Ferris), baseball, earned all-region and all-conference honors, was NWAACC MVP in 1985 and still ranks in the top 10 in several categories.
Steve Camyn (1985-87; Ferris), baseball, infielder, all-region, all-conference, best remembered for hitting three home runs on final day of 1987 NWAACC Championships to lead SFCC to title and earn tournament MVP. Received NWAACC Academic Excellence Award in 1987.
Michael Call (1987-89), baseball, pitcher, all-region, all-conference, set several school pitching records and in 1989 was recipient of NWAACC Leadership Award.
Wanda (Freeman) Garcia (2000-02), tennis, won NWAACC No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles titles in leading CCS to 2001-02 championship, was 15-0 in conference in 2002.
Todd Turner (1987-89), baseball, third base, all-region, all-conference in helping lead SFCC to 1989 NWAAC title, ranks among school’s all-time top hitters with .396 career mark.
Bill Cook (1988-90), baseball, two-time all-region, all-conference, ranks among school’s all-time top hitters with .387 career average.
Roman Borvanov (2000-01), tennis, won NWAACC No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles titles in his only year at SFCC, had nine-year pro career.
Michael Shelton (2006-08), tennis, NWAACC No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles champion in 2008 after finishing as runner-up in both in 2007.
Megan Field (1994-96), golf, two-time All-NWAACC, medalist at NWAACC Championships in 1996, won three other tournaments in 1996.
Craig Mitchell (1972-74, Shadle Park), baseball, pitcher, all-conference, ranks in top 10 in school ERA, drafted by Oakland and played three years with A’s in the majors, eight years of pro ball.
Larry Patterson (1974-75), baseball, infielder/catcher, spent one year at SFCC batting .436, drafted by Seattle Mariners in 1977 and spent seven seasons in pro ball, including 1981 with the Spokane Indians.
Tennis produced the first teams for its sport to be inducted into the school’s athletic hall of fame, both coached by Wally Heidenson, who was NWAACC Coach of the Year with both teams.
The 2001-02 women’s team, led by Garcia won eight of nine individual titles in winning the NWAACC tournament. Garcia teamed with Jenny (Cooper) Richardson for No. 1 doubles title. Other team members: Lis (Boyle) Matthews, Staci Heidenson, Aimee (Hata) Macosky, Christine (Freeman) Sutor, Deja (Rice) Diapella and Svetlana Melinkov. Team went 19-2 overall, 12-0 in conference.
The 1988-89 men’s team, led by titles at No. 2 singles from Ron Hewett and No. 2 doubles from Dave Kuttner and Bob Austin, avenged only league loss by beating Green River for NWAACC title. Alex Tibbits was runner-up at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles with partner Hewett; Bob Lily was runner-up in No. 6 singles and No. 3 doubles with Jeff Davis. Team was 10-1 in league, 13-3 overall.
Info and tickets: Sunni Strand, 533-3630, or email at Sunni.Strand@scc.spokane.edu.edu.