CMS alumni athletes representing Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd, and Scripps colleges will be inducted into the CMS Athletic Hall of Fame during a recognition banquet at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23, at the Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum.
This year's inductees, selected on the merits of stellar collegiate athletic performances, are: Wayne Akiyama '74 (cross-country/track & field), Frank Hinman '88 (tennis), Mark Messana '89 (track & field, soccer), Maril Davis (SCR '94, soccer), and Hank Krieger, former Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's tennis coach from 1976-99.
Mike Sutton, director of CMS athletics and a member of the selection committee, says thatat minimuminductees are all first team, all-conference athletes who were critical to their team's success. Other factoring criteria may include whether the inductee made all-district, was named an all-American, held a record at the institutional, conference or world level, or gained a national championship in his or her sport.
"And periodically," says Sutton, "we have a special inductee such as Hank Krieger, who coached 27 winning seasons. Not only is he one of our winningest coaches, he has been an MVP on the Harvey Mudd faculty as chair of the mathematics department, as chair of the faculty, and is one of the most respected voices on the campus. He is the consummate teacher-coach.'"
The five inductees will take their place in the Hall alongside 60 other athletes that have made the roster during past years. "It's a great honor," says Hinman, ranked as one of the greatest doubles players in CMS history after leading his team to four top-10 national finishes and the first three of eight straight SCIAC championships. "I'm particularly pleased to share the occasion with Coach Krieger, and excited to come back to the place where I made so many good friends and had such great experiences."
A seven-person panel of representatives from CMC, Harvey Mudd, and Scripps colleges selects candidates for the CMS Athletic Hall of Fame. In addition, no candidate may be considered until they've been out of school for at least 10 years.
"Our inductees have gone on to become doctors, lawyers pillars of their communities," Sutton says. "But the only Hall of Famer that became a professional athlete is Wes Parker '62, who was an infielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers."
Associate Director of Alumni Relations Holly McCord expects a crowd of 150 to 200 people for the induction ceremony. Hall of Famer Mike Haas '79 will emcee the annual event, which begins with a reception at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6.
The Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum is located at 385 E. Eighth Street in Claremont.