Contact: Sarah Cooper Washington Interscholastic Activities Association 435 Main Ave. South Renton, WA 98057 (425) 282-5240

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

News Release

WIAA Announces 2009 Hall of Fame Inductees Renton will serve as host site for luncheon

(RENTON, Wash.) – The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association and The Seattle Times are proud to announce the 2009 Hall of Fame class that will be inducted on Wednesday, April 15, 2009, at the Spirit of Washington Events Center in Renton, Wash.

This year’s class includes a former Major League Baseball player and former Seattle Mariner, a former professional soccer player for the US National Team, and the winningest basketball coach in Washington state girls’ basketball history. Below is the complete list of the inductees by category followed by their biographies.

For more information on the 2009 WIAA Hall of Fame inductees and for tickets to the luncheon, contact Andy Barnes, WIAA Assistant Executive Director, at (425) 282-5237 or [email protected] .

2009 WIAA Hall of Fame Inductees

Athletes John Olerud Chris Henderson Lisa Raschkow Johnson

Fine Arts Mike Burton

Coaches Bill Harris Curt DeHaan

Officials Dick Eglet Mike Burton

Administrators Alli Bennett

John Olerud Athlete Interlake, 1986

John Olerud attended Interlake High School where he lettered for three years in golf and baseball. With baseball as his major focus, John led his team to the KingCo title game as a junior. Even though the team lost, John’s batting average was .435 and he pitched a record of 9-2, with an ERA of 1.54. In his senior year, John was named All-KingCo, played on the All-State Team, and was chosen the MVP Offensive Player of the All-State game.

After high school, John played baseball at Washington State University. In 1987, he batted .414 and pitched a record of 8-2, with a 3.80 ERA. He played for the United States National Team that competed in the Intercontinental Cup Baseball Tournament in Havana, Cuba, in October 1987. In 1988, John was chosen as Intercollegiate Baseball Player of the Year by Baseball America. During his junior year, John suffered a brain aneurysm and only played half the games that season while still hitting .359. During his time at WSU, he broke and set many school and PAC-10 records.

John was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1989. In 1990, he was the AL Rookie of the Year and a member of the Toronto World Series Championship Team. In 1993, John won the National League Batting Championship with a .363 average, while playing for the New York Mets. He has been both an American and National League All-Star and has won Golden Glove Awards at first base for the Seattle Mariners.

John married his fellow Interlake alum, Kelly Plaisted, in 1992, and now contributes to his community through Make-A-Wish and visiting children’s hospitals.

Chris Henderson Athlete Cascade, 1989

Chris Henderson played soccer at Cascade High School in Everett. There his teams won four conference championships and placed third in state during his freshman year. In addition, Chris played in three consecutive state championship games winning twice in 1987 and 1989. He was a two-time Parade High School All American and, as a senior, was honored as the Gatorade National High School Player of the Year.

After high school, Chris’s success continued at the collegiate, professional, and national levels. Chris played at UCLA and won an NCAA Division I National Championship in 1990, as well as being named a Collegiate All-American. In 1990, at age 19, he was selected to play for the US National Team at the World Cup in Italy. From 1990 to 2001, Chris played in 79 games for the US National Team ranking him 21 st in all-time appearances for his country. Chris also represented the United States at the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992.

Professionally, Chris played soccer in Germany and Norway, before returning to the US in 1996 to be one of the original founding players of the new Major League Soccer (MLS). He played 11 years in the MLS and was selected to three all-star teams. He ranks second in terms of most games played in league history with 317.

Chris now works as the technical director for the Seattle Sounders FC.

Lisa Raschkow Johnson Athlete Auburn, 1983

Lisa Raschkow Johnson was a gifted athlete who played many sports at Auburn High School. In 1982, she helped her softball team to a first place finish at the state championships and her soccer team to a third place finish at the state championships. But Lisa will mainly be remembered for the things she did on the basketball court. She was a three-year starter at point guard, participated on a state championship team with an undefeated season in 1982-83, and finished with 550 assists in her three years at Auburn – 246 more than any other player in school history. She was also named a Converse All-American in 1983.

After Auburn High School, Lisa received a full scholarship to the University of Washington. There, she was a four-year varsity letter winner, 1986 and 1987 Women’s Team Captain, and 1987 Pac 10 Medal of Honor Recipient. Lisa ended her career with a record in assists that held for 15 years.

Lisa graduated from the UW with a science major and a 3.4 GPA. After a successful 15-year career in computer software business, Lisa lives with her husband, Mark, and two children in Bremerton.

Mike Burton Fine Arts/Official

Mike Burton’s career spans four decades in an array of stellar programs and services such as forensics, baseball, national boards, and officiating. In addition, he was a master teacher who received the coveted Golden Apple Award from KCTS Channel 9 and PEMCO Insurance for excellence in education.

Mike’s career as a debate coach began in Auburn and concluded at Eastside Catholic. Both programs received national recognition. Below are some of the awards and accomplishments he and his teams received:

• Bruno Jacob for Service • University of Kentucky Tournament of Champions Hall of Fame • 36 State Championships • 1995 NW National Federation High Schools (NFHS) Instructor of the Year • 2000 NFHS National Citation Award for Officiating • 2004 Minnesota Coaches Golden Apple for Excellence in Forensics • 2007 National Forensic League Living Legends Award • 2007 Bronx Achievement Award

Mike shaped policy and programs throughout the state and nation with his leadership, service and expertise. His contributions in forensics and officiating are unprecedented. During his career, he has served in the following capacities:

• Washington Interscholastic Activities Association Forensics Committee (14 years) • National Catholic Forensics League Executive Committee • Football Commissioner for the Northwest Intercollegiate Football Officials • Executive Board National Forensics League 1996-2000 • Washington Officials Association Executive Board 1985-2007 • President of the National Federation of Officials in 1998 • 2000 National Federation Citation Award Winner for Officiating Excellence • 2009 Washington Officials Association Hall of Fame.

Bill Harris Coach

Bill Harris began his teaching career at Federal Way High School where he taught math. He started as an assistant coach in track and field in 1963 and became the head coach for track and field and cross country in 1965. During his time there, he has won six Girls Track League Championships, 10 Girls Cross Country Championships, two track and field State Team Championships and has coached athletes with 12 individual state championship records.

In 1996, Bill retired from teaching, and from 1997-99, he served as the athletic director at Federal Way High School. In addition, he has and continues to be the West Central District III co-manager for the combination 3A-4A track meet which includes well over 800 participants. His dedication and contribution to the sport of track has not gone unrecognized by the West Central District III Executive Board, which honored him and his wife Kathy with the Meritorious Service Award in 2002. In 2007 he was inducted into the Washington State Track and Field Hall of Fame and in 2008 he was inducted into the Federal Way School District Hall of Fame.

Curt DeHaan Coach

Curt DeHaan has been coaching for 32 years. After graduating from Washington State University, he began teaching at Lynden Christian High School in 1975. He taught vocational agriculture for 10 years as well as running the family’s farm in Lynden.

Curt started his coaching career in 1976, as the JV girls basketball coach and became head coach in 1980. From 1976-80 his JV teams recorded a combined 71-1 record. As an assistant he was a part of two state championships in 1979 and 1980. At the varsity level, his teams’ combined record is 648-125, the most wins for a high school girls varsity coach in Washington. Curt’s teams have made 25 state appearances, 19 state semifinals, and have won seven state championships. He was also the runner-up for The Seattle Times Girls Basketball Coach of the Century in 2000, and League Coach of the Year more than 10 times. Not only has Curt stressed the fundamentals of basketball, but he emphasizes teamwork and discipline. “The process has always been more important than the end result,” says De Haan. More than 10 of his former players have gone on to be coaches themselves.

Curt and his wife Sandy have been married since 1976 and have three children, Heidi, Chad and Jason.

Dick Eglet Official

Dick has officiated many sports since 1965 including girls Washington Officials Association (WOA) basketball (since 1975), boys WOA basketball (since 1985), and WOA Baseball and Softball (since 1980). Dick has been the Central Washington Basketball Officials Girls assignor for 33 years, the Yakima Valley Basketball Officials Association Boys Basketball assignor since 1994, the Yakima Valley Umpires Association softball assignor since 1993 and Baseball since 1995, Central Washington Volleyball Officials Volleyball assignor since 2008, and a board member from Region 5 to the WOA Executive Board for 15 of the last 18 years. Dick has also served on the WIAA/WOA Fee Review Committee for the last 15 years. He worked community college Girls Basketball for 15 years and eight years of Central Washington University Girls Basketball. Dick has been the State Tournament Officials Coordinator in Yakima for basketball since 1999, volleyball since 1992, baseball since 2008 and softball since 2007.

Dick has served many years as a board member for numerous associations. He has spent many hours working with athletic directors to provide officials for their athletic contests. In addition, he has worked with multiple associations to cover officiating needs on any given day. Dick has served for the past five years on the Yakima Valley Interscholastic Activities Association District 5 Board.

Alli Bennett Administrator

Alli Bennett began her teaching career at Medical Lake High School after graduating from Washington State University in 1971. Alli was a para-educator/teacher for 34 years. Her coaching experiences include years as a coach of basketball, field hockey, track, and volleyball. Alli was the athletic director at Garfield-Palouse High School for 14 years and was the President of WIAA District 9 for ten of those years.

Alli served on the following WIAA committees: • District 9 Eligibility Chair 11 years • District 9 Volleyball Tournament Manager 11 years • Fall Sports Committee 4 years • Just Play Fair! Committee 2 years • Amendment Review Committee 2 years • Strategic Planning Committee 2 years • Athletic Administrators Committee 2 years • WSSAAA Board Representative District 9 3 years • President of District 9 Board 10 years • WIAA Executive Board Member 1 year

Alli worked hard to make sure every athlete had the opportunity to participate in the safest, yet most competitive, environment possible. Her job was the major focus of her professional career. Throughout her life, she shared that passion with everyone she met, never expecting to be congratulated or thanked.

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