N e w s l e t t e r A P u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e A l u m n i W - C l u b Western Kentucky University’s Of cial Alumni Athletic Letterwinners Organization Vol. 8, No. 3 / October, 2011 Four Hilltopper Greats to be Inducted into WKU Athletic Hall of Fame Four former WKU athletes will be inducted as the 21st class into the WKU Athletic Hall of Fame in ceremonies set for Homecoming Weekend. The 2011 class includes Forest “Frosty” Able (basketball 1954-56), Kannard Johnson (basketball 1984-87), Mike Mur- ray (baseball 1977-80) and Jack Turner (basketball 1949-51, ‘54). The induction of the 2011 class brings to 126 the number ABLE JOHNSON MURRAY TURNER of former WKU athletes and coaches who have earned berths in the school’s Athletic by calling 1-888-WKU-ALUM (1-888-958- not yet paid their ‘11-12 dues may do so Hall of Fame since its founding in 1991. 2586) or, locally in the Bowling Green area, online via credit card or at the door with a The 2011 class will be inducted in cer- 745-4395; OR, by contacting either W-Club prior reservation. emonies highlighting the annual W-Club Treasurer Bill Edwards (270-745-6026; bill. The inductees will also be honored in Homecoming Brunch, set for 10 a.m. [email protected]) or W-Club Secretary ceremonies on Jimmy Feix Field at halftime (CDT), Saturday, Oct. 22, on the main ! oor Paul Just (270-792-4247; paul.just@wku. of the annual Homecoming Football Game, of E.A. Diddle Arena on the WKU campus edu). set to kickoff at 3 p.m., that afternoon. in Bowling Green. Each W-Club member who has paid Head Coach Willie Taggart will pit his Tickets for the event, which is open to his/her 2011-12 dues is entitled to two Hilltoppers against Sun Belt Conference the general public, are $15 each and can complimentary tickets to the event; how- foe Louisiana-Lafayette at Houchens - be purchased and/or reserved — online ever, seating is limited and reservations Smith Stadium. Tickets for the game are at alumni.wku.edu (click on “Events Cal- MUST be made — either online or with available by calling 1-800-5-BIG-RED (or endar” down the column on the left just Edwards or Just — to ensure seating is 270-745-5222). A reminder: W-Club mem- under the “Big Red” box; scroll down the available. Non-members, and the general bers with a valid 2011-12 membership card list and click on “W-Club Homecoming public, are welcome, but must purchase are entitled to one free ticket to the football Brunch”; then click on the “Registration” tickets — either online (see above) or with game as well. box and ll out the reservation form); OR, Edwards or Just. Letterwinners who have Matt Myers Named Hilltopper Baseball Coach Matt Myers, who (‘00-04) coaching at UNC-Asheville (the (474) and second in fewest walks allowed has 18 years Division last four as the head coach); and two sea- (167). The staff averaged 8.2 strikeouts I experience as a head sons (‘96-97) as a pitcher at Tennessee, per nine innings and 2.89 walks allowed coach, assistant coach following a year at Cal State-Sacramento per nine innings which ranked 28th and and student-athlete, and a season at Sacramento City College. 17th in the nation, respectively. The team and worked the pre- The Hilltopper pitching staff has posted a 4.33 ERA, ranking 29th in the na- vious four years as an showed signi cant improvement under tion, and was led by SBC Pitcher of the assistant on the WKU his guidance, nishing in the top three in Year Matt Ridings. staff, has been named team ERA in the Sun Belt Conference in At the conclusion of the 2010 season, WKU’s new head MYERS three of the last four seasons. three of Myers’ pitchers were chosen in baseball coach. In 2011, the WKU pitching staff n- the MLB First-Year Player Draft — soph- Myers has coached 28 professional ished rst in the league in fewest walks omore Rye Davis (36th round; Cleve- draftees/free agents signees, 16 all-con- allowed (178), second in saves (13) and land Indians); reliever Bart Carter (39th- ference pitchers, six freshman All-Amer- third in strikeouts (414). The Hilltop- round; Minnesota Twins); and Ridings icans, three rst-team All-Americans, two pers were led by sophomore Tanner Per- (41st round; Kansas City Royals). conference pitchers of the year and two kins (2nd team All-SBC after leading the In 2009, the Hilltopper staff (5.47 ERA, conference freshmen of the year. Myers, league with his 2.32 ERA). Right-hander 450 strikeouts) was led by SBC Pitcher of who served the last two seasons as WKU’s Justin Hageman was named a Louisville the Year Matt Hightower. Three Topper associate head coach, has also coached Slugger Freshman All-American and the pitchers were drafted: reliever J.B. Pax- ve pitchers selected in the top 10 rounds SBC Freshman of the Year. Phil Wetherell son (13th round; Los Angeles Dodgers), of the Major League Baseball draft. was selected in the 8th round of the draft junior Ridings (25th round; Washington Prior to joining the Hilltopper staff by the New York Yankees. Nationals) and Evan Teague (35th round; in 2008, he spent three seasons as an aide The 2010 season also saw the Hilltop- Toronto Blue Jays). on the Auburn staff (2005-07); ve years pers nish rst in the league in strikeouts Topper Tidbits Jordyn Skinner National Player of the Week WKU junior outside hitter Jordyn Skinner was named the Sports Imports/AVCA Divi- sion I National Player of the Week following DONAHUE RICE GUERRA IGAUNE her performance for the week ending Sept. Igaune, Guerra Named First-Team All-America, Kipchirchir is 11. She is the second Second Team Pick Lady Topper to earn the award (former middle hitter Amanda Three members of the WKU track and eld team were honored by the United States Schiff picked up the honor in 2003). Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) in June. Hammer She was also the CollegiateVolleybal- thrower Laura Igaune and javelin thrower Ignacio "Nacho" Guerra were named rst- lUpdate.com National Player of the Week, team All-America and Shadrack Kipchirchir was named second-team All-America for and is the second Lady Topper to win that their efforts at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. award (the rst — Julie Noe in ‘07). Igaune earned rst-team all-America honors for her seventh-place nish in the ham- Skinner led the Lady Toppers to a 4-0 mer. Her mark of 207-4 on her third attempt was her best of the day. A native of Riga, week and was MVP of the WKU Tourna- Latvia, Igaune is the WKU and Latvian national record holder in the hammer throw, ment. She nished the week with 80 kills and becomes just the second Lady Topper thrower to earn all-America honors, joining (5.71 per set), a .321 hitting percentage, 50 former javelin thrower Lori Kokkola (‘80). digs (3.57 per set), and 13 total blocks. In Guerra also had a seventh-place nish in the javelin to earn rst-team All-America three matches, she had double-doubles in honors. His mark of 235-8 in the third round was his best of the competition. A native kills and digs. She recorded double-digit of Santiago, Chile, Guerra is the WKU and Chilean national record holder in the javelin, kills in each of WKU's four matches. and becomes the rst javelin thrower in Hilltopper history to earn All-America honors, and the rst thrower to score in the NCAA meet since Raigo Toompuu in the discus in Donahue, Rice Named WKU 2005. After earning All-America honors in cross country in the fall, Kipchirchir joins an elite Student-Athletes of the Year list of WKU track and eld athletes as one of only 13 individuals to earn multiple all- Swimmer Claire Donahue and baseball America honors in a career on the Hill. He placed 16th in the 10,000 meters at the NCAA catcher Matt Rice were named WKU’s outdoor meet, clocking a time of 29:38.39, ultimately earning second-team All-America 2010-11 John Oldham Female and Male accolades. The last Hilltopper to earn All-America honors in the 10,000 meters was Nick Student-Athletes of the Year. They were Aliwell in 1995. selected by vote of the WKU athletic ad- These three honorees mark the 77th, 78th, and 79th individual All-America awards in ministration. WKU's storied track and eld history. Donahue, a senior All-American from First-team All-America honors were given to those who placed in the championships' Lenoir City, Tenn., graduated with a de- top eight, while second-team honors were handed out to those who earned nal classi - gree in social work. She was second in cations between ninth and 16th place. Others who participated earn honorable mention the nation in the 100-yard butter! y event at the 2011 NCAA Championships, the highest nish in WKU history. She also 49 WKU Athletes Graduate at Spring Commencement placed 14th in the nation in the 200-yard Forty-nine student-athletes, representing 18 sports, graduated in WKU spring com- butter! y. Donahue nished her WKU mencement ceremonies in May. They obtained degrees in 23 different majors.