HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
KANSAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY 2015 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES Kansas Wesleyan University will induct five individuals and four consecutive KCAC Championship winning softball teams into the Kansas Wesleyan Coyote Athletic Hall of Fame as part of Homecoming activities on October 3. The 1995–1998 Softball teams will be inducted along with Baseball star Rich Troiano, Football standouts Denis Adams, Jeff Kumpula and Darin Boyer, and women’s athletics star Jessi (Burnham) Stang. Formal induction to the Hall of Fame will be at the W-Club / Hall of Fame Breakfast at 8 a.m. in Muir Gymnasium on the KWU Campus. Inductees will also be recognized at halftime of the Football game against McPherson College on Bissell Field at the Graves Family Sports Complex.
1995–1998 Softball:
The 1995–1998 softball teams posted one of the greatest four-year runs in KWU Softball history. After finishing second in the KCAC in 1995 in his first season, Head Coach Mike Smith led the Coyotes to the KCAC Tournament Championship that season and followed with three consecutive KCAC Regular Season Championships in 1995 Softball Team 1996, 1997 and 1998, and two more Tournament Championships in 1997 and 1998, finishing as tournament runner-up in 1996. Over the four-year time period, Holly Sudbrook was a four-time AllKCAC performer; Kary Taylor was a three-time All-KCAC selection at pitcher; April Roberts, Erin Steinkamp, Laura Anschutz, Lesley Ritchey, Linda Belcher, Melissa Denton, Michelle Villanueva and Tammi Elash were all two-time All-KCAC performers. Delores Young, Joey Smith, Sonia Champion and Teri Geter all were named All-KCAC.
Team Members (years played) include: Angie Lambert (1995–96), April Roberts (1995–98), Carrie Springer (1995), Chana Hardy (1998), Christy Grimes (1996), Crystal Gillman (1995–96), Delores Young (1998), Elizabeth Jones (1998), Erin Ricker (1998), Erin Steinkamp (1995–98), Holly Sudbrook (1995–98), Hope Ruiz (1996), Jamey Brannon (1997), Janet Richardson (1998), Jennifer Mancino (1995–96), Kary Taylor (1996–98), Katie Kocher (1998), Keri Moore (1995), Kristi Houghton (1995), Laura Anschutz (1995–96), Leah Roberts (1997), Leann Reaka (1996), Lesley Richey (1996–98), Linda Belcher (1996–97), Lisa Ellis (1997), Lori Raney (1998), Melissa Denton (1997–98), Melissa Miller (1997), Michelle Colliver (1997), Michelle Hodges (1998), Michelle Villanueva (1995–96), Misty Link (1996), Patty Hamel (1996), Sonia Champion (1995), Tammi Elash (1995–96), Tennille McCormick (1998), Terri Geter (1995–96), Terri Williams (1996), Trina Bierman (1998), Valerie Morrow (1997), and Vanessa Karpilo (1998). Head Coach Mike Smith, Assistant Coaches Chuck Coggins, Mike Vinson, Michelle Ward and Jamie Klein.
Rich Troiano ’73
Rich Troiano (Baseball, 1973): A four-year
letter winner for the Coyotes, Rich Troiano helped Wesleyan to a KCAC Baseball Championship in 1972 as a pitcher. He was named All-KCAC and Honorable Mention All-NAIA District 10 as a pitcher in 1972, and in 1973 was named All-KCAC as an outfielder. Through his junior season, he was a career .310 hitter in 76 games with 61 hits. On the hill he carried a 1.46 ERA and a 6–0 record in seven appearances.
Jeff Kumpula ’01
Darin Boyer (Football, 1987): Darin Boyer was a four-year player for the Kansas Wesleyan Football team, and was part of Wesleyan’s 1982 KCAC Championship team at defensive back. He was a twotime Honorable Mention All-KCAC selection in 1983 and 1984 and earned Second Team All-KCAC honors in 1985.
Darin Boyer ’97
Denis Adams (Football, 1956): Denis Adams
Jessi (Burnham) Stang (Volleyball, Basketball, 1981): Jessi competed in the late
1970s for the Coyotes in Volleyball, Basketball and Track. In Volleyball she was a three-time letter winner and earned Honorable Mention All-KCAC honors in 1979, and in 1980, she was selected to the All-KCAC First Team and was named to the NAIA All-District 10 team. She was also a letter winner in Basketball.
played four seasons for the Coyotes and legendary coach Gene Bissell from 1952 to 1956. A star on the line at guard all four seasons, he was named Honorable Mention All-KCAC in 1953 and 1955 and Second Team All-KCAC in 1954. The Coyotes averaged over 312 yards of total offense during his career as KWU went 19–15–2 overall and 14–11–2 in the KCAC during that time span.
Denis Adams ’56
Jeff Kumpula (Football, 2001): Jeff Kumpula arrived at Kansas Wesleyan along with long-time coach Dave Dallas in 1997 and immediately made an impact for the Coyotes. He was a four-time First Team All-KCAC performer at linebacker for Wesleyan and a threetime NAIA All-American, earning Honorable Mention honors in 1998 and 1999 and Second Team honors in 2000. In 1999, he recorded 155 total tackles that included four sacks and two interceptions. During his four years at KWU, Wesleyan’s defense was ranked among the Top 10 nationally in total defense.
Jessi (Burnham) Stang ’81
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