PHOTO GALLERY: 2015 Cal State Fullerton Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

FULLERTON, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton welcomed in its newest class of Hall of Famers as cross country runner Mark Covert, former athletic director Neale Stoner, softball player Jenny Topping, Titan Athletics supporters Paul Folino and Associated Students, Inc., and baseball player Ted Silva were inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame at the Phoenix Club in Anaheim on Thursday night.

Eanes also took the time to acknowledge former soccer player, Adriana Gjonovich on being named the 2015 NCAA Woman of the Year. 

“To be a member of this Hall of Fame is an honor, but also a privilege,” Vice President Dr. Eanes said.  “A privilege that we are going to bestow on you this evening and we cannot be more thrilled for you to join this piece of our fantastic Titan family.”

Following dinner, Covert became the first honoree from the 2015 class to be inducted.

MARK COVERT: Video Slideshow / Feature 

After spending two years at L.A. Valley College, Covert transferred to Fullerton where he immediately made his presence felt, winning the 1970 NCAA Division II Individual Cross-Country title while leading the Fullerton team to a second-place overall finish before winning the title the following year.

“Going back to the national championships, it was a tough day,” explained Covert. “We did a great job that day, we left there knowing that there was something still be done the following year.” 

While being a Division II competitor in 1970, Covert competed in the Division I Championships.

“Back then though, Division II athletes could compete in a Division I meet,” said Covert. “We were off to Williamsburg, Virginia where I finished 16^th and became the first Division I All-American here at Cal State Fullerton in any sport.”

Along with his accomplishments in competition, Covert gained national notoriety by running at least one mile every day for 45 years, which has been certified by the U.S. Running Streak Association as the longest streak in United States history and is believed to be the second longest streak in the world.

Covert competed in the U.S. Olympic trials where he placed seventh with a time of 2:23.35, and was the first runner to wear a pair of Nike running shoes across the finish line of a race.

NEALE STONER: Video Slideshow / Feature 

Stoner oversaw the Cal State Fullerton Athletics Department from August 1972-Septemper 1979, and during that seven-year span, the Titans transitioned from the College Division (Division II) to Division I while continuing to develop championship programs.

During his time at Fullerton, Stoner hired the legendary Augie Garrido, and the baseball program quickly became successful winning six consecutive conference championships from 1974-79, making two College World Series appearances, its first in 1975 – the Titans first year at the Division I level – and the second in 1979 when the squad captured the baseball program’s first of four national titles. Fullerton has now made 37 appearances in the NCAA Tournament at the Division I level.

“An amazing thing happened in ’72, the baseball coach resigned,” Stoner said. “I coaxed Augie Garrido into coming to Cal State Fullerton and I think it’s safe to say that was a pretty good move.”

In addition, Stoner hired men’s basketball coach Bobby Dye, who led the Titans to their first Division I NCAA Tournament appearance during the 1977-78 season. Dye manufactured six consecutive winning seasons from 1973-79 -- a mark that remains the best in school history, and he led Cal State Fullerton to a tie atop the Pacific Coast Athletic Association (PCAA, later known as the Big West Conference) standings in 1976 -- the school’s first conference title in men’s basketball in only the program’s second year in the league and at the Division I level.

“We brought Bob Dye in ’73, and I don’t think there’s any question that Garrido and Dye became the faces of our program for the next six years,” said Stoner. “It was a terrific time, we had the right guys in front.”
 
 

JENNY TOPPING: Video Slideshow / Feature 

Always striving to be the best, former Cal State Fullerton softball player Jenny Topping made her mark with the Titans as one of the best players to ever take the softball field.

Topping made the move to Fullerton for her sophomore season and continued to excel on the field. She was named a First-Team All-American in all three seasons as a Titan and finished her career with a .443 batting average in 170 games at Cal State Fullerton. She is one of just two Titans to earn three All-American honors in her Titans career and one of seven with multiple All-American awards.

“Cal State Fullerton has so many memories for me, like Sunday barbeques with my teammates because we knew it was more important to build a bond as a team than to go hang out with other people,” explained Topping. “Those were the type of things that Fullerton taught me was team togetherness, we were successful because of that.”

Topping made 166 starts and belted 33 home runs with Fullerton, including 14 in her sophomore season and first as a Titan. Her name is cemented in the Fullerton record books as her career batting average (.443), slugging percentage (.771), on-base percentage (.573) and total walks (137) all rank as the best in Cal State Fullerton history. 

Along with her outstanding career at Fullerton, Topping played with the U.S. National Team nearly every summer of college and eventually earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team. That team went on to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated and outscored opponents 51-1 in the Athens Olympics, going 9-0 with eight consecutive shutouts en route to the gold medal.

“A huge moment that happened for me was being in the Olympics. You bend over and they put that gold medal around your neck and I looked up at my family and remember thinking, I get to give back to my family for all of the things that they’ve done for me,” said Topping. “When I look out here and see all of the support for the Titans, this is what brings us all together is the love and support of building dreams and achieving them.”

 

PAUL FOLINO: Video Slideshow / Feature 

Paul Folino was the financial architect and unstoppable force that worked to reinstate the men's and women's golf programs at Cal State Fullerton. With the vision that the golf program could thrive in the heart of Orange County, Folino was driven to foster corporate support in the local business community. 

“It’s really not about me tonight. It’s really about our amazing student-athletes and providing them with great opportunities through our mentoring and support.”

After growing up in a post World War II housing project in Seattle, Folino came across the opportunity to play multiple sports in high school.

“Being a student-athlete was a great opportunity and also a great privilege for me,” said Folino. “I learned as much playing sports, in the classroom and even more when it came to discipline, work ethic, strategy and teamwork.  All key for a successful business career I believe.”

In addition to fundraising for Titan athletics, Folino serves on the Cal State Fullerton Philanthropic Foundation Board of Governors and is also on the Dean's advisory board of Mihaylo College of Business and Economics. His initial $1 million gift to Cal State Fullerton in 2002 launched the campaign he co-chaired for Mihaylo School of Business.

“I knew when I got older I wanted to pass that privilege back to others no matter where I lived,” said Folino. “So I really want to thank Cal State Fullerton tonight for providing me the road map and the vehicle to pass the same opportunity and privilege onto other student-athletes.”

 

TED SILVA: Video Slideshow / Feature 

Cal State Fullerton right-hander Ted Silva was outstanding on the mound for Fullerton that season, finishing 18-1, the best record in the country. He posted a 2.83 ERA in 29 appearances and 19 starts that season, fanning 142 batters in 152 and 2/3 innings pitched and added six saves for a team that many consider the greatest NCAA baseball team ever put together.

The 1995 Titans, led by Garrido finished the year ranked No. 1 in the nation with a 57-9 overall record and 18-3 in conference.

“Augie Garrido who is a great baseball mind but more than anything, it was about life lessons,” said Silva. “Baseball’s not fair, and neither is life and I think that’s something along with many other things, that I remember to this day from Augie.”

The Redondo Beach native graduated high school without any college plans until a special man showed up one afternoon offering him a visit to Cal State Fullerton. After that, the rest is history.

Silva was a two-time All-American (2nd team in 1994, consensus 1st team in 1995) and was the Big West Conference Pitcher of the Year in 1995.

Overall, Silva made 94 career appearances with the Titans in three seasons. He went 26-7 with a 2.92 career ERA and recorded 257 strikeouts in 264 and 2/3 innings pitched. His 26 career saves currently ranks third in the Fullerton all-time record book. 

Silva also pitched for Team USA in 1994 and would go on to be drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 21st round of the MLB First Year Player Draft in 1995.

“Back to the man who brought me here and I don’t think people give him enough credit or say thank you enough, but he’s head coach Rick Vanderhook. To say that without you and that afternoon, I don’t know where I would be,” Silva said. “You opened doors I’ve never dreamt of, I’ve experienced things I could’ve only imagined, it’s because of you.”

 

ASSOCIATED STUDENTS, INC.: Video Slideshow / Feature 

Associated Students, Inc., has maintained a long partnership with Cal State Fullerton Athletics, not only providing financial resources for Titan Athletics, but in addition, serving as a representative of the entire student body, supporting student-athletes at athletic events throughout the academic year.

Athletic Director Jim Donovan gave the crowd a back-story on the things that ASI has done for Titan Athletics throughout recent years.

“When I got here about two and a half years ago, Cal State Fullerton was at about a nine million dollar budget,” explained Donovan. “Next year, because of what ASI has done, we will be at about 14.5 million dollars, which is about a 60% increase in about just four years.”

In the spring of 2014, the Student Success Initiative was passed, arguably the most significant event in Titan Athletics history. Associated Students, Inc., supported the passing of the SSI, which not only provided funding for athletics but served student needs throughout the entire campus, leaving a long-lasting effect on Titan Athletics.

“The real back story is that the ASI leaders and individuals were harassed, threatened, they were yelled at all across campus, their life was miserable over the Student Success Initiative,” said Donovan. “I’ll tell you, this is the single biggest thing to happen to Titan Athletics since 1957 when the school was started.”

ASI President at the time of the Student Success Initiative, Rohullah Latif, shared a story about the two women that he had seen at Titan Athletics sporting events. He shared that he had seen them throughout the years and how their love and passion for Titan Athletics remained despite the health issues that they were dealing with.

“That day I realized the impact Titan Athletics has on not only shaping amazing leaders and athletes, but the impact it has on the community and the university, that is what Titan Athletics is all about,” said Latif.

Latif was instrumental in the SSI and while currently in the second year of implementation, the Student Success Initiative will generate $1.9 million for student-athlete scholarships and $2.2 million for facility enhancement.

“One of the many opportunities during my term was the Student Success Fee Initiative,” said Latif. “This award, this recognition is the biggest thank you for all of the tough decisions these student leaders have made in the past and will continue to make in the future.”

Athletic Director Jim Donovan concluded the evening with some closing remarks.

“Nothing could go without great leadership and I’d really like to thank Vice President Eanes, President Garcia and also David Forges, the Chief of Staff for the Vice President of Student Affairs has done so much for us behind the scenes,” he said. “Also a thank you to the selection committee, they did a great job tonight, there are some excellent new members to the Hall of Fame. Again congratulations to all inductees, you all are very deserving, we’re very proud of you, you’ll always be Titans.”

THE CAL STATE FULLERTON
 ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME

Class of 2005

Greg Bunch (basketball)
Nancy Dunkle (basketball)

Tami Elliott-Harrison (gymnastics)

Coach Augie Garrido (baseball)

Susan LeFebvre (softball)

Eugenia Rycraw (basketball)

Tim Wallach (baseball) 

Class of 2007
Mark Collins (football)

Judi Garman (softball)

Heather Killeen-Frisone (cross country / track and field)

Mark Kotsay (baseball)

Phil Nevin (baseball / football)

Leon Wood (basketball)

Class of 2009

Damon Allen (football)

Connie Clark (softball)

Barbie Myslak-Roetert (gymnastics)

Dan Boone (baseball)

Gene Murphy (football)

Class of 2011

Bruce Bowen (basketball)

Brent Mayne (baseball)

Lynn Rogers (gymnastics)

Susan Lewis-Newton (softball)

Merilyn & Jerry Goodwin (Titan Athletics supporters)

Class of 2013

Carol Johnston (gymnastics)

Mike Fox (soccer)

Coach Bobby Dye (basketball)

The 1995 Baseball Team