New class of athletes show off CCS pride
Fabian Rios
Communicator

CCS is full of athletic history and was honored at a Hall of Fame event.

CCS held their 2008 Hall of Fame banquet Saturday April 28. There, two contributors, a coach, six individual athletes and five teams were inducted into the CCS Hall of Fame. Former Director of Athletics, Ray Maury, was the master of ceremony.

Mark Kondo was first to be inducted that evening. Kondo was recognized for his services as Washington State Community/Technical Colleges Board Member and Bigfoot Booster Club Executive Board Member.

“I don’t know how you picked me, it must be the luck of the Irish,” said Kondo “I must be one of the oldest to be inducted.”

Terry Brown was honored for his contributions to CCS athletics for more than 25 years, including his work as the CCS CEO. Brown gave a speech relating to his running for 20 years, 7 months and 14 days straight.

“Anything you do in life, the toughest part is getting that foot out the door, the rest is easy and will fall into place,” said Brown. “Get out the front door.”

Jo McDonald was the only coach inducted. McDonald was assistant coach for the gymnastics team from 1977-1985, winning three straight National Championships. She won the NJCAA National Coach of the Year in 1980-1981 and also served as the CCS Women's Athletic Commissioner.

Maury continued with the ceremony by next calling up the teams and individuals inducted into the Hall of Fame. The 1990-1991 Men’s Soccer Team coached by NWAACC and CCS Hall of Fame coach Cor van der Meer gave CCS/SFCC its second only NWAACC title. The team captured the Southern Region with a 17-1-2 record coached. Six All-Stars made up the team, 1st Team Doug Bridtail, James Jasso, Brett Hubert, Adam Johnson, Rick Mullins and 2nd Team Kevin Scuderi. Three Hall of Fame inductees from the championship were inducted. NWAACC 1st Team: Rick Mullins, Pat Dreves, Brian Dreves.

“It meant everything, it was all about commitment,” said Meer. “This was not a soccer team, it’s my second family.”

1999-2000 Men's Basketball was also honored. The team was coached by the only CCS Hall of Fame member to be inducted as a player and a coach, Sam Brasch and assistant Jay Humphrey and Jose Hernandez. The team gave CCS its second only NWAACC Basketball title, finishing with a 20-10 record.

Two individuals from the championship team were inducted, Chris Allen and Andre Ervin. Allen was awarded All-Eastern Region 1st Team and All-NWAACC 1ST Team during his career on CCS Basketball Team. He was also the team captain and NWAACC Tournament MVP (Phil Pesco Award).

Ervin contributed tremendously to the season, putting up record numbers and is the holder of several CCS Basketball records. These records include the single season points leader (550), career points leader (1,084), single season rebound leader (339) and career rebound leader (586).

The Gymnastics Teams of 1979-1980, 1980-1981, 1981-1982 were also inducted. Coached by Rick Harrison, four-time Coach of the Year, and assistant Jo McDonald. Through this span CCS captured three straight NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) National Championships.

The teams also produced ten All-Americans and Hall of Fame inductee Teresa (Peterson) Murphy. Murphy was an NJCAA All-American, but her biggest accomplishment was placing 2nd in the nation on the balance beam in 1980-1981.

You can contact the writer at staffwriter@spokanefalls.edu