2010 WMU Athletic Hall of Fame Class Announced

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Six new inductees will be welcomed into the Western Michigan Athletic Hall of Fame this fall has four males from football, baseball, men's gymnastics and men's basketball will be inducted, and two females representing volleyball and women's basketball will join the ranks.  The induction ceremony will take place on Friday evening (Oct. 29) and the class will be honored at halftime on Oct. 30.

The class of 2010 is heavily represented by student-athletes from the 1990's as more and more deserving candidates continue to become eligible for induction.  Half of this year's class come from the decade of the 90's with two more having played during the 1980's and one during the 1950's.

The 2010 Hall of Fame class member who most recently wore the Brown & Gold is Saddi Washington (1994, 1996-98) of men's basketball fame.  He is followed by another basketball alumni in Kina Brown, who played with the women's program in 1992-95.  The final 1990's product is men's gymnastics alumni Chad Babcock (1990-93).

Representing the 1980's are Mark Garalczyk (1984-86) from the Bronco football program and Laurie Sparling (Maierhofer) who helped lead the WMU volleyball program during the decade (1984-87).  The lone inductee from the 1950's is baseball's Ken Hamlin (1955-57).

The induction ceremony for the WMU Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2010 will take place at the Fetzer Center the evening of Friday, Oct. 29.  Please contact Stacy Vallier for ticket information (269-387-3062).  All inductees will be honored on the field at Waldo Stadium the following day at halftime of the Broncos' game against Northern Illinois (Oct. 30).

Class of 2010 Inductee Bios

		Chad Babcock (1990-93) - Men's Gymnastics Named All-America scholar athlete for performance during 1992-93 season … two-time All-American (1991, 1993) … ranked among the nation’s top 10 for floor exercise and vault during the 1991, 1992 and 1993 seasons …  won the floor exercise event at the Windy City Invitational (1993) … four-time letterwinner … 1993 MAC Academic Honor Roll … co-captain during junior and senior seasons.
		Kina Brown (1992-95) - Women's Basketball Ranks third with 1,814 career points ... ranks second with 911 career rebounds ... averaged 16.5 points per game and 8.3 rebounds per game over career ... three-time First Team All-MAC selection ... earned Second Team All-MAC once ... played for US Junior National Team.
		Mark Garalczyk (1984-86) - Football Drafted in the sixth round of the 1987 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals … tabbed MAC Defensive Player of the Year (1986) ... All-MAC First Team selection as a junior in 1985 ... Senior Bowl all-star game participant … set then school record for career tackles for loss (45), now ranking fourth all-time … named WMU’s Most Valuable Player in 1986 … named MAC Defensive MVP in 1986 ... career 302 tackles ranks first among any down lineman in program history ... team captain (1986) ... member of All-Century Team.
		Ken Hamlin (1955-57) - Baseball Named Second Team All-America in 1957... named First Team All-Region and All-MAC in 1957... was second team All-MAC in 1956... went on to a professional career that spanned seven years and four teams ... played in 45 career games with 158 at bats with a career .285 batting average ... finished career with .441 on-base percentage and .582 slugging percentage, which ranks third all-time in Bronco baseball history ... finished career with .890 fielding percentage.
		Laurie Sparling (Maierhofer) (1984-87) - Volleyball Named to the 1984-93 WMU All-Decade Team … All-MAC First Team (1984) ... All-MAC Second Team (1987) … MAC Freshman of the Year in 1984 ... two-time MAC All-Academic (1985, 1987) … led the 1987 team in total blocks (63) and service aces (29) … played in the 1985 Olympic Festival.
		Saddi Washington (1994, 1996-98) - Men's Basketball Earned First Team All-MAC in 1998 and Second Team All-MAC in 1997 ... named MAC Freshman of the Year in 1994 ... ranks fifth in points (1,688), fourth in field goals (575), fourth in field goal attempts (1,323), eighth in three-point field goals (144) and three-point field goal attempts (370), 10th in three-point percentage (.389), fifth in free throws (394), fourth in steals (173) and tied for 10th in assists (258) in a career ... assistant with Oakland University men's basketball program.