Cal State Stanislaus to honor Hall of Fame class Saturday
A popular basketball team, a worthy coach/administrator and softball, golf, track and basketball stars will be inducted to the Cal State Stanislaus Hall of Fame.
The inductees, who span five decades, will be recognized Saturday as part of Homecoming Week and Alumni Weekend on the Turlock campus.
“There have been a lot of historical performances here at Stanislaus State, and we are thrilled to celebrate our sports history and remind everyone of the rich tradition in Warrior athletics,” said Michael Matoso, director of athletics.
This year’s induction class will be honored in a luncheon at the campus Main Dining Hall. Later, the guests of honor will be recognized during the Warriors’ men’s-women’s basketball doubleheader at Fitzpatrick Arena.
The inductees
1982 men’s basketball team – The Warriors, supported by loud sellout crowds at home, won three pulsating games within an eight-day period and advanced to the NCAA Division III Final Four.
Dubbed the “Beach Boys” for their players from Huntington Beach, Stanislaus featured a starting lineup of Doug Cornfoot, Rico Thompson, David Walls, David Atkins and Curt Wooten. Other team members were Lee Lewis, Tom Chandler, Richard Beecher, John Stuart, Jeff Rowe and Ricky Glenn. The Warriors, coached by Doug Sanderson, placed second in the Far Western Conference before they caught fire in the tournament.
Stanislaus edged Whittier, dominated Bishop and rallied from behind to edge Capital and advanced to the Final Four in Grand Rapids, Mich. The Warriors were barely beaten by eventual champion Wabash in the semifinals and then fell to Brooklyn in the third-place game.
Meghan Franksen (softball) – Franksen, arguably the best all-around shortstop in school history, holds 12 career and single-season records.
A three-time All-Regional selection and a four-time All-California Collegiate Athletic Association shortstop, Franksen led the Warriors to a 2007 West Region title and the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance.
Marc Lawless (golf) – Lawless was a two-time All-American while he led Stanislaus to the 2001 league title and two top-three finishes at the NCAAs. Individually, he was a 2001 NCAA runner-up after he lost in a playoff.
In 2002, Lawless won the West Regional and placed 10th in nationals.
Martha Moren (coach/administrator) – Moren, a pioneer of Warrior athletics, was the first head coach of the volleyball team and led the Warriors to NCAA tournament appearances in 1981 and ’82. She also coached women’s tennis and served as the assistant athletic director. Moren served as the department chairman from 1992-95.
Joel Stallworth (track) – Stallworth, a basketball recruit, turned to track and won six CCAA titles and earned three All-American awards (2007) while setting three school records. He won league outdoor titles in the 200 and 400 and contributed to the winning 4x400 relay team.
Stallworth holds school records in the 200 (20.80 seconds) and 400 (45.40) outdoors, as well as the indoor record in the 400 (47.31). In 2008, he qualified in the 400 at the IAAF World Championships in Spain.
George White (basketball) – White made his only season at Stanislaus (1968-69) count. He scored a record 805 points with his deadly perimeter shot (long before the three-point era) and still holds six records for scoring average, points, free throws made and free throws attempted, plus single-game points and single-game field goals.
White scored 53 points against Valley State (now Cal State Northridge) and averaged 32.2 points per game that season.
This story was originally published February 4, 2016 at 5:03 PM with the headline "Cal State Stanislaus to honor Hall of Fame class Saturday."