OSU Varsity “O” Associations Announce Hall of Fame Class of 2002 – Ohio State Buckeyes
7/22/2002 12:00:00 AM | General
July 22, 2002
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame has selected 10 former Buckeye standouts to add to its membership, Jeff Logan and Holly Cush, presidents of the Men’s and Women’s Varsity “O” Associations, respectively, announced today. The 10-member Class of 2002, which is comprised of five men and five women, will officially be inducted into the hall Sept. 13 and introduced to the Ohio Stadium crowd at halftime of the Washington State-Ohio State football game the next day. In conjunction with the weekend’s festivities, the nine living members of the men’s inagural class from 1977 will be honored as the hall celebrates its silver anniversary. In the 25 years of inductions for the men (including the Class of 2002), 204 former Buckeye greats have entered the hall while 54 women have earned the same honor over the past 10 years.
The Class of 2002 includes: Aldis Berzins (volleyball), John Brockington (football), Lisa Cline (basketball), Tom De Leone (football), Teresa Fightmaster (swimming), Kim (Fugett) Fain (diving), Harley M. ‘Marty’ Mull (swimming), Cecil Souders (football), Bridgette Tate (track and field) and Kelly L. Trent (golf). Brockington, a standout running back on the Buckeyes’ 1968 national championship team, originally was a member of the Class of 2001 but because health problems a year ago prevented him from attending the induction ceremony, he will be honored this year.
The latest class of inductees combined to help their respective teams claim four national championships while earning three individual titles, 33 conference championships (both team and individual), 16 all-conference selections and 26 All-America awards.
“This year’s class of inductees clearly reflects the tradition of excellence at Ohio State and certainly meets the high level of success established by the 200 inductees currently in the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame from men’s athletics,” Logan said. “While the 2002 class size is small, the success of these men in their respective sports and contributions to Ohio State were enormous.”
Cush sees another strong class of OSU athletes being inducted this year as the women’s association reaches a milestone by breaking the 50-member plateau.
“This is our 10th year of inductions and we are very excited to be able to honor another fine class of individuals,” Cush said. “We had nearly 50 athletes nominated this year and these five rose to the top of a list of Buckeye greats. The Class of 2002 comes from the same era of Ohio State athletics and all had great success with their respective teams as well as after their time at Ohio State with the Olympic Trials. We are proud to induct such as strong class on our 10th anniversary.”
The men’s Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is slated for Sept. 13 at the Holiday Inn on the Lane while the women’s will take place at the Blackwell Inn. The reception for both inductions start at 5:30 p.m. with an induction program following the 6:30 p.m. dinner. Tickets for the public, which can be purchased by calling Sue Ferguson at (614) 688-3707, are available for $50 per person and $400 for a table of eight for the men’s ceremony and $30 per person for the women’s dinner.
Biographical Information
Aldis Berzins (volleyball, 1975-78) – OSU’s star outside hitter led the Buckeyes to four Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) championships (1975, ’76, ’77 and ’78) and four appearances in the NCAA Final Four (1975, ’76, ’77 and ’78) … the 1977 team was the first non-West Coast team to advance to the championship game … OSU finished third in the nation three times and second once … team went 105-14 in his four years … was the MIVA Player of the Year in 1977 and ’78 and was a three-time All-MIVA First Team selection (1976, ’77 and ’78) … two-time NCAA all-tournament team selection (1977 and 1978) … Volleyball Magazine All-American in 1977 and 1978 … starting outside hitter for the 1984 USA Olympic gold medal team … a member of the U.S. women’s coaching staff at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta … the volleyball team’s third inductee.
John Brockington (football, 1968-70) – Part of the “Super Sophs” who helped lead the Buckeyes to the 1968 National Championship, three Big Ten Titles (1968, ’69 and ’70) and a combined record of 27-2 … the second player in OSU history to rush for 1,000 or more yards in a season, amassing 1,142 yards and scoring 17 touchdowns in 1970 … First Team All-America and All-Big Ten as a senior, helping the Buckeyes to a 9-0 regular season record … 42 rushing attempts against Northwestern in 1970 set the record at the time and is second all-time in the OSU record books … a first-round draft choice of the Green Bay Packers, Brockington was the National Football League’s (NFL) Rookie of the Year in 1971 … was the first player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 or more yards in each of his first three years in the league.
Lisa Cline (basketball, 1986-89) – One of the most decorated in OSU women’s basketball history, Cline helped guide the Buckeyes to three Big Ten Championships and a berth in NCAA ‘Sweet 16’ all four years of her career … earned Kodak All-America Honorable Mention in 1989, the same year she was named the Big Ten Player of the Year … was conference freshman of the year (1985-86) and a four-time All-Big Ten selection (first team in 1989 and second team ’86, ’87 and ’88) … member of the USA Select Team in 1988 and ’89 … participated in the 1987 Olympic Sports Festival … among the Top 10 in seven statistical categories at OSU including third all-time in assists for a career … her 11 steals at UCLA (12/30/88) are a single game record for the Buckeyes … Cline currently works for the Central Ohio YMCA and serves as the Corporate Challenge Director.
Tom De Leone (football, 1969-71) – An All-America center in 1971, co-captain De Leone also garnered team Most Valuable Player honors … anchored the offense on teams that won the 1970 National Football Foundation National Championship and a trip to the 1971 Rose Bowl … won three letters with the football team … named All-Big Ten in 1970 and 1971 … OSU won the Big Ten Championship twice (1969 and 1970) while he competed … member of the OSU All-Century team … played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 years … spent first two years with the Cincinnati Bengals, the team that drafted him, before playing his final 11 years for the Cleveland Browns … as a member of the Browns, De Leone went to two Pro Bowls … currently resides in Park City, Utah, working for U.S. Customs.
Teresa Fightmaster (swimming, 1983-86) – A four-time letterwinner, she was an All-American in the 50, 100 and 200-yard breaststroke events, taking fourth in the 200, as well as All-America status in the 400-yard medley relay (in 1983 and 1985) … an All-Big Ten selection all four years, she also was named the Big Ten Swimmer of the Month in 1983 on her way to taking individual conference titles in the 50, 100 and 200-breaststroke and the 200 and 400-medley relays … OSU won the 400 relay from 1983-86 … also was a runner-up in seven events at the conference meet .. OSU’s Most Valuable Swimmer in 1983 and ’84 … most inspirational swimmer in 1986 … co-captain in 1985 and ’86 … set program records in six events … still has top time in the 50-yard breaststroke (OSU and Big Ten mark) and the 200-yard medley relay … participated in the Olympic Trials.
Kim (Fugett) Fain (diving, 1983-84, 1986-87) – One of three Buckeye divers to earn All-America honors in all four years of competition (1983, 1984, 1986 and 1987) … was a four-time finalist at the Big Ten championship meet as well as the NCAA championships … recurring injury forced her to retire from platform and concentrate on springboard after the 1984 season … won the three-meter Big Ten Championship in 1984 … claimed a NCAA individual title in the three-meter dive at the 1987 meet … was a member of the U.S. Diving National Team from 1981 through 1984 and again from 1986 through 1988 … finalist at the U.S. Olympic trials in 1984 and 1988 … finalist at the pre-Olympic meet in Seoul, South Korea, in 1988 … member of the international diving circuit in 1987 where she won the Springboard Champion Spring Swallow Meet in Rostock, Germany.
Harley M. ‘Marty’ Mull (swimming, 1962-64) – Two-time NCAA Champion in the 200-yard individual medley (1962 and ’63) … three-time All-American (1962, ’63 and ’64) … undefeated in collegiate dual meets in the 200-yard IM … established an OSU record time in the event as a sophomore, breaking the standard set by Al Wiggins … teams finished third at the Big Ten championships but took the NCAA Championship in 1962, the 11th and most recent swimming crown for OSU … the Canton, Ohio, product went undefeated while competing for McKinley High School where he established national high school records in the individual medley and 100 freestyle … is the 11th swimmer elected to the OSU Hall of Fame … currently resides in Canton, Ohio, where he coached the McKinley swimming and diving program over the past 30 years.
Cecil Souders (football, 1942-47)– Garnered All-America honors at end as a senior in 1946 after leading the team in receiving with 157 yards on nine receptions … was a four-year letterwinner under legendary coach Paul Brown and was a freshman in 1942 when the Buckeyes secured the first of the program’s six national titles … the team went 9-1 on the year and 5-1 in conference … won Big Ten Championships with the 1942 and 1944 teams … the 1944 squad finished second in the nation with a perfect 9-0 record (6-0 in the Big Ten) … named the team’s Most Valuable Player in 1946, was the second end and one of only four ends to garner the award since its inception in 1930.
Bridgette Tate (track and field, 1979-82) – Sprinted her way to a total of eight All-America honors with four each in indoor and outdoor track and field … the 1988 OSU Female Athlete of the Year, Tate won three Big Ten Indoor and three outdoor championships while making history at the 1987 indoor meet by becoming the first athlete to win three individual titles in one meet … also earned Athlete of the Championships at that meet … won indoor conference titles in the 55-meter dash, 55-meter hurdles and 300-meter dash … took the outdoor crown in the 100-meter hurdles (1987 and ’88) … established school and Big Ten records in five events … multiple Big Ten Athlete of the Month awards throughout her career … currently is a language arts teacher and head coach of the cross country and track and field teams for Dade County Public Schools in Dade County, Florida.
Kelly L. Trent (golf, 1979-82) – A four-time letterwinner for the golf team, Trent was a model of consistency as she did not miss an event until her senior season (because of injury) … as a freshman, she powered OSU to its first Big Ten title (1979) by winning the conference’s individual title over heavily favored Michigan State senior, and two-time defending medalist, Sue Ertl, becoming the first freshman champion in conference history … helped the team earn the Big Ten title in 1980 and ’81 … also helped the team to the Midwest Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (MAIAW) title in 1979, ’80 and ’81 … named most valuable player in 1979 and 1980 and won the Buckeye Award in 1979 … All-MAIAW in 1979 and ’80 … currently is the head golf professional at Raymond Memorial Golf Course in Columbus, the first women to do so in Central Ohio.
