BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Five former student-athletes, all of whom helped their respective sports to national tournament success, make up the Class of 2018 inductees into the Western Washington University Athletics Hall of Fame.
The quintet includes women’s basketball center Anne Cooper, who played on a national quarterfinal squad in 1986; softball pitcher Alison Haukaas, who helped the Vikings to the school’s first team national championship in 1998; football quarterback Jason Stiles, who directed WWU to three national playoff appearances in the early-1990s and is currently a color commentator for ROOT SPORTS Northwest; women’s basketball forward Joni Slagle, who led the Vikings to nationals in 1977; and women’s golfer Katja Trygg, who competed on three teams that all placed fifth at nationals from 2004 thru 2006.
The fivesome brings the hall’s membership to 145 over the 116-year history of athletics at Western. [complete list].
· Anne Cooper (Women’s Basketball) – Dominating center for WWU holding school record with 322 blocked shots.
· Alison Haukaas (Softball) – Led Vikings to 1998 NAIA national championship and set 16 records during her career.
· Joni Slagle (Women’s Basketball) – Averaged 20.1 points per game in 1976-77 leading Vikings to national tournament.
· Jason Stiles (Football) – WWU All-Century Team quarterback who set program record with 67 touchdown passes.
· Katja Trygg (Women’s Golf) – Two-time First Team All-American and WWU career scoring leader.
The induction ceremony, which is part of the WWU Alumni Association’s Back to Bellingham weekend, takes place on Saturday, May 19 (1 p.m.), on WECU Court at Carver Gym.
It is the first time since the inaugural hall of fame induction at halftime of a men’s basketball game in 1968 that the ceremony will be held in the Carver facility, which re-opened last fall following a two-year $81.5 million renovation.
On Friday, May 18 (5:30 p.m.), the inductees will be honored at a luncheon and introduced that evening at the WWU Alumni Association Awards Celebration.
The induction ceremony is the 43rd for WWU, which has the second oldest hall of fame among Pacific Northwest colleges and universities. There is no admission charge and parking is free for that event.
