OKEMOS - The Okemos Athletic Department inducted its inaugural Hall of Fame class on October 1, 2015.
The night started at 5:15 pm with a social gathering to get all of the Okemos legends reacquainted. Dinner started around an hour later, followed by the first induction of the night, contributor Ron Bacon.
"These are my friends, this is my community," Bacon said after the ceremony. "It was a heck of an honor, and I thoroughly enjoyed it."
The only current Chief to be selected to the Hall was golf head coach Dan Stolz.
"I feel kind like I am in a unique position because I actually played for some of the coaches coming in becasue I was an athlete at Okemos high school myself," Stolz said before the dinner. "I played with some of these guys or trained with them at least, and I coached a lot of them as well."
Stolz coached the top scorer in Okemos boy's basketball history, Johnathon Jones, who also was named an inductee.
"Being back and seeing all of these familiar faces in once place is great and to accept this award is an honor itself," Jones said after the ceremony. "Going in here with coach Stolz, my coach, it feels even greater."
Stolz's father, former athletic director and basketball coach, Stanley Stolz was also elected to the Hall.
"To be inducted with your son into the Okemos Hall of Fame makes me a very lucky man," (Stan) Stolz said during his speech. "That doesn't happen to too many people I am sure."
Information on all inductees provided by Okemos Athletics Department press release below:
CONTRIBUTORS
Ron Bacon: Instrumental in starting the OAKS youth sports programs and longtime supporter of Okemos athletics
John Pudliner: Longtime team doctor for multiple sports at OHS and known as the "Father of Sports Medicine in Lansing"
COACHES
Keith Froelich: Former football coach and athletic director; 21-year head football coach at OHS; teams won eight league championships and had five playoff appearances; athletic director from 1995-2010
Al Inkala: Former girls tennis coach; coach of six state championship teams ('94, '95, '98, '99, '00, '01) and four girls state runner-up teams ('97, '02, '03, '04)
Ron Mott: Former girls and boys basketball coach; coached 1981 girls basketball state championship team and 1986 girls basketball state runner-up team
Jim Powers: Former boys tennis coach; eight state championship team titles ('86, '89, '92, '94, '95, '97, '99, '00) and two state runner-up team titles ('84, '88)
George Reynolds: Former wrestling coach; coached three state championship teams ('65, '66, '67)
Pete Schmidt: Former football coach; coached two state championship runner-up teams ('76, '80)
Dan Stolz: Current boys and girls golf coach; former coach of multiple sports at OHS; won state titles as head coach of girls tennis ('93) and softball ('99); coach of state runner-up teams in boys basketball ('06) and girls golf ('13); All-State basketball student-athlete at OHS ('75)
Stanley Stolz: Former boys basketball coach and athletic director; coached two boys basketball state championship teams ('81, '82); served as athletic director at OHS for 23 years
John Quiring: Former boys and girls cross country and track coach, led the boys cross country team to a state championship in 1986, won 29 league titles and 20 regional titles in 30-plus years
TEAMS
1965-67 wrestling teams: Won three consecutive team state championships
STUDENT-ATHLETES
Amy Alcini (girls tennis): Two-time state champion ('83, '84) and professional tennis player; 1987 OHS grad
Jessica Beech-Bograkos (softball): State championship team member ('99) and All-State honors; Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year ('00); All-American at Michigan State University; 2000 OHS grad
Bob Fossum (boys golf, basketball): Individual state champion ('79); All-State basketball player ('80); 1980 OHS grad
Jonathon Jones (boys basketball): Two-time All-State; Mr. Basketball Finalist ('06); four-year starter at Oakland University; led NCAA in assists during '08-'09 season; professional basketball player; 2006 OHS grad
Melissa Magee (girls tennis): Girls sports pioneer at OHS; nationally acclaimed player, coach, and official in field hockey and lacrosse at the collegiate at Team USA levels; 1972 OHS grad
Paul Quantrill (baseball): Major League Baseball player for 13 seasons; 2001 MLB All-Star; 1986 OHS grad
Kristen Rasmussen (girls basketball): Played at MSU and nine years in WNBA; 1996 OHS grad
Keri Reynolds-Ross (girls swimming): Six-time individual state champion ('87, '88, '88, '89, '90, '90); 4-year All-American at Auburn; 1991 OHS grad
Sue Tucker (girls basketball): State championship team member ('81); 1982 Michigan Miss Basketball; 1982 OHS grad
Mike Witherill (football, basketball): Received football scholarship to Arizona State; All-State basketball student-athlete ('80); 1980 OHS grad
Lauren Wolfe-Lamb (wrestling): Six-time US National Individual Champion ('91, '95, '97, '98, '99, '02); 1997 Pan American Games Champion; 1995 OHS grad