Hall of Fame Profile: Carla (Sterk) Fles
9/27/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Sept. 27, 2004
Sept. 23 -- Hall of Fame Profile: Greg Lotzar (Baseball)
Sept. 24 -- Hall of Fame Profile: Dick Horgan (Golf)
Sept. 25 -- Hall of Fame Profile: Marcy Weston (Volleyball Coach)
Sept. 27 -- Hall of Fame Profile: Carla (Sterk) Fles (Women's Basketball)
Sept. 28 -- Hall of Fame Profile: Dave Nelson (Men's Basketball)
Sept. 29 -- Hall of Fame Profile: John DeBoer (Football)
Sept. 30 -- Hall of Fame Profile: 1974 Football Team
Carla (Sterk) Fles had a lot of highlights in her career as a women's basketball player at Central Michigan University.
That's to be expected when you score a bushel of points, grab rebounds like you own the backboards and block shots like you have a tennis racket in your hand.
However, her two big memories are team accomplishments.
"I'll never forget when we beat Michigan State at home in 1993 on a three-pointer by Carrie Isanhart," Fles said. "And, beating Bowling Green to reach the Mid-American Conference finals in 1991 was another big one."
For all her accomplishments, the Grand Rapids South Christian High product will be inducted into the CMU Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, Oct. 1, at a banquet at the Comfort Inn Conference Center. Tickets are $30 each and may be purchased by contacting the CMU ticket office at 1-888-FIRE UP2.
Also being inducted that evening will be John DeBoer (football), Dick Horgan (golf), Greg Lotzar (baseball),Dave Nelson (basketball), Marcy Weston (volleyball coach) and the 1974 football team (Division II national champions).
A four-year letterwinner for the Chippewas, Fles is the second all-time scorer in CMU annals with 1,539 points. She's also tied for fourth in rebounding with 880 and stands No. 1 in blocked shots with 104. Carla's 519 career field goal percentage is tied for third and her .788 free throw percentage is fourth best.
Carla (Sterk) Fles  | |
Fles was honored by the MAC all four years she played for the Maroon and Gold. She made the All-Freshman team in 1990, was first team All-MAC in 1991 and '93, and second team in 1992. She also added MAC All-Tourney recognition in 1991 and '92.
Carla was also a standout in the classroom where she earned first team Academic All-MAC laurels three times.
Fles didn't have enough basketball when her college days concluded.
She played professionally for a number of years, including 10 weeks for the New England Blizzard of the American Basketball League in 1996 as a replacement player. She also spent a year in Portugal where she led her team to the championship.
Fles didn't see much of a future playing basketball so she decided to keep her hand in it as a coach. "I wanted to coach all the way back in high school," Fles said. "That's why I majored in physical education at CMU."
After spending one year as an assistant coach at CMU (1998-99), Carla returned to her native Grand Rapids where she became the women's basketball coach at Cornerstone University. Her five teams have an impressive record of 121-48.