Central Michigan University Athletics
CMU Athletics Hall Of Fame Class Announced
May 15, 2001
MOUNT PLEASANT - Six former Central Michigan University standout athletes will be inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame as the Class of 2001.
New members will be: Andy Kanoza (1971), baseball, Ted Park (1943), tennis, Terri Phillion-Dulude (1983), volleyball, Jim Nesbitt (1968), track, Sue (Nissen) Hayes (1991), women's basketball, and Ralph Soffredine (1963), football.
They will be inducted at the Hall of Fame banquet on Friday, Oct. 26, at the Comfort Inn and then honored at the halftime of the Central Michigan-Northern Illinois football game on Saturday, Oct. 27.
This year's class will join the 107 members previously enshrined in the Hall of Fame. The first CMU Athletics Hall of Fame class was inducted in 1984. Plaques for all honorees will be on display at the Dan Rose Center.
"We're looking forward to inducting another outstanding class into our Hall of Fame," said Herb Deromedi, Central Michigan's Athletic Director. "They were all excellent athletes at CMU and we're thrilled to have another class of this caliber.
"I watched Jim Nesbitt, Andy Kanoza, Terri Phillion and Sue Nissen compete and they were outstanding. I've heard a lot of great things about Ted Park and Ralph Soffredine. They're excellent additions to our Hall of Fame."
To be eligible for induction, the following must hold true for athletes: one becomes eligible 10 years after leaving school, one must earn two letters in one sport or one or more in two sports, or brought recognition to the school by his or her athletic endeavors, and an outstanding career as an athlete must be continued in the individual's profession or occupation.
For induction as faculty/staff: a person becomes eligible five years after leaving his or her coaching position or athletic-related administrative position.
Following are thumbnail sketches of each new inductee:
ANDY KANOZA - An All-American shortstop for the Chippewas in 1971, Andy was a three-year regular on a team that compiled an incredible record of 98-21. The 1970 club posted a mark of 36-4, still tops in school annals. Considered one of the top leaders in Chippewa history, Kanoza was captain of the 1971 team that finished second in the NCAA college division finals and was 35-7-1. Andy set a CMU mark that still stands with 55 walks in 1971 and is fourth in career steals with 91. He was a key factor in a defense that set a school record with 33 doubleplays in 1970. He batted .331 with a team-high five homers in 1971. Andy currently lives in Grand Rapids where he is a school teacher at Union High.
JIM NESBITT - One of the top track performers in Chippewa history, Jim was twice an NAIA All-American and set the NAIA indoor record in winning the 880-yard run in 1968. He also finished sixth in the NCAA college outdoor championships in the 440 in '68. Jim also won five Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships and ran in the prestigious Miami Orange Bowl Invitational where he won the 440 and took second in the 220. He also won the 600-yard run at the MSU Relays. He currently lives in Bay City and has been the cross country and track and field coach at Saginaw Valley State University for the past 15 years.
SUE (NISSEN) HAYES - An outstanding basketball player, Sue's name still appears 43 times in CMU's record book - 11 in career, 20 in single-season and 12 in single-game categories. She was a Freshman All-American in 1987-88, first team All-Mid-American Conference three times and second team once and was Academic All-MAC three times. Sue was a second team Academic All-American in 1989 and third team in 1990, and received an NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship in 1991. She still stands as Central's top all-time scorer (1,938 points) and is eighth in the MAC. Her 36 points against Eastern Michigan in 1988 are still tied for school best. A product of Dearborn Divine Child, Sue lives in Traverse City and works as a physical therapist.
TED PARK - Recognized by many Central Michigan veterans as the finest tennis player to play for the Chippewas, Ted was the No. 1 man on three outstanding CMU teams and lost just two matches in four years (1940-43). Ted competed in the National Tennis Tournament at Northwestern as a sophomore and also represented CMU in the NCAA finals. A service obligation forced him to go to the University of Wisconsin where he won a Big Ten crown. One of the top academicians ever produced by Central, Park's roles in education included National Science Fellow to Cambridge (England), a professor of microbiology at Vanderbilt, a research biochemist at Pennsylvania and the chairman of the microbiology department at Tufts. CMU's Gerald Edgar Park Library was named after Ted's father. Ted is now retired and lives in Weston, Mass.
TERRI PHILLION-DULUDE - Terri owns the distinction of being the first female athlete to be awarded a scholarship to Central Michigan University when she came to Mount Pleasant in the fall of 1979 on a volleyball scholarship. She earned All-Mid-American Conference honors four straight years and was named MVP of the MAC Tournament as a freshman. Terri led the Chippewas to a four-year record of 171-44-10 including a mark of 54-14 in 1981. CMU won two state titles and a second-place finish in the MAC in 1982. She still ranks in the top five in two career categories (kills with 1,265) and total blocks (437) and is in the top five in two single-season stats kills (494) and hitting percentage (.389). A product of Bridgeport High, Terri currently lives in Saginaw and is an elementary school teacher in Midland.
RALPH SOFFREDINE - A first-team Associated Press All-American in 1962, Ralph earned three letters for the Chippewa football team and was co-MVP for CMU in '62. A rugged two-way performer on the line for Central from 1960-62, he received the Chippewa Award in 1963 as the outstanding senior at CMU and gained Williamson Ratings Little All-American first team recognition. Ralph made 75 tackles at middle guard as a senior and was selected to Central's all-time team in 1969. He was also a first team All-Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference guard in 1962 and played semi-pro football for six years. A product of Sandusky High, Ralph has been in criminal justice most of his professional career and currently makes Traverse City his home where he is the chief of police.