Wrestling Olympian Jim Scherr to be inducted into Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame on Oct. 28
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by Mike Moran
Colorado Springs, October 21-The Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame's Class of 2008 banquet and induction ceremony next Tuesday, October 28, at the World Arena may be one of the most inspiring and memorable evenings in the event's nine-year history. The program is a gathering of the city's celebrities and sports stars. It also spotlights and celebrates the historic decision this year by the United States Olympic Committee to call the city its home for the future after 30 years of residence.
The inductees include 1988 U.S. Olympian Jim Scherr, who is the first Olympic athlete to be named as the United States Olympic Committee's Chief Executive Officer. Scherr competed in freestyle wrestling in Seoul and medaled at the World Championships three times. The USOC leader has been a major architect of the organization's programs for elite athletes that produced the best performance by an American Olympic Team ever in a non-domestic Games this summer in Beijing.
Past wrestlers who have been inducted include:
- Jeff Sapp (Mitchell High football, state wrestling champion, Navy football All-American, 1976), Class of 2001
- Rulon Gardner (Olympic gold medal (2000), bronze medal (2004) Greco-Roman Wrestling), Class of 2006
ESPN's versatile College Football GameDay host Chris Fowler, who graduated from Palmer High in 1980, Pikes Peak International Hill Climb legend Leonard Vahsholtz, former Colorado College football coach Jerry Carle, University of Colorado basketball star Erin Scholz, ice hockey icon Art Berglund, and the 1965 state prep baseball champions from Palmer High round out a spectacular list of inductees. 2007 inductee Alan Cockrell, who was unable to attend last year because of his World Series role as hitting coach for the Colorado Rockies, will get his trophy in person this time, too.
Before a crowd approaching 700 fans, the Class of 2008 will enter the Hall of Fame officially as the ninth class of inductees. The Hall of Fame is presented for the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation by The Gazette and American National Bank.
The Sports Corp's two major service awards will also be presented during the evening. Attorney Pete Susemihl, who was a major player in the drive that made the Colorado Springs World Arena a reality in 1998, will receive the Thayer Tutt Sportsman Award. The venerable prep coaching legend Joe Sisneros will receive the Col. F. Don Miller Award.
On top of all that, hometown heroes will be recognized with a presentation from Mayor Lionel Rivera. 2008 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Goose Gossage and 2008 Olympic freestyle wrestling gold medalist Henry Cejudo will get keys to the city and kudos from Rivera.
The Evening: Super Sports Memorabilia Silent Auction and reception at 6:00, Dinner and Program at 7:00. VIP Table (10 seats, includes VIP reception with inductees, an early opportunity at the silent auction and complimentary wine at the table) $2500.00; Patron Table ($1000.00); VIP Individual ticket $250.00; Individual seat ($100.00), Youth (12-and-under) $50.00
Reservations: brian@thesportscorp.org or call Brian Oehler at (719) 634-7333, ext.1003.
Jim Scherr, U.S. Olympic Committee Chief Executive officer
The Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2008 biography
Scherr, a native of Mobridge, South Dakota, is the first Olympian in history chosen to lead the United State's Olympic Committee as its Chief Executive Officer. He gained the title in 2005 after serving the organization and leading it through a critical period of reform and reconstruction beginning in 2003. He joined the USOC in 2000 after a superb tenure as executive director of USA Wrestling and a stint as President of the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation. His career at the USOC is marked by his extraordinary commitment to programs and services in support of American athletes and the USOC's national governing bodies of sport. He was a member of the 1988 U.S. Olympic Team in Freestyle Wrestling and won two silver medals and a bronze at the World Championships, earned three USA championships, and two World Cup titles. He finished fifth at the Seoul Games. Scherr wrestled for the University of Nebraska, his alma mater, and won an NCAA title at 177 pounds in 1984. He earned an MBA degree from Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Management.
Colorado Springs Sports Hall Of Fame All-Time List
Class of 2000: Cullen Bryant (Mitchell High, CU All-America, L.A. Rams football), Peggy Fleming (Olympic Figure Skating Champion, 1968), Gib Funk (prep coaching legend) Rick"Goose" Gossage (Hall of Fame relief pitcher with 310 saves), William J. Hybl (USOC President Emeritus), Ben Martin (AFA Football Coach for 20 seasons), William Thayer Tutt (Sports Civic Icon), Bobby Unser (3-time Indy 500 winner and 13-time Pikes Peak Hill Climb winner), 1950 Colorado College Ice Hockey Team (NCAA Champions)
Class of 2001: Judy Bell (Golf, Curtis Cup Teams, 38 USGA Tourneys), Earl "Dutch"Clark (1929 Colorado College football All-American, member of Pro Football Hall of Fame), Bill "Red" Hay (CC ice hockey All-American twice, Chicago Blackhawks, 1959-67, Stanley Cup Championship, 1961), Jeff Sapp (Mitchell High football, state wrestling champion, Navy football All-American, 1976), Jill Trenary (figure skating, 1990 World Champion, 1988 Olympics, 4th, Broadmoor Skating Club), 1958 Air Force Academy Football Team (9-0-2, Cotton Bowl, 0-0 tie with TCU)
Class of 2002: Alonzo Babers (Track & Field, 1984 Olympic 400-meters gold medal, 4x400-meter relay gold medal, Air Force Academy football and track star), Carlo Fassi (skating coach, Broadmoor Skating Club, coached Peggy Fleming, Dorothy Hamill, Jill Trenary and Todd Eldredge), Flo Hyman (Volleyball, trained at the Olympic Training Center and won a silver medal at the 1984 Olympic Games), Scott Johnson (gymnastics, Wasson High, All-American at Nebraska, gold medal at the 1984 Olympic Games), Col. F.Don Miller (USOC Executive Director, 1969-85), Baaron Pittenger (Former USOC Executive Director and National Sports Festival architect), 1980 U.S. Olympic Ice Hockey Team (selected in Colorado Springs, historic gold medal in Lake Placid, including the "Miracle on Ice" semifinal win over the USSR)
Class of 2003: Alison Dunlap (Cycling, CC graduate, trained in Colorado Springs, Pan Am Games gold medalist, 1996 and 2000 Olympian, 2001 World Mountain Bike Champion), Dow Finsterwald (golf, 12 PGA Tour event titles, 1958 PGA Champion, Broadmoor Director of Golf for 28 years), Ernie Jennings (AFA 1970 football All-American receiver, Heisman Trophy finalist), Harry Hoth (Colorado Springs broadcasting legend and former Mayor), Ralph Routon (father of the Colorado Springs Hall of Fame, beloved Gazette sports editor for 24 years and inspiring sports columnist, led the effort that brought AAA baseball back to the city in 1988), 1948 Colorado Springs High football team (state champions, 11-0)
Class of 2004: Chad Hennings (AFA football All-American and Outland Trophy winner who played nine seasons for the Dallas Cowboys and won three Super Bowl rings), David & Hayes Alan Jenkins (first brother combination to participate in the Olympics for the United State. Hayes won the figure skating gold medal in 1956 and David captured a bronze in the men's competition. David completed the dream with a gold medal in 1960 at Squaw Valley. Both trained at The Broadmoor Skating Club), Bob Mathias (won the Olympic decathlon in 1948 and 1952, served four terms in Congress, and was the first director of the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs when it opened in 1977), Joe Morgan (a pioneer who paved the way for African-American participation in sports in Colorado Springs in 1948 with his Brown Bombers semi-pro baseball team and later became the first black man to umpire in a state high school championship game in 1970), Joan Powell (legendary volleyball coach whose Palmer High teams won state titles in three divisions. Coached at Arizona and became a top NCAA volleyball official), Pikes Peak Or Bust Rodeo Ramrods.
Class of 2005: Justin Armour (Prep football and basketball star at Manitou Springs High who went on to shine at Stanford and played five seasons in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos), Fisher DeBerry (Legendary Air Force football coach who has directed the Falcons to lofty heights in his 23 seasons with an overall mark of 169-101-1. He retired as the winningest coach in Academy football history. Jack Finlayson (an early Colorado Springs sports broadcasting legend who did play by play for the Sky Sox, Colorado College ice hockey, Air Force football and the Pikes Peak Hill Climb over more than two decades, as well as KKTV's nightly sports anchor), Ada Gee-DeProsse (Colorado College grad who went on to a spectacular women's basketball coaching career at Ball State, Wisconsin, Vanderbilt, Southern Cal and Nevada), Mike Moran (the USOC's official spokesman for 13 Olympic Games over almost 25 years beginning with the 1980 Lake Placid Games. He later served as the spokesman for the New York 2012 Olympic bid, and now serves as the Director of Communications for the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation), 1971 Wasson High Football Team (state champions with a thrilling 21-19 win over Denver George Washington)
Class of 2006: Rulon Gardner (Olympic gold medal (2000), bronze medal (2004) Greco-Roman Wrestling), Darryl Clack (Widefield High prep track and football star, Arizona State & Dallas Cowboys running back), Dave & Chuck Delich (Colorado Springs ice hockey stars at CC and Air Force), Colleen O'Connor and Jim Millns (1976 Olympic ice dancing bronze medalists who trained at the Broadmoor Skating Club), 1982-83 Air Force Football Teams (ran up an 18-7 mark including a pair of wins against Notre Dame, Navy and Army…played in and won two bowl games against Vanderbilt and Ole Miss, coached by Ken Hatfield).
Class of 2007: Alan Cockrell (Sky Sox Hall of Fame outfielder from 1990-96); Bob Johnson (U.S. Olympic ice hockey 1976 coach, legendary head coach at Wisconsin with three NCAA titles, and coach of the 1991 Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins); Anita Moss (former Harrison High volleyball and basketball star and University of Arizona volleyball All-American); Brock Strom (Air Force Academy 1958 football All-American and College Football Hall of Fame inductee); Amy Van Dyken (Olympic swimming gold medalist with four golds in Atlanta 1996 and two in Sydney 2000); 1956 Colorado Springs High School Football Team (State AA Champions)
The inductees include 1988 U.S. Olympian Jim Scherr, who is the first Olympic athlete to be named as the United States Olympic Committee's Chief Executive Officer. Scherr competed in freestyle wrestling in Seoul and medaled at the World Championships three times. The USOC leader has been a major architect of the organization's programs for elite athletes that produced the best performance by an American Olympic Team ever in a non-domestic Games this summer in Beijing.
Past wrestlers who have been inducted include:
- Jeff Sapp (Mitchell High football, state wrestling champion, Navy football All-American, 1976), Class of 2001
- Rulon Gardner (Olympic gold medal (2000), bronze medal (2004) Greco-Roman Wrestling), Class of 2006
ESPN's versatile College Football GameDay host Chris Fowler, who graduated from Palmer High in 1980, Pikes Peak International Hill Climb legend Leonard Vahsholtz, former Colorado College football coach Jerry Carle, University of Colorado basketball star Erin Scholz, ice hockey icon Art Berglund, and the 1965 state prep baseball champions from Palmer High round out a spectacular list of inductees. 2007 inductee Alan Cockrell, who was unable to attend last year because of his World Series role as hitting coach for the Colorado Rockies, will get his trophy in person this time, too.
Before a crowd approaching 700 fans, the Class of 2008 will enter the Hall of Fame officially as the ninth class of inductees. The Hall of Fame is presented for the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation by The Gazette and American National Bank.
The Sports Corp's two major service awards will also be presented during the evening. Attorney Pete Susemihl, who was a major player in the drive that made the Colorado Springs World Arena a reality in 1998, will receive the Thayer Tutt Sportsman Award. The venerable prep coaching legend Joe Sisneros will receive the Col. F. Don Miller Award.
On top of all that, hometown heroes will be recognized with a presentation from Mayor Lionel Rivera. 2008 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Goose Gossage and 2008 Olympic freestyle wrestling gold medalist Henry Cejudo will get keys to the city and kudos from Rivera.
The Evening: Super Sports Memorabilia Silent Auction and reception at 6:00, Dinner and Program at 7:00. VIP Table (10 seats, includes VIP reception with inductees, an early opportunity at the silent auction and complimentary wine at the table) $2500.00; Patron Table ($1000.00); VIP Individual ticket $250.00; Individual seat ($100.00), Youth (12-and-under) $50.00
Reservations: brian@thesportscorp.org or call Brian Oehler at (719) 634-7333, ext.1003.
Jim Scherr, U.S. Olympic Committee Chief Executive officer
The Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2008 biography
Scherr, a native of Mobridge, South Dakota, is the first Olympian in history chosen to lead the United State's Olympic Committee as its Chief Executive Officer. He gained the title in 2005 after serving the organization and leading it through a critical period of reform and reconstruction beginning in 2003. He joined the USOC in 2000 after a superb tenure as executive director of USA Wrestling and a stint as President of the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation. His career at the USOC is marked by his extraordinary commitment to programs and services in support of American athletes and the USOC's national governing bodies of sport. He was a member of the 1988 U.S. Olympic Team in Freestyle Wrestling and won two silver medals and a bronze at the World Championships, earned three USA championships, and two World Cup titles. He finished fifth at the Seoul Games. Scherr wrestled for the University of Nebraska, his alma mater, and won an NCAA title at 177 pounds in 1984. He earned an MBA degree from Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Management.
Colorado Springs Sports Hall Of Fame All-Time List
Class of 2000: Cullen Bryant (Mitchell High, CU All-America, L.A. Rams football), Peggy Fleming (Olympic Figure Skating Champion, 1968), Gib Funk (prep coaching legend) Rick"Goose" Gossage (Hall of Fame relief pitcher with 310 saves), William J. Hybl (USOC President Emeritus), Ben Martin (AFA Football Coach for 20 seasons), William Thayer Tutt (Sports Civic Icon), Bobby Unser (3-time Indy 500 winner and 13-time Pikes Peak Hill Climb winner), 1950 Colorado College Ice Hockey Team (NCAA Champions)
Class of 2001: Judy Bell (Golf, Curtis Cup Teams, 38 USGA Tourneys), Earl "Dutch"Clark (1929 Colorado College football All-American, member of Pro Football Hall of Fame), Bill "Red" Hay (CC ice hockey All-American twice, Chicago Blackhawks, 1959-67, Stanley Cup Championship, 1961), Jeff Sapp (Mitchell High football, state wrestling champion, Navy football All-American, 1976), Jill Trenary (figure skating, 1990 World Champion, 1988 Olympics, 4th, Broadmoor Skating Club), 1958 Air Force Academy Football Team (9-0-2, Cotton Bowl, 0-0 tie with TCU)
Class of 2002: Alonzo Babers (Track & Field, 1984 Olympic 400-meters gold medal, 4x400-meter relay gold medal, Air Force Academy football and track star), Carlo Fassi (skating coach, Broadmoor Skating Club, coached Peggy Fleming, Dorothy Hamill, Jill Trenary and Todd Eldredge), Flo Hyman (Volleyball, trained at the Olympic Training Center and won a silver medal at the 1984 Olympic Games), Scott Johnson (gymnastics, Wasson High, All-American at Nebraska, gold medal at the 1984 Olympic Games), Col. F.Don Miller (USOC Executive Director, 1969-85), Baaron Pittenger (Former USOC Executive Director and National Sports Festival architect), 1980 U.S. Olympic Ice Hockey Team (selected in Colorado Springs, historic gold medal in Lake Placid, including the "Miracle on Ice" semifinal win over the USSR)
Class of 2003: Alison Dunlap (Cycling, CC graduate, trained in Colorado Springs, Pan Am Games gold medalist, 1996 and 2000 Olympian, 2001 World Mountain Bike Champion), Dow Finsterwald (golf, 12 PGA Tour event titles, 1958 PGA Champion, Broadmoor Director of Golf for 28 years), Ernie Jennings (AFA 1970 football All-American receiver, Heisman Trophy finalist), Harry Hoth (Colorado Springs broadcasting legend and former Mayor), Ralph Routon (father of the Colorado Springs Hall of Fame, beloved Gazette sports editor for 24 years and inspiring sports columnist, led the effort that brought AAA baseball back to the city in 1988), 1948 Colorado Springs High football team (state champions, 11-0)
Class of 2004: Chad Hennings (AFA football All-American and Outland Trophy winner who played nine seasons for the Dallas Cowboys and won three Super Bowl rings), David & Hayes Alan Jenkins (first brother combination to participate in the Olympics for the United State. Hayes won the figure skating gold medal in 1956 and David captured a bronze in the men's competition. David completed the dream with a gold medal in 1960 at Squaw Valley. Both trained at The Broadmoor Skating Club), Bob Mathias (won the Olympic decathlon in 1948 and 1952, served four terms in Congress, and was the first director of the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs when it opened in 1977), Joe Morgan (a pioneer who paved the way for African-American participation in sports in Colorado Springs in 1948 with his Brown Bombers semi-pro baseball team and later became the first black man to umpire in a state high school championship game in 1970), Joan Powell (legendary volleyball coach whose Palmer High teams won state titles in three divisions. Coached at Arizona and became a top NCAA volleyball official), Pikes Peak Or Bust Rodeo Ramrods.
Class of 2005: Justin Armour (Prep football and basketball star at Manitou Springs High who went on to shine at Stanford and played five seasons in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos), Fisher DeBerry (Legendary Air Force football coach who has directed the Falcons to lofty heights in his 23 seasons with an overall mark of 169-101-1. He retired as the winningest coach in Academy football history. Jack Finlayson (an early Colorado Springs sports broadcasting legend who did play by play for the Sky Sox, Colorado College ice hockey, Air Force football and the Pikes Peak Hill Climb over more than two decades, as well as KKTV's nightly sports anchor), Ada Gee-DeProsse (Colorado College grad who went on to a spectacular women's basketball coaching career at Ball State, Wisconsin, Vanderbilt, Southern Cal and Nevada), Mike Moran (the USOC's official spokesman for 13 Olympic Games over almost 25 years beginning with the 1980 Lake Placid Games. He later served as the spokesman for the New York 2012 Olympic bid, and now serves as the Director of Communications for the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation), 1971 Wasson High Football Team (state champions with a thrilling 21-19 win over Denver George Washington)
Class of 2006: Rulon Gardner (Olympic gold medal (2000), bronze medal (2004) Greco-Roman Wrestling), Darryl Clack (Widefield High prep track and football star, Arizona State & Dallas Cowboys running back), Dave & Chuck Delich (Colorado Springs ice hockey stars at CC and Air Force), Colleen O'Connor and Jim Millns (1976 Olympic ice dancing bronze medalists who trained at the Broadmoor Skating Club), 1982-83 Air Force Football Teams (ran up an 18-7 mark including a pair of wins against Notre Dame, Navy and Army…played in and won two bowl games against Vanderbilt and Ole Miss, coached by Ken Hatfield).
Class of 2007: Alan Cockrell (Sky Sox Hall of Fame outfielder from 1990-96); Bob Johnson (U.S. Olympic ice hockey 1976 coach, legendary head coach at Wisconsin with three NCAA titles, and coach of the 1991 Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins); Anita Moss (former Harrison High volleyball and basketball star and University of Arizona volleyball All-American); Brock Strom (Air Force Academy 1958 football All-American and College Football Hall of Fame inductee); Amy Van Dyken (Olympic swimming gold medalist with four golds in Atlanta 1996 and two in Sydney 2000); 1956 Colorado Springs High School Football Team (State AA Champions)
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