John Olerud was one of five inductees into the Inland Northwest Sports Hall of Fame on Tuesday (Photo: SWX)Some world-class athletes and coaches have graced the Inland Northwest over the years. That point was emphasized again on Tuesday, as several more men and women were inducted into the Inland Northwest Sports Hall of Fame.
This year's class was headlined by former WSU baseball star John Olerud. He was joined by two iconic head coaches: North Idaho College wrestling coach John Owen and Lewis-Clark State baseball coach Ed Cheff. Two stellar female athletes were also inducted, including Gonzaga basketball great Tammy Tibbles and the late Corissa Yasen, an All-American in track at Purdue.
"It's a tremendous honor to be included in the Hall of Fame with all the great athletes that have played here," said Olerud after the ceremony at Spokane Arena. "It's awfully humbling to be bestowed that kind of honor."
"You don't see yourself as being recognized with the likes of an Ed Cheff and I'm extremely honored to just be a part of that," said Owen, who led NIC to eight national championships.
Cheff led LCSC to 16 NAIA titles, going to the World Series a record 28 times.
Olerud is the only player in NCAA baseball history to win 15 games and hit 20 home runs in the same season. He batted .464 in 1988 and went on to have a successful career in Major League Baseball with several teams, including the Seattle Mariners.
Tibbles was a State B basketball champion at Creston in 1981 and 1983 and set the all-time scoring record at Gonzaga.
Two Scroll of Honor Inductees were WSU Sports Information Director Rod Commons and football and basketball referee Clyde "Chick" Sale.
