The Sunnyvale Sun

Sports

Seven more join Santa Clara Hall of Fame

By KEVIN SPARRER

Seven deserving people have joined the ranks of those who will forever immortalized in the prestigious Santa Clara University Hall of Fame during ceremonies held May 18 at the Mission campus.

Leroy Jackson, Kris (Kosnoski) Gambelin, Frank Lico, Cameron Rast, Art Santo Domingo, Sue (Wall) Ramirez and Daniel Wallis were inducted into the schools Hall of Fame for participation in athletics, as well as a special situation for one of the inductees.

This year's class brings the total list of Hall of Famers to 230 individuals as well as one team. Each of the members represents the best in the university's athletic heritage.

Jackson, a member of the class of 1963 who was originally from Hayward, was a three-time all-West Coast Conference selection in basketball. He led the Broncos to a 53-24 record under coaches Bob Feerick and Dick Garibaldi. Jackson was the first African-American men's basketball player at Santa Clara. He led this teams in rebounding in each of his three seasons (he played in a time when freshmen were not eligible to participate) and led in scoring twice. In 1963 Jackson pulled down 273 rebounds, which still ranks among the school's best for a single season.

Gambelin, class of 1994 and originally from Kent, Wash., was inducted to the Hall for her performance in volleyball. She was Santa Clara's first ever West Coast Conference Player of the Year in women's volleyball. She was also a three-time all-conference honoree at the setter position and led the Broncos to two WCC championships as well as a second-place finish in her last three seasons on the team. In 1991 she had 1,760 assists which remains as a school record for most assists in a single season. She is also third on the list for most career assists.

Lico, class of 1952, a native of San Jose and a Bellarmine College Prep graduate, found his way into the Hall through baseball. Lico was a second-team baseball All-American selection in the outfield for coach John J. "Paddy" Cottrell. Lico helped the team to a record of 47-12 over his three years and was also selected by both coaches and players of the California Intercollegiate Baseball Association as a first-team all-conference player. Lico led the CIBA in total bases as well as extra base hits. He was described by Tom Rowan, a longtime columnist for the San Jose Mercury News, as one of the greatest players to ever wear the Bronco uniform.

Rast, class of 1992 and from Simi Valley, was the first and only player to be a two-time first-team All-American selection in men's soccer. He served as the captain for the U.S. Olympic Team at the 1992 Barcelona Games. He was awarded an all-West Coast Conference selection three times and named the league's Defensive Player of the Year in 1989 and '91. In '89 he led the Broncos to the first-ever Santa Clara University national championship. He is also among the leaders in single-season goals as well as career goals and assists.

Ramirez, class of 1993, a native of San Jose and a Prospect High School alum, was inducted to the hall for her achievements in soccer. In 1992 she was a women's soccer All-American and manned the nets for the Broncos in three consecutive seasons. Each of her three seasons between the posts, the Broncos were ranked in the top six in the nation. She is still Santa Clara's all-time career leader in shutouts and in 1992 was named West Coast Conference Defender of the Year and the Defensive MVP in the College Cup. She is third on the school's list for career goals-against average and saves.

The late Wallis, who was a senior in 1942 and grew up in Los Banos before going to Bellarmine Prep, was the captain for the Broncos nationally-ranked football team. The Broncos were 7-2 the season before the team went on a three-year hiatus due to World War II. Wallis was an offensive guard in Santa Clara's single wing formation and led the team to a four-year record of 24-7-4 under the legendary coach Lawrence T. "Buck" Shaw. After graduating from Santa Clara, Wallis spent two years in the military and then earned a master's degree at Stanford University where he also earned a varsity letter in rugby.

Santo Domingo, originally from Bronxville, N.Y., was a graduate of Duke University in 1960. Santo Domingo co-founded the annual Cable Car Classic men's basketball tournament in 1967 and has been a largely generous and loyal supporter of Santa Clara men's basketball since that time. In 1977, Santo Domingo decided to move the tournament from San Francisco's Civic Auditorium to Santa Clara University's Toso Pavilion, where the event remains the longest-running holiday tournament in the nation. In addition to operating the Cable Car Classic, Santo Domingo also conducts a golf tournament every summer that brings many of the top college basketball coaches in the nation.