The Missouri Western State University Athletics Hall of Fame Committee is excited to announce the 2014 induction class. This year’s class includes; John Chavez – Track & Field; Mitch Mason – Football; Darroll Wright – Men’s Basketball; and the 1994-1995 Women’s Basketball Team.
Along with the 2014 class, Griffon golfer and current PGA member Brice Garnett (2012) will return to officially accept his Hall of Fame nomination. Griffon basketball player Larry Ingram (2007) will also return for his official induction.
Brice Garnett • Men’s Golf • (2003-2006)
Brice Garnett is the most decorated golfer to ever play at Missouri Western. Originally from Gallatin, Mo., Garnett was a three-time NCAA Division II All-American (2004, 2005 and 2006). He was a four-time NCAA Division II All-Region and All-MIAA player (2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006). He was the MIAA Tournament Champion three times (2004, 2005 and 2006) and was the NCAA Division II Super Regional Champion twice (2004 and 2005). In 2006 he was named the first-ever MIAA Player of the Year.
While playing for the Griffons, he won 12 career tournaments which included six in a row. In 2005 he placed 4th at the NCAA Division II National Championships in Savannah, Ga., and in 2004 he placed 62nd at the National Championships in Deland, Fla.
Garnett also excelled in the classroom graduating Cum-Laude in 2006 with a degree in business finance. He was the MWSU Male Student –Athlete of the Year twice (2005 and 2006) and was a finalist in 2006 for the Ken B. Jones MIAA Student-Athlete of the Year. He was a three-time MIAA All-Academic performer (2004, 2005 and 2006) as well as earning the Financial Executive Institute award in 2006.
Garnett is currently playing on the PGA Tour.
John Chavez • Track & Field • (1960-1962)
John Chavez is a household name in the track and field world as an athlete, educator and coach for over 48 years. Chavez came to MWSU in 1960 and was involved with track and field until the day he passed on March 21, 2013. As a student-athlete at St. Joseph Junior College, he won two individual national championships (400 & 800 meter) and one relay (One Mile).
Chavez graduated in 1962 from SJJC and moved on to attend William Jewell College where he graduated in 1965. While at William Jewell, he left his name all over the record books. He still holds six school records for the following events: 800-yard dash, 2-mile relay, 4 x 400 relay, 4 x 1600 yard relay, sprint medley relay and distance medley relay.
John taught school and served as a translator and track official in the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City; 1984 games in Los Angeles, Calif.; 1992 games in Barcelona; and 1996 games in Atlanta.
He was a member of St. James Catholic Church, a former president of Little United Nations Club and a member of the Missouri Track and Cross Country Coach Association Hall of Fame in 1996. He was a 10-year member of the games committee at the State High School Track and Field Meet as well as being named the 2009 St. Joseph Sports Inc. Coach of the Year.
He taught Spanish in St. Joseph, Mo. for over 40 years, including stints at Central High School, Christian Brothers High School (now LeBlond High School) and Lafayette High School.
Mitch Mason • Football • (1993-1996)
Mitch Mason is one of the best defensive backs to ever wear the black and gold. Mason was a two-time All-MIAA first team selection (1995 & 1996). He was also a First Team Don Hanson Football Gazette All-American in 1996 and an Honorable Mention selection in 1995. He was a Third Team Daktronics All-America selection in 1995.
During his career at Missouri Western he finished with 16 interceptions which is second all-time and 187 interception return yards which is fifth all-time. In 1996 he tied the single game record with three interceptions in a game against Pittsburg State.
Mason led the Griffons in interceptions in 1994, 1995 and 1996 with two, eight and six respectively. He also had 126 interception return yards in 1995.
Darroll Wright • Men’s Basketball • (1994-1995)
Darroll Wright joins the list of 2014 inductees after one season at Missouri Western in the mid-1990s. One of the leaders on one of the best teams in Missouri Western Basketball history, Wright was an All-MIAA first team selection coming off the bench. His efforts helped lead the Griffons to the MIAA Regular Season Championship and a berth in the NCAA South Central Region Tournament.
During his one year stint at MWSU, Wright averaged 18 points per game. He scored in double figures in every game but one and scored a career high 37 points against Emporia State on Feb. 18, 1995, which helped him earn MIAA Player of the Week honors.
Wright was a NABC/Sears South Central All-District second team selection as well as being named to NABC/Sears All-America third team. He was also CoSIDA All-South Central Region second team and Division II Bulletin Honorable Mention All-American.
Larry Ingram • Men’s Basketball • (1982-1984)
Larry Ingram (2007) played on the men’s basketball team from 1982-1984. While at Missouri Western, Ingram led the Griffons in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage.
He is MWSU’s career points per-game leader, averaging 22.1 points per game. He sits second all-time in free throw percentage at 82.0 percent; 11th in career scoring with 1,107 points; and fourth in career field goal percentage at 56.2 percent.
Ingram was an All-American in 1984 and graduated in May of 1986 with BS in Criminal Justice. He is a part of the 2007 class but is officially accepting the nomination this year.
1994-1995 Women’s Basketball Team
The 1994-1995 Griffon Women’s Basketball team finished with an overall record of 31-3 while posting a 15-1 MIAA record giving them the outright MIAA regular season title. The team won the MIAA Post Season Tournament as well as the South Central Region Tournament which qualified them for the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. The Griffons finished third in the nation, falling to North Dakota State 74-67, before defeating Stonehill 76-66 in the consolation game.
The Griffons were guided by MIAA Coach of the Year Jeff Mittie (2011). On the court, the Griffons were led by All-MIAA first team performers Tonya Foster and Amy Towne. Kathy Dyess and Toni Wood were named to the MIAA honorable mention squad.
Foster and Towne earned NCAA Division II South Region All-Tournament Team honors as well as Division II Bulletin Honorable Mention All-American honors. Towne also earned All-American honors from WBCA/Kodak (honorable mention) and CoSIDA (third team).
Foster was named MIAA Player of the Week once (12/12/94) while Towne was named Player of the Week twice (1/16/95 & 2/20/95). On the season, Towne averaged close to 20 points per game while Foster dumped in 15 points and snared nine boards per contest. Dyess and Wood were the other two Griffons who scored in double figures
Academically, Dana Obersteadt and Amy Towne were named to the MIAA All-Academic Teams.
— MWSU Sports Information —
The Benedictine men’s soccer team will start off their 2014 campaign ranked inside the top 15 as the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) released the preseason NAIA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll on Tuesday.
