Eight To Be Inducted Into Hall Of Fame
18th Annual Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner Set For October 15
August 14, 2003 LONG BEACH, CA--Long Beach State announced its inductees for the 2003 class of the Long Beach State Athletics Hall of Fame. The eight-member class includes: Bill Birch (Water Polo), Sabrina Hernandez (Women's Volleyball), Gary Little (Community), William Mitchell (Football), Ray Ratelle (Men's Volleyball Coach), Dave Snow (Baseball Coach), Dale Toohey (Rugby Coach) and Stacy Van Essen (Women's Softball).
The Hall of Fame, which was established in 1986, will add these eight new members to its roster bringing the total to 163. This will be the 18th class to be inducted into the Long Beach State Athletic Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame class of 2003 will be inducted at the 49er Hall of Fame Dinner on Wednesday, October 15 at the Hyatt Regency Long Beach. The cost to attend is $75 per person and $750 per table of ten. The 17th Annual Hall of Fame Golf Tournament will be held on Monday, October 6 at the Old Ranch Country Club in Seal Beach. The awards dinner following the golf tournament will be held at the Old Ranch Country Club House. The cost is $250 per golfer and $1,000 per foursome. The money raised will provide scholarship funds for the 49er Athletic Association. For ticket information or further information, contact the 49er Athletic Association at (562) 985-4662.
THE 49ER HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2003
Bill Birch--Men's Water Polo
Competed three years (1963-65) on both the swimming and men's water polo teams at Long Beach State... was a two-time All-State and all-conference (1963, 1964) water polo player for the 49ers and led the 49ers to back-to-back State College Championships... team MVP in 1964... selected 1st team All-American in both 1963 and 1964... was an assistant coach for the 49ers in 1965... in swimming he won three individual NCAA swimming titles and was the 49ers Most Valuable Swimmer (1964, 1965)... was an NCAA record holder in four events, school record holder in seven events and was a conference and NCAA champion in four events... winner of 10 gold, three silver and five bronze NCAA medals from 1964-66... Long Beach Century Club Swimmer of the Year in 1964... after leaving LBSU he was a member of the US National Water Polo team for four years... a gold medalist at the 1967 Pan American games... an alternate on the 1968 U.S. Olympic team... 1965 USA Water Polo Player of the Year and was an AAU All-American four times.
Sabrina Hernandez--Women's Volleyball
A 4-year letterwinner (1989-92) for the 49ers and a member of the 1989 NCAA Championship team... selected 1st team All-American in 1992 and 2nd team All-American in 1991... 1st team All-Big West Conference in 1991 and 1992, plus 1st team All-District in 1991 and 1992... starting setter 3 years and led the 49ers to a 95-14 (.872) record during that time and two appearances in the Final Four (1991, 1992)... Beach lost in 1991 title match to UCLA... ranks #3 on the 49er career assist chart with 4,796 and is tied for 8th in career aces with 115... had 53 aces in 1990, the 6th-best single season mark in 49er history... averaged 13.48 assists per game in 1991, the 5th-best single season mark at LBSU... her 1,735 assists in the 1990 season ranks #2 all-time single season and her 1,617 assists in 1991 ranks #4 all-time... had 87 assists vs. Hawai'i in the 1991 NCAA Regional Final, a 5-game win for LBSU.
Gary Little--Community
Few have been as involved for so long in 49er Athletics as Gary Little... or the past 43 years Little has given back to the department in several ways, beginning with his days as a student in 1960... was the Associated Students President at CSULB (1963-64), Associated Students Commissioner of Athletics and the Sports Editor and Managing Editor of the Daily 49er... has been on the Athletic Hall of Fame Committee since its inception in 1986 and has been the Master of Ceremonies for the event since 1992... active in the 49er Athletic Association, he has been a continuous member since 1964 and has served as Vice President and President of the 49er Club... from 1966-2001 Little worked on campus at CSULB... his last position with the University was as the Director of Housing and Residential Life... Little began his administrative career at LBSU as an administrative assistant to the Business Manager in 1966, moved to Housing Manager and then in 1991 he was named Director of Housing and Residential Life... he retired in Spring, 2002.
William Mitchell--Football
Lettered two years (1979-80) at linebacker for the 49ers... selected 1st team All-PCAA as a senior in 1980 and Associated Press honorable mention All-America as the 49ers finished 8-3 overall, winning the PCAA championships with a perfect 5-0 record... his 146 total tackles in 1980 is the 3rd-best single season total in 49er history and his 55 unassisted tackles that season ranks 7th-best in 49er history... played for the Ottawa Roughriders of the Canadian Football League.
Ray Ratelle--Men's Volleyball Coach
Was the head men's volleyball coach at Long Beach State for 19 years (1982-2000)... compiled a career mark of 385-190 (.670) with three conference titles to his credit... led the 49ers to the 1991 NCAA Championship with a 31-4 mark... the 49ers defeated USC in the championship match (3-1) in Honolulu, HI... also led the 49ers to second place NCAA finishes in 1990 and 1999... was selected as the 1990 NCAA Coach of the Year by Volleyball Magazine and was the 1991 NCAA Coach of the Year by both Volleyball Magazine and the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA)... while at LBSU he coached U.S. Olympians Brent Hilliard, Brett Winslow and Tom Hoff, while former players David McKenzie, Chris Seiffert and Jim Polster are all training with the current U.S. National Team... under his direction 49er players earned a total of 55 All-America honors, including 23 first team certificates.
Dave Snow--Baseball Coach
Was the head coach for the "Dirtbags" for 13 seasons, compiling an impressive 511-290-4 (.638) record... led the 49ers to four College World Series appearances (1989, 1991, 1993, 1998), 11 NCAA Regional appearances and six Big West Conference crowns... had a 218-90 (.708) record in the Big West Conference... was a five-time Big West Coach of the Year and in 1989 was selected as the NCAA Coach of the Year... never had a losing season at LBSU and averaged 30 wins per season... is the all-time school leader with 511 career wins... in his first year at LBSU (1989) he led the 49ers to a school-record 50 wins... that team went 50-15 and earned a bid to the College World Series for the first time in school history... coached three Big West Pitchers of the Year and three Big West Players of the Year... sent 102 Dirtbags into professional baseball, including current major leaguers Jason Giambi, Chris Gomez, Steve Trachsel, Rocky Biddle, and Mike Gallo.
Dale Toohey--Rugby Coach
Established the rugby team at CSULB in 1974 and has served as the head coach ever since (29 years)... the CSULB club rugby team has never had a losing season under his guidance and has won 87% of its games... have always been ranked in the top 20 teams in the nation, 15 times were ranked in the top ten and four top five finishes... has led the 49ers to wins in 15 rugby tournament and he produced 12 All-Americans... has been able to take his rugby teams overseas to compete, having traveled to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Mexico, South Africa and France... has been elected to various Rugby Halls of Fame, including the International Rugby Hall of Fame... also coached rugby at Washington State, Massachusetts and Amherst College... is an advisor to the US National Rugby Team and the Australian National Team... is still on the CSULB faculty in the Physical Education Department.
Stacy Van Essen--Softball
Played on three College World Series teams (1991, 1992, 1993) and lettered four years (91-94)... 2nd team All-West Region in 1991, 1992, 1993... only 49er to every be selected 1st team All-Big West four times... is the 49er career leader in at bats (871), and doubles (31) and is 2nd in RBI (105)... also ranks 2nd in hits (251) and triples (12) and is tied for 3rd in home runs (8)... on the mound she is the 49er career leader with 65 total wins and 408 strikeouts... ranks 2nd in career innings (755.2), games (123) and complete games (80)... her 20 wins in 1993 is tied for 6th on the 49er single season chart... threw two no-hitters. |
