The 2009 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held at The Oasis on Lake Travis, Feb. 5, 2010.
The following individuals and teams make up the inaugural athletics hall of fame class.
INDIVIDUALS:
James Keller, Head Baseball Coach (1991-97)
Carol Jean Sharp, Volleyball (1987-91)
Scott Linebrink, Baseball (1993-95)
Wendell Holmes, Men's Basketball (1990-92)
TEAMS:
1982-83 Men's Basketball Team
2002 Baseball Team
RSVP for this event using the link below or by calling the Hall of Fame registration phone line at (512) 313-FAME (3263).
REGISTRATION PAGE
INDUCTEE CAPSULES FOR THE INAUGURAL CTX ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME CLASS:
1982-83 Men's Basketball Team
The 1982-83 Concordia Lutheran College men's basketball team posted a 30-7 overall record under the direction of head coach Tom Orton. The Stags finished the season by winning the National Little College Athletic Association National Championship. Orton guided the Stags to a win over Central Platte College, 74-68, on March 18, 1983, in the national title game.
The Tornados scored a school-record 3,048 points (82.4 ppg) and saw seven players average double digits in the scoring column. Forward Michael Childs led the Stags by averaging 20.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.
To win the national championship, the Stags posted wins over Oakland City (80-76), Lees College (107-91), Phillips College (86-74) and Central Platte, all within a five-day span.
2002 Baseball Team
The 2002 Concordia Tornados baseball team made an appearance in the NCAA Division III World Series. The Tornados still hold the distinction of being the only NCAA Division III team in the state of Texas to reach the World Series. Led by head coach Mike Gardner, the Tornados posted a 35-13 overall record. Concordia won the American Southwest Conference tournament and the NCAA Division III West Regional prior to earning a berth in the World Series.
The Tornados were led by All-ASC pitcher Chema Chavez who posted a 10-3 record and a 3.45 earned run average. Second Team All-ASC West Division selections Scott Bunting and Jake Decker paced the Concordia offense. Bunting led the team with a .355 batting average. Decker batted at a .312 clip with five home runs.
James Keller, Head Baseball Coach (1991-97)
James Keller spent seven seasons as the skipper of the Concordia baseball team. Keller passed away after a six-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or "Lou Gehrig's Disease"). His number 19 jersey has been retired by Concordia.
Keller won 40 games in his first season as the Concordia head coach (40-21). Over the next two year, Concordia recorded 38 and 40 wins, respectively. Keller stands as the third winningest coach in Concordia history.
The Round Rock Express have honored Keller with the "James Keller Award," which, for the last 14 years, has been given to nominees who demonstrate sportsmanship, leadership and integrity both on and off the field. Keller appeared on the cover of the 1994 Labor Day issue of
Parade magazine, which included a story about his battle against ALS and his role on the national broadcast of the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon.
© Ron Vesely/Chicago White Sox
Scott Linebrink, Baseball (1993-95)
Scott Linebrink became the first Concordia baseball player to appear in Major League Baseball. Linebrink made his Major League Baseball debut on April 15, 2000, with the San Francisco Giants. His number 7 jersey is retired by Concordia.
Linebrink completed his 10th year of service in Major League Baseball following the 2009 season. Currently, he is a relief pitcher with the Chicago White Sox. Linebrink recorded outstanding back-to-back seasons in 2004 and 2005 with the San Diego Padres. During the two-year stretch, he recorded a 15-4 win-loss record and a 2.00 earned run average. Linebrink struck out 153 batters and walked only 49 in 157.2 innings pitched.
Recently, Linebrink donated $300,000 to assist Concordia with the construction of a new baseball field.
Carol Jean Sharp, Volleyball (1987-91)
Carol Jean Sharp spent five years competing with the Concordia volleyball team. Sharp missed one season with an injury, but became one of the top outside hitters in Concordia history near the end of her career. Sharp's number 13 jersey is retired by Concordia.
Sharp, who played under former head coach Linda Lowery, ranks eighth all-time at Concordia with 722 career kills. She posted 340 of her 722 kills during her senior season, which is the eighth best total in school history.
She helped the Concordia volleyball team to number 16 national ranking in the NAIA top 25 poll during the 1991 season. Her efforts also landed her on the NAIA All-District Team.
Wendell Holmes, Men's Basketball (1990-92)
Wendell Holmes spent only two seasons at Concordia, but he made the most of his 56 games in the purple and gold. Holmes is second all-time at Concordia in scoring average (25.0 ppg). He also holds the school record for rebounding average (10.2 rpg).
Holmes was named an All-American by the NAIA following the 1991-92 season after averaging 24.9 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. He is currently sixth on the Concordia men's basketball scoring list with 1,401 points.
Holmes was named an Outstanding Alumni Athlete by Concordia in 2002. His number 22 jersey has been retired by Concordia.
