West Virginia Wesleyan recently announced the 2017 Athletic Hall of Fame class. Five new individuals and one team were inducted.

 

Among those being inducted is Bridgeport's Caroline Hornor Ramsey. While most know Ramsey for her ongoing exploits in golf, she was inducted as a coach of the Bobcats' basketball program.

 

Ramsey was one of the true pioneers of women's athletics at Wesleyan. She was school's first women's basketball coach and also coached field hockey during her time here in the 1970's. She is also one of the top golfers in state history, winning a total of 18 state titles in either the State Amateur or the State Senior Open.

 

Others inducted this year were Jack Fraser '59 (Track and Field, Cross Country), Susan Graham-Gray '91 (Cross Country), Allison Griffith '04 (Swimming), Chris Harrison '85 (Basketball), and the 1995 volleyball team.

 

Fraser was a standout middle distance runner for the Bobcats during a Golden Age of the Wesleyan track program. He was integral part of the title teams that rolled to four consecutive WVIAC Championships from 1955-58. Since graduation, Fraser has been a major contributor and supporter of the Bobcat track, cross country, and tennis programs.

 

Gray was the first Lady Bobcat to win a league individual title in cross country, racing to the league MVP honors in 1987. She was a primary piece to Wesleyan's first two WVIAC titles in 1989 and 1990. After college she became a national class marathoner and qualified for the 2008 Olympic Trials.

 

Griffith was a big star during a strong stretch of teams for Wesleyan swimming. She was a five-time All-American and broke five school records. Three of these still stand today; the 100-breastroke, 200-breastroke, and the 400-medley relay. She won 18 titles in the Bluegrass Mountain Conference and helped lead the Lady Bobcats to four league titles from 2001-04.

 

Harrison was part of some of the most successful men's basketball teams in school history. He was the starting center on the 1982-83 team that was NAIA National Runner-up that went 32-3. In 1983-84, the team was 32-6, and made the National Quarterfinals. He was picked in the sixth round by the Utah Jazz in the NBA Draft. He was a two-time All-Conference performer in the WVIAC and was an NAIA All-American. He scored over 1000 career points and averaged 9.4 rebounds for his career.

 

In Wesleyan's first year of NCAA membership, the volleyball team the made the NCAA Division II National Quarterfinals. After winning their seventh consecutive WVIAC title that fall, they rolled through the region. Wesleyan closed the season with a 33-2 mark. Becca Fleshman, Sonya Seifert, And Susan Wren all made First Team All-Conference, Kelly Sabol Second Team, with Julie Kasprzak and Carly Pariseau making Honorable Mention.  They were coached by Tia Brandel, who posted the top winning percentage in Lady Bobcat history.

 

"The Hall of Fame Committee selected a diverse and very worthy group again this year," remarked athletic Director Randy Tenney. "We have five individuals and one team, and it is a group that all left a positive mark on the history of West Virginia Wesleyan Athletics."

 

A special hall of fame induction ceremony took place for the Class of 2017 on Saturday, Feb. 18 at Wesleyan's Virginia Thomas Law Center for the Performing Arts.

 

Editor's Note: Caroline Ramsey is pictured with Athletic Director Randy Tenney and Bob Skinner, Vice president for Advancement at West Virginia Wesleyan College.