3 Enter '08 Mountaineer Athletic Hall of Fame
Rob Cashell
LA GRANDE, Ore. - The Eastern Oregon University Department of Athletics has announced the Athletic Hall of Fame inductees for 2008. The award winners will be recognized at the Alumni Honors Ceremony on October 17th on the campus of Eastern Oregon University during homecoming activities.
Baseball standout Jim Fryback competed for the Mountaineers from 1968-1973. He was recognized by the Oregon Collegiate Conference as an All Conference selection in '69, '70, '71, and '72. In 1970, '71 and '72 he was also named to the All- District team. Fryback was also a member of the 1969-1970 OCC championship team. While playing short stop and second base Fryback amassed many individual records and three still stand. Fryback holds career marks in most walks with 61, most stolen bases with 32 and most sacrifice hits with 22. Fryback is also in the top ten in seven other categories.
John Kruesi will be inducted in the category of wrestling Kruesi attended and competed for Eastern Oregon University from 1966-1971. Kruesi was the Oregon Wrestling Collegiate Conference Champion at 123 pounds in both 1968 and 1969. At the 1968 and '69 NAIA District Championships Kruesi took home the gold winning his 118lb weight class. During 1968 and '69 John earned fourth place and a runner up honors respectively at 118lbs at the prestigious NAIA National Championships. All Conference honors were earned in 1966,'68, '69 and '70. John's 1967 season was lost due to a broken leg.
Jason Werst will be inducted in the categories of Cross Country and Track and Field. Werst wore the Mountaineer gold and blue from 1992-1995. In cross country Werst earned a 3rd place individual finish at the 1993 District meet. A breakthrough 1994 season led to a conference championship, a 2nd place finish at regionals and NAIA All-American Status. In addition Werst helped the '94 team place 6th overall at the NAIA National championships.
Werst also was a standout athlete for the indoor/outdoor track and field program. In indoor track Jason finished 4th in the two-mile at the NAIA championships earning All American honors. In 1995 he was a finalist in the 3000 meters. In outdoor track Werst earned a 5th place finish in the grueling 10,000 meter run at Districts during the 1993 season and a District Championship in the 5000 meter run in 1994. At the '94 NAIA National Championships Werst earned All-American status with a 3rd place finish in the 10,000 meters and an 8th place finish in the 5000 meters. Jason still holds school records in the half marathon and the two- mile. In addition his record in the 3000 meters stood from 1994-2002.
The Alumni Honors Ceremony will take place in McKenzie Theatre October 17th. A hosted reception will begin at 6:00 p.m. in Loso Lobby followed by the induction. Other awards include Community Service and Distinguished Alumni. The Ceremony is open to the public.
For more information regarding the 2008 homecoming activities log on to: http://www.eou.edu/alumni/homecoming/index.html