Aug. 5, 2003
SAN JOSE, Calif. - The San Jose Sports Hall of Fame announced today the Hall of Fame inductees for 2003. Additionally, the organization will honor former Bronco women's soccer standout Aly Wagner as the female Amateur Athlete of the Year. Charles Pauley will receive the male Amateur Athlete of the Year, while Jessica Gysin and Jeremy Jones will receive High School Athletes of the Year awards and Larry Harper will be recognized as the Special Olympian of the Year.
The four inductees are Anne Warner Cribbs (swimming), Becky Dyroen-Lancer (synchronized swimming), Andre Phillips (track and field), and Billy Wilson (football).
Wagner, a former standout at Santa Clara University and Presentation High School, helped guide the Broncos to the College Cup finals for the second consecutive year. She finished her Bronco career as the 13th best in NCAA history in career assists per game. The three-time All-American was awarded the 2002 M.A.C. Hermann Trophy Award, given to the top female soccer player in the nation. A member of the U.S. National Team, Wagner will play in this fall's World Cup competition. Additionally, she was the top pick in the WUSA draft by the San Diego Spirit.
The San Jose Hall of Fame induction ceremony is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, November 12, at HP Pavilion at San Jose. The evening will feature a reception beginning at 5:30 p.m. followed by a sit down dinner and ceremony at 7 p.m. The 2003 San Jose Sports Hall of Fame is presented by Comerica Bank in cooperation with Hewlett-Packard Company, San Jose Magazine, and Fox Sports Net Bay Area.
This is the ninth annual San Jose Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony. In addition to the induction, a bronze relief of each of the inductees will be permanently displayed on the concourse level of HP Pavilion.
The public is invited to purchase tickets for the event by calling the Hall of Fame hotline at 408-288-2932. Tickets are $150 per person or $1,750 per table. Additional sponsorship packages are available. A portion of the event proceeds will benefit Special Olympics Northern California Silicon Valley Region.
Members of the media interested in covering the event or requiring further information about the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame and its inductees are asked to call Shauna Standart at 408-288-2936.
2003 Honorees
Amateur Athletes of the Year
Aly Wagner, a former standout at Santa Clara University and Presentation High School, helped guide the Broncos to the College Cup finals for the second consecutive year. She finished her Bronco career as the 13th best in NCAA history in career assists per game. The three-time All-American was awarded the 2002 M.A.C. Hermann Trophy Award, given to the top female soccer player in the nation. A member of the U.S. National Team, Wagner will play in this fall's World Cup competition. Additionally, she was the top pick in the WUSA draft by the San Diego Spirit.
Charles Pauley, a '03 graduate of San Jose State University, ranked first in the country in kickoff returns in 2002 and ranked ninth in all-purpose running. He caught 60 passes for 804 yards (13.4 avg.) and four touchdowns; two touchdowns on kickoff returns tied the school season-record first set in 1970. Pauley, who holds a single-game school record for all-purpose yardage in a game, recently signed with the Oakland Raiders.
High School Athletes of the Year
Jessica Gysin (St. Francis High School, '04). As a junior at St. Francis High School, Gysin led the Lancers to the Division I State Volleyball Championship where she was named the MVP. In recognition of her dominance on the court, she was named the CCS Player of the Year, Cal-Hi Sports Volleyball Player of the Year and the Gatorade State Player of the Year.
Jeremy Jones (Piedmont Hills High School, '03). Jones was a two-sport athlete, excelling in both football and basketball. He led both teams to undefeated seasons during regular season. He was named Mt. Hamilton League MVP, 1st team All-CCS in football and was 3rd team All-League in basketball. He will play football at the University for Texas, El Paso on a scholarship this fall.
Special Olympian of the Year
Larry Harper is 28 years old and has been involved with Special Olympics for the past 22 years. Born with cerebral palsy, which adds another dimension to his developmental disabilities, Harper participates in a wide variety of sports including basketball, floor hockey, power-lifting and track & field. He lists bowling as his favorite sport and holds an average of 150. He has had numerous 200 games with a personal best of 278.
2003 Inductees
Anne Warner Cribbs, a graduate of Menlo-Atherton High School, first gained notoriety as a world-class swimmer when she won a gold medal at the 1959 Pan American Games as a 14 year old. At the 1960 Olympic games in Rome, she won the gold as part of the 400-meter medley relay team and placed fifth in the 200-meter breaststroke. She was also the first U.S. woman to swim under three minutes in the 200-meter breaststroke. In 1998, Cribbs co-founded the American Basketball League, which set the standard for women's professional sports. In May of 1999, she became President and CEO of the Bay Area Sports Organizing Committee which sought to bring the 2012 Olympic Games to the San Francisco Bay Area. Today, Warner Cribbs is President of Anne Cribbs & Company, a public relations and community relations consulting firm.
Becky Dyroen-Lancer, a graduate of Valley Christian High School, is hailed as the most powerful and technically accomplished performer in the sport of synchronized swimming. Competing for the Santa Clara Aquamaids, one of the nation's top synchronized swimming teams at the 1994 VII World Aquatic Championships, she won more gold medals than any other American at the event. She won numerous U.S. and world titles between 1989 and 1996, culminating with an Olympic gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games. In addition to being the first woman to receive perfect 10 scores in Olympic qualifying event, she won nine consecutive grand slams during her career.
Andre Phillips, a graduate of Silver Creek High School and San Jose City College, was a two-time CCS champion in the 330-meter hurdles, high school All-American in the 330-meter hurdles and an NCAA champion in the 400-meter hurdles. In the 1988 Olympics, Phillips won the gold medal in the 400-meter hurdles, upsetting Edwin Moses with an Olympic record of 47.19 seconds. Considered one of the greatest doublers of all time in the 110-high hurdles and the 400-meter hurdles, he spent seven years ranked #1 or #2 in the world in the 400-meter hurdles.
Billy Wilson, a graduate of Campbell High School and San Jose State University went on to play ten seasons with the San Francisco 49ers earning six consecutive trips to the Pro Bowl and was named the game's MVP in 1955. Wilson joined the 49ers as the 22nd pick in the 1950 NFL draft. During his career with the team, he compiled 5,902 receiving yards, 49 touchdowns, and led the NFL in receptions three times. In 1986 he was chosen as a wide receiver on the All-Time 49er team of the first 40 years.