1/20 - SPORTS HALL OF FAME: GFU Hall of Fame Class of '05 Induction Ceremonies Set for Feb. 4

NEWBERG, Ore. - For the second year in a row, Homecoming weekend will be the setting for induction ceremonies for the George Fox University Sports Hall of Fame, as the Class of 2005 will be honored on Friday, Feb. 4, 2005.

The 10th annual GFU Sports Hall of Fame events begin with a reception and light refreshments at 4:00 p.m. in the Klages Dining Hall of the Heacock Commons building on the Newberg campus. Dinner and the induction ceremonies follow at 4:30 p.m. The honored athletes will also be introduced at halftime of the men's basketball game against Whitman College in the Wheeler Sports Center's Miller Gym, which begins at 8:00 p.m. following the women's game at 6:00 p.m.

Tickets for the evening are $20 for adults and $12 for children 12 and under. For more information or to order tickets, call the athletics department at 503-554-2910.

The George Fox Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2005 consists of Greg Pfleger (Men's Soccer 1991-94), Heidi (Rueck) Newkirk (Women's Basketball 1991-95), Joanna (Lofgren) Agan (Volleyball 1994-96), Larry Herrick (Meritorious Service), and the 1984 NCCAA national championship volleyball team.

GREG PFLEGER
Men's Soccer
1991-94
One of just two players in George Fox men's soccer history to average more than a goal per game, Greg Pfleger put together a spectacular four-year career for the Bruins. With 20 or more goals in each of his four seasons, he scored 84 goals in 77 games, an average of 1.09 per game. He is second all-time at George Fox in goals, goals per game, and total points (191), seventh in games played, and eighth in assists (23). He was an NAIA All-District 2 selection his first three years, district MVP in 1993, and an NAIA All-Area 1 honoree in 1992 and 1993. When the NAIA changed to the regional format in 1994, he became an All-Pacific Northwest Region choice. After earning Honorable Mention NAIA All-America honors in 1992 and 1993, he was named to the NAIA All-America Third Team in 1994. Pfleger also was named First Team All-Cascade Conference and Conference Player of the Year in 1994.

HEIDI (RUECK) NEWKIRK
Women's Basketball
1991-95
One of the finest point guards in Bruin history, Heidi (Rueck) Newkirk set numerous records at George Fox. Newkirk led her teams with unselfishness, intelligent play-making skills and incredible hustle. She is the all-time leader in career assists (584) and in assists per game (5.7). Newkirk ranks sixth in career steals (177), seventh in free throw percentage (.743), and 10th in career points (990). She has the three highest single-season assist totals in Bruin records, including a total of 190 assists with a 5.9 assist-per-game average in 1994-95. She had five double-digit assist games, including a Bruin-record 13 in games against Linfield and Northwest Nazarene. In 1993-94, and 1994-95, Newkirk was selected First Team All-Cascade Conference and was named as an Honorable Mention NAIA All-America in 1994-95

JOANNA (LOFGREN) AGAN
Volleyball
1994-96
In just two seasons, Joanna (Lofgren) Agan established herself as one of the most outstanding volleyball players in Bruin history. She set the George Fox season record for kills per game (5.60) in 1995. Her total of 431 kills was the fourth-highest in a single season and her season attack percentage of .366 is the second-highest ever at George Fox. Agan holds single-game records for kills in a five-game match (32 vs. Albertson), a four-game match (32 vs. Pacific), and a three-game match (25 vs. Pacific Lutheran). Her career total of 775 kills is the most for any two-year Bruin career and ranks Agan 10th on the career-kills list. She was First Team All-Cascade Conference in 1994, and was First Team All-Northwest Conference in 1995. In addition, Agan was selected Honorable Mention NAIA All-American in 1995. As a senior, she was named to the GTE Academic All-District VIII Second Team.

LARRY HERRICK
Meritorious Service
A former Bruin basketball standout who graduated from George Fox in 1972 with a degree in physical education, Larry Herrick has continued to serve the Bruin basketball program ever since. For more than three decades, he has worked thousands of hours at the scorer's table as a scoreboard and shot clock operator for the men's and women's teams. He has traveled to away games to assist longtime Bruin statistician Mike "Biggs" Wirta, and has volunteered numerous times to drive various George Fox sports personnel and fans to games all over the Pacific Northwest. He has worked as a machinist specialist at A-dec in Newberg for more than 30 years, and is an active member of the Church of the Nazarene, singing in the men's choir and volunteering his services wherever there is a need.

1984 VOLLEYBALL TEAM
The 1984 women's volleyball team captured the National Christian College Athletic Association National Championship, the first national team title of any kind in Bruin history. The Bruins placed third in the NAIA District 2 standings, behind University of Portland and Western Oregon, and first in NCCAA District 7 with a record of 30-10. The Bruins swept the opposition in the NCCAA Tournament, going 5-0 overall and defeating host Trinity Christian of Chicago, Ill., in two sets, 15-11, 15-8 in the championship match. Individual honors went to Melody Groeneveld McMaster and Denise Iverson, who were selected as NCCAA All Americans, and also to the NCCAA District 7 all-district team. Melody Groeneveld McMaster and Diane Walter were selected to the NAIA District 2 All-District team, and Walter was selected as NCCAA District 7 Player of the Year. Head Coach Steve Grant was honored as NAIA District 2, NCCAA District 7 and NCCAA National Coach of the Year. Team members were: Deanna Aarhus, Kerri Brown, Danette DeFord, Mary Erbele, Melody Groeneveld McMaster, Susan Nofziger, Lael Pinney, Debbie Pruitt, Melanie Rienstra, Debbie Sayre, Denise Iverson, Diane Walter, and Coach Steve Grant.