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Western Michigan University Athletics

Hall of Fame - S

*All inductee information current up to the year they were inducted. 

Ed Salter
Football, 1932-34
Baseball, 1934-35
Track, 1933-35
Inducted 1976
Pontiac, Michigan
  • Outstanding blocking and defensive back on football teams that had 16-4-2 record.
  • Outfielder on 1934-35 baseball teams that won state championships, batting .318 in 1934.
  • State intercollegiate outdoor high jump champion (1933) and set indoor record.
  • Played with Detroit Stars of the National Negro Baseball League and was executive secretary of a Pontiac YMCA.
  • Taught and coached basketball, football and track at Vashon High and served as an elementary school principal in St. Louis.

Robert Sanford
Football, 1997-2000
Inducted 2015
Miami, Fla.
    • Member of the WMU Football All-Century Team
    • Named MAC Offensive Player of the Year and Vern Smith winner in 2000
    • Named First Team All-MAC in 2000, named Second Team All-MAC three straight years from 1997-99
    • MAC Freshman of the Year in 1997
    • Career record holder for rushing yards with 4, 219 and ranks second for most rushing yards in a season with 1,571
    • Career record holder for touchdowns with 43
    • Tied for first in career record 100-yard rushing games with 21
    • Lead WMU to most wins over a four-year span with 31, which included back-to-back MAC West Division titles in 1999 and 2000

Bernie Saunders
Hockey, 1976-79
Inducted 1994
Ajax, Ontario
  • Named the WMU “most valuable” player in 1977 and 1979 and captained the latter squad as well as being a second-team All-Central Collegiate Hockey Association pick in 1978.
  • Western’s leading goal scorer for three seasons (1977-79) and top point scorer in 1979 as well as one of the WMU’s top 20 all-time scoring leaders (15th) with 154 (76-78) points heading into the 1990s.
  • The first Bronco icer to see regular-season action in a National Hockey League game as property of Quebec Nordiques. Also, played professionally with Nova Scotia and Syracuse of the American Hockey League: Cincinnati of the Central Hockey League and the Kalamazoo Wings of the International Hockey League.
  • Joined the Upjohn Company in 1982 and now holds position as associate product manager.
  • Selected the “W” Alumni Club’s “man of the year” in 1994 for continued involvement in WMU athletics as a radio announcer for Bronco Hockey (1984-89) and community service as a Kalamazoo Optimist Hockey Association and Portage Public Schools hockey coach.

Heather Sawyer
Volleyball, 1982-85
Inducted 1996
Orono, Ontario
  • Only Western volleyball player to earn All Mid-American Conference first-team recognition four times was league “most valuable” in 1982 and 1984 and All-MAC Academic in 1985.
  • Played on teams that had a four-year record of 116-24 and were in four NCAA tournaments. The 1983 team went 32-1 and reached national quarterfinals.
  • A setter who is still ranked No. 2 among career Broncos for assists (3,455) and owns the five-game match record (83). Chosen on Western’s seven-member 1984-93 all-decade team.
  • Played for Canadian national team from 1986-89 and briefly again in 1994. Competed in the Pan-American and World University Games, world championships and Olympic trials. Also, played with professional league championship teams in Belgium (1990) and France (1995)
  • Coached four years at the University of Regina (Saskatchewan) and with the Canadian National B team. In 1996, began coaching with USA Volleyball program in Kalamazoo.

Al Scharns
Men's Gymnastics | 1980-85
Inducted in 2023
Baden, Pa.
- Three-time Co-Captain
- Broke WMU All-Around record three times and hold Still Rings record
- First freshmen in program history to break 50.00 in All-Around.
- Three-time Great Lakes Conference Gymnast of the Year
- Won Great Lakes Conference Individual Championships in the Still Rings (1982, '85), Horizontal Bar (1982, '85), All-Around (1982, '85), and Parallel Bar (1984).
- Member of 1981 and 1985 WMU Great Lakes Conference Championship teams.
- Represented the United States in South Africa in 1984.

Tony Scheffler 
Football | Tight End | 2002-2005
Inducted 2024 
Chelsea, Mich.  
  • Two-time First Team All-MAC selection (2004 & 2005)
  • Academic All-District IV First Team Selection (2004 & 2005)
  • Finished career ranked second in WMU history among tight ends in receptions (117) and receiving yards (1,345)
  • Finished with 13 career touchdown receptions
  • Finished fourth in voting for the John Mackey Award as the nation's top tight end in 2005
  • Named a CollegeFootballNews.com All-American (2005) 
  • Drafted in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos, playing eight seasons with the Broncos and the Detroit Lions
  • Also, a 3-year letter winner for WMU baseball, starting 31 games as a sophomore, hitting .314 and 5 home runs


Joan Schmidt
Basketball, 1961-63
Field Hockey, 1961-63
Volleyball, 1961-63
Inducted 1994
Niles, Michigan
  • Michigan College All-Star in field hockey in 1963
  • Served Central Illinois Field Hockey Association and was selected six times to the Midwest Region squad, representing the Midwest in the U.S. Field Hockey Association’s national tournament.
  • During 25-year tenure at Eastern Illinois University, she was associate athletic director (1977-1994), compliance coordinator (1990-94), as well as head coach for track (1974-79), cross country (1977-79) and volleyball (1975-77).
  • Inducted in Eastern Illinois Athletic Hall of Fame.

Paul Schneider
Baseball, 1978-82
Inducted 2009
Portage, Michigan
  • Named Third Team-All-American (1981)
  • Two-time All-MAC First Team (1981, 1982)
  • Second team all-district (1982)
  • Member of the twenty-game winning streak at WMU (1982)
  • Ranks first in career slugging percentage (.600) at WMU
  • Ranks second in hits in a season (1983), longest hit streak (18-game), career batting average (.391) and career on-base percentage (.461) in WMU baseball history
  • Ranks fourth in batting average in a season (.441) (1981)
  • Most Valuable Player, WMU (1981)
  • All-District/All-Region (1st Team, 1981, as an outfielder)
  • All-District/All-Region (2nd Team, 1982, as a designated hitter)
  • All-Mid-American Conference (1st Team, 1981 and 1982)
  • Played for the Seattle Mariners organization (1982-87)
  • Pitching coach on MAC Championship team (1989)
  • Michigan State High School Athletic Association State Coach of the Year (2002)
  • MHSAA Regional Coach of the Year (2002, 2003, 2005)
  • MHSAA District Coach of the Year (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009)

Nelson Schrier
Track, 1930-32
Inducted 1983
Kalamazoo, Michigan
  • Was first athlete to win three indoor and three outdoor Michigan Collegiate championship in the same event.
  • Placed sixth in high jump at 1931 national intercollegiate meet.
  • Set then school high jump record of 6-1 ¾ and also held mark in the low hurdles.
  • Served as Western Michigan University’s head athletic groundskeeper (1937-69).
  • Missed only one home athletic event in his 32 years of service.

Frank Secory
Football, 1933-35
Baseball, 1934-36
Inducted 1976
Grand Haven, Michigan
  • Had career batting average of .319 and hit then school record seven home runs.
  • Football guard and offered a professional tryout with Chicago Bears.
  • Played professional baseball with Detroit and Cincinnati organizations and eventually was member of 1945 National League champions Chicago Cubs.
  • National League umpire for 19 years and worked six All-Star games and four World Series.
  • Received 1969 Bill Klem Award as “umpire of the year”.

Jack Shaw
Track and Cross Country Coach
Inducted 1997
Kane, Pennsylvania
  • From 197-97 compiled a 100-62-2 dual meet record for cross country and 88-23-1 mark for track. Cross country team placed fifth in 1970 NCAA championships and 12th in 1989.
  • Directed six track and five cross country teams to Mid-American Conference championships. Won Central Collegiate Conference titles in cross country in 1970 and for track in 1995 and 1996.
  • Five-time MAC “coach of the year” honoree for both track and cross country and won NCAA Division IV award for track in 1985 and 1995.
  • Produced 53 All-American athletes 27 for indoor track, 20 for outdoor track and six for cross country. Seven placed second in NCAA championship competition.
  • A 1961 graduate of Muskingum (Ohio) College. Coached Warren (Pa.) High School in state cross country title. Held track and cross country coach at Marshall University (1968-69) and was an assistant at the University of Pittsburgh (1969-70).

Liz Shon (Miklosi)
Track and Field, 1976-80
Inducted 2009
Sparta, Michigan
  • Holds or at one time held seven school sprint records
  • Currently ranks third and second in the 60m (7.2) and 300m (36.4) all-time at WMU
  • Three-time AIAW National Indoor Track Championship qualifier
  • Placed seventh in two different events (60m dash, 300m dash) in two consecutive appearances at AIAW National Indoor Track Championship (1978-79)
  • Four-time letterwinner

Maria Shoup-Holbrook
Track and Field, 1982-85
Inducted 2001
Walhalla, Michigan
  • A 1984 Olympic qualifier and NCAA participant in 1984 and 1985
  • Helped WMU win its first Mid-American Conference championship in 1985
  • Established program standards in the 400 (54.94) and 100 hurdles (14.02) during the 1985 championship season
  • Ran the 400-meter hurdles in 58.28
  • Shoup-Holbrook was named 1985 co-athlete of the year and was honored as team MVP in 1983 and 1984.
  • Shoup-Holbrook rewrote Bronco records five times during her career, including a record 4,871 points in the heptathlon in 1983

Tom Slaughter
Football, 1934-35
Freshman Coach, 1948-63
Inducted 1999
Scottsdale, Pennsylvania
  • Played on the 1934 Mythical National Teachers College Championship team and received his degree from WMU in 1935 … competed in football, basketball and track at the University of Cincinnati from 1930-33, earning All-Buckeye Conference honors as an end.
  • Served as head freshman coach in football (15 years), basketball (10 years) and baseball (6 years) at WMU from 1948-63 … was an associate professor in the WMU Department of Physical Education and Athletics until his retirement in 1975 … named “W” Club Man of the Year in 1979 … wrote definitive history on WMU athletics in 1996 publications: Go Broncos: The History of Western Michigan University’s Athletics.

Joel Smeenge
Football, 1986-89
Inducted 2003
Hudsonville, Michigan
  • All-American Honorable Mention (1988)
  • WMU Most Valuable Player (1989)
  • Three-time All-Mid-American Conference selection (1987-89)
  • Holds the school record for sacks (34) and tackles for loss (66)
  • Four-year letterwinner
  • Played 10 seasons in the NFL (1990-200), four with the New Orleans Saints and five with the Jacksonville Jaguars
  • Senior Bowl participant and third round draft pick of the Saints

Devon Smith
Basketball, 1935-37
Tennis, 1935-37
Inducted 1976
Delphi, Indiana
  • Outstanding playmaking guard on basketball teams that were 39-12.
  • Named by “Buck” Read as one of the top 12 players he coached over his 27-year career at Western Michigan.
  • Member of three state intercollegiate championship tennis teams and was 1937 doubles runner-up.
  • Played professional basketball with Bendix Brakes, one of top Midwestern teams in 1940s and in the Eastern Pro League (1943-47).
  • Worked for 38 years in industrial relations and personnel capacity with major companies in Pennsylvania and California.

Neil Smith
Hockey, 1975-78
Inducted 1991
Don Mills, Ontario
  • First-team Division II All-American defenseman in 1975.
  • Scored 20 goals and assisted on a 116 over 130 career games. His 136 points was a school record for blueliners that stood for nine years.
  • Played two years in New York Islanders’ minor league system and then joined their scouting department. Was team’s advance scout during Stanley Cup championship campaigns.
  • Spent seven years with Detroit Red Wings with positions as director of pro scouting, farm system director and general manager of Adirondack Wings of American Hockey League.
  • Went to New York Rangers as general manager in 1989-90 and eventually became club president. During his tenure, the Rangers had NHL’s best regular season record in 1993 and won 1994 Stanley Cup, the team’s first since 1941.

Towner Smith
Track, 1922-24
Inducted 1974
Fremont, Ohio
  • Recognized as Western Michigan’s first national-caliber athlete, placing second in 440-yard dash at 1923 NCAA Championships and reaching quarter finals of Olympic Trials.
  • Set school outdoor (:49.2) and indoor records (:52.0)
  • Served as track and cross country coach (1930-42, 47), compiling dual record of 58-21 in track and 31-6 in cross country.
  • WMU’s assistant director of student personnel (1947-53) and then elevated to dean of men (1953-66).
  • President of central Collegiate Conference (1940) and author of Track and Field Athletes. Recognized in Who’s Who in America, 1963.


Ray “Hap” Sorensen
Tennis, 1930-32
Inducted 1979
Elkhart, Indiana
  • Won two Michigan Intercollegiate doubles championships and placed second his senior year. Unbeaten in 1930 and 1931 singles play.
  • Coached Elkhart High School to ten Northern Indiana team titles in 14 seasons.
  • Directed Western Michigan’s tennis program from 1950-72. Won a record 14 Mid-American championships including consecutive titles from 1954-65. He produced 47 individual league singles winners, including nine in the No. 1 flight: and 23 doubles winners, with 12 in the No. 1 flight.
  • Had a 165-156 dual meet record while facing 96 Big Ten and 29 Southeastern Conference opponents.
  • Eventual MAC coaches Jack Vredevelt (WMU), Bill Richards (Ball State) and Bob Gill (Bowling Green) played for him as undergraduates.

Mike Squires
Baseball, 1972-73
Inducted 1999
Kalamazoo, Michigan
  • Pitcher and outfielder for the Broncos … made two All-MAC teams and hit .385 as a senior, producing an 8-3 mound record … was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 18th round of the 1973 draft … played first base (1978-85) and won a Gold Glove in 1981 … member of 1982 West Division championship team … became the first left-handed pitcher and third baseman in modern times … compiled lifetime .265 career batting average in the majors.
  • Was an advance scout for Chicago (1986) and Oakland (1987-88) and first base coach for the world champion Toronto Blue Jays (1989-91) … rejoined Chicago in 1992 as bullpen coach, spent the next five years as an advance scout and then joined the St. Louis Cardinals in a similar capacity in 1998.

Jill Stamison
Track and Field, 1990-93
Inducted 2011
Lake Bluff, Illinois
  • Became the fourth Bronco to earn All-America honors in 1993
  • Two-time All-American
  • Third in the 800 meters at the 1993 NCAA Indoor Championships and fourth in the same event at the NCAA Outdoor Championships
  • Finished third in the 800M at 1997 USATF Championships- Top 3 in U.S.
  • Competed in the 1997 World Championships
  • Member of the record-setting 4 x 800 spring medley relay team in 1990 (1:46.00)
  • Time of 2:03.65 in the 800 at the 1993 NCAA Outdoor Championships is the top mark in WMU history
  • Guinness World Record Holder 150M High-Heel Dash

Fred Stevens
Football, 1941-43
Basketball, 1942-43
Baseball, 1942-43, 46
Inducted 1980
Hart, Michigan
  • Batted .320 in 1946, was first-team All-American first baseman and selected to appear in Western-Eastern All-Star game in Boston.
  • Saw World War II service as a naval lieutenant in South Pacific war zone.
  • Had 10-year stint during 1940s and 1950s as coach and athletic director at WMU’s University High School.
  • Assisted in track and football (19 years) and was freshman baseball coach (1958-69). Rejoined diamond program as an assistant in 1976 and still works in volunteer capacity.
  • Alumni “W” Club “man of the year” for 1984 and retired from physical education faculty that year. Served Western as an athlete, coach and educator for parts of six decades.

Laura Stewart
Softball, 2000-04
Inducted 2017
Plymouth, Mich.
  • Starting pitcher for 2003 MAC Tournament Championship team, earning All-Tournament honors
  • Two-time First Team All-MAC selection (2003, 2004)
  • NFCA All-American Scholar-Athlete and Academic All-MAC selection in 2004
  • Holds single-season records for wins (23), complete games (29) and innings pitched (250)
  • Registered third-most shutouts in a season with 11 and second-most strikeouts with 236 in 2004
  • Boasted earned run averages of .177 in 2003 and .179 in 2004

Jack Streidl
Football 1940-41
Inducted 1980
Menominee, Michigan
  • Starting lineman on 1941 football team that compiled an 8-0 record and later received offers to play in National Football League. Won state Golden Gloves boxing title.
  • Saw duty as a naval officer in both World War II and in the Korean Conflict
  • Served as football and track coach and athletic director at Plainwell High School for 39 years.
  • Won 202 football games, numerous league titles and directed five teams in top 10 state Class B rankings. Picked at 1973 Michigan and 1979 four-state district “coach of the year.”
  • Directed Plainwell to 1959 state Class B basketball, semifinals, produced many Wolverine Conference and district track champions, plus other league winners in baseball and tennis.
 
Jennifer Sturgis Astle 
Gymnastics | All-Around | 2004-2007 
Inducted 2024
Novi, Mich. 
  • Became the third gymnast in program history to earn MAC Gymnast of the Year (2007)
  • Named MAC Senior Gymnast of the Year (2007)
  • Helped WMU win the MAC Regular Season and Tournament Championships (2006)
  • Won MAC Championship individual titles in the all-around, beam, and vault (2006)
  • Qualified for NCAA Regionals in the all-around (2006, 2007)
  • Set a school record in the all-around with a 39.225 against Michigan State (2007) 
  • Tied the then school record on beam with a 9.900 against Michigan State (2007) 
  • Two-time Academic All-MAC (2006, 2007)
  • COSIDA Academic All-American (2006)


Ray Swartz
Cross Country, 1930-32
Track, 1931-33
Inducted 1982
Kalamazoo, Michigan
  • Among nation’s top milers with a best time of 4:05.9 and set school records in distances from one to four miles.
  • Semi-finalist at 1932 U.S. Olympic Trials
  • Central Collegiate Conference and Michigan Intercollegiate cross country champion (1930-32).
  • In track, he won two CCC indoor and one outdoor mile championship along with three state titles.
  • Worked 26 years for Consumers Power Company and was line clearing supervisor for Northern District in Cadillac.