KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan Athletics will induct the 2015 Hall of Fame class on Friday, Oct. 9 at the Fetzer Center and this week wmubroncos.com will take a look at each of our inductees: Vinton Bennett (men's track & field), Shelly Klare (women's basketball), Bob Learman (men's tennis), Eldon Miller (men's basketball), Robert Sanford (football) and Kelly Thayer (softball).
KELLY THAYER
A native of Union Lake, Mich., Thayer was one of the greatest offensive weapons in Western Michigan softball history. She was a two-time First Team All-MAC selection, earning the honors in 1990 and 1992, as well as an First-Team All-Region selection in 1992.
Thayer set and currently holds Western Michigan career records for at-bats (626), runs scored (115), stolen bases (88) and triples (19). Her 19 triples is tied for second most in MAC history.
Thayer also holds the WMU single-season record for triples (9) and is second for runs scored in a single season (36). She has three of the top four single-season steal marks in school history and is second in program history for career hits (187) and games played (208). Thayer is tied for sixth in career runs batted in with 67.
Q & A with Kelly Thayer
Q: What is a memory that sticks out from your time at WMU?
A: I don't know that one memory in particular outshines the rest. After 25 years they all have turned into a great “fish story” ... they only get bigger and better with time and unfortunately the ones that do come to mind quickly aren't appropriate to share (Thayer said with a smile).
Q: Why did you choose WMU?
A: I wanted a school with a strong education program as I went into teaching (health education and mathematics). I also wanted the competition of a Division 1 school but liked the feeling of a smaller atmosphere.
Q: Who made your time special at WMU?
A: Several former softball players, but some that will be at the induction are: Diane (Dirty) Branch, Jolie Mix and Carolyn (Spud) Brayman.
Q: What was your reaction to being inducted?
A: Shocked actually and not sure how this happened! Then happy and then an immediate phone call to the girl (a fellow Bronco athlete, Paige Paulson) that made it happen for me. It makes you very reflective!
Q: Several of your batting & steal records are still top marks in program history, talk about your approach/the way you played the game.
A: There's nothing more that I loved to do than steal. he entire process was 100% fun ... from start to finish. Figuring out how early you could break, when to relax if it was a delay steal and then finishing with the right slide was an adrenaline rush. Kim Worden was instrumental in my achievement in this area of the game.
When it comes to batting records ... the key was I just didn't stop running. So being left handed, you have the advantage of hitting behind yourself to right field. Then you just don't stop running like little kids playing t-ball. hey have to have a good throw to get you out all the way over at third. Hence the triple records ... aka “bad throws from the right fielder.” I guess our rival right fielders have better throws these days!
Q: What advice would you give younger athletes?
A: Don't simply coast ... four years seems like a long time, but for most female athletes it flies by and will be your last opportunity to compete at this level. Focus with dedicated intention day in and day out ... or you will waste an opportunity of a life time.
