TGFC - Hall of Fame Members - Class of 2004
Pat Bangston
Bangston was a masterful right-handed pitcher for the Kent State baseball team in the mid-1980's, earning All-MAC honors three straight years, including first-team in 1987. More than a decade-and-a-half since his final game, he still holds the school record with 26 career victories and ranks fourth with 212 career strikeouts. His eight wins in 1986 were the second most in high school history at the time. Following his collegiate career, the Tallmadge native pitched five seasons with the Minnesota Twins organization.
Jergen Begala
Begala was a two-time All-MAC wrestler, winning the 177 pound title in both 1960 and 1961. A native of Kent, he is the son of the late Joe Begala, who served as head wrestling coach at Kent State from 1929-1961.
Allan Childers
One of the most accomplished athletes in the 76-year history of Kent State wrestling, Childers dominated the MAC at 150 pounds in the early 1980's. A native of Brunswick, Ohio, he won the conference championship three straight years from 1982-1984 and is one of only eight Golden Flashes to capture three or more league titles. In the process, he helped Kent State to back-to-back MAC championships in 1981 and 1982. A four-year letterwinner, he served as team captain in 1983 and 1984.
Donnie Darr
Another in a long line of golfing standouts at Kent State, Darr was named to the All-America Third team as a senior in 1996 when he also was selected the MAC's Sportsman of the Year. He earned first-team All-MAC honors all four years and all-district accolades his last three years. In addition, he helped lead the Golden Flashes to three MAC championships, the 1993 Central Regional title and a 13th place finish at the 1994 NCAA Championships. A native of Coshocton, Ohio, he was a four-year letterwinner and served as team captain his senior season.
Tracey (Lynn) Dawson
Dawson, a 6-foot forward/center, dominated opponents inside but also could shoot from beyond the arc in Kent State women's basketball team's high scoring offense of the early 1990's. A three-time All-MAC performer (1991,'93,'94), she still ranks second in Kent State women's basketball history with 2,066 career points, just five shy of the all-time record. In addition, her career average of 18.1 points per game remains a school record. A native of Warren, she was a four-year letterwinner and the 1991 MAC Freshman of the Year.
Sue Lilley-Nevar
Lilley-Nevar served as head coach of the Kent State softball team from 1986-1996 and is best remembered for directing the Golden Flashes to the 1990 Women's College World Series. During that memorable season, Kent State posted a 43-9 overall record and a 20-4 mark in the MAC with both victory totals still standing as school records. A native of Fairlawn, Ohio, she also holds the schools' career wins record with 289. Among her players are two All-Americans and five members of the Varsity "K" Hall of Fame.
Ed Norris
In a career spanning the late 1960's and early '70's, Norris wrote his name among the best distance runners in school history. A native of Brockton, Mass., he was the MAC champion in cross country as a sophomore in 1967 and followed that up with a conference title in the indoor 5000 meters later that year. After sitting out the 1969 season due to mononucleosis, he earned All-America honors in cross country as a senior in 1970 when he finished 24th at the NCAA Championships.
Lisa Veneziano
Veneziano became the first Kent State softball player to be named MAC Player of the Year in 1993 when she batted .401 with 71 hits and 37 RBI's in 54 games. She was selected to the All-Midwest Region and All-MAC first teams that season after garnering second-team all-league honors in both 1991 and 1992. As a freshman in 1990, she helped the Golden Flashes to the MAC title and a trip to the Women's College World Series. A native of Marshallville, she still ranks among the top 10 in 10 career offensive categories.
Kristen Yoder
Yoder was one of the early stars of the Kent State field hockey team, which has since gone on to national prominence. A native of Akron, PA, she was named to the All-Midwest Region Team three straight years, receiving first-team honors in 1987 and second-team in 1986 and 1988. In addition, she earned first-team All-MAC accolades in both 1987 and 1988. As a senior captain in 1988, she led the Golden Flashes to their first MAC regular-season and tournament championships.
