Ryan Ostry
Bugle Reporter
@RyanOstry_BR18
rostry@buglenewspapers.com
Five venerable standouts were inducted into the Joliet Area Sports Hall of Fame last Saturday night at the Joliet Area Historical Museum.
Each member was voted in after a collaborative effort by the committee to pick and choose who was worthy of the great accomplishment.
The committee staff which was formed in 2001 is represented by: Dick Goss, Matt Senffner, Scott Slocum, Dave Laketa, John Albrecht, Lynne Lichtenauer, Jim Shapard, John Randich, Kevin Irvin, Anthony Contos, Jim Greenan, Mick Brick, Larry Kane and Greg Peerbolte.
This year marked the 11th class where Shaun Vandiver, Francis “Rudy” Ruettiger, Dick Goss, Erin (Hickey) Dransfeldt and Tim Graf joined the previous 66 inductees.
SHAUN VANDIVER
Vandiver, who saw his success at Romeoville High School as a player and coach, has had prosperity ever since his 1986 trip to the state finals.
The 6-foot, 10-inch former 25th overall NBA draft pick couldn’t wait to here his name called on Saturday, and he said it was a long wait which made it even better.
“It’s a year coming,” Vandiver said. “I was supposed to do it last year but since I was the head coach at Emporia State and the weekend that this fell on I had three big recruits coming in so I had to postpone this for a year.”
Vandiver lead the Spartans to the 1986 state finals, finishing fourth in state. That trophy, however, was vacated as were the regional and sectional titles because teammate Larry Wise was deemed ineligible after the season.
After Romeoville, he led Hutchinson Community College to a national title in 1988.
Vandiver then took his talents to the University of Colorado where he finished his career with a school-record 59 double-doubles and ranks in the top five in Colorado history in scoring (1,876 points) and rebounding (962).
As for today, the long time head coach returned to the University of Wyoming as an assistant coach in April and will take on the same duties when the Cowboys start its season in November.
FRANCIS RUETTIGER
Ruettiger, has been a paramount building block and success formula for athletes all over and especially in the area by owning his famous “Rudy’s Gym” for more than 44 years.
The quintessential leader and trainer that Ruettiger is, translated into an Olympic lifting state championship in 1977, six other state titles, 28 national crowns, 25 world championships and in total he has set 82 American national and world records.
“This recognition means everything to me,” Ruettiger said. “All the hard work you put in, helping influence all the kids and their hard work over the years and just seeing them being productive in life, that’s really what this means to me.”
DICK GOSS
Goss, has made his mark on the other side of sports through journalism.
The long-time journalist of 35 years recently retired as sports editor at the Joliet Herald-News. He received a plethora of different writing awards from the Associated Press, Northern Illinois Newspaper Association and the Illinois Press Association.
Goss was also recognized by the Chicago Pitch & Hit Club as the recipient of the Bill Gleason Award, identifying him as the Chicagoland Baseball Writer of the Year in 2005.
“I would have never imagined this happening,” Goss said. “All of these years I’ve been covering these athletes and coaches while writing about them, so never in my wildest dreams have I imagined that I would wind up being in this Hall of Fame with them.”
While Goss recognizes not every story will be perfect in everyone’s mind, being positive was the most important factor for him.
“I always tried to be fair,” Goss said. “There’s a lot of things in athletics where you can be negative if you want to be, and I never wanted to be.”
ERIN (HICKEY) DRANSFELDT
Dransfeldt, has represented her alma mater Morris High School in a way not many people can say they have.
Leading the Redskins to a 1992 state softball championship followed by DePaul University making three NCAA tournament appearances in four years and the regional final in 1997, Dransfeldt never thought she would wind up where she is today.
“I’m being inducted with people that I’ve read about who were absolutely phenomenal which is such a humbling experience,” Dransfeldt said. “My husband and kids were in the car with me when it happened, and after I got the call they all thought it was a scam or didn’t take it seriously at first but it was such a huge honor in the end.”
TIM GRAF
Graf, a former graduate of Joliet East High School, has had a need for speed since the mid-1970’s, and nothing has seemed to slow him down.
The Joliet speedster has had a long resume of accolades in his career including six Top-6 finishes with one title at the Masters National Championships, going undefeated in USA Track & Field Illinois State Championships in 100-and 200-meter competitions and much more.
Graf has also given back to the community by being a speed and performance trainer, where he has guided numerous area athletes to successful collegiate and professional careers.
“It’s very surreal to me,” Graf said. “Being a champion in the city of champions at every level in track and field, being born and raised in Joliet and going to Joliet East is very humbling and very honoring to me.”