by Kevin Bergquist
Hall-of-famer Amy Sullivan Nordmann earned academic and athletic All-America honors.
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Washington University, in conjunction with its athletic support organization -- the W Club -- has announced its eighth induction class for the University's
Sports Hall of Fame.
This year's eight inductees will be honored Oct. 2 at a
noon luncheon in Holmes Lounge, Ridgley Hall. Later that
evening, the class will be recognized at halftime during the
homecoming football battle between Washington U. and Rhodes College.
For information regarding tickets to the luncheon or
the game, contact the athletics department at 935-5185.
The 1999 inductees are:
Teri Clemens (volleyball coach from 1985 to 1998):
The winningest coach by percentage in NCAA volleyball history at
the time of her retirement in 1998, Clemens guided her team to
seven NCAA Division III national championships in 14 years.
Owner of a 529-77 (.873) career record, Clemens coached the Bears to
the school's first NCAA title in 1989. Her teams won an
unprecedented six straight NCAA crowns from 1991 to 1996, and Clemens'
1992 squad (40-0) is the only undefeated champion in Division
III history. A four-time national coach of the year
selection, Clemens won 11 of the first 12 University Athletic
Association (UAA) championships and posted a 136-1 conference record.
John Herzing '69 (baseball, basketball): Herzing, who was
a three-time College Athletic Conference (CAC) all-star
selection, graduated in 1969 as the Bears' career leader in
strikeouts (299). Ranked second all-time in career earned-run average
(1.87) and fifth in innings pitched (231.2) and victories (20) at the time
of induction, he owns the school record for season ERA
(0.73in 1967) and strikeouts-perinnings pitched (1.29). Named team
MVP in 1969, Herzing won the CAC championship game as a
freshman with a 14-strikeout performance. Helping the Bears win
consecutive CAC championships in 1968 and 1969, he was drafted by
four different professional teams -- including the St.Louis Cardinals -- but did not sign.
Robert Ladd '57 (football,
baseball): A seven-time letterwinner in football
and baseball, Ladd was Student Life's 1956 Athlete of the Year.
A wingback, fullback and kick returner for the football
squad, Ladd blocked for future Washington U. Hall of Fame running
backs Don Polkinghorne and Jim Burst. During a game against
Washington & Lee in 1965, he returned the second-half kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown. In his last collegiate game, he scored three
touchdowns. A second baseman and shortstop on the baseball squad, he hit
.325 as a senior.
E. Desmond Lee '40 (basketball): Lee was a dominating
center for the 1938-39 and 1939-40 WU basketball teams and earned
a reputation as one of the best "big men" of his era. The team
captain and the squad's leading scorer as a senior, Lee capped his career
with Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) all-star honors. After he helped
the Bears defeat the University of
Missouri - Columbia Dec. 22, 1939, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
wrote: "No more brilliant exhibition of rebound-play ever has been seen
on a local court ... he took rebounds from 30 to 40 times during
the engagement and when you add that Lee also led both teams in
scoring, you have a complete picture of the hero of the evening."
Irving Londy '37 (football, track,
basketball): A multi-sport standout, Londy enjoyed his
most success as a member of the football team. An
honorable mention All-America guard under WU Hall of Fame coach
Jimmy Conzelman, he also earned a pair of all-MVC citations at
his position. Recipient of a Merit Card from the All-America
Football Board, Londy went on to play for the St. Louis Gunners
professional football team and was drafted by the National Football
League's New York Giants in 1937. A member of the Jewish
All-America team who also played quarterback and placekicker, he
further distinguished himself as the school's heavyweight
boxing champion.
Gary Lubin '82 (soccer): Lubin, a four-year
starting goalkeeper for the soccer team, played during one of
the winningest eras in school history. A two-time team captain,
Lubin helped the Bears post a four-year record of 62-22-4, with
national finishes of second, third and fourth in 1978, 1979 and 1980,
respectively. Owner of the single-season record for shutouts (15 in 1980),
he also shares the mark for career shutouts (38). An
all-region selection as a senior after leading the squad to a berth in the
regional final, Lubin received the 1982 W. Alfred Hayes Leadership Award.
Tom Polacek '88 (football): WU's career rushing leader with 2,494 yards, Polacek also owns the single-season mark of 1,090 yards (in nine games) in 1987. Tabbed the team's offensive most valuable player as a freshman after
gaining 697 yards on the ground, Polacek capped his career with the
Darryl Sharp Memorial MVP Award and Most Inspirational
honors. Captain of the gridiron squad in 1987, he finished the
season ranked 14th nationally in rushing average (121.1 yards per
game) and became WU's first-ever GTE Academic All-America selection
in football. At the time of his induction, Polacek also
ranked seventh all-time in total offense and 10th in scoring (110 points).
Amy Sullivan Nordmann '94, M.D. '99
(volleyball): Nordmann was a two-time, first-team
All-America selection who helped the Bears capture three
NCAA Division III national championships (1991, 1992, 1993).
A member of the only undefeated squad in Division III history
(40-0 in 1992), Nordmann also helped the Bears establish the
longest winning streak in NCAA history (59 matches). A two-time
UAA first-team member and the 1992 UAA Player of the Year, she
owned the career record for service aces (284) and ranked third all-time
in career hitting percentage (.363) at the time of induction.
Nordmann was selected as the GTE Academic All-America Volleyball Player
of the Year in 1992 and 1993.
