The Wichita Sports Hall of Fame announces the following 10 sports figures, sports organization, team and one media member have been ELECTED into the 2023 class of The Wichita Sports Hall of Fame. The President of the Wichita Sports Hall of Fame selects the organizational inductee and the Mal Elliott sports media inductee.
INDUCTION: Due to 7 of the 9 living inductees residing out of state, the inductions will take place individually with an interview and formal HOF induction on “Sports Daily” on KFH Radio each Tuesday and Thursday in the 10am hour.
RANDY BURNS - Randy Burns played basketball for WSU from 2001 to 2005. His career at WSU makes him the #9 scorer with 1,599 points, #1 three point shooter with 248 made, #15 in field goals with 511, #16 in free throws made with 329, #6 with 115 games started and #10 with 3,395 minutes played.
KYM CARTER - Kym Carter and Jim Bausch are considered the two greatest athletes in Wichita history. Kym was s 1982 All-State Basketball player, Kansas H.S. high jump champion and U.S. high jump record holder while at Wichita East H.S. She also was a 1992 Olympian, American champion in both the pentathlon and the heptathlon, along with two top 10 world rankings in the Heptathlon. Inducted into the Wichita East HOF and Kansas Sports HOF.
ADRIAN GRIFFIN - Adrian Griffin was twice an All-State basketball player and 1992 state basketball champion at Wichita East. He was a three year starter at Seton Hall earning All-Big East honors. After a nine year playing career in the NBA, Adrian has coached in the NBA with the Bucks, Bulls, Magic, Thunder and Raptors. Inducted into the Wichita East HOF, Seton Hall HOF and Kansas Sports HOF.
STRONG HINMAN - Strong Hinman is the earliest WSU athlete inducted into the Shocker Hall of Fame having stood out in football, basketball, baseball and track at then, Fairmount College from 1912 to 1917. Strong was the supervisor of physical education for public schools in Fort Dodge, IA, Kansas City, MO, and Wichita from the 1920’s thru 1940’s. Inducted in the Shocker HOF in 1981. Strong died in 1983.
LeBARON HOLLIMON - LeBaron Hollimon was a two time All-City soccer player and state champion runner-up at Wichita Northwest H.S. At Eastern Illinois he was All-Midwest Regional and a two-time all-conference player before becoming the first local Wichita soccer player to sign with the Wichita Wings in 1992. LeBaron played 10 years professionally with seven years as a midfielder ad defender with the Wings. His best season with the Wings was 1997, scoring 55 points.
JEFF JENSEN - Jeff Jensen is one of best Wichita bowlers in history. Jeff is the grandson of Wichita bowling pioneer and Pittsburg Pirate, Woody Jensen. A longtime Rose Bowl West employee, Jeff was an eight-time Wichita Bowler of the Year in 1987-90-93-94-95-96-2001-02. Inducted into the Wichita Bowling HOF and Kansas Bowling HOF.
MIKE PETERS - Mike Peters is one of the most successful auto racers ever in Wichita. Racing for 60 plus years, starting at the age of five racing quarter midgets, Mike won five Hutchinson National championships, five State Fair Speedway championships and NCRA dirt track and NCRA sprint car championships. Inducted into the Highbanks HOF and 81 Speedway HOF. Mike died in 2018.
SANDY SADLER - Sandy Sadler was one of the top collegiate tennis players in the nation while at WSU from 1981 to 1985. She won four consecutive MVC conference titles at the No. 1 singles position. Also was a four-time MVC conference champion at the No. 1 doubles as well. Inducted into the Shocker HOF.
CATHY STEVENS - Cathy Stevens comes by her golf talent naturally from her father, Wichita Sports HOFer, Johnny Stevens. Cathy’s career includes three individual Kansas High School State golf championships and a team championship at Kapaun, a 1991 Big 8 golf championship while at Oklahoma, four Kansas State Women’s championships and nine Wichita City Golf championships.
RASHAD WASHINGTON - Rashad Washington was talented in both basketball and football. He finished his City League basketball career in 1999 as the fourth leading scorer in history with 1,373 points. He was also a Eagle top 11 football player went to Kansas State on a football scholarship. Selected in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL draft, Rashad played for the New York Jets from 2004 to 2007 making 77 tackles, 1.5 sacks and two pass deflections. Inducted into the Wichita Southeast HOF.
DENNIS HIGGINS - “12TH ANNUAL MAL ELLIOTT SPORTS MEDIA INDUCTEE” – A Wichita resident, Dennis Higgins has been broadcasting sporting events for 30 plus years. He was the radio play by play announcer for the Wichita Wranglers from 1995 to 99, play by play announcer for Tulsa Oilers baseball since 2008 and play by play announcer for Butler Community College football and basketball since 2005. In 2017, Dennis received the NSMA Oklahoma Sportscaster of the Year.
TEAM INDUCTEE: 1987 WICHITA PILOTS
ORGANIZATIONAL INDUCTEE: GREATER WICHITA JUNIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE