Dear Collegiate Family,

As we look back over the school’s 43 years, some of our most community-building moments have been when we gathered together in a gym or field, at the track, on the tennis courts, or at the golf course. At first we traveled to Oklahoma and Texas; in recent decades we have been all over Kansas. In those long-ago days parents sometimes pulled their cars in to face the football field and turned on their lights if the game was still going as twilight set in; now we have amazing facilities and our ballgames feature our own pep band and drumline, the inspired Madrigal Star Spangled Banner, bag-pipe entrances, cheer and dance teams, half-time entertainment often featuring Lower School students, a bustling concession stand, and, as always, parents getting to know each other in the stands, kids playing off in the distance, and a game going on in the center ring!

We have introduced a new tradition that will help us remember some of the exciting times of the past – the Wichita Collegiate Athletic Hall of Fame. The inaugural group was inducted February 12, 2005 in the Upper School. The following criteria were developed to select this group:

• All-American while at WCS 
• All-State – All Class (Top Five, Top Eleven, etc.) 
• Four-time State Champion 
• Established national or state level record 
• Coach of numerous state championship teams 
• Major historical impact on the athletic program 
• Students must be gone from program a minimum of five years

New members will be selected every two years for the Hall of Fame using the aforementioned criteria as well as the criteria that follow:

• All-State multiple times, multiple sports
• Extraordinary leadership over his/her Collegiate career

We will also create an area at the school to list all the All-State performers in all sports over the school’s history. We have created a list from old yearbooks and athletic record books where they exist, but we are aware there may be some inaccuracies in those records. Please let Mike Gehrer know if you were an All-State athlete while at Collegiate so that we can complete that project with historic integrity.

As you think back over your Collegiate athletic life, you may want to nominate someone for this honor or remind the committee of some great athlete who exemplified athletic excellence in the true spirit of the Collegiate Spartan. Please send those comments to me. Over the years we hope this tradition will honor our athletic program in the same way we have always honored the other excellent programs academic and otherwise at our beloved school.

Sincerely,

Mike Gehrer, Former Athletic Director

Bill Carter first coached at Collegiate from the fall of 1971 thru the spring of 1979. During that time he elevated the expectations of all the young men he came in contact with in both football and basketball. He was known as a tireless worker by his players and faculty. His teams steadily improved and reached a #1 ranking in 1-A football in 1977, and were SPC champions in both football and basketball. Bill returned to Collegiate in the fall of 1984 and through his efforts in concert with others, was able to secure permission for our school to become a member of the Kansas State High School Activities Association. This had a major impact on the quality of school life for our students. Bill helped establish the standards, and opportunities which we continue to strive for today.

Chris Clevenger arrived at Collegiate in the fall of 1988 as a lanky eighth grader. Chris was a four-year starter in both football and basketball. He was a major force in both sports helping to elevate the football program to new heights and helping the school capture its first State Championship in Basketball in 1993. Chris was All State 3-A two years in football and was Top Eleven in both the Wichita and Topeka papers his senior year, thus becoming the first Spartan to ever accomplish this. Chris was also a James Dodd, National High School Lineman award winner. Chris went on to become a starter at The University of Notre Dame.

Laurie Cusick Mercer came to Collegiate as a seventh grader in the fall of 1980. Laurie played tennis through middle school and entered the high school without the opportunity to play for a State Championship. But things changed and in 1984 she was able to play for a singles title and captured the first ever KSHSAA State Championship in the school's history. She went on to repeat as State Singles Champion in 1985. Laurie's record while in high school was 104 wins and 1 loss.

DeAngelo Evans arrived on our campus in the fall of 1989 as a sixth grader. He had success in the middle school programs but who knew what was to some. As a freshman he rushed for 1600 yards on a football team that went 7-2, and was selected to the top 22 team, in both Wichita and Topeka. He helped lead the Spartan basketball team to a State Championship in 1993, averaging 30 points a game in the three state games. For his career in football DeAngelo rushed for 8472 yards on 799 carries and 131 touchdowns, all State Records. He was Top 11 three times, the first and only athlete ever to do this. He established a State record for the most yards rushed in a State Championship game in 1994. He was also a State Champion in the 3-A 100 meters as a Sophomore. He was a High School Football All American in 1995. DeAngelo went on to become a starter at the University of Nebraska.

Maurice Evans walked into the classrooms of Collegiate as a sixth grader in 1990. As he progressed through high school he became a three-year starter in basketball. Each year he grew in stature and ability. He was the leading scorer and re-bounder on the team both his junior and senior year. As a junior he helped lead his team to a State Championship in 1996. He was All State 3-A First Team two years in a row. Entering his senior year he was touted as one of the top 100 school basketball players in the United States. Maurice was selected to the Top Five all-class team in 1997. He went one to become a starter at Wichita State University. He then transferred to The University of Texas where he also became a starter. Maurice currently plays in the NBA for the Sacramento Kings.

Dave Hawley came to Collegiate as a young teacher and coach in the fall of 1977. What he has accomplished since then is nothing short of amazing. He has impacted the lives of countless students through their involvement with him in girls basketball or girls and boys tennis. Dave has that uncanny knack of teaching kids to win in life as well as on the court. Dave's girl's team have won a state record 18 state tennis championships since 1984. The boy's team have won 15. That is 33 state championships. And all the while he has more kids involved in his tennis programs than anybody in the state. It never ceases to amaze people how Dave can take a sport that is sometimes very individualistic in nature and make it such a huge team sport. Dave was just recently recognized as the 4-A coach of the year for both boys and girls, an award he has received many times at whatever level he's coaching.

Harrison Hill was what we call a lifer at Collegiate. He started at Collegiate as a preschooler and graduated in 1997 from the Upper School. Harrison did it all, he played football, baseball, and basketball. He was a four- year letterman in all three sports. Matter of fact, he was a state champion in football, basketball, and twice in baseball. He established state records in football as a wide receiver and defensive back. He set the record for career receiving yards with 3,112. He set the record for touchdown receptions with 42. He tied the record for career interceptions with 26 and tied the record for interceptions returned for touchdowns with 4. He was #2 in receiving yards in a season with 1215. Harrison was a three time All-State performer in two sports both football and baseball. He was voted Top eleven in football in both Wichita and Topeka his senior year. He was an All-American in multiple publications and was rated as one of the top six receivers in the country his senior year. Harrison went on to become a starter at the University of Kansas.

Carrie Jablonski came to our campus as a fifth grader in the fall of 1986. She immediately showed signs of being a very focused and driven young lady. As she progressed through the Middle School, her work habits on the basketball floor caught the eye of Coach Hawley. Carrie spent countless hours working on her shot and ball handling skills in either the north or south gym. When she arrived in the Upper School she was ready to put her skills to use. Carrie became a four-4 time all-conference player. She was a two-time All-State 3A player. She ended up her career as the all time leading scorer for both boys and girls basketball at WCS with 1449 points. She made 122 3-point shots in her career and made 50 of those in one season. Carrie went on to play basketball at Harvard University. She showed us she can still shoot this year in the Alumni game!

Kevin Reed came to Collegiate as a sixth grader in the fall of 1970. He remembers being challenged in one on one basketball games by Coach Carter. Kevin said Coach Carter was always motivating them to get better. When we contacted Coach Carter for his input into the Hall of Fame the first person he mentioned was Kevin Reed. He said without a doubt the best athlete he coached while at Collegiate. Kevin was a standout in both football and basketball. He was all-state twice in basketball and 1st team in both his senior year. He helped lead the football team to a #1 ranking in the state 1-A. Kevin graduated in 1977 only to return to campus in the fall of 1989 as an administrator. Kevin has coached the Middle School basketball team until this year. He has also coached the golf team since 1990. His teams have won a total of 10 state championships since he took over as coach.

Amy Rheem came to Collegiate as an eighth grader in the fall of 1992. She came from a family of basketball players so it was no surprise that she loved the game. She was a four-year starter in basketball and was all- league her junior and senior seasons. She is 3rd in career basketball scoring. Coach Hawley liked the way she could move and said this kids going to be a great tennis player. Amy went on to be a State Doubles Champion four times with three different partners. She was the State Doubles Champion from 1993-1996. Amy's career doubles record was 91-11 over the four years. Not bad for a kid who's supposed to be a basketball player.

Cody Simms started his journey through Collegiate in the fall of 1988. Coach Hawley got to see Cody play in the Middle School and was excited for him to get to the Upper School. Cody played year round and honed his skills and became a very good player. Cody is one of only three Collegiate players to win four state championships in tennis. He accomplished this feat with three different partners. He was the State Champion from 1992-1995. Cody's career doubles record was 77-13.

Matt Wright started at Collegiate in the first grade. I wonder if anyone knew then that Matt would like tennis. Well one person made sure he would. I would be willing to bet that Dave Hawley put a racket in his hand at the summer camp early on. Matt played for Dave in the Middle School and had some pretty good success. Dave always admired his on-court presence and how he just outsmarted his opponent. He made it look so easy. Matt continued to make it look easy as he marched through year after year without even facing a single match point. Matt finished his career with 114 wins and 0 loses. He was a four-time State Singles Champion. He was recognized as one of the top players in the country his senior year. Matt went on to play tennis at the University of Michigan.