ROHNERT PARK, Calif- The Sonoma State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is proud to announce the 2008 induction class of the SSU Athletics Hall of Fame. Joe Alvarado, Melissa Costa, Randy Dedini, Deena Schneider, Walter White, Bill Trumbo, and the 1991 Men's Soccer Team will be honored for their athletic excellence and contributions to the history of Sonoma State University athletics.
Joe Alvarado enjoyed a standout two-year career at Sonoma State as a wrestler in the early 1970s. A 1972 Far West Conference Champion, Alvarado took top honors that season as he was named the conference's Wrestler of the Year. For his efforts, he was recognized by the publication "Outstanding College Athletes of America". Following graduation from SSU, Alvarado went on to earn his M.A. from Azusa Pacific and his Master's in Education and Counseling from the University of LaVerne. Alvarado has also been the wrestling coach at El Rancho High School for over 20 years and has seen his team finish in the state's top ten over 15 times and win one CIF championship.
Melissa Costa holds a special spot in SSU history as the school's only four-time All-American. Costa achieved the feat in the javelin in 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2000. In 1998 and 2000 she was 2nd in the nation in the event and in '99 she broke the CCAA record. A four-time conference champion as well, Costa was a finalist for the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship program and was named to the USTCA Academic All-America team in 1998, 1999, and 2000.
Randy Dedini's playing career at Sonoma State may have been just two years (1992-93), but his legacy as the top goalkeeper in school history continues to this day. A Second Team All-American in 1993, Dedini posted a school record 13 shutouts that season, leading SSU to a 17-3-2 record. He currently ranks 2nd in school history with 21 shutouts and his goals-against-average of 0.75 is by far the best in school history. After leaving Sonoma State, Dedini played professionally in the MLS with the Kansas City Wiz and the Colorado Rapids. He is currently the head women's soccer coach at Sacramento State.
Deena Schneider was one of the best in a long line of SSU women's soccer All-Americans. A defensive midfielder, Schneider's value to the program go way beyond the stats she put up. An All-American in 1995, Schneider was a four-year performer for SSU and a member of four NCAC championship teams. A four-time All-Conference selection, she was named a GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-District selection in '95 when she helped lead SSU to the NCAA Final Four. Following her playing career, Schneider spent several seasons as an assistant on the SSU women's soccer team and was an integral part of the 1998 national runner-up squad.
A slick fielding shortstop for SSU in 1993 and 1994, Walter White is considered one of the best defensive infielders in school history. Following a '94 season in which he hit .268, White was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the Major League Baseball draft and set out on what would be an eight-year pro career. A Midwest League All-Star in 1996, White also played with the Arizona Diamondbacks' organization and peaked at AAA. For the last 13 years, White has served as an assistant coach with the Sonoma State baseball team and he has helped lead the team to four CCAA championships since 1999.
Though it has been over three decades since he left the SSU campus, Bill Trumbo's presence is still felt at Seawolf Gym. Trumbo took over as head men's basketball coach in 1972 and quickly led SSU to one of the biggest turnarounds in NCAA history. After a 3-24 season the year before Trumbo arrived, Sonoma State went 18-9 in 1972-73, won the Far West Conference championship and reached the NCAA Tournament. The story was the same the following year when Sonoma State rolled out an 18-10 record and set a school-record with 13 consecutive wins. The 1973 Far West Conference Coach of the Year, Trumbo left when basketball was dropped after the '73-'74 season and continued his coaching career at Santa Rosa JC, the University of Idaho, and Cal State Monterey Bay. Two of Trumbo's former players have already been inducted into the SSU Hall of Fame (Steve Tiedeman and Tom Fitchie).
The 1991 Men's Soccer Team becomes the third squad inducted into the SSU Athletics Hall of Fame, following the 1990 Women's Soccer Team and the 1991 Football Team. Fresh off the first winning season in school history (18-4-1 in 1990), the '91 team had a brand new head coach in Marcus Ziemer. He was joined on the team by three of his brothers (Andrew, Benjamin, and Christopher) along with star goalkeeper Dave Kaufman. After coming up winless in their first two games of the year, the team found their stride and reeled off 18 wins in their next 21 games. Propelled into the post-season, it was there that the Cossacks did their finest work. SSU beat Oakland University in four overtimes, then edged Missouri St-Louis and Cal Poly to move into the national championship game. Even a loss to Florida Tech in the title game couldn't put a damper on one of the great seasons in school history. Two players on the '91 team (Andrew Ziemer and Christopher Ziemer) have preceded the team into the Hall and there is a good bet that several more will join them in the years to come.
The induction ceremony will be held on September 22nd, 2007 at the Doubletree Hotel in Rohnert Park. For ticket information or more details, contact Megan Catton at (707) 664-2750.