Cal State Monterey Bay Athletics issued the following announcement on Nov 23.
Cal State Monterey Bay Athletics is excited to announce its second ever Otter Hall of Fame Class, inducting eight new members into the Class of 2020 this week.
The news inductees are:
- Julia (Ashen) Jensen (Volleyball, 2011–14)
- Matt Dalhamer (Basketball, 1998–01)
- Lisa (Mispley) Fortier (Basketball, 2003–04)
- Shae (Olds) Brocker (Softball, 2008–11)
- Jeff Owen (Baseball, 2010–15)
- Bill Paulson (Golf Coach, 1998–08)
- Cori Reinhardt (Softball, 2012–15)
- Kyle Satow (Soccer, 2004–07)
"We're proud to recognize those who have individuals who have shaped our identity and contributed significantly to the growth of our university and athletics programs through induction into the Otter Athletics Hall of Fame," says CSUMB Director of Athletics Kirby Garry (@kirbygarry). "We're honored once again to welcome a class that represented the University with such distinction while wearing the Otter colors."
The Class of 2020–21 is a virtual Who's Who of Otter greatness, representing not only individual distinction, but also many historic achievements by Otter teams. Amongst those accomplishments, were Satow leading the men's soccer team to the first CCAA Tournament appearance in CSUMB history (2007), Olds leading the softball team to CSUMB's first CCAA Championship (2009) and Dalhamer leading the men's basketball team to the NAIA National Championship Tournament (1999).
Below is a capsule look at each of this year's inductees…
JULIA (ASHEN) JENSEN (Volleyball)
Any short list of the greatest volleyball players in CSUMB history begins with Julia (Ashen) Jensen, who battled through injuries that would have sidelined lesser athletes to achieve unparalleled success on the court and in the classroom. She finished her career as a 3–time All–CCAA pick and a 2013 Daktronics All–Region honoree when she set the CSUMB single–season record with 500 kills. More impressively, she became the first student–athlete in Otter history to earn Academic All–America® honors twice (2013, 2014), carrying a perfect 4.0 GPA from kindergarten through her college career.
"Julia is an incredible example of what hard work, determination and mindset can accomplish," says Jody Garry, who recruited Ashen and coached her as an Otter. "She was an incredible, accomplished student–athlete who consistently overcame injuries to be her very best. It was an honor to coach her, get to know her and her supportive family."
Ashen ended her Otter career ranked No. 2 in kills, attacks and attack percentage for a left side hitter. Five years later, she still ranks in the Otter career Top 10 in six categories. Her 500 kills in 2013 still stand as an Otter record while her 18 block solos that year continue to top the chart for left side hitters.
MATT DALHAMER (Men's Basketball)
Matt Dalhamer set the standard for excellence in CSUMB men's basketball. That standard continues to this day. Dalhamer joined the nascent Otters in late 1990's and made an immediate impact.
With Dalhamer leading the way, the Otters, in just their third season of existence, won the California Pacific Conference title and advanced to the NAIA National Championship Tournament, becoming the first Otter team to reach that level.
"What made Matt so valuable was his great uncanny blend of great outside shooting with rugged inside play,"s said Bob Burlison, who coached Dalhamer on the championship team. "He was my first recruit at CSUMB and anchored a team that won the conference championship, league tournament and advanced to the national championship tournament. Matt led the team by example and was always at his best in the clutch with the game on the line."
In addition to team success, Dalhamer earned plenty of individual recognition. He was a 3–time All–Cal-Pac performer. In 2001, he became the first player in Otter history to score 1,000 career points and remained CSUMB's all–time leading scorer until Brandon Ward broke his record in 2013. He still ranks in the CSUMB career Top 10 in a remarkable 21 different categories.
LISA (MISPLEY) FORTIER (Women's Basketball)
Lisa (Mispley) Fortier helped build a foundation for the Otter women's basketball program after transferring from Butte College for the 2002–03 season. During her tenure, the Otters won 18 games, a mark that remained the best 2–year run in program history until the 2009–10 campaigns.
Fortier, who has built a national power of her own as the head coach at Gonzaga University, was the first multi–honored student–athlete in Otter women's basketball history. She was the team's second All–Cal-Pac Conference honoree. She also was the only Otter ever to earn NAIA Scholar–Athlete Award during the team's six seasons at that level.
"It's tough to find words adequate enough to describe Lisa as a student–athlete, as a coach, or as a human being for that matter," says Bobbi Bonace, CSUMB's first director of athletics and first women's basketball coach. "She gives 1000 percent to anything she claims as significant in her life: Whether it's being a student–athlete or a mom...she's all in! She is a leader and a role model! She's hall of fame material in every sense."
Despite playing just two seasons in The Kelp Bed, Fortier finished her career as CSUMB's all–time leader in scoring, 3–pointers, free throws, rebounds and assists.She still ranks in the Otter career Top 10 in 13 categories, including points (7th), scoring average (3rd) and assists (7th).
SHAE (OLDS) BROCKER (Softball)
Shae (Olds) Brocker was the offensive anchor for an Otter team that laid the foundation for a decade of dominance in the CCAA. She helped lead CSUMB to the first NCAA Tournament appearance (2008), the first CCAA Tournament Championship (2009) and the first CCAA Championship (2010) in school history.
Olds set the CCAA career record with 44 home runs, a mark that still ranks No. 2 in conference history. Thanks in large part to her prodigious power, CSUMB averaged 32 wins per season and advanced to the NCAA Tournament three times in her 4–year career.
"It is no coincidence that the CSUMB Softball team began winning in 2008 when Shae Olds made her debut in our lineup," says Andrea Kenney, the only coach Otter softball ever has known. "A gritty competitor, Shae's competitive demeanor and leadership skills put MB softball on the map, leading the team to championships in 2009 and 2010. Shae remains the best power hitter in program history and is remembered as a player who thrived on adversity. I am so happy to see her receive this recognition."
When Olds left CSUMB, she was the school's all–time leader in batting average, slugging percentage, on–base percentage, home runs, RBIs and walks. She was the first Otter ever to hit .400 for a season (.413 in 2009) and the first Otter to hit 10 home runs in a season, a feat she accomplished three times.
She was CSUMB's first 3–time all–region player in any sport (2009–11) as well as a 2–time All–CCAA selection. Olds was named CCAA Player of the Week at least once in each of her four collegiate seasons.
JEFF OWEN (Baseball)
Look up the word perseverance in the dictionary and you will find a photo of Jeff Owen. Owen overcame multiple injuries to become a success both in on the diamond and in the classroom over an Otter career that spanned six calendar years.
Owen threw just one–third of an inning as a true freshman in 2010 before taking a medical redshirt that he wore all the way until 2012. All he did upon his return is earn All–West Region Freshman of the Year honors and the first of three All–CCAA nods.
With Owen anchoring the rotational a first team All–West Region pitcher, the Otters completed their transformation from the nation's worst record in 2010 to CCAA Champions in 2013. Fittingly, it was Owen who earned the win in CSUMB's first–ever NCAA Tournament victory, 8–1 over Chico State.
He capped his career by leading CSUMB back to the NCAA Tournament as a senior in 2015.
"Jeff represents everything that a student–athlete should aspire to achieve," says Head Coach Walt White. "Jeff elevated his play when his team needed him most and he elevated others around him. His achievements on the field are noteworthy, despite facing adversity due to injury. But he attacked his injury rehab just as he attacked some of the best hitters in the CCAA. Because of his diligent work ethic and unmatched competitiveness, his name is now all over our season and career record books. I am honored to have coached Jeff and I am as proud of Jeff as anyone I have ever coached."
Owen's 2.98 career ERA still ranks No. 4 all–time at CSUMB and No. 1 amongst pitchers who have throw at least 150 innings. His 26 career victories remain an Otter record, as do his 50 starts, 12 complete games, 270 strikeouts and five shutouts.
Despite the obstacles he had to overcome, One went on to complete both his bachelor's and master's degrees while still competing at CSUMB. He married during his redshirt freshman season of 2012. He and his wife Sarah currently have three children with a fourth on the way.
BILL PAULSON (Men's Golf)
The men's golf team won CSUMB's first national championship in 2011, but the architect of that program's foundation was laid by Bill Paulson, who built a national power at the NAIA level immediately upon his arrival. Paulson took the team's reins in its second season of existence and quickly made Otter golfers a team to watch.
CSUMB finished in the NAIA Top 20 in three of his first four seasons at the helm with three Otters Jonas Carlsward, Chris Marin and Andrew Streatfield earning NAIA All–American honors. Individual medalist Brian Kees led CSUMB to the California–Pacific Conference title in 2002 while Streatfield followed Kees as medalist in 2003.
"Coach Paulson established the early foundation of success in golf, both in competition and in community outreach," says Garry. "His programs earned the university early accolades of competitive success and he was an integral part of connecting the university and Otter Athletics to a local golf community that continues to support student success at CSUMB. Our intent has been to build upon and honor his legacy of success through the sport of golf."
Paulson led Otter golf through the transition to NCAA Division II play, which meant no team championship opportunities and few chances to win individual honors. Nevertheless, CSUMB golfers earned CSUMB's first NCAA All–Region awards (Ricky Stockton in 2006 and Nick Bell in 2007). As a team, the Otters finished fourth in the CCAA standings in Paulson's final season of 2008, setting the table for their first CCAA title just two years later and the decade of excellence that followed.
CORI REINHARDT (Softball)
Throughout its 40–year history of women's athletics, the CCAA has quite simply been the nation's top conference, combining to win 10 NCAA titles over that span. That's more than double any other conference. So when a player enjoys an historic career in the CCAA, well, that's historic for anybody.
Which brings us to 2020 Otter Hall of Fame inductee Cori Reinhardt. Though there have been other great hitters and other great pitchers throughout CCAA history, no-one has ever combined the to talents in the way that Reinhardt did during her four years as an Otter.
As a senior in 2015, Reinhardt was named both the CCAA Pitcher and Player of the Year. In a league with nearly 200 All–Americans and approaching 1,000 all–region performers, no player before (or since) has ever accomplished such a feat.
"Cori Reinhardt was a player of many talents," says Kenney. "In her career at MB she played every position with the exception of catcher. She is not only one of the best players in Otter Softball history, but in CCAA Softball history as well. As CSUMB Athletics' most decorated student–athlete of all time, she is more then deserving of this honor."
The 2015 campaign was the cherry on top of a remarkable series of accomplishments no Otter student–athlete in any sport has matched. Reinhardt finished her career as a 4–time all–region, 4–time All–CCAA and 3–time All–America selection. In winning those accolades, she led CSUMB to three CCAA titles in four seasons as well as NCAA West Region I and CAA Tournament championships.
As a batter, Reinhardt ended her playing career as CSUMB's all–time leader in batting average. on–base percentage, stolen–base percentage, hits, RBI, total bases, walks. As a pitcher, she left with CSUMB records for lowest ERA, most wins, most saves, most starts, most complete games, most shutouts. In the field, she collected the most assists in Otter history.
For those keeping score at home, she still owns all 14 of those records.
KYLE SATOW (Men's Soccer)
Kyle Satow helped put CSUMB on the CCAA map by leading the Otter soccer team to the CCAA Tournament in its first season of eligibility back in 2007. For that, he is more than worthy of being the first soccer player inducted into the Otter Athletics Hall of Fame.
Satow joined the Otter program in 2004 as the school was entering the second year of its 4–year transition from NAIA to NCAA status. Though many top players shy away from programs in transition (meaning no postseason play), Satow embraced the challenge, and Otter soccer was all the better for it.
Satow became CSUMB's first–ever All–CCAA selection in soccer as a junior in 2006. He went on to earn All–West Region honors from both the National Soccer Coaches Association and Daktronics, becoming the first Otter to earn that distinction as well.
"Kyle was the consummate team player," says Artie Cairel. "He was talented and humble, possessing obvious NCAA Division I talent. He treated every player with respect while demanding the highest level of professionalism and effort. Kyle was the first pillar of my recruiting class to achieve success immediately upon becoming post season eligible. His commitment to sacrifice three seasons with no postseason or conference honors, yet still committing to CSUMB defines his impact."
Despite graduating more than a decade ago, Satow still owns the CSUMB records for points, goals and gam–winning goals in a career. He was the first Otter ever to score five points in a single game. His name still appears 15 times amongst the Otter career Top 10 lists.
Original source can be found here.
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