The Chico State Athletics Hall of Fame committee has unveiled its class of 2014, which features eight of the departments all-time greats: David Braund (Cross Country, 1999 & 2001; Track & Field (2000-02), Link Franzini (Gymnastics 1977-81), Carolyn Gayley (Volleyball, 1985-86), Gail Lipton (Soccer, 1983-84), David Marden (Track & Field, 1983-88), Stacie Riley Starr (Soccer, 1993-95 & 1997), Christa Tebbs (Track & Field, 1999-2002) and honorary inductee Wayne Dawson, former ski and tennis coach.
Tickets – $45 or $340 for a table of eight – can be purchased by calling the Chico State Athletic Department at (530) 898-6470. The event will begin with a social hour at 5:30, dinner will be served at 7, and the induction ceremony will begin at 7:30.
The inductees:
David Braund – Cross Country, 1999 & 2001; Track & Field 2000-02
Link Franzini – Gymnastics 1977-81
Carolyn Gayley – Volleyball, 1985-86
Gail Lipton – Soccer, 1983-84
David Marden – Track & Field, 1984-88
Stacie Riley Starr – Soccer, 1993-95 & 1997
Christa Tebbs – Track & Field, 1999-2002
Honorary Inductee Wayne Dawson David Braund
Braund was the catalyst for a streak that began in 1999 and continues to this day.
Among the first nationally recognized runners from the Chico State men’s cross country program, Braund – a two time All-American – led the Wildcats to a surprise berth in the 1999 NCAA Championships. They’ve been there every year since.
It was the first of 15 consecutive NCAA Championship appearances and top-10 finishes for the program. Braund finished 30
th at the NCAA Championships that year, becoming the program’s third All-American in more than 25 years. The Wildcats upset West Region power Humboldt State to grab the region’s second and last NCAA Championships berth, and once at nationals, Chico State took down West Region champion UC Davis en route to an unprecedented sixth-place finish.
In 2001, Braund became Chico’s first individual California Collegiate Athletic Association Cross Country champion and earned his second All-America honor with an 18th-place finish at the NCAA Championships.
The first in his family to graduate from college, Braund has spent his post-collegiate career working with at-risk youth, teaching and coaching.
Link Franzini
“By the time I was five, I was walking on my hands more than my feet,” says Franzini. Only time will tell how he will get to the podium on Oct. 11.
Franzini’s ties to gymnastics go back to his father, who was also an accomplished gymnast.
A little more than a decade later, in 1977, Franzini arrived at Chico State and enjoyed a stellar career in a Wildcat uniform over the years that followed. A three-time Far Western Conference Champion in the all-around competition, Franzini reached his level’s pinnacle in 1979, winning the Division II National Championship in the floor exercise. Franzini was named All-America five times in all, culminating in his senior season during which he finished third in the floor exercise and fourth in the all-around competition.
After graduation, Franzini went on to become a member of the USA Gymnastics national team. Always pushing himself, Franzini has competed in Tae Kwon Do and bodybuilding at the national level in recent years.
Carolyn Gayley
Gayley knows a little about rising above. She was an undersized middle blocker transferring from American River Community College when she came to Chico State. It seemed she would need to use every last bit of her quickness and agility to succeed at that level. She not only succeeded, she soared! Gayley graduated in 1986 as the first of only two Conference Player of the Year selections in the history of the Chico State volleyball program.
In her two years in a Wildcat uniform, Gayley was named first team All-Northern California Athletic Conference twice, the NCAC Player of the Year in 1986, and First Team All-West Region that same season.
Since graduation, Gayley has spent a large part of her life in education, primarily helping students with special needs. She’s also a volunteer at the Central Oregon Humane society. Gayley understands better than most that there’s more to some of her students and the dogs she walks that meets the eye.
Gail Lipton
Lipton was truly one of the pioneers of women’s soccer at Chico State. She began her career with the Wildcats when women’s soccer was a club sport, organizing transportation and scheduling referees to ensure the team could even play. After helping lead the program’s transition to varsity status, Lipton would go on to be recognized as one of the nation’s top players.
Lipton was a versatile athlete, providing solid defense at the sweeper position, and then moving to the midfield when the offense needed a spark. A first team All-Northern California Athletic Conference selection in both 1983 and 1984, Lipton culminated her career by earning All-America honors in her final season as a Wildcat.
Lipton graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1985 with degrees in Recreation Administration and Physical Education and earned a master’s degree in Psychology in 1998. She is currently a marriage and family therapist in the Chico area.
David Marden
Marden’s journey as a member of the Chico State men’s track & field team took him from walk-on to All-American. He became a decathlete almost by accident. The first time Marden walked on to the University Stadium track, the only athletes practicing at the time were the decathletes. He joined in and the rest is history!
Marden collected All-America honors in 1986, 1987 and 1988 and was the school’s record holder in the event for 12 years, from 1988 to 2000. He still ranks fifth all time.
The track wasn’t the only place Marden proved to be multi-talented during his time at Chico State. He held down three jobs during college while practicing on the track & field team and taking pre-med classes.
Marden has since gone on to a highly successful career in medicine and is the head of Embrace Advanced Gynecology and Wellness in Bristol, Tenn. He also serves as clinical associate professor at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Stacie Riley Starr
A leader. An inspiration. A person of integrity. Passionate. A lover of the game. Those are all ways Stacie Riley Starr is described by her former teammates. She was also one heck of a soccer player. And you can add Chico State Athletics Hall of Famer to the list.
Riley Starr was among the top players on the Chico State women’s soccer team during Bob Russ’ 18-year tenure. She earned All-Far West Region honors in 1995, but at the end of the season, tore her ACL. After missing the entire 1996 campaign, Riley Starr showed her leadership and mettle by not only earning another All-West Region honor in 1997, but also Northern California Athletic Conference Player of the Year accolades.
Riley Starr was just as effective in the classroom, garnering Chico State’s Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year award her senior year. After graduating from Chico State, Riley Starr continued her education by earning two teaching credentials and a master’s degree from Sacramento State.
She currently works as a middle school resource specialist and coaches soccer.
Christa Tebbs
Pole vaulting became an official girls’ high school sport prior to Tebbs’ sophomore year at Nevada Union High School. She leapt at the chance to try it. Literally. And before she was done, she was a National Champion.
A four-year member of the Chico State track & field team, specializing in the pole vault year-round, Tebbs reached the pinnacle of her collegiate career by winning the 2002 NCAA Division II National title.
She cleared 13 feet that season, setting a school record that stood for 12 years before Kasey Barnett broke it this spring. Tebbs was a three-time California Collegiate Athletic Association Champion in the event and earned All-America honors at the National Championships in 2000, 2001 and 2002.
Tebbs graduated from Chico State in 2002 with a degree in art. She married fellow Wildcat vaulter Brian Epperly and they are now the proud parents of four children.
Honorary Inductee Wayne Dawson
Former men’s tennis coach Paul Torricelli can’t imagine a more worthy candidate. Former Director of Athletics Don Batie defines him as “The Gold Standard.” Former tennis player and long-time Shasta College Coach Jim Middleton describes him as a professional of the highest caliber, a man of honor, a true gentleman, and a wonderful ambassador of Chico State and its department of athletics.
The man they all speak of is Dr. Dawson. Of course, anyone who knows Dawson could have guessed. His impact as Chico State’s ski coach from 1965-66, tennis coach from 1966-73 and professor from 1965-92 lives on in the hallways of Acker Gym.
He taught countless athletes and coaches the intricacies of tennis, skiing, volleyball and golf. But his instruction about life had an even greater impact. Ask anyone fortunate enough to call him a colleague, instructor, coach, friend or mentor. They’ll be glad to tell you.
