Top Row: Brian Spangler, Stayce York, Tom Harvill
Middle Row: Don Miller, Judith Pickett, Maurice Williams, Jeff Kunselman,
Front Row: Kim Bernatchy, Edward Zuckerman, Duncan McCowan
2006 Inductees
Kim Bernatchy
Field Hockey (1977-78)
After an outstanding career at the junior college level, Kim Bernatchy came to Chico State, where her passion for field hockey took center stage. In both 1977 and 1978, she was named to the Golden State all-conference team and was named the league’s Outstanding Defensive Player in 1977. After her playing days were done, Kim continued to be a part of the Wildcat field hockey program by serving as the assistant coach to Mary Ann Lazzarini, helping lead the team to back-to-back national championship tournament appearances.
Tom Harvill
Swimming (1979-83)
Chico State featured a dominant swim program throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and no one symbolized that sort of dominance like Tom Harvill. A 20-time All-American, Tom helped lead the Wildcats to four straight Northern California Athletic Conference titles and four top-five national finishes. In his senior season, Tom won all three of his events at the NCAA national championship meet and was named the NCAA Division II “Swimmer of the Year.” He graduated Cum Laude with a degree in mechanical engineering and later earned his master’s degree at Stanford in that same field of study.
Jeff Kunselman
Diving and Swimming (1987-90)
They called it swimming and diving for a reason, and in the late 1980s into 1990, the reason was Jeff Kunselman. Jeff earned All-America honors six times, was a five-time conference champion, and in 1990, became Chico State’s lone NCAA diving champion. After graduation, Jeff competed for two years as part of the United States High Diving team and then moved on to the coaching ranks. He is currently a sixth grade teacher and club diving coach in Phoenix, Arizona.
Duncan McCowan
Boxing (1953-56)
One of the premier boxers for the Wildcats in the 1950s, Duncan McCowan represented the Cats in the ring for four years, twice at the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate championships and once as a member of the first Chico State team to reach the NCAA championships. Since his graduation from Chico State with a degree in civil engineering, Duncan has made a major impact on the youth of this area, contributing time, money, and skills in support of local Little Leagues, elementary schools, and high schools.
Judith Mosbacher Pickett
Cross Country (1981-85)
Swimming (1981-85)
Track & Field (1981-85)
A true multi-sport athlete, Judith Mosbacher Pickett was a four-time All-American in swimming as well as an important member of the Wildcat cross country and track & field squads. A double major in both chemistry and biology, Judith went on to earn her teaching credential. In 1996, Judith was diagnosed with breast cancer. Since that time, she has become a devoted runner for the awareness of the disease, recently completing her 119th race as part of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. She has devoted the past 10 years to helping find a cure for breast cancer and in 2004 was named a “Hero of Running” by Runner’s World magazine.
Brian Spangler
Swimming (1980-81, 83-84)
Part of the outstanding group of Wildcat swimmers that dominated conference competition throughout the 1980s, Brian Spangler was a 12-time All-American and eight-time NCAC champion. During his time, the Wildcats never lost a dual meet, captured four straight conference titles, and never finished lower than fourth in the national rankings. Brian culminated his brilliant career by winning both of his breaststroke events at the 1983 NCAA Championships meet.
Maurice Williams
Gymnastics (1969-73)
The history of the gymnastics program at Chico State was one of tremendous success. No one gymnast epitomized that success like Maurice Williams. Maurice competed in the all-around competition for the Wildcats with the still rings allowing him to best show off his unique strength and balance. After earning All-America honors in this country, Maurice moved to Canada and captured the Canadian national still rings championship. His legacy to Chico State continues to this day as he has sent his three sons to the Chico campus in pursuit of their academic goals.
Stayce Sasser York
Softball (1991-94)
Look at the Chico State softball record books and you’ll see the name Stayce Sasser come up time and time again. The mainstay of the Wildcats pitching staff in the early 1990s, Sasser’s outstanding career numbers don’t even tell the whole story as the records of her 1992 campaign remain unavailable. Despite that, Sasser ranks second in career wins and earned run average, and is among the top five all time in innings pitched, strikeouts, shutouts, and complete games. She could also swing the stick, batting .358 in 1993. After graduation, Sasser went on to become an elementary school teacher and is also currently the varsity softball coach at Chico High School.
Edward Zuckerman
Football (1969-1970)
The eldest of eight children, Ed Zuckerman was forced to grow up early when his father passed away at an early age and Ed became the surrogate father to his seven siblings. His involvement in sports eventually led him to Chico State, where he was the starting fullback in 1969-70 for head coach Pete Riehlman. Ed was a tough load to bring down on the gridiron, as evidenced by his four-touchdown performance against Sonoma State and his 10 touchdowns scored during the season. For the last 35 years, Ed has been a teacher and coach with the Willows Unified School District and has led his squads to several league championships.
Don Miller
Honorary Inductee
Football coach, baseball coach, director of athletics…Don Miller did it all at Chico State. After an outstanding playing career at the University of North Dakota, where he lettered in four sports, Don came to Chico State in 1967 as an assistant football coach. In 1970, he was named the head baseball coach and led the Wildcats to 332 victories over the next 15 years. In 1986, Don was named the director of athletics and was instrumental, along with Eddie Booth and Mac Martin, in establishing the groundwork leading to the induction of women as well as men into the Chico State Hall of Fame.
