Pitt State names 2008 HOF class

There will be six new members to the Pittsburg State Athletic Hall of Fame during the ceremonies on Sept. 26
PSU’s Class of 2008 is headlined by a pair of former All-Americans in baseball star Daniel Esposito (1995-97) and golf standout Aaron AuBuchon (1989-92) – both the inaugural inductees in their respective sports.
Two-time All-American tight end Blaise Bauer (1985-88) joins the Hall of Fame representing the sport of football, while former football standout Gene John, the long-time football coach at Fredonia High School, posthumously joins the Hall of Fame as a meritorious service inductee.
Additionally, Jim Jolgen (1948-49), a member of PSU’s 11-man 50th Anniversary Football Team and the school’s first football All-American, and track and field standout Joe Winchester (1927-30) will be inducted in the Hall of Fame’s “Legacy” category, which was created in 2005. The category focuses solely on athletes from the school’s first 50 years (1903-53).
“We’re extremely excited about our newest class of inductees into the PSU Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame,” athletic director Chuck Broyles said. “Each year we feel as though we have a class of inductees that measures up well with past induction classes, and this year is no exception. These six individuals are an impressive collective cast, including the first All-America athletes in three sports at our university. This group represents a wide range of years in the history of our athletics programs with several historical figures and some of our more modern greats. Each of these individuals is most deserving of joining the group of all-time elite Hall of Fame members at Pittsburg State University.”

Aaron AuBuchon 1989-92
AuBuchon became the first golfer in Pitt State history to earn All-America honors during his decorated four-year career. The Pittsburg, Kan., native garnered honorable mention All-America honors as a sophomore in 1990 and he was voted to the second-team All-America squad as a senior in 1992.
AuBuchon, the MIAA champion in each of his final two seasons (’91-92), qualified for the NCAA Division II National Tournament three times (1990-92). He placed eighth at the national meet in 1990 and finished 15th in ’92.
AuBuchon captured 14 individual meet titles during his decorated career.

Blaise Bauer 1985-88
Bauer twice garnered honorable mention NAIA All-America honors as a tight end on the Pitt State football team.
The Monett, Mo., native caught 44 passes for 1,248 yards and a school record 18 touchdowns. His receiving total stood as the third-highest mark in school history at the time and the yardage still ranks first among tight ends all-time. He also holds school records for career yards per catch (29.2 YPC) and season yards per catch (31.4) from the 1986 season.
Bauer earned first-team All-CSIC honors in his final two seasons in which he also garnered All-America accolades, and he finished his decorated career as a three-time All-CSIC performer (’86-88).

Daniel Esposito 1995-97
Esposito became the first baseball player in Pitt State history to earn All-America honors during his senior season in 1997.
Esposito earned first-team All-America honors from the ABCA that year, helping the Gorillas make their first trip to the NCAA-II Regionals.
The Oceanside, Calif., native was named both the MIAA and the Central Region Most Valuable Player in 1997 when he set a conference single-season record for total bases (162) and set Pitt State season records for doubles (21), home runs (13) and RBIs (71). He also established the PSU career record for batting average (.416) following his playing career.
Esposito earned All-MIAA honors in each of his final two seasons at PSU, after redshirting in his initial year with the Gorillas in 1995.

Gene John • Meritorious Service
A three-time All-Conference performer and a member of PSU’s 1961 NAIA National Championship football team, John went on to enjoy a decorated 28-year coaching career at Fredonia High School (1965-90, ’96-98).
The native of Burlington compiled a 201-61-3 (.764) career record, leading FHS to the 1983 Kansas Class 4A state championship and 12 consecutive state playoff appearances between 1976-87.
John was named the 1983 Kansas Coach of the Year by the Wichita Eagle and the Kansas Coaches Association and he was inducted into the Kansas State High School Activities Association Hall of Fame in 1999.
John was a two-time first-team All-CIC defensive back for the Gorillas (’62, ’64) and he twice earned honorable mention All-NAIA District 10 honors (’63-64) during his playing days at Pitt State.

Jim Jolgen 1948-49
Jolgen was named to Pitt State’s prestigious 11-man 50th Anniversary Football Team following his playing days for the Gorillas.
The Everett, Wash., native became the first Pitt State football player to garner All-America honors following his senior season in 1949 when he was named to the honorable mention Associated Press Little All-America Team.
He also garnered first-team All-CIC honors at tackle in 1949 helping first-year coach Carnie Smith’s squad to an 8-2-1 record and the CIC co-championship.

Joe Winchester 1927-30
Winchester won four consecutive 880 yard run conference titles and set the school record in the event during his decorated PSU career.
The Minneapolis, Kan., native also was ranked No. 40 in the world in the 880 during his senior season with the Gorillas in 1930.
Winchester anchored multiple winning sprint medley and two-mile relay teams at the Texas, Kansas and Drake Relays between 1928-30 and he helped Gorilla relay teams to meet victories at Rice, Illinois, Southern Methodist and Ohio relay carnivals.