University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Hall of Fame Class of 2010
Joe Bonacquista, BaseballWas a three-year starting infielder, helping lead the Bears to three straight conference titles. He had a career batting average of .374 with five home runs and 82 RBI, lifting him to three all-conference selections and two all-district picks. In 1962, Bonacquista hit .383 for the season which included a .572 mark at the District 7 playoffs and .353 at the College World Series. He went on to play semi-pro baseball and was named to the all-Southern Colorado team in 1961, 1962 and 1967 and the All-Metropolitan team in 1969 and 1970. After his playing days, he became a regional scout for the Atlanta Braves (1971), Kansas City Royals (1972-74), St. Louis Cardinals (1975-79) and Cincinnati Reds (1980-90).
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Erin Deffenbaugh, VolleyballNamed the 2002 NCAA Division II Player of the Year, Deffenbaugh was a unanimous vote to the Hall of Fame in her first year of eligibility for the award. She was also a 2004 ESPN The Magazine First-Team Academic All-American, the 2004 Independent Player of the Year, an AVCA First-Team All-American and Daktronics First-Team All-American. Deffenbaugh was named to the 2002 Elite Eight All-Tournament team and led the nation in kills per game. She was a three-time North Central All-Conference selection as the Bears began the transition to Division I her final season. She owns the NCAA record for career attacks (6,465) and holds the school records in attacks for a season, kills in a match, kills in a season as well as career kills.
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Jim Fallis, Director of AthleticsFallis was the director of athletics at Northern Colorado for 11 years during which time UNC won two national championships in football, made two appearances in the Elite Eight in volleyball, added two women's teams (softball, soccer), finished in the top 10 several times in the all-around Sears Cup in Division II and hosted two national wrestling championships (1997, 2001). He also served on the NCAA Management Council and the Wrestling Committees for several years. During his tenure, Blue & Gold fundraising rose from $100,000 to over $300,000 per year and he was an active member and officer in NACDA and UNC had 11 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship winners during his 11 years.
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Scott Gates, WrestlingThe first four-time All-American in school history, Gates had two seventh-place, one third and one second-place finish at the
NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships during his career from 1988-92. He was also a two-time North Central Conference champion and posted a career record of 98-19-3. Gates still ranks fifth on the school's all-time win list and is a member of the National Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
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Dirk Johnson, FootballA current member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Johnson played on both National Championship football teams as a defensive back, kick returner and punter in 1996-97. He earned three All-American certificates and still ranks second in school history in career punting average (41.4/kick). His punt of 78 yards in 1994 against Mesa State is second on the single game charts. In 1995, Johnson was a third-team Football Gazette selection, was a first-team CM Frank award winner and was named to the first-team All-American teams by Daktronics and Football Gazette in 1997. Johnson started the 2005 Super Bowl as a punter for the Philadelphia Eagles.
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Leslie (Lester) Kroeger, WrestlerLeslie was a four time RMAC Champion from 1951-57 for the Bears. He was named the Outstanding Wrestler of the 1957 conference tournament, the team he was also a captain for. Competed in the NCAA Tournament, despite injuries.
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Loren Snyder, Football 1983-86Loren was a three year starting quarterback for the Bears. He still owns two of the top 10 single game passing performances in school history and his 2,724 passing yards as a senior still ranks third, while his junior year total of 2,384 is eighth. Snyder ranks third with 23 touchdown passes from 1986 and ninth with 2,464 total offensive yards. Signed as a free agent with Dallas after finishing at UNC and played in two games for the Cowboys, completing 4-of-9 passes for 44 yards. Has also served as president of the Northern Colorado Alumni Association.
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Melissa (Borell) Vaughn, Basketball 1999-2003Playing from 1999-03, Borell-Vaughn is still the all-time leading scorer in the history of the program with 1,866 points. Regardless of gender, she trails only Mike Higgins who scored 2,112 during his career. Borell-Vaughn also holds the schools records for field goals made, free throws made and is second in rebounds and blocked shots. In 2002-03, she was an honorable mention All-Amercian selection. Borell was a three-time Daktronics First-Team All-Region, a three-time First-Team All-North Central Conference pick, and was a two-time Academic All-NCC selection as well as the 2002-03 Northern Colorado Female Student-Athlete of the Year.
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Harry Wise, Baseball/ Basketball/ FootballIn 1945, Wise played one year of football before entering the service and serving in World War II. He returned in 1947-48 and was a first-team all-conference pick in basketball. He then led the league in scoring in 1948-49 and was both a unanimous all-conference selection and an honorable mention All-American by Look Magazine. In basketball he was also an all-conference pick for the 1949-50 and 1950-51 seasons. Â In baseball, he only lost one game in his career. In 1948 he threw a complete game three-hitter en route to a 7-0 win at NCAA Regionals and posted a perfect 7-0 record in league action in 1949. He also hit .563 that season to be named to the all-conference team and become the first All-American in school history. In 1949, he had a record of 13-0 on the hill and hit .450. He had one season of eligibility remaining, but the GI Bill ran out so he signed with the Chicago Cubs. In the minors, he pitched 24 complete games for Topeka with a record of 19-5 and a 0.89 ERA in leading the team to the league title with MVP honors.
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1963-64 WrestlingCoached by John Hancock, the team finished 22nd in the nation at the NCAA Division I Championships. The team posted a 10-1 record dual action, winning both the RMAC and MIWA Tournaments. At the MIWA Championship, Don Neff (123), Jim Crider (147) and Jack Flasche (157) all won titles, while Elmer Crider (130), Gordon Fisher (177) and Jim Lamberson (191) finished second. The team also ranked as high as fourth nationally and won six of eight weight classes at the RMC Conference Championship. At the NCAA Championships, Neff placed sixth at 124 pounds and Crider was sixth at 147 pounds.
