Tribute celebrates Pierce County sports champions

Some of the greatest athletes in Pierce County history were celebrated on May 13 at the Tacoma-Pierce County Athletic Commission’s (TAC) 2025 Tribute to Champions. The McGavick Conference Center at Clover Park Technical College was packed with athletes, their family, friends and supporters there to take part in honoring the achievements of those who were welcomed to the stage.

Before the program started, a dessert social and silent auction benefitting the Tacoma Pierce County Sports Museum had folks mingling and greeting one another. Free copies of “Playgrounds to The Pros: An Illustrated History of Sports in Tacoma-Pierce County” were free for the first 280 attendees with autographs signed on site by Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame inductees Kate Rue, Chelle (Flamoe) Miller, Suzanne (Vick) Paulson, Phil Carter, Vince Goldsmith, Leo Randolph and Joe Waters.

KING 5 sports reporter-anchor Chris Egan emceed and acted as auctioneer for the live auction that featured a basketball autographed by Olympian Sabrina Ionescu, an Aaron Pointer autographed baseball, an inning in the Mariner’s broadcast booth, and a Mariners Grand Slam Experience in the commissioner’s box at T-Mobile Park.

“This is a night to celebrate sports and history and memory and this wonderful world of sports that we have all been part of,” Egan said. “Thank you, TAC, for allowing us to have nights like this where we can honor some greats of the past. We also can’t thank enough the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Museum for their continued support in recognizing athletic excellence throughout the county.”

Susan Westering, daughter-in-law of legendary football coach Frosty Westering, and Frosty’s great-granddaughter Hadley Linderman together performed a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem, and former Tacoma Twins infielder Bill Ralston, who served for 28 years as chapel leader for the Tacoma PCL franchise, led an invocation prayer.

Tribute to Champions Committee chair Marc Blau received much well-deserved praise for his leadership in organizing the event.

“I know Pope Leo has the Popemobile and maybe we need the Marc Blaumobile because what he has done to put this night together is absolutely amazing,” Egan said. “The WIAA has 13 fulltime members that take care of over 265 student athletes. We have Marc Blau who has been working tirelessly on this night to get all these athletes together.” 

Hearty rounds of applause were given for international Hall of Fame swim coach and former competitive swimmer for Washington State University Dick Hannula, now 96 years old, who was there along with a Tacoma native who flourished under Hannula’s guidance and that of coach Wally Streeter – Chuck Richards, a three-time high school All American in swimming and six-time state champion while attending Stadium High School. 

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Distinguished Achievement Awards and 2025 Hall of Fame Inductees. 

DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

Connelly Law Offices Excellence in Officiating Award — Dan Graves (baseball), Darin Barr (basketball), Keon Edwards (football), Clarence Dean (softball), JJ Snyder (soccer), Rocky Zlock (volleyball), Steven Rider (wrestling).

First Family of Sports Award — The Linden Family (Volleyball) Jon, Krista, Lara, Eva, Annika, Elsa, Klara, Mia, and Sofia.

Frosty Westering Excellence in Coaching Award — Dorinda (Russell) Carpenter—Puyallup HS gymnastics; Mark Massey—University of Puget Sound volleyball

Doug McArthur Lifetime Achievement Award — Margaret McCormick— Parks Tacoma, Jack Connelly—Connelly Law Offices

Dick Hannula Amateur Athlete of the Year Award — Avery Cukjati, Curtis HS volleyball; Denzel Boston, University of Washington/ Emerald Ridge HS football

2025 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

Baseball: Nick Hagadone

Basketball: Jim McPhee and Bryce McPhee

Broadcaster: Ed Bowman

Football: Mike Vindivich

Golf: Michael Putnam, Audrey Wooding, Michelle (Wooding) Murphy

Handball: Myron Schmidt

Swimming: Wally Streeter (dec), Kimo Streeter

Track: Willie Stewart Jr.

Volleyball: Jessica (Brodie) Hansen

Wrestling: Whitney (Conder) Cox, Joe Reasons (dec)

Next up for the TAC is its 2025 Spring Athlete of the Year Dinner on Thursday, June 12, at the McGavick Center. The doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the event starts at 6 p.m. The public is invited to come and help honor the hard work, commitment, and excellence of student-athletes from schools across Tacoma-Pierce County and to recognize their contributions both on and off the field. Register by June 6 at TacomaAthletic.com. 

Spring sports being honored: baseball, softball, boys golf, girls golf, boys soccer, boys tennis, girls tennis, boys track & field, girls track & field, water polo, boys lacrosse, and girls lacrosse. All the spring state champions will be honored as well.  

On June 24, TAC’s Tom Names Salute to Sports honors Pierce County student athletes nominated by their high school as their school's athlete of the year in their respective sports and awards the overall Athlete of the Year for spring season sports. Learn more at TacomaAthletic.com.