Sports Hall of Fame announced Class of 2017.

Sports Hall of Fame announced Class of 2017.

#MasonCountySports

LUDINGTON — The Mason County Sports Hall of Fame announced its 13th induction class, the Class of 2017.

The Hall of Fame will induct Richard Daron, Courtney Dunlap, Jerry McCormick Sr., Lee Schoenherr, Amanda Stowe, and Leanna Wolf-Geers.

“The MCSHOF Board of Directors is proud to raise the level of our local sports heritage enshrinement with the addition of this remarkable group of athletes that have demonstrated their love of sports, their community and their dedication to being the ‘best of the best,'” said Mason County Sports Hall of Fame President Vic Burwell. “This will be the 13th class of the Mason County Sports Hall of Fame, and with the talent and achievement illustrated in this release, this class could very well have been the first class.  It never ceases to amaze our board of directors of the level of sports achievement that is demonstrated each year.  Out of a list of over 200 potential candidates, these six individuals were selected by the nineteen member Hall of Fame Board, for enshrinement into the MCSHOF Class of 2017.”

Daron graduated from Ludington High School in 1940, playing on a pair of Big Seven conference championships for the Orioles’ football team at left end as well as on a pair of league champions for the Ludington boys basketball team. Daron was also successful in the spring with a 440-yard state championship in 1939 while also owning the record in the mile for 20 years. He went on to earn a letter in football from Central Michigan University while also attending the school on a track scholarship. Daron left his college career early to fight in World War II. When he returned he contributed greatly to the sports facilities enjoyed by Ludington. Daron passed away in 2007.

Dunlap set a pair of school records in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle races at Ludington High School, part of a standout swimming career for the Orioles. Twice, he swam at the state meet and finished inside the top 10 in both of the sprint freestyle races. After graduating in 1996, Dunlap went on be a part of Oakland University’s NCAA Division II national championship team. He also won Summit League titles with the Golden Grizzlies and was an All-American as well. His swim career didn’t end at the end of college. He was one of the top-ranked sprint swimmers for ages 25-29 and 30-34 for U.S. Masters Swimming.

McCormick graduated from Mason County Eastern in 1964 with letters in track, baseball and basketball with basketball his best sport. It was after high school that he really revved up his sports career. McCormick was a drag racer who competed in the NHRA, IHRA and UDRA for over 20 years both in the United States and Canada, including three years in the pro stock division. McCormick also was a major player in the fastpitch softball circuit as he was a shortstop on the Class B state title Urka 8s team, and he also played on the Evans & Harrell (Sunoco), Walt’s Lunch and Fountain Merchants teams.

Schoenherr has shown a life-long love for Ludington’s athletics program, both as a student-athlete and as a major contributor to the many athletic venues in Ludington. A 1953 LHS graduate, he earned several varsity letters. He was accorded honorable mention All-State honors. He was the point guard on the 1953 State Runner-up Basketball team, and played 3 years of Varsity Basketball at Western Michigan University. He played on the Army 3rd Division Championship team for two years, along with the Army 3rd Division fast-pitch Championship team for two years.  He sponsored the LHS 1987 basketball team’s trip to China for 10 days, and has made major donations to support our area’s sports venues:  Schoenherr Tennis Center, LHS Score board, Track at Oriole Field, WSCC Ice Rink, and skateboard park.  His Schoenherr Investment Fast-Pitch Softball teams routinely were strong competitors on the National Fast-Pitch Softball scene. He also assisted the Ludington varsity boys basketball team’s journey to China in 1987.

Stowe started a standout basketball career in Ludington where she was a three-time first team All-State player and was runner-up for Miss Basketball in 1997. When she graduated from Ludington in 1997 she was the all-time leading scorer with 2,160 points. She went to a career at University of Wisconsin-Green Bay after transferring from Michigan. With the Phoenix, she led the team in scoring both years and was named the Horizon League Player of the Year in 2001 and the league’s tournament MVP. She continued to play professionally in Europe.

Wolf-Geers piled up several state-qualifying entries at Mason County Central, going on to win a pair of state titles and several West Michigan Conference championships in track and field. She also excelled in cross country with a pair of state treks and finishing All-State before graduating from Central in 2002 while compiling a handful of school and county records. She went on to be a part of two Ferris State records and earning All-American honors in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track. She especially ran well in the 800-meter run, taking third in the GLIAC both indoors and outdoors. She passed away in 2011.

The Mason County Sports Hall of Fame, located in Ludington is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation, honoring and education of others in the outstanding historical contributions in sports and athletics in Mason County. The Hall of Fame is currently housed at Historic White Pine Village in Pere Marquette Township at the Max K. Rahn Building. Fundraising continues to renovate a new location in downtown Ludington at the former PNC Bank building at the corner of Harrison Street and Ludington Avenue. The 2017 induction ceremony will be in June 2017 with an enshrinement ceremony at Historic White Pine Village and a banquet in the evening.