Triton Athletic Hall Of Fame Inducts Five
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Triton Athletic Hall Of Fame Inducts Five
By Staff Report-
This year’s class consisted of Joe White (contributor), Charlie Smith, Ryan Meister (athlete), Curt Anders (athlete) and Jeff Brunk (athlete).
The five inductees were honored during the Hall of Fame weekend, which began with recognition at the Triton boys basketball game Friday night against Knox, then a dinner ceremony Saturday at the Back Forty in Bourbon..
Triton High School Athletic Director Mason McIntyre developed the Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011.
“I believe it’s important to know and understand our rich athletic tradition,” he said. “Since the school’s inception during the 1963-64 school year, many athletes have worn the blue and gold. But these athletes, coaches, and contributors that were recognized set themselves apart by running the fastest, winning championships, and otherwise distinguishing themselves in high school and college athletics.”
The inductees were chosen by a selection committee of five members who include Larry Lemler of Bourbon, Dave Shively of Etna Green, Ken Blackford of Tippecanoe and at-large members Duane Walters and Hal Kuntz.
White was the first to be inducted and has been a member of the Triton football chain crew for over 30 years.
Smith was inducted as the fourth Triton Athletic Hall of Fame Coach.
“I have to thank my mother, who is resting in God’s Kingdom,” he said. “I coached a total of 121 games in my career as a head football coach and my mother attended all 121 games to watch me coach.”
Smith coached the Trojan football team for four seasons and posted a 27-9-1 record, while also winning three Three Rivers Conference championships.
He went on to coach nine seasons at Tippecanoe Valley High School, winning a state championship in 1979.
Meister participated in football, basketball, and track at Triton and went on to play basketball at Bethel College where he scored over 1,000 points.
“I can’t say that I miss anything (about high school sports) because I never really left,” he said during his induction speech. “I have enjoyed watching my own kids play sports at Triton and because of them, I have been a part of Triton sports for over 35 years.”
The next athlete to inducted was Anders, a 1984 graduate.
At Triton, Anders participated in football, tennis, basketball and track.
He once held the basketball career scoring and assist record simultaneously and still holds three records in track, including the high Jump (6-8), the long jump (22-1) and the 110-meter hurdles (14.9)
Anders went on to play basketball at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, Calif. where he played in two NAIA National Tournaments.
“A lot of people thought I should have pursued track in college,” he said. “But I really had a love for basketball.”
The last induction of the evening was Brunk.
A 1977 graduate, Brunk played football, basketball, baseball and track at Triton.
He is probably best known for his skills on the football field earning All-State Honorable Mention twice, once as a quarterback and once as a linebacker.
He went on to play two years of football at Ball State University and was a member of the 1978 MAC championship team.
Brunk thanked Triton Athletic Hall of Fame Coach Ron Smith for creating a love for mathematics.
“There were lots of teachers throughout my high school career that contributed many things to my life,” he said. “But Mr. Smith changed a young man’s outlook on mathematics. That change in attitude led me to my chosen career, a career that has provided many things for my family and me over the years.”
Plans for the 2015 Hall of Fame weekend have already begun.
The selection committee and the Triton Athletic Department look forward to recognizing a new class of individuals who have set themselves apart on the courts and the fields of Triton High school and beyond.[[In-content Ad]]
This year’s class consisted of Joe White (contributor), Charlie Smith, Ryan Meister (athlete), Curt Anders (athlete) and Jeff Brunk (athlete).
The five inductees were honored during the Hall of Fame weekend, which began with recognition at the Triton boys basketball game Friday night against Knox, then a dinner ceremony Saturday at the Back Forty in Bourbon..
Triton High School Athletic Director Mason McIntyre developed the Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011.
“I believe it’s important to know and understand our rich athletic tradition,” he said. “Since the school’s inception during the 1963-64 school year, many athletes have worn the blue and gold. But these athletes, coaches, and contributors that were recognized set themselves apart by running the fastest, winning championships, and otherwise distinguishing themselves in high school and college athletics.”
The inductees were chosen by a selection committee of five members who include Larry Lemler of Bourbon, Dave Shively of Etna Green, Ken Blackford of Tippecanoe and at-large members Duane Walters and Hal Kuntz.
White was the first to be inducted and has been a member of the Triton football chain crew for over 30 years.
Smith was inducted as the fourth Triton Athletic Hall of Fame Coach.
“I have to thank my mother, who is resting in God’s Kingdom,” he said. “I coached a total of 121 games in my career as a head football coach and my mother attended all 121 games to watch me coach.”
Smith coached the Trojan football team for four seasons and posted a 27-9-1 record, while also winning three Three Rivers Conference championships.
He went on to coach nine seasons at Tippecanoe Valley High School, winning a state championship in 1979.
Meister participated in football, basketball, and track at Triton and went on to play basketball at Bethel College where he scored over 1,000 points.
“I can’t say that I miss anything (about high school sports) because I never really left,” he said during his induction speech. “I have enjoyed watching my own kids play sports at Triton and because of them, I have been a part of Triton sports for over 35 years.”
The next athlete to inducted was Anders, a 1984 graduate.
At Triton, Anders participated in football, tennis, basketball and track.
He once held the basketball career scoring and assist record simultaneously and still holds three records in track, including the high Jump (6-8), the long jump (22-1) and the 110-meter hurdles (14.9)
Anders went on to play basketball at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, Calif. where he played in two NAIA National Tournaments.
“A lot of people thought I should have pursued track in college,” he said. “But I really had a love for basketball.”
The last induction of the evening was Brunk.
A 1977 graduate, Brunk played football, basketball, baseball and track at Triton.
He is probably best known for his skills on the football field earning All-State Honorable Mention twice, once as a quarterback and once as a linebacker.
He went on to play two years of football at Ball State University and was a member of the 1978 MAC championship team.
Brunk thanked Triton Athletic Hall of Fame Coach Ron Smith for creating a love for mathematics.
“There were lots of teachers throughout my high school career that contributed many things to my life,” he said. “But Mr. Smith changed a young man’s outlook on mathematics. That change in attitude led me to my chosen career, a career that has provided many things for my family and me over the years.”
Plans for the 2015 Hall of Fame weekend have already begun.
The selection committee and the Triton Athletic Department look forward to recognizing a new class of individuals who have set themselves apart on the courts and the fields of Triton High school and beyond.[[In-content Ad]]
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