BGSU Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Set for Oct. 18
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony for the Class of 2024 will be held on Friday evening, Oct. 18, on the BGSU campus.
Burke Badenhop, Bob Clasen, Ali Mann, Don Woods and the 1970 lacrosse team make up the newest Hall of Fame class.
Registration information for the event can be found BY CLICKING HERE.
The four individual inductees bring membership in the Athletics Hall of Fame to 252 individuals. Three teams (the 1983-84 national championship hockey team, the 1959 national championship football team, the 1972 men's indoor track and field team and now the '70 lacrosse team) are also in the Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame ceremony and dinner is set for 7:00 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 18, at Olscamp Hall on the BGSU campus. The Class of 2024 will also be recognized on the field at the BGSU football game the following day (Saturday, Oct. 19, vs. Kent State).
Submit a nomination for the Class of 2025 (nominations will be accepted until Dec. 31, 2024)
Badenhop (2002-05) was a standout pitcher for the baseball Falcons. His total of 17 career wins ties him for fifth in school history, and he also ranks among the BGSU career leaders in appearances (70, tie-eighth), innings (235, eighth) and strikeouts (177, ninth). In his senior season of 2005, Badenhop went 9-2 with a 3.73 earned-run average and was named the Falcon Club's Senior Athlete of the Year. He also earned CoSIDA Academic All-America honors that season. Badenhop was chosen by the Detroit Tigers in the 19th round of the 2005 MLB Draft, and played eight seasons in the majors with the Florida Marlins (2008-11), Tampa Bay Rays (2012), Milwaukee Brewers (2013), Boston Red Sox (2014) and Cincinnati Reds (2015), appearing in 418 career games.
Clasen (1963-66) was an All-American for the BG track and field team, and was part of numerous record-setting performances. Clasen was a member of the Mile Relay team that placed sixth at the 1965 NCAA Outdoor Championships, and the quartet finished fifth in that event at the 1966 national meet. The Falcons won that event at the MAC Championships in both 1965 and '66. Clasen was a part of groups that set the school records in both the indoor and outdoor mile relay, as well as the indoor records in both the 800 relay and the 880 yard relay events. Individually, Clasen set the school record in the 800, with a time of 1:50.6. That record was broken by Dave Wottle, who Clasen now joins in the BGSU Athletics Hall of Fame.
Mann (2003-07) was a key member of some of the finest women's basketball teams in BGSU and MAC history. A four-year starter, she helped the Falcons post a record of 103-25 in her four years. BGSU advanced to the championship game of the MAC Tournament in all four seasons, winning titles in each of the last three years. Mann finished her career second in school history in scoring and third in rebounding, with totals of 1,825 points and 911 rebounds. She became just the sixth player in league history to be named MAC Player of the Year, MAC Freshman of the Year and MAC Tournament MVP during her career. Mann ended that career as the BGSU record-holder in free throws made (482) and attempted (677), and now ranks second in both categories. A two-time All-MAC First-Team selection, Mann was named to the MAC's All-Tournament Team three times, earning tourney MVP honors in 2006. The following season (2006-07) saw Mann share the MAC Player-of-the-Year award as the Falcons went 31-4 and became the first MAC women's basketball team to advance all the way to the 'Sweet Sixteen' of the NCAA Championships. That season, she hit two of the biggest shots in school history, with a last-minute jumper in the lane vs. Oklahoma State and a late three-pointer against Vanderbilt. Those shots helped the Falcons nail down NCAA Tournament wins in the first and second rounds, respectively.
Woods was a fixture in the athletic department for over three decades, serving as an equipment manager from 1962-96. He primarily worked with the hockey and baseball teams, but helped out with numerous Falcon squads over the years. 'Woody' learned his trade under fellow Hall of Fame member Glenn Sharp, who hired him to work with the football team in 1962. When BGSU added ice hockey in 1969, Woods became that team's first equipment manager, and was a part of numerous championship teams, including the 1984 NCAA Champions. He founded the HOGO (Hockey Old-Timers Golf Outing) that welcomes back a large number of former Falcon greats every summer, and the baseball team's annual Outstanding Freshman Award is presented in his honor.
The 1970 lacrosse team finished with a 9-0 record, featuring four players who earned All-America recognition – John Brizendine (first team), Joe Zimmerman (second team), John Dohms (honorable mention) and Bill Burch (honorable mention). Art Curtis, Kurt Kimball, Jim Newcity and Steve Sachse joined the aforementioned quartet on the All-Midwest team. The Falcons were ranked as high as sixth in the country in the polls, which was virtually unheard of at the time for a school west of Philadelphia. The team captured the Midwest Lacrosse Association Championship for the first time in program history. BGSU opened the season with a 9-5 win over Michigan, then captured victories against Ohio and Wittenberg by identical 12-3 scores. After a narrow 11-8 win over Oberlin, BGSU downed Denison – at the time the dominant team in the league – by an 8-6 final. Following that win, the Falcons outscored opponents by a 35-6 count in the last four games. That run included back-to-back shutouts of Michigan State (12-0) and Notre Dame (9-0), and after a 5-4 victory over Kenyon, BG ended the season with a 9-2 win over Ohio Wesleyan.
The 1970 lacrosse team consisted of...
Coaches
Mickey Cochrane
Jim Plaunt
Chuck Winters
Seniors
Bill Burch
Larry Davidson
John Dohms
Art Halperin
Jim Newcity
Sal Zanfardino
Joe Zimmerman
Juniors
Marty Best
Austin (John) Brizendine
Craig Buksar
Ed Chaffey
Bruce Correll
Art Curtis
Ed Ellis
Sam Giarusso
Bill Kalbfleisch
Rich Lieberfarb
Greg Ried
Steve Sachse
Tom Vogtsberger
Sophomores
Ed Andrews
Henry Augustine
Barry Brandman
Terry Cameron
Pete Fraser
Joseph (Bob) Hoffman
Jack Horney
Tom Messmer
Ron Perrigo
Jim Polson
Tim Sanders
Freshmen
Leif Elsmo
John Gawaluck
Doug Harriman
Dan Haskell
Kurt Kimball
Rich Thomson
Dennis Vereb
John Zanfardino
Manager
Paul Lehman
Latest Men's Baseball News
- Notre Dame Tops Bowling Green In Saturday ShowdownSOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Bowling Green State University baseball team took on Notre Dame in the second game of the weekend series on Saturday (May 10) in South Bend. A four-run first inning pushed the Fighting Irish in front. The Falcons answered with a run in the fourth, but it would be the only tally for BGSU in the game. Notre Dame added to their lead with runs in the fifth and seventh before capping off an 11-1 final in the eighth inning. The series between Bowling Green and Notre Dame will conclude on Sunday (May 11) with a 3 p.m. first pitch at Steller Field in Bowling Green.
- Falcons Fall To Fighting Irish In Series OpenerSOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Bowling Green State University baseball team began the weekend series against Notre Dame on Friday (May 9) in South Bend. The Falcons and Fighting Irish started with a 6:30 p.m. first pitch, moving the game under the lights in the later innings. Notre Dame scored six runs in the first two innings to jump out to a lead. Nate Kress came on out of the bullpen and allowed just one run over the next four innings. However, a three-run home run in the seventh walked it off for Notre Dame with a 10-0 run rule. The series will resume on Saturday (May 10) with a 2 p.m. first pitch at Notre Dame.
- BGSU Battles Back, Beats ButlerBOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University baseball team rallied from behind three times on Wednesday (May 7), taking the lead for good in the sixth inning and going on to a 9-7 win over Butler University in non-conference action at Steller Field.
- Falcons To Host Butler, Notre Dame During Non-Conference WeekBOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University baseball team will enter a non-conference week, hosting Butler before a home-and-home series with Notre Dame. The Falcons will begin the week at home against Butler on Wednesday (May 7) with a 3 p.m. first pitch. From there, BGSU will transition to a series against Notre Dame, beginning on the road on both Friday and Saturday (May 9-10) in South Bend. Friday's game is set for a 6:30 p.m. start before Saturday's 2 p.m. first pitch. The series will then shift to Steller Field in Bowling Green on Sunday (May 11) with a 3 p.m. start. The games at Notre Dame will be on ACCNX while the game at BGSU between the Falcons and Fighting Irish will be on BCSN with a simulcast on ESPN+. As always, home games at Steller Field will be free to attend. Any schedule changes will be announced on BGSUFalcons.com as well as Twitter/X (@BGSU_Baseball).
- BGSU-Butler Baseball Moved To Wednesday At Steller FieldBOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Due to anticipated weather conditions forecasted for Tuesday, the BGSU baseball game against Butler has been moved to Wednesday (May 7) at Steller Field, still scheduled for a 3 p.m. first pitch. The weekend series against Notre Dame, including a home game on Sunday (May 11) remains unchanged. Any changes will be announced on BGSUFalcons.com as well as the BGSU_Baseball Twitter/X page.
- Falcons Clinch Spot In MAC Tournament Despite Dropping DoubleheaderTOLEDO, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University baseball team fell in a doubleheader at Scott Park on Saturday (May 3) against the Toledo Rockets. Toledo took the first game in an 8-3 final and the second with an 8-1 score. The Falcons had previously won the first game of the series on Friday (May 2) at Fifth Third Field. BGSU and UT will conclude their four-game series later this season with a midweek, non-conference game on May 13. Despite the pair of losses for Bowling Green, the Falcons were able to clinch their spot in the MAC Tournament this season with results from around the conference.