Athletics | 11/12/2015 5:38:00 PM

MONMOUTH, Ore. - The Western Oregon University Athletic Hall of Fame is proud to announce the partnership with Best Western Northwind Inn and Suites to present the class of 2015 inductees. Best Western Northwind Inn and Suites will be the presenting sponsor for the induction ceremony, and preferred hotel for guests attending the event.

This year the Hall of Fame welcomes Bruce Hamilton, Casey Cosler (Pape), Tony Burris, Robert Day, Bridget Johnson (Tetteh), and Tyler Sutherland (Walker). This will be the eleventh induction class into the WOU Athletic Hall of Fame.

"These deserving honorees had remarkable careers and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to recognize their wonderful accomplishments," said Barbara Dearing, Western Oregon Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. "I am excited and proud to be welcoming these six outstanding individuals into the Western Oregon Athletic Hall of Fame."

WOU will recognize the class of the Hall of Fame on Friday, January 29, 2016 with a reception to take place at 5:30 p.m. in the Pacific Room in the Werner University Center followed by dinner and the induction ceremony at 6:00 p.m.

Tickets for the Hall of Fame dinner are $40 per individual or $220 for a table of 6 and tables of 8 may be purchased for $275. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door the night of for $55. Tickets for the induction ceremony can be purchased online at the following link or by sending in this form.

Below is a snapshot of the 2015 class:

Bruce HAMILTON (Football & Baseball; 1946-49): Bruce was a member of the football, basketball and baseball teams at OCE in late 1940's. He was voted school's Outstanding Athlete award in 1949 and was a member of the football team in 1949 that went undefeated. Bruce was inducted into NAIA District 2 Hall of Fame and is a loyal fan and hardly misses a home football game.

Tony BURRIS (Football; 1985-86): Tony was a two-time NAIA honorable mention All-American quarterback who played during the highly successful Air Wolf era. Helped the team go 15-4 over two seasons including a trip to the NAIA playoffs in 1985. Burris was a two-time First-Team All-CFA selection during his time as a Wolf. He ranks second in WOU career passing yardage, despite playing only two seasons and threw for 4,791 career yards to rank fifth in school history. Left WOU as the school's career leader in TD passes and still ranks in the top 10 at the school for career completions, yards, touchdown passes and completion percentage.

Casey COSLER (Pape) (Women's Basketball; 1985-87): Casey was a member of the women's basketball team at WOU from 1985-1987. She was a third-team NAIA All-American, NAIA District II Player of the Year and a two-time first-team all-district selection. She is also a member of the Cascade Collegiate Conference Hall of Fame and NWACC Hall of Fame. Cosler still holds the school record for most field goals scored in a game with 18 and is second on the school's single-season scoring list with 694 points. Despite only playing three seasons she ranks fourth all-time in career scoring (1,222), second in career scoring average with 19.4 points a game and shot an impressive .556 from the field over her three-career which is second in the school record books.

Robert DAY (Men's Basketball; 2001-2004): Robert was a member of the men's basketball team for the Wolves from 2001-2004. Was selected as a member of the All-Little Northwest Team in 2001-2002, selected to the second team NABC D-II All-West Region Team (one of two players in the history of WOU to do so), second team NCAA DIV II All-West Daktronics Team, All Pacific West Coast Conference honorable mention, COSIDA Academic All-Region First Team, Two time All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference Academic Team, and three time All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference selection.
Holds records or in the top 10 of many career statistical categories those include : minutes played, steals (149), free throw attempts (588), free throws made (458), 3-point attempts (665), 3-point field goals made (256), field goal attempts (1467), field goals made (698), scoring average (19.5), and is the all-time WOU career scoring leader with 2,110 points. Day is also ranks in many categories for single season categories such points scored (592), scoring average (21.9), 3-point field goals made (94) and 3-point field goal attempts (225). Day is currently playing professionally in Brazil.

Bridget JOHNSON (Tetteh) (Track and Field; 2003-2006): Bridget was a member of the track and field team at WOU. She remains the school record holder in the Heptathlon with 5,080 points and is tied for the most points scored at the GNAC Championships with 115. Was named an NCAA D2 All-American in the Heptathlon in 2005 and 2006 and was a two time NCAA D2 National Championship participant in the Javelin in 2005 and 2006. Was a member of the GNAC Championship 4x400 relay team, in the Heptathlon, and 100m Hurdles. Tetteh was named to the All-Academic GNAC team in 2005-2006 seasons and awarded the 2006 Marquis Spas Student-Athlete of the year award. Johnson is currently the Associate Commissioner of the GNAC and was the meet referee for the NCAA D2 National XC Meet, was member of the D3 USATFCCA Coaches Committee, and is the organizer of the GNAC women in sports career seminar.

Tyler SUTHERLAND (Walker) (Softball; 2007-2010): Tyler was a member of the WOU softball team at WOU. She is one of only two softball players in the history of WOU to be named an All-American (Honorable mention in 2009.) that same year she was selected as the GNAC Conference Player of the year, first-team all-region and first team all-conference in 2009. Walker was a four time first team all-conference selection each of her years on the team. She is still ranked among the top 10 in many statistical categories for single game, season and career records. Single game records include hits in a game, runs scored, runs batted in, home runs, and stolen bases. Single season records include batting average (.420), at bats (183), runs scored (47), hits (69), doubles (22 & 13), homeruns (9), stolen bases (17), walks (20), on base pct. (.503), and slugging percentage (.760). Career records include batting average (.389), at-bats (689), runs scored (159), hits (268), in runs batted in (96), in doubles (59), homeruns (24), and stolen bases (48). Was part of the team that went on to the NCAA Tournament in 2008 and lost to eventual champion Humboldt State.