Page 12 - Reedley Exponent 8-9-18 E-edition

TheReedleyExponent B4Thursday, August9,2018
Photos by Chris Aguirre / The Exponent
LEFT: Marie Byrd Harris, former Reedley College track and field star, speaks after being inducted into the Tigers Athletic Hall of Fame on Aug. 4 during the 27th Annual Tiger Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Banquet in the cafeteria at Reedley College. RIGHT: Jack Edwards played for the Reedley College Tigers baseball team from 1997 to 1999. Edwards was one of five former athletes and coaches inducted into the Hall of Fame. Other inductees into the Hall of Fame were: Amanda Fossen Burton, track and field (1998 to 2000), Heather Goodman Morris, Reedley College volleyball (1995 to 1997) and Brian Tessler, former Reedley College Tigers women's basketball coach (1998 to 2007).
Right: Amanda Fossen Burton was one of five former Reedley College Tigers athletes or coaches to be inducted into the Tiger Athletic Hall of Fame.
Burton was inducted during the 27th Annual Tiger Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet on Aug. 4 in the cafeteria at Reedley College.
Burton was a Tigers track and field star from 1998 to 2000.
Chris Aguirre / The Exponent
HALL OF FAME
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at the Northern California Championships in 2000, while also finishing fourth in the triple jump. That year in the state championships, Burton took sixth in the heptathlon and fifth in the high jump, and medaled in both events.
“I believe that I perse- vered in all of my life actions through passion, ethics and the drive to succeed,” Burton said. “Attending Reedley Col- lege was an integral stepping stone in future plans and en- deavors.”
Burton was so passionate about the track team at Reed- ley College that she did not walk at graduation.
“Competing on the track team was so important to me that I passed on wearing my gold honors chords and cap and gown and walking in the commencement ceremony,” Burton said. “I chose to com- pete and represent Reedley College at the State Champi- onships.”
Burton earned a scholar- ship to Cal State Bakersfield where she earned her degree in kinesiology.
Burton ended her acceptance speech with advice for future fe- male athletes who may take the
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same path that she did.
“Run like a girl, jump like
a girl, throw like a girl and lift like a girl. It will get you far,” Burton said. She ended her speech by saying “Go Tigers.”
Jack Edwards, Reedley College Tigers baseball stand- out from 1997 to 1999, was next to receive his award and be inducted.
“This is awesome,” Ed- wards said, “I want to thank coach Jack Hacker and Reed- ley College.”
After being cut by Fresno City College, Edwards attend- ed Reedley College after a talk with coach Hacker.
“I remember getting cut by Fresno City and being very angry,” Edwards said. “I then talked to coach Hacker at one of their practices and told him I wanted to play.”
Edwards hit .344 with five doubles, five triples and had 21 RBIs during his freshman year in 1998. He carried that momentum into his sopho- more season in 1999. That season he had a batting aver- age of .455 with eight home runs, eight triples, 11 doubles and 37 RBIs. He also had 12 stolen bases.
In the final two weeks of the 1999 season, Edwards finished 21-for-27 with four home runs and 27 RBIs. More
impressive were his final two games of the season against West Hills College and Taft where he combined to go 10- for-10 with two home runs.
Edwards capped off the 1999 season earning All- Conference, All-State and All-American honors. He was also the Tigers Most Valuable Player and the Tiger Award Winner.
Heather Goodman Mor- ris, Reedley College Tigers
volleyball player from 1995 to 1997, was inducted next.
“It is a privilege to be in- ducted into the Hall of Fame with everyone here tonight and with all the previous ath- letes from years before. It is truly an honor,” Morris said. “I almost quit playing volleyball the year that I came to Reed- ley College. I was done. My parents said that I am going to play and play one year and if you don't like it you can quit.”
Morris then told a story of how then Reedley College head coach Shirley Gustafson changed her mind about vol- leyball.
“When I got here and I met coach Gus (Shirley Gus- tafson) she was so welcoming and so supportive. She made it fun,” Morris said. “It was the first time that I played a sport for the love of playing sport.”
Morris, who is a Reedley High alumni, was a First Team All-Conference All-State Tour- nament team selection in 1995. She also won the Captains Award and the Female Athlete of the Year award.
In 1995, Morris was a part of the Tigers team that finished 14-0 in the Central Valley Conference – the first undefeated record in school history – and 20-3 overall. The team finished in fourth place in the state that season.
Morris also thanked as- sistant coach Nobi Kitaoku, who Morris said helped her become the volleyball player she was at Reedley College.
“My years playing at Reedley College had a pro- found impact on my life. Hardwork and dedication will pay off. I learned that strength is beautiful and powerful,” Morris said. “Above all else, I learned that teamwork and
having a group of individuals coming together for one com- mon purpose can accomplish great things.”
Morris closed her remarks by thanking her family.
Morris currently lives in Sanger. She works for Saint Agnes Medical Center as the Nursing Education Coordina- tor for the Residency Program.
Marie Byrd Harris, Reed- ley College track and field standout from 1997 to 2000, was the next one to be induct- ed and talked about overcom- ing a huge obstacle.
After qualifying for the Norther California Finals in both the long jump and triple jump, the Edison High gradu- ate seemed on her way to a explosive career at Reedley College.
Harris was involved in a car accident in the fall of 1998 and suffered a spine injury that left her with severe back problems.
Harris did not let that stop her however and persevered through the injury to return to the track and performed at a high level.
After being forced to miss all of the 1999 season and thinking her career was over, Harris got encouraging words from first-year head coach Randy Whited that changed her mindset.
“I had no intention of par- ticipating. But I decided to go try out for the team, and it was the best decision,” Har- ris said.
In her return to the track in 2000, Harris finished in sec- ond place at the Central Valley Conference Championships. She also finished in third place in the triple jump at the Northern California Finals to qualify for the State Champi-
onships in both events. Harris ended the season in
ninth place in the long jump and 10th place in the triple jump, capping a year where she was an All-Conference selection.
She also was named the team's MVP and gives all the credit to Coach Whited.
“He believed in me on and off the track. In developing a strong athlete physically. He also developed me mentally to achieve success in the class- room. My grades were at an all-time high and I was re- cruited and attended Cal State Bakersfield.” Harris said.
Harris is currently the Dean of Instruction for Math, Science, Engineering and Health Sciences at Reedley College.
She has been married for seven years to her husband, Darnell. Harris has four chil- dren, Case (15), Chance (12), Dyson (6) and Pilar, who is two.
“Through my years here at Reedley College I went through a lot of ups-and- downs. I was able to persevere because coach Whited under- stood that I just needed a little tough love.” Harris said.
The final inductee of the night was Brian Tessler, who was the Tigers women's bas- ketball coach from 1998 to 2007.
Tessler talked about a health scare he had at Reedley College due to stress and that meeting his wife Christine led him to continue coaching.
“The balance in my life has been remarkable. If it were not for Christine, I don't know if I would have coached over the next 11 years be- cause the stress was too high for me,” Tessler said. “She
LEFT: Heather Goodman Morris takes a picture with Ed Kezirian, master of ceremonies, during the 27th Annual Tiger Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet on Aug. 4 at Reedley College.
Morris played for the Reedley College women's volleyball team from 1995 to 1997 and led the Tigers to a perfect 14-0 record in the Central Valley Conference in 1995.
Morris is also a 1995 graduate of Reedley High School.
Chris Aguirre / The Exponent
gave me balance in my life and I will forever be grateful to Reedley College because had I never come here I would have never had the opportuni- ty to meet her.”
Tessler talked about his challenges in his first few years at Reedley College but also his success in persever- ing through all of it.
“I came here in 1997 and was given an office, an old metal desk and one return- ing player from the previous year's team,” Tessler said. “She lasted two weeks.”
Tessler did not let any- thing slow him down and led the Tigers to the playoffs in 1997-1998 season. From there he would lead Reedley College to a 223-100 overall record and 90-30 record in conference play in 10 seasons at the helm.
The Tigers won four con- ference championships (2000, 2004, 2006 and 2007) and ad- vanced to the State Tourna- ment in three of Tessler's final four seasons with the Tigers (2004, 2005 and 2007).
Tessler was named North- ern California Coach of the Year following the 2003-2004 season and was a two-time CVC conference Coach of the Year in 2004 and 2007.
Tessler left Reedley Col- lege following the 2006-2007 and took the head coaching job at Fresno City College where he continued his coach- ing success. He retired this past season with an overall record of 526-165, including going 204-28 in conference play. He helped 57 Tigers and Rams players transfer to four- year colleges and made seven appearances to the State Final Four.
He is married to wife, Christine. They have two chil- dren, Sara Shumaker (27) and Jack Shumaker (25).
“I look back at my years at Reedley College with fond memories,” Tessler said. “I re- ally did love it here. Reedley College will always have a spe- cial place in my heart. There is nothing like Reedley College, there is nothing like the com- munity support and there is nothing like the people I had a chance to work with.”
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