By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
The ceremony to add 10 new members to the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame Saturday morning at Washburn University had as its theme the (not always) friendly rivalry between the University of Kansas and Kansas State. Seven of the inductees spent parts of their careers at one of those two schools, with three even bridging the gap between Lawrence and Manhattan.
Former Kansas State basketball standout and successful Division I coach Tim Jankovich (right) accepts his Kansas Sports Hall of Fame plaque from HOF chairman Jim Dunning Saturday at Washburn University. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The 2025 class of inductees took the stage in the Washburn University Union Ballroom to discuss their careers, their connections to Kansas, and the people who helped them succeed.
Based in Wichita, the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame held its induction ceremony in Topeka for the second consecutive year. Linda Hargrove, director of the organization, said after a good experience in Topeka last year, it made sense to hold the event in the Capital City again because so many of the inductees had ties to the state’s two major universities.
“Topeka is a great place to have this,” Hargrove said. “The class that’s being inducted helps determine where we will hold it to draw the most people and attract the most interest.”
Former NFL Most Valuable Player Larry Brown shares a laugh with the crowd during Saturday's Kansas Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Washburn University. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Track/cross country star Deb Pihl Torneden is introduced during Saturday's Kansas Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Washburn University. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Among the inductees were former K-State athletes Larry Brown (football) and Deb Pihl Torneden (track/cross country). Representing KU were Laverne Smith (football/track) and Clifford Wiley (track).
Former Kansas State assistant and Kansas head football coach Mark Mangino is interviewed during Saturday's Kansas Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Washburn University. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Having spent parts of their careers at both of Kansas’ major universities were Tim Jankovich (basketball), Mark Mangino (football) and Bobby Randall (baseball).
A native of Pennsylvania, Mangino said he was glad that he was recognized as worthy of the honor in Kansas. He served as an assistant at K-State before serving as Kansas’ head coach from 2002 to 2009.
“To coach at both those great schools, I consider myself twice lucky,” Mangino said. “I’m glad it all happened in Kansas. I probably couldn’t have put my finger on Kansas on a map before 1990. We came out here and it ended up being a great thing for us.”
Mangino, technically a member of the 2024 class of inductees, participated in the ceremony Saturday after not being to attend last year due to illness.
Other inductees were longtime official and coach J.C. Louderback, sportswriter Bob Lutz, and wrestler Kendric Maple.
With no major college programs in the state, wrestling took Maple – a two-time high school state champion – outside of Kansas. At the University of Oklahoma, he was a three-time All-American and captured an individual national championship in 2013. Since graduation, he has served as an assistant coach at Oklahoma, Purdue and Nebraska. He is now associate head coach at Missouri.
Because wrestling took him away from Kansas, Maple said he is thrilled to receive this recognition in his home state.
“Those ties are always deep in my blood, and to be able to be recognized shows that it’s still there,” said Maple, a 2009 graduate of Wichita Heights High School. “Seeing some of these small-town people make great accomplishments nationally, it shows the hard work and character. I always fight tooth and nail with people from every other state to say ‘Kansas is meant to (produce) people at the top.’”
The 39th class of inductees brought the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame membership to 351. Hargrove said the organization provides an important service to the state.
“The mission is to honor, inspire and educate,” said Hargrove. “I think when we do this, we honor that class, but also we are inspiring the next generation, and we are educating people in the state of what amazing athletes and sports figures we have in the state of Kansas.”
