HILLSBORO, Kan. – Former Tabor College athletes, Eugene Friesen and Tesha Werth, were inducted into the Tabor College Athletic Hall of Fame Saturday, May 16 at the annual sports banquet.
Tabor Athletic Director Rusty Allen said these two athletes are deserving of induction.
“It was a privilege to honor both Eugene and Tesha for their contributions to the Tabor athletic programs,” Allen said. “Both of them are examples of, not only outstanding athletic accomplishment, but the kinds of people who leave Tabor and significantly influence the world for Christ. The evening was exciting and inspiring.”
Friesen was a four-year letter winner in basketball. As a freshman in 1958-59, he averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. During his sophomore year, Friesen averaged 16 points per game and was the team’s Most Valuable Player. His junior year, he was again was named the team’s Most Valuable Player averaging 17 points and 12 rebounds per game. Friesen finished his basketball career averaging 10 points and eight rebounds per game.
“I am grateful for the recognition that comes from having put a 9-inch ball through an 18-inch hoop with some success over 50 years ago,” Friesen said. “I am equally grateful for the camaraderie and support I found in the Tabor community that contributed to what honor also requires, a lifelong commitment to integrity and service to others.”
Friesen graduated from Tabor in 1962 with his bachelor’s degree in social science. From 1964-65, he attended graduate school at the University of Minnesota and studied international relations. Friesen received his master in divinity from Bethel Theological Seminary in 1969. He later studied special education at Mankato State University in 1988.
After graduating from Tabor, Friesen taught social studies, math and science in Columbia for two years. He then moved back to the United States to teach social studies at Robbinsdale (Minn.) High School. He pastored New Hope Mennonite Brethren Church in New Hope, Minn., from 1980-1985. The majority of his career was spent teaching American history, psychology and world religions at Armstrong High School in Plymouth, Minn., from 1985-2001. He has been active in the New Hope community serving as a chaplain, volunteer, Cub Scout leader and board member.
Friesen and his wife, Carol, have three children and six grandchildren.
Tesha (Ratzlaff) Werth attended Tabor College for three years and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in social science in 2002. Werth was named Most Valuable Player in volleyball (2000-2002) and basketball (2001-2002), plus earned the Tabor College Female Athlete of the Year award (2000-2001). She was also named KCAC All-Conference Honorable Mention in basketball (2000-2001).
She earned the following honors while playing volleyball at Tabor: NAIA All-American Honorable Mention (2001-2002), KCAC All-Conference First Team (2000-2001), KCAC All-Conference Unanimous First Team (2001-2002) and KCAC Player of the Year (2001-2002). Werth was a member of the first Tabor volleyball team to win a KCAC Championship.
“It is an honor to be recognized by Tabor College athletics alongside so many other talented athletes in the Hall of Fame,” Werth said. “My experience at Tabor was unforgettable as I was blessed with amazing teammates and some outstanding coaches.”
Werth is an assistant volleyball coach at Tabor and has been since 2010. She is also a church youth sponsor at Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church in Hillsboro. She is married to Cord Werth and they have five children.
Student Athlete Honors
The Male Athlete of the Year Award was presented to senior Garrett Daugherty. The only son of Sheldon and Tania Daugherty from Minneapolis, Kan., graduated magna cum laude with a cumulative GPA of 3.759 and a plethora of athletic honors. Daugherty is a 4-time NAIA All-American, a 17-time KCAC Champion, a KCAC All-Conference honoree 26 times, a member of the KCAC Champions of Character team twice, a 2-time NAIA Academic All-American, a 4-time KCAC Academic All-Conference honoree and a 2-time KCAC Runner of the Week. He was also track team captain twice, cross country team captain and named Tabor’s Most Valuable Male Runner three times. He holds or is part of the school record in the indoor 1,000 meters, the mile run and 4×800 relay, and the outdoor 800 meters, 1,500 meters, 4×100 meter relay, 4×400 meter relay and 4×800 meter relay.
“Words cannot begin to describe how my Tabor experience has been,” Daugherty said. “I don’t know if I would be the man I am today if it wasn’t for this experience. It has taught me that I can do more, especially through the help of my Savior. That is why I feel as though I have immensely over-achieved what I had imagined when I decided to come to Tabor.”
The Female Athlete of the Year Award was presented to senior guard/forward Tonisha Dean. The 5’11” Terrell, Texas native was a Third Team NAIA All-America selection (2014-2015), a unanimous First-Team All-KCAC selection (2nd highest rated player in the KCAC voting) and KCAC Player of the Week February 9, 2015. This season, Dean led the team in scoring (12.4 ppg), ranked second in rebounding (4.9 ppg), led the team in free throw attempts (148) and free throws made (101). This season, the women’s basketball team had its best season in school history. The Lady Jays made it to the NAIA Elite Eight and finished the season 21-13 overall, 15-3 in the KCAC. Dean was an exceptional student with a residential GPA of 3.00 and was also a member of the Bluejays’ Honor Roll. Dean also spent time in the community reading to elementary students, worked at the Hillsboro Elementary School Carnival to help raise funds for new playground equipment, helped with the elementary school track meet, worked with Special Olympics basketball and helped with the Hillsboro Arts and Crafts Fair.
“My education and athletic experience at Tabor was great,” Dean said. “In everything I did, there was always someone around to help me on and off of the court. Everyone was encouraging—from my coaches to the staff and fans.”
The Scholar Athlete of the Year Award was presented to cross country and track athlete, senior Hannah Holmes from Littleton, Colo. Holmes graduated summa cum laude with a double major in philosophy and social work. Holmes was also a Presidential Leadership Program Fellow. Athletically, Holmes finished eighth in the marathon at the NAIA National Outdoor Track & Field Championships, earning her All-American honors. She finished the 26.2 mile race with a time of 3 hours, 14 minutes and five seconds—a new school record—qualifying her for the marathon races in Boston and London. Holmes also finished second in the 10,000 meters and fifth in the 5,000 meters at the KCAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, earning her First Team and Honorable Mention All-Conference honors, respectively.