Courtesy: Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Athletics
CLAREMONT, Calif. – Coach John Goldhammer, Ryan Gibson (HMC ’03), Dianna Turner-Graves (CMC ’98), Ryan Gocong (CMC ’03) and Todd McKenzie (CMC ’88) have been selected as the newest members of the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Athletics Alumni Association Hall of Fame.
CMS’ 29th Hall of Fame class will be inducted during the Hall of Fame Ceremony on January 25, 2020 at Claremont McKenna College’s Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum. CMS now has 133 members in its Hall of Fame.
“This record-setting group exemplifies the culture of all-around excellence that we strive for on a daily basis here at CMS Athletics,” Director of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation Erica Perkins Jasper said. “It’s an honor to welcome this year’s class into the CMS Hall of Fame and celebrate CMS’ rich athletics history.”
Registration for the Hall of Fame event will be coming out later this fall.
Ryan Gibson (HMC ’03)
Track & Field
Gibson was a three-time All-American in the javelin throw placing sixth nationally at the NCAA Division III Championships in 2001, 2002 and 2003. He won three SCIAC championships, two in the javelin (2001 and 2002), with his third SCIAC individual title coming in the 110-meter hurdles (2003). Gibson set the program record in the javelin as a junior in 2002, throwing 208’4”, a record which still stands to this day. He also ranked fourth all-time in the 110-meter hurdles upon graduation. Nicknamed “Money” by his teammates because he always came through, Gibson left CMS as one of only six Stags who had scored three times in the same event at the NCAA Championships. During his four years on the team, the Stags won the SCIAC Championship each year.
Ryan Gocong (CMC ’03)
Football
Gocong set the CMS career rushing record with 4,044 yards on 824 carries to go along with 34 touchdowns, which ranked second. In each of his three seasons as starting running back, Gocong ran for at least 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns. His most productive season statistically came in 2000 when he had 1,740 all-purpose yards and 12 touchdowns, including 1,304 yards rushing. He earned first team All-SCIAC and Team MVP honors three times (2000, 2001, 2002). In 2002 he was selected as the SCIAC Offensive MVP.
John Goldhammer
CMS Cross Country and Track & Field Coach (1984 – present)
Coach Goldhammer transformed the CMS cross country and track & field programs, and developed them into conference, regional, and national powers. CMS teams have won an unprecedented 72 SCIAC Championships with Goldhammer as the head coach and he coached over 1,200 CMS student-athletes. Goldhammer has been chosen as the West Region Coach of the Year 17 times in cross country and 15 times in track & field. CMS Cross Country has won 43 SCIAC titles under his guidance. The Athenas have won 27 SCIAC cross country championships and the Stags have won 16 conference championships since Coach Goldhammer took over the program. At Regionals, the Athenas have placed first 12 times while the Stags have won six regional championships. In 2012, Coach Goldhammer led the Athenas to the best season in program history with a third place finish at the NCAA Division III Championships. The Stags’ best showing at the NCAA Championships came in 2016 when they finished fifth. In track & field, Coach Goldhammer led the program from 1984-2010, and he has continued to coach the track & field distance runners since 2010. The Stags won 19-straight SCIAC Track & Field titles with Coach Goldhammer as its head coach, and the Athenas won 11 conference championships. He coached 63 All-Americans and six individual national champions for the Stags along with 50 All-Americans and two individual national champions for the Athenas. Goldhammer has also coached numerous CMS Hall of Famers. He led CMS’ bid efforts for the 2012 NCAA Division III Track & Field Championships, and was the meet director when CMS hosted the event marking the first time the NCAA D-III Track & Field Championships were held west of Iowa.
Dianna Turner-Graves (CMC ’98)
Volleyball, Basketball and Track & Field
A rare three-sport athlete for CMS, “DT” was recognized as an All-Conference performer in volleyball, basketball and track & field. She played four seasons of volleyball and track & field to go along with three seasons on the basketball team (did not compete as a first-year). As an outside hitter on the volleyball team, her list of individual accomplishments included first team All-West Region (1997), first team All-SCIAC (1997), team captain (1997), second team All-SCIAC (1996) and Team MVP (1995 and 1996). In basketball, DT was a second team All-SCIAC performer, captain, Team MVP and recipient of the team’s Top Defensive Player award as a senior. She also was voted as the Top Defensive Player as a junior, and received the Hustle Award as a sophomore. In track & field, DT helped the Athenas finish as SCIAC co-champions in 1995 and 1996. The Athenas were outright champions in 1998. She earned All-SCIAC recognition at the Conference meet in three events: javelin (5th – 1995), discus (5th – 1995) and javelin (6th – 1996). In the discus, DT ranked 10th all-time at CMS when she graduated with a mark of 109’6”. Her senior year, DT was awarded the Berger Prize, the Bill Dickinson Award for Athletics and was named CMS Female Athlete of the Year.
Todd McKenzie (CMC ’88)
Swimming and Water Polo
As a swimmer, McKenzie earned All-America recognition in each of his four seasons and totaled 20 All-America awards (11 individual, 9 team relays), including an individual national championship in the 100-yard freestyle (1988). McKenzie helped lead the Stags to four SCIAC championships, three National runner-up finishes (1985, 1986, 1988) and a fifth place finish at Nationals (1987). He was captain and Team MVP of the 1987 and 1988 teams. In SCIAC competition, McKenzie won three individual championships: 100 free (1988), 200 free (1986), 200 free (1988). He was also a member of five relay teams that won SCIAC championships in the 200-400-800 Free Relays and the 400 Medley relay. During his career, McKenzie set CMS/SCIAC records in the 50 free (20.79), 100 free (45.50), and 200 free (1:40.30) and swam on the record-setting 200 and 800-yard free relay teams.
As a member of the CMS water polo team, McKenzie helped guide the Stags to four-straight SCIAC championships and a 40-0 SCIAC record, three WWPA championships and a top-15 national ranking in each season. He was recognized as a second team All-SCIAC performer three times (1985, 1986, 1987), an All WWPA second team selection (1985), and was awarded “Mr. Hustle” (Defense) three times (1985, 1986, 1987). As a senior, he scored half of the goals, including the game-winning goal, in the WWPA championship game that finished in sudden death overtime. He was awarded the “Game Ball” for the effort.
