The University of Redlands and Bulldog Athletics excitedly announce the 2020 Hall of Fame Class, which will be celebrated at the dinner and induction ceremony on Friday, October 22, 2021, during Homecoming Weekend.
"We look forward to honoring these outstanding Bulldogs for Life later this fall," Director of Athletics Jeff Martinez said. "Their accomplishments have positively shaped our story over the last 35 years or so, and we are excited to celebrate them."
This year's inductees represent multiple facets of Bulldog Athletics, including coaches, faculty, and student-athletes in various sports.
From 1988-2019, Tom Whittemore coached various aquatics teams at the University of Redlands while developing them into national powerhouses. He worked at one time or another as the head men's and women's water polo and swimming coach, assistant swimming coach, and director of aquatics. Whittemore claimed nearly 950 total wins between the two water polo programs. He finished his women's water polo tenure with a career record of 394-250 and tallied a mark of 542-442 in men's water polo while often competing against the best teams in the nation. Overall, he coached eight NCAA Division III Players of the Year, including three men and five women. Under his direction, Redlands captured eight men's and 10 women's Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) titles in water polo. In addition, he was part of the Bulldogs' first SCIAC Championship in swimming in 1994 and helped one of his student-athletes, Greg Milton, capture the 1993 NCAA Division III Championship in the 100 Freestyle.
Dr. Christopher Walker joins the Hall of Fame as the first Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR) to do so. Throughout his 25-year tenure in this role, he volunteered as the Vice-Chair of the national Faculty Athletics Representatives Association (FARA) and became the first FAR to serve as the Chair of the NCAA Division III Management Council. In addition, he contributed to multiple NCAA committees and sub-committees and offered his leadership as a member of various SCIAC task forces and working groups. Outside of his dedication as a FAR, Walker stepped in as the Interim Director of Athletics at Redlands from 1988 to 1990 and taught as a long-time faculty member in Communicative Sciences and Disorders.
Following the induction of the 2001 men's soccer team nearly nine years ago, Adam Acosta '05 looks forward to entering the Hall of Fame as an individual contributor. He became a four-time, First-Team All-SCIAC selection while being named the 2003 SCIAC Athlete of the Year for men's soccer. This All-American played a vital role in the team's success that included four conference titles and four trips to the NCAA Championships during this career. Statistically, Acosta currently ranks second all-time in Redlands history with 50 goals and 125 points. This talented student-athlete also competed in men's basketball under the direction of long-time head coach and fellow Hall of Famer Gary Smith.
Tyler Harp '12 became a four-time SCIAC Male Athlete of the Year for swimming in an unprecedented display of his talent in the pool. While competing in the freestyle, butterfly, and medley, he reset numerous records while becoming a 28-time All-SCIAC honoree. In 2012, he topped off his career by winning the national championship in the 200 Free. This complemented his 18 NCAA All-America / Honorable Mention awards throughout his impressive career. Finally, Harp was recognized for his academic and athletic prowess as the 2012 Frank Serrao Senior Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year at Redlands.
Amanda Lievanos '14 enjoyed a stellar softball career that included three conference titles with the Redlands softball team. This SCIAC Athlete of the Year also reeled in First-Team All-Conference awards each year of her career and repeatedly represented the Bulldogs among the All-Region and All-America honorees. Her name remains inked throughout Bulldog softball history, as she currently holds career school records in 11 categories, including batting average (.454), hits (244), RBI (196), slugging percentage (.790), and home runs (39). Finally, she was an integral part of the Bulldogs' "decade of dominance" that included 10 SCIAC championships and 10 trips to the NCAA appearances.
After transferring to the University of Redlands as a sophomore, Cristin Newkirk '03 dedicated three years to women's soccer and lacrosse with solid results. She garnered All-SCIAC awards in women's soccer each season, including being named the 2001 SCIAC Athlete of the Year. She also became the first All-American in Bulldog women's soccer history. This outstanding student represented Redlands among the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team as a three-time Redlands Scholar-Athlete. As a women's lacrosse standout, she garnered All-Region and All-America honors en route to setting the school record for caused turnovers in a career, which still stands today at 143. Newkirk's Bulldog career culminated in earning the 2003 Frank Serrao Senior Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
As a student-athlete and assistant coach, Sarah Rosenberger Huber '03, '07 elevated the Bulldog aquatics programs throughout her six years of involvement. As a women's water polo player, she earned four All-Conference awards, including the 2003 SCIAC Athlete of the Year. She also became a three-time All-American and the 2002 Division III National Player of the Year. Her impact was noticeable in terms of the team's success, as the Bulldogs won four conference championships and the 2002 Collegiate III National Championship during her career. As an assistant coach, she was part of four SCIAC championships among the water polo and swimming & diving teams, as well as the women's water polo's inaugural trip to the NCAA Championships in 2005.
Finally, Paige Sumida '10 enters the Hall of Fame as another four-time, First-Team All-SCIAC recipient who also was named the SCIAC Athlete of the Year in her senior season. While playing primarily No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles, she captured ITA All-America honors on four occasions and won the 2010 ITA West Regional Fall Doubles Tournament. In addition, she was selected as the ITA West Region Player to Watch during her sophomore year and then received the ITA Arthur Ashe Sportsmanship & Leadership Award as a junior. As an outstanding student and athlete, she capped off her Bulldog career as the Frank Serrao Senior Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
For a complete list of previous Hall of Fame inductees, please visit the website at https://www.goredlands.com/Fan_Central/Bulldog_Bench/Hall_of_Fame
For general questions/information, please contact Bulldog Athletics at 909-748-8400.