Esteemed NFL player Andrew Whitworth, together with professional basketball stars Danny Granger and Vickie Johnson, are amongst eight high-profile individuals selected for induction into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. This illustrious group also throws the spotlight on Joe Scheuermann, a leading collegiate baseball coach, and Danny Broussard, a remarkably successful high school basketball coach. The legendary LSU gymnast and NCAA champion, April Burkholder, significant Catholic-Baton Rouge high school football coach Dale Weiner, and George ‘Bobby’ Soileau, an NCAA boxing kingpin and revered football coach, also form part of the Class of 2025 cohort.
The chosen inductees are set to receive their recognitions in a prestigious ceremony held at the home of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in Natchitoches during the 66th Induction Celebration. The specific dates of this three-day extravaganza of athletic achievement will be communicated in due course. The selection process, which spanned three weeks, was conducted by a 40-member Louisiana Sports Writers Association committee.
The committee sifted through a hefty 34-page ballot comprising 150 candidates from 27 varied sports disciplines before finalizing the Class of 2025. The new cohort will join the existing 11 member Class of 2024, pushing the overall number of distinguished members in the Hall of Fame to 503. This unique fraternity is composed of athletes, coaches, administrators, and sports media personnel who have transformed Louisiana’s sports milieu since the Hall’s inception in 1958.
Andrew Whitworth’s journey to fame was marked by notable successes at each level of football. His talent became evident at West Monroe High School under revered coach, Don Shows, where Whitworth led his team to three state titles and two national victories. His tenure at LSU did not disappoint; contributing to a national football championship, the university’s first in nearly half a century, under Nick Saban’s leadership in 2003.
Affectionately known as ‘Big Whit’, Whitworth rounded out his 16-year professional football tenure with a remarkable stint at the Los Angeles Rams. During this time, he played a pivotal role in securing the team’s Super Bowl LVI victory. This mega achievement was closely followed by Whitworth garnering the esteemed 2021 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award in acknowledgment of his impactful societal contributions. His illustrious career also saw him partake in four Pro Bowl games.
Danny Granger born in New Orleans, was a formidable presence on the basketball court who rose to stardom as a Grace King High School graduate. His near-decade-long NBA career was characterized by a consistent track record of scoring an average of 17 points per game. Granger’s professional career pinnacle arguably came in 2009 when he competed in the All-Star game, but topping this was his Gold Medal as part of Team USA at the 2010 World Championships.
Another notable mention is Vickie Johnson, a Coushatta native, who stands as a laudable figure in Louisiana Tech Lady Techster program. During her enormously successful tenure under Coach Leon Barmore, Johnson made it twice to the heralded list of WNBA All-Stars within a 13-season run. Her professional journey culminated in 2008 with the honour of the WNBA’s Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award.
Joe Scheuermann has had an illustrious career in college baseball, meriting his inclusion in the Hall of Fame. His induction means the Scheuermann family hold the unique distinction of being a father-son duo in the Hall of Fame, with his father Rags being inducted back in 1990. High school basketball coach Danny Broussard is another to take his place in Hall fame. Anticipating his 42nd season at St. Thomas More High School in Lafayette, Broussard has proven himself over the years, with an impressive average of 27.5 wins annually.
For April Burkholder, her 14-time All-American gymnast accolades made her inclusion a near certainty. She culminated her senior run with the 2006 NCAA beam title, bringing her victorious LSU career to a perfect close. Thanks to her standout performance-record 108 victories, she was instrumental in magnetizing local interest in the LSU gymnastics program as it evolved into a nationally recognized powerhouse. Furthermore, she was twice awarded the Southeastern Conference Gymnast of the Year.
Dale Weiner made his mark as a high school football coach with an exceptional track record leading to his retirement in 2016. Over 35 seasons as a head coach, Weiner built up a noteworthy catalog of 317 wins. His transformative leadership at Catholic High School saw an average winning rate of 9.1 games per year, including a state championship in the last year of his tenure. Weiner’s skills stretched beyond football field lines as he coached an astounding 18 state championship weightlifting teams at the same school.
George ‘Bobby’ Soileau completes the inductee list for his work both in and out of the ring. Soileau claimed four state boxing titles during his high school years and nabbed the 125-pound NCAA title in 1956 at LSU. Later, as a football coach at his dear alma mater, Sacred Heart, he led his team to an impressive state championship in 1967. His accomplishments have been duly noted previously, having been inducted into the Louisiana High School Sports Hall of Fame and Louisiana High School Boxing Hall of Fame in 1988.
The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame takes pride in honoring and celebrating the wide array of sporting talents that have emerged from the state. Throughout its illustrious history, the hall has recognized Triple Crown-winning jockeys, world boxing champions, NBA Finals MVPs, major professional golf championship winners, and Super Bowl MVPs. The induction of the new group is yet another testament to the efforts the hall is making to preserve and showcase the Sports history of Louisiana.
Eight Sports Legends to Join Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame appeared first on Real News Now.
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