Cal State Bakersfield Athletics held its inaugural Hall of Fame induction dinner and ceremony for five of its athletic pioneers and standouts on Oct. 25 in the on-campus Icardo Center.
The Class of 2025 consisted of:
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• Three-time NCAA Division II swimmer of the year and 12-time individual national champion Loni (Burton) Vander Kooi;
• Two-time NCAA heavyweight wrestling champion Stephen Neal, who later won three NFL Super Bowls with the New England Patriots;
• Inaugural athletics director Rudy Carvajal, who served in the role from 1972 to 2010;
• Inaugural track and field head coach Charles «Charlie» Craig, who coached 18 CSUB national champions and 195 NCAA Division II All-Americans;
• The 1992-93 NCAA Division II men’s basketball national championship team that went 33-0.
