Trio join prestigious Barton Sports Hall of Fame #GoBarton

The Barton Community College Athletic Department welcomed three new members to its prestigious Hall of Fame this past Saturday in its annual induction ceremony at the Kirkman Activity Center on Barton's campus.

Established in 2000, the 2024 inductee class included Jackie Jones, Kade Sander, and Neus Torregrosa in joining over eighty-one previous inductees.

Master of ceremonies and Barton Athletic Director Trevor Rolfs, joined on stage by Vice President of Student Services Angie Maddy and Booster Club President Rob Bowman, led the induction ceremony in front of former Barton athletes and coaches, supporters of the inductees and Barton Athletics, booster club members, and current student-athletes and coaches.

Rolfs' opening remarks included what it takes to become a Barton Hall of Famer, "today the inductees are well deserving and special in their own way of their impact. As an Athletic Director, today is the most important and special day as it embodies everything we are about."

Vice President Maddy echoed Rolfs' sentiments of the day as her long standing relationship with the College has brought a multitude of special moments and events.

"It's great to be a Cougar," Maddy began. "My love for Barton started when I was a kid and continues today as we honor the inductees. Today I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to recognize those who have left their mark on Barton, who have carried their Barton stories into much success, and celebrate their achievements. It is indeed, a great day to be a Cougar."

The inductee portion of the program was kicked off by 2003 Hall of Fame Inductee and former Barton men's basketball head coach Dan McGovern.

The charismatic McGovern began by recollecting the path of signing Rolfs to play for the Cougars and praising his accomplishments as athletic director leading the department.

McGovern signed Rolfs out of high school to play for the Cougars, noting he had "PHD" (Poor, Hungry, Driven) attributes with hard work ethic from his parents in destined for success.

"He should be on the Mount Rushmore of Athletic Directors", McGovern noted. "I'm convinced I've never seen another A.D. fit better than Rolfs does for Barton"

Giving a brief summation of Jones' accomplishments, "Everyone knew Jackie Jones out of Detroit, Michigan," said McGovern. "For the old school era people he was like the professional George Gervin, he was as cool as the other side of the pillow".

Jackie was one of the most prolific players in Cougar history, leaving Barton averaging double-double points and rebounds in helping the team to a program record 28 wins including the program's highest ever ranking at the time.

Moving on to the University of Oklahoma, Jones left his mark still in the Sooner record book in blocks during his Big Eight Newcomer of the Year one season at Oklahoma.

Entering the professional ranks and competing within the United States and around the world, priorities shifted to his son Lajae (current Barton basketball player) as a father and mentor to his career and life.

For all his accomplishments and the achievements individually and for the team, McGovern remarked "I'll tell you why I came here from North Carolina today to help honor Jackie. He's uncommon, uncommon in a cool way, in my book he's No. 1 as a father in the involvement of his son's life."

"Jackie I honor you, you'll be enshrined in the Hall of Fame to honor your tremendous accomplishments, but I also salute you as the man and father you are", concluded McGovern.

Fighting through tears throughout McGovern's introduction, an emotional Jones took the stage.

Stepping in for a brief moment, Rolfs stated, "I told ya (in his opening remarks), Barton is special. And while you may not realize it now, you will."

"Being from Detroit, Michigan, it was hard," Jones began. "And you (McGovern), pretty much saved my life. And for the Barton community, you're like a second home and embraced me. I thank you and thank you for embracing my son as well."

Lajae, a member and leading scorer of the current 3rd ranked Cougars, took the stage to continue the honoring of his father's induction.

"First things first, if my dad says he's a better shooter than me, he's lying," said Lajae in drawing big laughter from the crowd. "My dad gave me a ball at an early age and I fell in love with the game and he's paved the way for me in basketball and life. One of the reasons I came to Barton was because of my father, his experiences and how he talked about the support. I'm grateful for everyone's contributions to my father's and now my life as I wish it was a four-year school."

A tough act to follow, the grandfather of and the first head coach of the Barton wrestling coach, Mike Bammes presented Sander in sharing insights about the Great Bend native.

Bammes' remarks included highlighting an amazing 79 total matches in Sander's freshman year, "the joke is if Kade had learned to stay and wrestle on the front side of the bracket he wouldn't have had to wrestle so many matches."

Recording a program record 39 wins in his 39-20 collegiate debut season, after sitting out and assisting the program for a year, Sander returned to the mat going 35-4 for career best 74 victories including a 20-1 dual record.

"Kade set the mark and standard, not just in his time at Barton but for the future of the program," Bammes said. "It was fun coaching Kade, he was the guy everyone followed because he pushed himself and now is successful in his career."

"When I received the call of being inducted, I was speechless," Sander said. "All the memories of Barton wrestling, around school with teachers, and time with my team came flowing back."

Following a successful career at Great Bend High School, Sander's initial collegiate season helped the Cougars to a 15th place national tournament debut year. Assisting nine Cougars qualifying for the national tournament in his off-mat year, Sanders second competitive season concluded being crowned the 157 division national champion as part of a historic program year of three All-Americans resulting in a 9th place team national finish.

"We were there for each other, supporting and working hard together, and they (his teammates) are a huge part of the success I had." Sander also added and thanked his family and especially his parents for their longtime contribution and commitment to his and his siblings' passions.

The last inductee of the day was introduced by current tennis head coach Lyle Stickney.

"I knew immediately she had the goods to play here," said Stickney. "In order to win in college sports you have to have ability and sometimes you have to have the luck. Neus had the ability and much more, I was the one who had the luck. She had the determination to be the best she could be and inspired others."

Arriving to Barton from the paradise of her home on an island in Spain, Torregrosa not only left her mark on the program but set a standard of excellence on and off the court or the classroom in balancing being a good person, fair play, and being a fierce competitor.

"Neus makes a difference wherever she goes and has additionally paved future paths of opportunities for Cougar tennis players," Stickney remarked. "As I look back on my 35-plus years of coaching, I am so proud to be able to say I've coached Neus Torregrosa and am honored to present her to the Hall of Fame"

Coincidentally, both Sander and Torregrosa were each selected and named by Barton coaches in 2018 for the Barton Athletics Male and Female Athlete of the Year awards.

Torregrosa began her induction speech recalling that 2018 end-of-the-year annual athletic celebration and sharing the stage with Sander in receiving the award.

"I was just learning to wear heels and I nearly fell off this stage," Torregrosa laughed. "But today I'm wearing boots."

A NJCAA All-America scholar, a NJCAA All-America performing recipient, a national top ten singles and doubles player, and earner of four ITA awards, the one award that symbolized everything about Torregrosa was being named the lone two-time recipient of the "Jovana Vasic Spirit of Competition" Award decided upon by NJCAA coaches at the national tournament.

Torregrosa recalled the path and experience of being an international student coming to Great Bend that brought to light the funny happenings and experiences she experienced.

"Barton is like my second home, it's where everything started. I came here alone, lost, and didn't know if I'd make it. But after a week I was happy and excited to see where this journey may take her. Seven years following I can say it was worth it to stay at Barton and I'd do it over again".

Moving on to New Mexico State University, Torregrosa won 15 matches including a come-from-behind clinching victory advancing the Aggies past the semifinals with another win coming in the championship match helping the squad to the 2019 WAC Championship.

"If I could give myself advice from 7 years ago," Torregrosa concluded. "Go with the flow, don't force things, be smart with balance, enjoy the ride, and always smile. Smile is not just for yourselves but for the empathy of others."

Representing the Cougar Booster Club, Bowman offered congratulations to the inductees and offered thoughts, "These inductees are a reflection of what we are and have always been about."

The inductees were again honored and recognized later in the evening between the women's and men's basketball games versus Pratt Community College.

Induction Ceremony can be found at: https://youtu.be/apn0vrs9mDU

Recognition Ceremony can be found at: https://youtu.be/bl1TPMQMCO4

Photos for the event can be found at: https://bartonccc.photoshelter.com/galleries/C0000mRoMkTHGo9o/Photos

Radio Interviews provided by Eagle Radio can be found at: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bartonsports

More regarding the 2024 Hall of Fame inductees and Barton Athletics can be found at: https://www.bartonsports.com/information/halloffame/2024/2024HOFCeremonyProgram.pdf