12 to be inducted into Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in Topeka

TOPEKA ( KSNT ) – The 2024 Kansas Sports Hall of Fame Class features 12 inductees who will further etch their names in to the state’s history books in October.

The induction ceremony will be held in Hotel Topeka’s Sunflower Ballroom, Kansas Sports Hall of Fame chairman Jim Dunning announced on Monday.

2024’s inductees include:

• Dave Bingham (Palo Verde (Ariz.) H.S., 1966, Emporia State University, 1972): Won an NAIA national championship with ESU baseball and took KU baseball to the College World Series.
• Erik Kynard (Toledo (Ohio) Rogers H.S., 2009/Kansas State University, 2013): Won an Olympic gold medal in the men’s high jump.
• Melvin Lister (Leavenworth H.S., 1996/Butler County Community College, 1998 / Arkansas, 2002): Won national championships in the long jump in high school, at Butler County Community College and Arkansas.
• Mark Mangino (New Castle (Pa.) H.S., 1974/Youngstown State University, 1987): Won national Assistant Coach of the Year award while at Oklahoma and led KU football to an Orange Bowl victory as head coach.
• Ron Neugent (Wichita East H.S., 1978 (Wichita Swim Club)/Southern Methodist/University of Kansas, 1983): Gold medalist in swimming at the World University games.
• Kelly Rankin (Clay Center H.S., 1958/University of Kansas, 1962): The only American to be the head track and field starter in two Olympic games.
• Scott Russell (F.J. Brennan Catholic (Ontario, Canada) H.S., 1997/University of Kansas, 2002): Won an NCAA championship and qualified in the Olympics for Canada in the javelin while at KU.
• Kevin Saunders (Downs H.S., 1974/Kansas State University, 1978): Won a bronze medal and is an American record-holder in the Paralympic games.
• Will Shields (Lawton (Okla.) H.S., 1988 / University of Nebraska, 1992): 14-year NFL veteran who played for the Kansas City Chiefs and is in both the NCAA and Pro Football Hall of Fame.
• Sean Snyder (Greenville (Texas) H.S., 1988/Kansas State University, 1994): Earned consensus All-American honors as a punter and was named national Special Teams Coach of the Year while at K-State.
• Mark Turgeon (Topeka-Hayden H.S., 1983/University of Kansas, 1987): Was an All-State basketball player while at Hayden, made the NCAA tournament four times while at KU and won Big 10 Coach of the Year while at Maryland.
• Annette Wiles (Sylvan Grove H.S., 1987/Fort Hays State University, 1991): Was named a two-time NAIA All-American and NAIA tournament MVP while at FHSU.

“Topeka as the location for the induction makes sense for several reasons, but the fact that all of our inductees are either from, live or competed collegiately in the Manhattan-Topeka-Lawrence-Kansas City corridor creates an opportunity for more of their family and friends to attend,” Dunning said. “This event is about the honorees, and we want to do as much as we can to make it special for them.”

The ceremony starts at 5 p.m. on Oct. 13.

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