WICHITA, Kan. – Kellyn Johnson Taylor (Women's Cross Country/Track and Field), Jim Schaus (Athletic Director), Karma Wagner Mason (Women's Bowling) and Mackenzie Wright (Softball) have been selected as the 2025 Class of the Wichita State Pizza Hut Shocker Sports Hall of Fame.
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A dinner is set for 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 17 at the Aetna Multipurpose Center at Charles Koch Arena, while the induction ceremony is scheduled for halftime of Wichita State's Jan. 18 (6 p.m.) men's basketball game against ECU.
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Cost for the dinner is $50 per person, and paid reservations can be made online at goshockers.com or by calling the Shocker Ticket Office at 316/978-FANS or in person at the WSU Ticket Office located on the south side of Charles Koch Arena.
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The addition of this year's class brings the total of former coaches and student-athletes in the Hall of Fame to 163, while there are 14 at-large selections.
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Here's a look at each 2025 inductee's success at Wichita State:
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Kellyn Johnson Taylor, Women's Cross Country/Track and Field (2007-09)
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Distance runner for the Wichita State cross country and track and field programs from 2007-09…Was an All-American in the 2009 indoor mile when she finished third at the NCAA Championships…Was an All-American in the 2009 outdoor 5,000m when she finished 10
th at the NCAA Championships…In 2009, was the MVC champion in the indoor mile, indoor 5,000m, indoor 3000m, outdoor 1500m, outdoor 5,000m and 3,000m steeplechase…In 2008, was the MVC champion in the indoor 5,000m…In 2007, was the MVC champion in the outdoor 1500m and outdoor 5,000m…In 2008, finished 59
th at the NCAA Cross Country Championships and in 2007 won the MVC individual championship…Named to the all-Midwest Region team in 2007 by finishing 10
th and in 2008 by finishing fifth…Member of team that won 2007 and 2008 MVC cross country championships and 2007 MVC indoor championship and 2007 outdoor championship…Earned all-conference honors in indoor in 2008 and 2009 and in outdoor in 2007 and 2009 and in cross country in 2007 and 2008…Finished her Wichita State career first in the indoor mile, indoor 5,000m, outdoor 800m, and outdoor 1500m, second in the indoor 3,000m and outdoor 5,000m and third in the 3K steeplechase…Has competed in four Olympic Trials including 2012, 2016, 2020/21 and 2024 in multiple events including 5K, 10K, and marathon with her highest finish being fourth in the 2016 10K.
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Jim Schaus, Athletic Director (1999-2008)
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Athletic Director at Wichita State from 1999-2008…Played a significant role in upgrading the athletic department and ranks among the most influential figures in the department's history…Schaus, working with President Don Beggs, put the University in position for an unprecedented run of success for 20-plus years in a variety of sports…Revived a struggling men's basketball program by hiring Mark Turgeon and later Gregg Marshall…The men's basketball program would go on to the 2006 Sweet 16…Brought Wichita State's facilities into the modern era by leading the effort to renovate and expand Levitt Arena into Charles Koch Arena…Women's basketball, volleyball and women's golf won their first MVC titles and earned their first NCAA appearances with coaches hired by Schaus…His hirings included volleyball coach Chris Lamb, track and field coach
Steve Rainbolt, former women's basketball coach Jody Adams, former tennis coach Chris Young, former cross country coach Randy Hasenbank, former cross country coach Marc Burns and former softball coach Tim Walton…In 2003-04, Wichita State won the MVC All-Sports Trophy for the first time since 1988…Under Schaus, WSU won four straight and, with many of his coaching hirings in place, won seven more from 2008-17 before leaving the MVC after the 2016-17 season.Â
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Karma Wagner Mason, Women's Bowling (1975-78)
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Member of the Wichita State women's bowling program from 1975-78…Team went on to win the first-ever national collegiate team championship held in 1975…Member of three team national championships in 1975, 1977 and 1978…Member of 1976 team that finished as national runner-up…Only woman in college bowling history to win three national team championships…Had a high tournament average of 196…Had a high tournament series of 638…Had a high tournament game of 279…Had a high season average of 188…Finished in fourth place at the 1976 National Collegiate Individual Championship…Team captain and anchor bowler in 1976, 1977 and 1978.
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Mackenzie Wright, Softball (2015-18)
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Utility player for the Wichita State softball program from 2015-18…One of the most decorated softball players in school history…Played in 217 games and hit .343 with 141 runs, 230 hits, 35 doubles, 3 triples, 14 home runs, 110 RBI and 53 stolen bases…Led Wichita State to its first-ever NCAA Regional final appearance at the 2018 NCAA Fayetteville Regional…Helped program to first NCAA Regional win in 2016…Appeared in two NCAA Regionals…Was named the American Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2018…Four-time First Team All-Conference selection (three MVC, one AAC)…2018 NFCA Central Region Second Team selection…Started all 55 games as a senior and hit .360 with 2 triples, 4 home runs, 10 doubles, 16 RBI and 39 runs…Had her best season offensively as a junior, hitting .360 with 5 home runs, 12 doubles, 35 RBI and 36 runs…Finished her Wichita State career third in hits, on base percentage and stolen bases, fourth in batting average, runs scored and walks, fifth in assists, sixth in at bats and eighth in doubles.
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