The Kitsap Sports Hall of Fame will enshrine some of the best athletes to ever play in the county Jan. 28 at the Suquamish Tribe’s Kiana Lodge near Poulsbo at 1 p.m.
Bremerton’s Marvin Williams headlines the class after a 15-year career in the NBA. The inductees also include multiple recent graduates, including Olympic’s Larry Dixon, Nicole Zygmontowicz of Klahowya and Central Kitsap’s Drew Vettleson, the Kitsap Athletic Roundtable website says.
Williams played at the University of North Carolina, and, after winning an NCAA title his freshman season, he was drafted No. 2 by the Atlanta Hawks. Since retiring, Williams began working in basketball operations for the Charlotte Hornets, focusing on player development off the court.
He also played for Utah, Charlotte, and Milwaukee. For his career, he averaged 10 points and five rebounds a game. His highest-scoring game was 33 against the Sonics in 2008.
Dixon was the all-time leading rusher in West Sound before playing at Army. Besides scoring 59 touchdowns in three seasons, Dixon also finished third at state in the shot put and averaged 19.2 points a game during his senior year in basketball.
Vettleson turned from a two-time state player of the year to the 42nd pick in the 2010 Major League Baseball draft to the Tampa Bay Rays. He was known as an ambidextrous pitcher for CK. Although he had a .490 batting average and as a pitcher a 1.35 earned run average and 71 strikeouts in 41 1/3 innings, he became an outfielder in the pros. He battled injuries in the minor leagues, and never made it to the Bigs.
Zygmontowicz led Klahowya to a state soccer title as a freshman and earned multiple all-league honors in soccer, basketball and softball. Zygmontowicz joined Washington’s Olympic development team and played at the University of Houston. She even played a couple of seasons in the Women’s Professional Soccer League with the Houston Stars.
Others also are being named to the Hall of Fame.
John Fullington of North Mason played for Washington State, receiving the Mike Utley Award for Offensive Lineman of the Year as a senior in 2013. He signed as a free agent with Green Bay and played in the NFL for three years on different practice squads.
Chad Nass won a state title in 1992 at South Kitsap. Soon after, he began a dynasty at South Kitsap, coaching seven state champions and winning a team title. Nass retired last year with a dual record of 175-23. He also wrestled at Pacific Lutheran.
North Kitsap’s Jake Velarde left the Viking wrestling program with a 157-5 record. He ended up wrestling at Old Dominion and Boise State after capturing multiple state titles.
Central Kitsap’s Ryan Kelly played golf at Oregon State after graduating from high school in 1992. Kelly has five Kitsap Amateur Championships.
Winfred Lim won a junior college tennis championship at Olympic College and also played at Seattle University. He was inducted into the USTA’s Pacific Northwest Hall of Fame in 2011.
Howard Thoemke coached West Bremerton to the state basketball tourney three straight years. He played at Washington State as a freshman but finished his career at Central.
Greg Mutchler of West Bremerton, a standout gymnast and gymnastics coach, also will be honored.
Morrie (Miller) Black-Eagle will receive the Rex Brown Award. He was a three-sport athlete and graduated from East High in 1967. At WSU he created the Native American Studies Program. Plus, he created the Title IV Indian Education program for the Bremerton school district.
Rickie Brown will receive the Dick Todd award. He has been a big supporter of youth sports, and a referee since 1982.
Two teams also made the hall of fame.
South Kitsap’s 1995 fastpitch team won the 4A state title. Centerfielder Frenchy Nix went on to play at Mississippi State and USA national team while second baseman Coni Posey played for the 1998 Western Washington squad that won the NAIA World Series.
Lastly, West Bremerton’s 1969 football squad finished fourth in the 3A poll, with several players advancing to compete at the collegiate level.
Winners are selected by the Kitsap Athletic Roundtable. The event started in 1987 with baseball and softball awards. In 2005 the name was changed and event expanded to include all sports. The 42 Roundtable members provide scholarships and funding for amateur athletics in Kitsap, including through this event.
Tickets are $50 for adults, $20 for youth ages 6-12. Get tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/5622098
Former Olympic High School running back Larry Dixon scored 59 touchdowns in three seasons and went on to play for Army.
Jake Velarde won four state wrestling championships and went 157-5 at North Kitsap High School before graduating in 2013. He went on to wrestle at Old Dominion and Boise State.
