49ers announce 1998 hall of famers

By Manuel Gamiz Jr., On-Line Forty-Niner

Wednesday, September 2, 1998

The Long Beach State Athletic Association announced Tuesday that seven athletes and one coach will be inducted into the 1998 Athletic Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will be held Oct. 14 at the Westin Long Beach Hotel at 6:00 p.m.

The seven Hall of Fame athletes are Don Barbara in baseball, Walter Clements in track and field, Brent Hilliard in men's volleyball, David Howard in football, Kim Kostyk-Sowder in softball, Chi Kredell in men's water polo and Dana Wilkerson in women's basketball. Also inducted was former baseball head coach John Gonsalves.

Barbara played two years for the 49ers and was a part of the 1989 team that advanced to Long Beach State's first-ever College World Series.

In 1990, Barbara was voted Big West Player of the Year after leading the nation with a .474 batting average. That same year, he was voted first team All-American at first base by Baseball America and ABCA/Converse. Barbara was drafted in the 24th round by the then-California Angels, and is currently a hitting instructor for the Long Beach State baseball team. Clements helped the 49ers win the 1967 NCAA Track and Field Championships. In 1966, he was voted All-American in the high hurdles and the intermediate hurdles. Clements finished his career with Long Beach State-record of five All-America awards.

Hilliard, a three-time first team All-American from 1991-1993, led the 49ers to the 1991 NCAA Championship. He is the only Long Beach State men's volleyball player to have his jersey retired. Hilliard holds the NCAA record with 3,034 kills in his career and also the single season mark with 821 in the 1991 season. He was on the 1992 U.S. Olympic Team, which captured a bronze medal in Barcelona.

Howard, an inside linebacker, lettered three years for the 49ers from 1981-1983. In those years, he earned All-Pacific Coast Athletic Association honors each season. Howard was twice voted Associated Press All-America honorable mention.

He ended his career with 242 career tackles and 16 pass deflections. Following his graduation in 1984, he played for the Los Angeles Express, which was a franchise of the now-defunct United States Football League.

Kostyk-Sowder was a part of three College World Series appearances during her four years at Long Beach State.

She was the starting shortstop all four years, and was voted third team All-American as a junior in 1991. She ranks second in 49er history with 96 runs and ranks fourth in hits with 204. She is currently entering her third year as an assistant coach for the 49ers.

Kredell, a four-year member of the men's water polo team, is sixth on the 49er career scoring list with 143 points. As a senior in 1993, he scored 55 goals, which represents the eighth-highest single season mark in 49er history. He is currently a member of the U.S. National Team.

Wilkerson played for the Long Beach State women's basketball team from 1988-1991, where she totaled 1,635 points to rank sixth on the school's all-time scoring list. She led the team in scoring her last two seasons, and during those same two years she also led the team in steals. As a freshman, she helped the 49ers advance to the NCAA Final Four.

Gonsalves coached the 49er baseball team for 19 years and ended his career with the most wins in team history. His overall record was 426-634-16, including the 1970 Pacific Coast Athletic Association championship. He had his most wins in 1979 when he compiled a 40-22-3 record.