Westmont Athletics has announced the addition of three athletes to the Westmont Hall of Fame. An induction ceremony will be held on Friday, September 29 at 7:30 p.m. to welcome decathlete Bill Bakley (1971-72), men's basketball record holder Dan Heinrichs (1955-57) and men's soccer All-American Justin Wall (1988-91) into the Hall of Fame. The event will be held on campus in the Page Lounge.
A four-time All-American decathlete (1971, 1972), Bakley transferred to Westmont from Phoenix Junior College. In 1971, Bakley competed in three national decathlon championships on three consecutive weekends. He placed second in the NAIA championship, first in the NCAA college division championship and third at the NCAA university division championship. In the NAIA meet, he defeated Bruce Jenner, the 1976 Olympic champion.
Bakley was a philosophy major who put himself through college while making a tremendous impact on the Westmont top-10 performance lists. He holds Westmont's second best mark in the decathlon (7,656 points) and the long jump (24' 3"). While a Warrior, Bakley also posted marks of 14' 2.25" in the pole vault and 53.54 in the 400 meter hurdles.
Bakley and his wife Donna reside in Prescott, Arizona where he is an elementary teacher of gifted students at Grandville Elementary School. Bakley also serves as track and field coach at Bradshaw Mountain High School. The Bakleys have two daughters, Gretchen and Hansi.
During the 1955-56 and 1955-57 seasons, Heinrichs anchored the Westmont basketball squad which held its home meets at the Santa Barbara Armory. In his two years at Westmont, the Warriors posted a record of 45-18 including three wins over Santa Barbara State - now UC Santa Barbara.
After fifty years, Heinrichs still holds the record for the most points (706) and most rebounds (725) in a single season. In his junior year, Heinrich established another record, pulling down 35 rebounds in a single game against La Verne. Despite playing for only two seasons, Heinrichs occupies the Warriors' number 16 place for career points (1,317).
Heinrichs lives in Sun City West in Phoenix, Arizona with his wife of four and one-half years, Marguerite. While at Westmont, Heinrichs married Patti Hovel ('58) with whom he had four children - Stan, Colleen, Ted and Maureen. He also has five grandchildren. Patti passed away in the fall of 1996.
Heinrichs retired in 1994 after 34 years of teaching, most of those years at Santa Barbara High School where he taught history, English and Physical Education. He also served as an assistant basketball coach.
The youngest of the three inductees, Wall earned NAIA Men's Soccer All-American honors in three of his four years at Westmont. Also named three-times to the All-GSAC team, Wall earned GSAC Player of the Year honors in 1990.
In 1991, Wall recorded 15 goals and seven assists to conclude a career that totaled 25 goals and 23 assists. In his freshman and sophomore years, the Warriors played in the NAIA National Championship, reaching the final four in 1989.
"He was an absolutely complete soccer player," said Westmont men's soccer head coach Dave Wolf. "He could attack, he could defend, he had all the intangibles." Wall completed his senior year in Wolf's first year as a head coach.
"I just wish I could have had him for a few more years," continued Wolf. "He was willing to take the responsibility of being the best player. Not in a proud or arrogant way, but with a willingness to accept the responsibility that goes with being the best. He was willing to raise his hand and do whatever was needed in the game."
Wall and his wife Lisa live in San Jose, California where they operate a successful family-run business, UjENA Swimwear and Fashion. The Walls have two children - a son Jaxson and a daughter Carly - and are expecting a third child in early September.
Those wishing to attend the event may RSVP by sending an email to alumni@westmont.edu or by calling the alumni office at 805-565-6056. The cost for the event is $20 if reservations are made by September 8, or $25 at the door. Online reservations may be made at /forms/alumni/homecoming_2006/registration.html.