POMONA – On February 17, the Cal Poly Pomona Department of Intercollegiate Athletics inducted the newest class into the Bronco Athletics Hall of Fame, featuring four individuals and the first ever team.
Representing six sports and spanning 40 years of Bronco history, the 2018 class featured Matt Blaty (Cross Country/Track & Field), Ann Lebedeff (Tennis), Lauri McIntosh (Powell) (Women's Basketball), Jon Wiegmann (Football), and the 1976 National Championship Baseball team.
"The opportunity to welcome home and recognize our current hall of members and induct our newest class of legendary Broncos was a truly historic occasion," said Director of Intercollegiate Athletics
Brian Swanson. "Not only are our four individual honorees truly exceptional, but the induction of our first-ever team proved to be a reunion of 42 years in the making for our 1976 National Championship baseball team. It was truly a "Celebration of Champions" and a day that Bronco Athletics embraced our best-of-our-best!"
The class was inducted during the "Celebration of Champions" event held in the Ursa Major room of the Bronco Student Center in front of more than 250 attendees.
Photo Gallery
2018 Hall of Fame Class:
Matt Blaty I 1979-84 I Cross Country / Track & Field
Blaty is by far one of the most decorated athletes in CPP history, earning seven total All-American accolades during his career, holding numerous program records while leading his team to a National Championship.
In cross country, Blaty was a two-time All-American in the 1980 season and the 1983 season. He holds the fifth fastest 10,000-meter time in program history, running 30:16.0 at the NCAA Regional meet. During the 1983 season, Blaty led the Broncos to their first NCAA Division II National Championship, finishing ninth individually.
In track, Blaty tallied five All-American nods and currently holds program records in the 1,500-meters, the 4x800-meter relay, the 4x1, 600-meter relay and the distance medley. In addition, he has tallied nine top 10 performances in his career. He finished second overall in the 1,500-meter race at the NCAA Division II Track & Field Championships all four years.
Ann Lebedeff I 1989-98 I Head Coach Tennis
After 10 years since their last national title, Lebedeff lifted the Cal Poly Pomona tennis program back to the top of Division II, earning two National Championships on the women's side, winning back-to-back in the 1991 and 1992 seasons, while coaching doubles champions on the men's side in 1993.
During her coaching span, the Broncos collected seven CCAA titles while totaling 30 NCAA DII All-Americans. In both her National Championship seasons, Lebedeff was awarded the Wilson Coach of the Year award while also receiving the honor of Wilson's Coach of the Decade Award for the 1990's.
While at CPP, Lebedeff also served as a professor in the Kinesiology department.
Lauri McIntosh (Powell) I 1998-02 I Women's Basketball
Arguably one of the greatest women's basketball players in CPP history, McIntosh put together an illustrious career in her four seasons as a Bronco. She finished ranking in the top in eight stat categories including first in free throws attempted while ranking second in most points scored, field goals attempted, field goals made and free throws made. She finished with 2,176 career points with a scoring average of 18.4 points per game which ranks third in program history.
McIntosh was named CCAA All-Conference First-Team as a freshman, sophomore and senior while earning Second-Team honors her junior year. A two-time NCAA Division II All-American, McIntosh played a key role in the Broncos winning back-to-back National Championships during the 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons.
While earning CCAA Player of the Year during the 1999-00 season, McIntosh was honored by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association as the 2001-02 National Player of the Year.
John Wiegmann I 1968-72 I Football
As a walk-on in 1968, Wiegmann would go on to have a very successful career as a wide receiver. He finished his time at CPP with 156 receptions, 1856 yards, and 18 touchdowns. Wiegmann was named CCAA All-Conference in 1969, 1970, and 1971. He was a two-time UPI Small School All-Pacific Coast First-Team wide receiver and was named All-American Honorable Mention in 1971.
Wiegmann was also a two-sport athlete, originally coming to CPP for Track & Field. Competing in all four years, he threw the javelin and was a high jumper for the Broncos.
After his time at CPP, Wiegmann was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 16th round of the 1972 NFL
Draft.
The 1976 Baseball Team
Paving the way for success, the 1976 baseball team became the first team in Cal Poly Pomona history to claim a national championship. Under the leadership of legendary coach and current CPP Hall of Fame member John Scolinos, the Broncos amassed a 40-27-1 overall record, going 11-7 in conference play to win the CCAA title.
The Broncos went on to win the West Region before defeating Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville to earn the school's first national title at the tournament site in Springfield, Illinois.
The 1976 team featured eight CCAA All-Conference members while Scolinos was named the CCAA Coach of the Year and CPP's Dennis Sherow was named Player of the Year. The Broncos tallied four NCAA Division II All-Americans as well.
In addition to the team accomplishments, four players were drafted including Jim Pryor, San Francisco Giants; Dennis Sherow, Montreal Expos; Bruce MacPherson, Minnesota Twins and Ken Hellyer, Minnesota Twins.
