Hall of Fame
Tom Craven enjoyed two successful seasons in a Central uniform, rushing for 1,293 career yards, which ranks 12th on CWU's all-time list. Perhaps his best moments on the gridiron came in the final three games of the 1993 season. Craven came off the bench in Central's regular-season finale and rushed for 150 yards and four touchdowns in a 42-28 victory over Western Washington, then followed it up with a 265-yard effort as the Wildcats edged Linfield (28-26) in the first-round of the national playoffs. He ran for 163 yards the next week in a 35-17 loss to eventual NAIA champion Pacific Lutheran. Craven was Central's leading ground gainer in 1994 with 684 yards. Prior to attending Central, Craven played two seasons at the College of the Redwoods (Calif.) and was named to the all-conference squad and scoring 14 touchdowns. He overcame a 1991 injury and netted 727 yards a year later. Craven earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from CWU in 1997. Craven earned 11 varsity letters at Cle Elum High School. He was voted Kittitas County Male Athlete of the Year in 1990 after a stellar football career that included 3,761 rushing yards and 60 touchdowns, and setting track and field school records in the 200, 400, and long jump.
