ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Central Washington University Athletics is excited to announce four new inductees into its Athletic Hall of Fame. Adam Bighill (football), Carolyn Mires (volleyball), Kristen Willis (women's basketball), and the 1989 Wildcat Football Team. The three individuals and one team will be inducted as the 40^th Hall of Fame class on Saturday May 6^th. 
 
"It is exciting to announce another outstanding class for the CWU Athletics Hall of Fame," Director of Athletics Dr. Dennis Francois said. "Each of the individual inductees and the 1989 Football Team have left their mark on CWU athletics and it's truly an honor for us to recognize them for their accomplishments."
 
Tickets for the 2023 Wildcat Gala and Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony are $50 in advance and may be purchased by clicking HERE
 
This year's gala will be held at the CWU Student Union and Recreation Center (SURC) ball room. Doors will open at 5:00 p.m. with a social, silent auction, and hosted bar, followed by the dinner and program at 6:00 p.m. In addition to the induction ceremonies, this year's event will include a live auction and other philanthropic opportunities to raise funds for student-athlete scholarships.
 
2023 CWU ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME CLASS
 
Adam Bighill, Football, Montesano, Wash. (2007-2010):
Bighill was a linebacker for the Wildcat football team for the 2007 through 2010 seasons and is a 2011 graduate of Central Washington University. During his tenure with the Central Washington football team Bighill garnered GNAC co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2010, First Team All-GNAC in 2010, AFCA First Team All-American in 2010, D2Football.com Second Team All-American in 2010, Don Hansen Football Gazette Third Team All-Region in 2010, Daktronics Second-Team All-Region in 2010, Second Team All-GNAC in 2008 and 2009, CoSIDA Academic All-Region in 2009 and 2010, and selected to participate in the Cactus Bowl collegiate All-Star Game in 2010. 
 
Bighill ended his Wildcat career recording 314 tackles (163 solo, 151 assisted), 46 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, and seven interceptions. Bighill is currently second all-time in Wildcat history for tackles for loss, fourth in total tackles, and fourth in assisted tackles for an individual career. Bighill is currently representing Wildcat nation in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers which he's been a member of since 2018. Bighill has also played for the BC Lions (2011-2016) and spent the 2017 season as a member of the National Football Leagues (NFL) New Orleans Saints. 
 
In his professional career he has been a Grey Cup Champion in 2011, 2019, and 2021, the CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2015 and 2018, and a CFL All-Star in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2018. Within the CFL Bighill has started 150 games out of the 164 that he's played. Bighill has accumulated 797 tackles with a season high of 121 coming in 2015, he's also accumulated 45 sacks with nine being his career high coming in both 2012 and 2013, 15 interceptions, three defensive touchdowns, and 14 forced fumbles. 
 
Carolyn Mires, Volleyball, Walla Walla, Wash. (1999-2002):
Mires was an outside hitter for the Wildcat volleyball team for the 1999 through 2002 seasons. During her tenure with the Wildcats Mires earned Second Team All-GNAC selections in 2001 and 2002, GNAC All-Academic Team in 2001 and 2002, and PacWest All-Academic Selection in 2000. Mires was also named to the CWU 2000's all-decade volleyball team, which included fellow hall of famers Kate Reome-Ridnour and LeAnne McGahuey.
 
Mires is currently the Central Washington volleyball team all-time leader in kills with 1,265, which ranks 17^th all-time in GNAC history. Mires also owns the GNAC record for kills in a three-set match with 21. She also ranks third in all-time CWU top 10 for kills per set with 3.55, third in attack attempts 3,388, third in service aces 123, 10^th in service aces per set with 0.35, second in total points 1,472, and third in points per set with 4.13. Mires at the time set the program record for kills in a single season with 395 kills in the 2002 season, and that total currently ranks sixth all-time. Mires 3.91 kills per set that she achieved in the 2000 season at the time ranked second in program history, and currently ranks eighth. 
 
Kristen Willis, Women's Basketball, Kennewick, Wash. (1997-2001):
Willis was a guard for the Wildcat women's basketball team for the 1997-1998 season through the 2000-2001 season. During Willis' tenure with the Wildcat women's basketball team Willis earned Team Best Defense Award two out of her four seasons as a Wildcat, Honorable Mention All-PNAC in 1998, Team MVP in 1999, First Team All-PacWest in 2000, Honorable Mention Little Northwest Team in 2000, Honorable Mention All-GNAC in 2001, and one of three team captains for 1999-2000 season. 
 
Willis currently ranks first in two separate categories; single season record for free throws made with 133 during the 1999-2000 season, and career record steals with 265. Willis also holds single season top-10 spots in free throws made with 125 in the 1998-1999 season good enough for third, fourth and fifth in free throws attempted (4^th in the 1998-1999 season with 168 and 5^th in the 1999-2000 season with 167), second, seventh, and eighth in steals (second in 1999-2000 with 85, seventh in 1997-1998 with 68, and eighth in 1998-1999 with 67), and second, fifth, and seventh in steals average (second in 1999-2000 with three, fifth in 1997-1998 with 2.7, and seventh in 1998-1999 with 2.5). 
 
Willis is heavily represented in career top-10s as she is currently second in free-throws made with 363, third in free throws attempted with 488, second in assists with 378, fourth in assists average with 3.7, second in steals average with 2.6, and seventh in games started with 97. 
 
1989 Wildcat Football Team:
The 1989 Wildcat football team was coached by Mike Dunbar and captained by Scott Ditter. The 1989 Wildcat football team made historic leaps for Wildcat football recording a 10-1-1 overall record and finishing undefeated in the Columbia Football Association with a 5-0-1 record. The 1989 football team forged their way into the NAIA National Tournament defeating Lewis and Clark (Ore.) in the first round by a 51-0 score, before defeating Dickinson State (North Dakota) in the second round by a resounding 49-7 score, setting up the final matchup against Westminster (Penn.) in the semifinals with the Wildcats falling by a 21-10 score in Puyallup, Wash. Westminster would go on to defeat Wisconsin-La Crosse in the championship by a 51-30 score. 
 
The 1989 Wildcat football team rostered All-American Pat Patterson as well as All-Academic Scholar Athletes Alan Kesti and Eric Granberg. Current Hall of Fame Members that were also on the team include Eric Boles, Pat Patterson, Mike (Estes) Patton, and Marc Yonts.