The Wayne State College Athletic Hall of Fame has some accomplished athletes and devoted contributors in its ranks.

Members range from the likes of Brad Ottis, an All-American defensive end who played at WSC through 1990-94 before going on to play for the Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals, to the likes of the late Henry Schmitz, a long-time custodian, who is in the Hall of Fame as a contributor.

Schmitz is the great grandfather of current “Wayne Stater” Opinion Editor Mason Schweizer.

Schweizer came here from Illinois and didn’t know much about WSC, except for his great grandfather’s accomplishments.

“When I first transferred to Wayne State, the fact my great grandfather was in the Hall of Fame was all I really knew about Wayne,” Schweizer said. “Walking past the Hall of Fame and seeing his name and picture gave me more of a feeling of belonging than when I first got here. He passed long before I was born, so seeing how he was appreciated here has helped me realize how cool of a guy he was.”

This year’s nomination process will be finalized by early April, but a large group of names has already been placed on the list.

Tim Hurley, Randy Yarke and the 2010 softball team highlight some of the nominees.

Hurley, an Omaha Rummel High School graduate, never played football until he came to WSC. He played defensive end and became a three time letter winner. He finish tied for second all-time in sacks.

Yarke played two seasons of baseball at WSC after transferring in from Anoka-Ramsey CC in Minnesota. In 1987, he led his team in batting average by hitting .303 for the season while also leading the team in triples.

Yarke went on to play two years of minor league baseball in independent leagues in Canada and Florida. He is now a special educator and youth coach in multiple sports in Jordan, Minn.

The 2010 softball team went 43-14, setting a school record for wins. They also placed second in the NSIC, going 21-5. The team won the NSIC softball regional, another record for the program, before losing in the Super Regional in three games to Metro State in Colorado.

The official Hall of Fame inductees will not be finalized until after Memorial Day.

The committee will take its time to do its due diligence in respect for all the nominees.