GRAND RAPIDS, Mich — Van Andel Arena was full of West Michigan sports legends on Wednesday as the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame welcomed its Class of 2023.
This year's class includes:
- Cameron Bradfield - A standout football player at Creston High School, Bradfield went on the be an All-American at Grand Valley State University. He also played in the NFL, most notably for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
- Bob Cassleman - A track and field star at Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School, Cassleman went on to become an All-American at Michigan State University and a coach at Washington State University.
- Kathy DeBoer - A multi-sport athlete at Grand Rapids Christian High School, DeBoer went on to play basketball and volleyball at Michigan State before becoming a college volleyball coach at Ferris State and Kentucky.
- Billy Orlikowski - After dominating the local bowl scene in West Michigan, Orlikowski went on to win three national championships as an amateur and he had a 10-year professional career on the PBA Tour.
- Dave Sukup - A multi-sport athlete at Grand Rapids Union High School, Sukup went on to coach for 49 years at Forest Hills Northern High School. He won 16 tennis state titles as a coach and was named national coach of the year.
- Grand Rapids Jaycees - Through golf events, the organization raised millions of dollars through local charities while also bringing legends of the game to West Michigan, like Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, and Lee Trevino.
"It's honestly surreal. It's still really kind of settling in a little bit," Bradfield said in reaction to his induction. "Walking in and seeing all these banners of people that I idolized growing up who are just superstars and giants in the history of Grand Rapids sports - to be kind of up there beside them is truly an unbelievable feeling."
Cassleman has similar feeling about the company he's now in.
"What an honor to be recognized in your hometown. You know, I went off to school and then to other parts of the US and didn't know if anybody would remember me back here," he said.
DeBoer says she can remember when Grand Rapids wasn't Beer City but rather "Church city, or furniture city," as she put it with a smile. "As a Grand Rapids native, I grew up here and I learned all about life here. I have very fond memories of growing up here. It's a great honor to have this recognition from Grand Rapids."
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