UCLA’s Hall of Fame class

UCLA released its selections for its Hall of Fame class:

UCLA Athletics Hall Of Fame Class Of 2008 Announced
Eight new members will be inducted on Oct. 3.

Eight new members will be inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct. 3. Invitation-only induction ceremonies will be held in Covel Commons, and the new inductees will also be introduced during halftime of the Oct. 4 UCLA-Washington State football game at the Rose Bowl.

The UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame was dedicated in 1984 with 25 charter members. The Class of 2008 brings the total membership to 223. The 2008 inductees are Traci Arkenberg, women’s soccer; Peter T. Dalis, administration; Leah Homma, gymnastics; Kurt Krumpholz, men’s swimming/water polo; Robert Seaman, men’s track & field; Jackie Tobian-Steinmann, women’s golf coach; Eric Turner, football; and Todd Zeile, baseball.

Following are biographies on the 2008 UCLA Hall of Fame inductees:

Traci Arkenberg (Women’s Soccer)
The first-ever women’s soccer inductee, Traci Arkenberg was also the first player to receive a full scholarship in women’s soccer soon after UCLA added it as a varsity sport in 1993. She starred at forward for the Bruins from 1994-97, setting almost every season and career record in her four years. As a freshman, she ranked eighth nationally in game-winning goals. Her individual accomplishments include: scoring an amazing 78 goals in 78 games, earning first team all-conference acclaim in 1995, ’96, and ’97; first team All-Far West selection in ’96 and ’97; first team All-American in ’97; and 1997 Conference Player of the Year. By the time she finished her UCLA career, Arkenberg owned 14 school soccer records, including points, goals, assists, game-winning goals, game-winning assists and shots on goal. Her single-season scoring record of 52 points lasted until the 2007 season. Arkenberg was instrumental in leading the UCLA program to its first two NCAA Tournament berths as well as capturing UCLA’s first conference title in 1997. During her four years, UCLA’s record was an impressive 44-4-3 when she scored at least one goal in a game.

Peter T. Dalis (Administration)
By the time Peter Dalis retired in June of 2002, he had brought UCLA Athletics to the national forefront, establishing himself as one of the most successful leaders in UCLA’s storied athletic history. During his 19 years as Athletic Director, UCLA won 39 NCAA Championships (22 men’s and 17 women’s) in 14 different sports, crediting him with a remarkable 37% of UCLA’s total titles. Dalis’ other accomplishments include: Bruin teams capturing 108 Pac-10 Conference titles, the football program advancing to 12 bowl games and winning eight; guiding the basketball program to 15 NCAA Tournament appearances; and UCLA placing among the Top-5 in all nine years of the Sears Director’s Cup competition. Dalis’ successes were not limited to the playing fields. When he became Athletic Director in 1983, UCLA had no endowed scholarships. Under his direction, UCLA endowed 174 grants-in-aid through private donations, growing the endowment principal to $24 million in 2002. Furthermore, Dalis was instrumental in the development of several athletic facilities on campus, including: the Morgan Center renovation, The John Wooden Recreation Center, The Bud Knapp Football/Acosta Center, the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame, and the Drake Stadium soccer field. During Dalis’ tenure, UCLA moved into the top spot in terms of NCAA team championships after trailing by 20 NCAA titles when he became Athletic Director in 1983. Even the media recognized Dalis’ impact, when in 1997 Sports Illustrated selected UCLA as the #1 Athletic University in the country.

Leah Homma (Women’s Gymnastics)
Leah Homma arrived at UCLA a highly-recruited gymnast from Canada and competed for four years (1994-97), leading the Bruins to their first NCAA team title in 1997. Head Coach Valorie Kondos Field said Homma played “the biggest role in helping our team win its first NCAA Championship. (She) was a quiet leader who always led by example, was an unwavering hard worker, enthusiastic about her training, and always quick to help out her teammates in a quiet and unassuming manner.” Homma finished fourth in the 1997 NCAA All-Around to help bring the title to Westwood. Homma’s other accomplishments included the 1994 and ’97 Pac-10 all-around titles as well as the 1996 and ’97 Pac-10 uneven bar crowns. She was twice named Pac-10 Gymnast of the Year (1995 and ’97). Homma was also an eight-time All-American, honored four times each as a first-team and second team selection. During her career, she set and reset UCLA records in the all-around and was the second UCLA gymnast to receive 10.0s in two different events. In 1997, Homma was named UCLA’s All-University Female Athlete of the Year and was a Honda Award nominee. Homma also excelled in the classroom, earning Pac-10 All-Academic honors on three occasions. Prior to her arrival at UCLA, she was a member of the Canadian National Team and was the 1991 Canadian champion in the floor exercise. Finally, Homma left her eternal mark on the world of gymnastics with three moves named after her in the international code of points: the Homma Flip on beam and the Homma Flairs on beam and floor.

Kurt Krumpholz (Men’s Swimming & Water Polo)
Kurt Krumpholz starred as both a swimmer and water polo player for the Bruins from 1971-74, and ’76. Though he originally attended UCLA with the intention of participating solely on the water polo team, he would later become an outstanding swimmer, earning All-America honors eight times in seven events. In 1972, Krumpholz established a world record in the 400m freestyle, shattering the previous mark by 1.6 seconds. At the 1973 World Games, Krumpholz swam in the 800m freestyle relay which established a new world record and brought home the gold medal for the United States. He also brought home the silver in the 200m freestyle. As a UCLA water polo player, Krumpholz played four years, earned All America honors three times (1972, ’73 and ’74) and was a member of two NCAA Championship teams (1971 and ’72).

Robert Seaman (Men’s Track & Field)
Former UCLA record-holder and a distinguished distance runner, Robert Seaman competed for the Bruins from 1955-57. In 1955, Seaman was a member of UCLA’s victorious conference mile relay team and finished third in the mile at the NCAA Championship to help lead the Bruins to a second place national finish. During the 1956 season, Seaman set a UCLA record by running the mile in 4:01.4, the second fastest mile in U.S. history at the time. He helped lead the Bruins to the conference title, winning the 880-yard event. Later that year at the NCAA Championship, he finished fourth in the 1500 as the Bruins took home the NCAA team title. Seaman served as team captain in 1957. During his UCLA career, in addition to the mile record, Seaman set records in the 880 yard run and relays. Additionally, Seaman went on to break the four-minute barrier in the mile in 1962 (3:58:07).

Jackie Tobian-Steinmann (Women’s Golf)
Jackie Tobian-Steinmann has been called one of the original pioneers of women’s collegiate golf. Tobian-Steinmann coached the UCLA women’s golf team for 22 years (1977-99). Her teams won five conference titles and a national championship in 1991 after a runner-up finish in 1990. UCLA finished in the Top 10 nationally 12 times, won 43 tournaments and qualified for the NCAA Championship 14 straight seasons (1984-97), a school record. She recruited and coached Kay Cockerill, who was awarded a NCAA Post-graduate Scholarship, won two U.S. Women’s Amateur Championships and was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame in 1999. Tobian-Steinmann was one of the founders of the National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) and the first president of an organization that continues to serve collegiate women’s golf. During her coaching career, Tobian-Steinmann received lifetime memberships to the LPGA and NGCA. She was named LPGA Coach of the Year, Pac-10 Coach of the Year, Regional Coach of the Year and twice was selected National Coach of the Year. She is a two-time winner of the Gladys Palmer Meritorious Service Award — the highest award given by her peers for her contribution to collegiate golf. Tobian-Steinmann coached the U.S. Collegiate Golf Team and was inducted into the National Collegiate Golf Hall of Fame. Twenty-eight of her UCLA golfers became professionals, and she coached 16 All-Americans, as well as current UCLA golf coach Carrie (Leary) Forsyth.

Eric Turner (Football)
Eric Turner starred at free safety for the Bruins from 1987-90, earning first-team Freshman All-America honors and first-team Sophomore All-American acclaim in 1988. In his senior year, Turner was a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist, All Pac-10, UCLA’s defensive MVP and a first-team All-American. Turner led the team in tackles in 1990 with 93 after having ranked second in 1989. He also led team in interceptions in 1989 and 1990. Today, he ranks fourth in both UCLA career tackles (369) and interceptions (14). Turner was the No.2 overall pick in the 1991 NFL Draft by Cleveland (highest drafted defensive back in NFL history) and played with the Browns and Ravens from 1991-96 and with the Oakland Raiders from 1997-99. He was an All Pro selection in 1994 and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1995 and 1997. Turner had recorded 796 tackles and 30 interceptions in his NFL career before his untimely death in 2000.

Todd Zeile (Baseball)
Todd Zeile played for the Bruins from 1984-86. In 1985, he led UCLA with 12 home runs, which was the most ever by a Bruin catcher at the time. He followed that season with an equally impressive year in 1986, batting .366 with 13 home runs and 43 RBIs and earning All-Pac-10 honors. After his junior season, Zeile was selected in the supplemental round of the 1986 free-agent draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. In 1989, he was selected as the USA Today Minor League Player of the Year while playing for the Triple-A Louisville Cardinals. The following season, he hit the most home runs (15) by a St. Louis Cardinals rookie in 34 years. Zeile retired in 2004 after completing his 16th season in the Major Leagues. He has career totals of 253 home runs and 1,110 RBI’s including a career-high 31 home runs in 1997 while playing third base for the Los Angeles Dodgers. During the 2003 season, while playing with the Montreal Expos, Zeile set a major league record by hitting a home run with his 11th different team.