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Every year, Wayne State’s athletic department looks back at the careers of former athletes who stood out from the masses.
To express a great level of gratitude, it enshrines those special athletes in the Wayne State Hall of Fame.
This year’s Hall of Fame class features five former student-athletes. However, Mitch Ritter is among this special group for different reasons. Ritter is the sixth person to receive the Honor Award.
The Honor Award is given to individuals who have distinguished themselves in assisting Wayne State athletics. Ritter, a former Warrior football player, finished his career in 1971, but he never left Wayne State.
He initiated the Athletic Alumni Association, which now boasts over 1,300 members. He spearheaded the creation of Doc Andrews Night, to honor the late former WSU broadcaster, alumni reunions and Football Future’s Day, a day that coincides with the signing of new football recruits.
With a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education from WSU, he’s worked as a teacher, coach and athletic director and is currently the vice president of the WSU National Alumni Association.
As the only female in this year’s class, Jodi Young becomes the 12th women’s basketball player to be inducted to the Hall of Fame. She is one of 15 women in school history to rack up more than 1,000 career points, and one of two women who needed only two seasons to do it.
While scoring 18 points a game in the 2002-2003 season, she lead the team to its first ever NCAA tournament appearance. She continues to hold the career scoring record at 19.6 points a game.
Young earned All-GLIAC South Division first team honors and was an Honorable Mention in 2004 on the All-American team. She graduated with a degree in social work.
Even though the men’s hockey team is no longer in existence, its contributions to the school’s prestige are not forgotten. Dustin Kingston was an all-around player during his playing days. On the ice, he was a scoring machine. When he finished his career in 2003, he held the school record for goals, short-handed goals and game-winning goals. All of those records still stand.
His classroom achievements are just as impressive. Named to the CHA All-Academic team three times and placing himself on the Athletic Directors Honor Roll (GPA 3.5+) in all eight semesters, he was named WSU Male Student-Athlete of the Year in 2003. Majoring in history, he graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2003.
After spending two years at Joliet Junior College, Craig Duppong was an All-American both years he carried the football for Wayne State. He became the second running back in school history to eclipse 1,000 yards rushing in back-to-back seasons. Those two stellar seasons earned him WSU offensive MVP honors both years while suiting up for the green and gold. He later graduated from Eastern Michigan with a degree in construction management.
Another two-time All-American selection, Nick Allen, became WSU’s first cross country student-athlete to be enshrined. A four-time All-GLIAC recipient, he captured both the GLIAC Runner of the Year and the GLIAC championship in 2001 and 2003. Coincidentally, those were the years of his All-American selections. His accomplishments led the cross country team to its first ever appearance in the national championships.
The enshrining ceremony will take place Feb. 20 at St. Andrews, next to Manoogian Hall. The public can purchase tickets to the 11:30 a.m. luncheon for $35 at the Matthaei complex. After the inductees deliver their speech at the luncheon, the day’s events move to the Matthaei for the unveiling of their plaques on the WSU Hall of Fame wall. The public is invited to stay for the men’s basketball game against Tiffin where all the inductees will be introduced to the crowd at halftime.
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