A BIG WEEKEND FOR TRC: Hall of Fame beckons Raiders quintet

The Three Rivers College banquet honoring the 2023 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees is set to take place 6 p.m. tonight at the Holiday Inn in Poplar Bluff.

The Class of 2023 includes Don Crandell, Danny Foster (men’s basketball), Chuck Malone (baseball), Mallory Siebert (softball), and Anna Vogt (women’s basketball).

The five inductees are all moved by the selection and are looking forward to what should be a special day for all.

DON CRANDELL, Contributor

Crandell served as the president of the Three Rivers Booster Club for 19 years and was known for providing a steady influence and plenty of accomplishments during his time including:

• Maintenance and remodeling of the athletic dorm.

• The refinishing of the Gene Bess gym floor.

• A trophy case provided for the lobby of the gymnasium.

• Booster Club funding for a shooting machine, upgraded scoreboards, team chairs and storage racks, championship banners, new cheer team uniforms, softball and baseball batting machines, rodeo equipment, and a Rocky Raider mascot headpiece.

• The introduction of reserved seating and parking.

After retirement following a working career in banking, teaching, and coaching, he was an adjunct mathematics instructor at Three Rivers for many years.

“This came as a total surprise to me,” Crandell said. “I have never dreamed or thought I would be considered a candidate for the Hall of Fame. it is an honor to be recognized for your contributions to the program even though I enjoyed doing them.

“I certainly value the relationships and friendships that have developed over the years.”

Crandell is married to his wife Shirley and has three daughters and nine grandchildren.

DANNY FOSTER, Men’s Basketball

Foster was with the Raiders from 1976-1978 and is considered one of the best pure shooters in program history with a record 604 made shots in 70 games — still No. 1 in Three Rivers ranks.

The former NJCAA All-American led the team to a third-place finish in the national tournament in 1978 and his number — 45 — was soon retired. He is second on the all-time scoring list for the program with 1,461 points (20.9 average).

Foster wrapped up his career playing for Southeast Missouri State University and is married to his wife of 47 years, Linda, and has two sons along with five grandchildren.

“I am honored to be inducted into the TRCC Hall of Fame at the Libla Center,” Foster said. “In 1976 I began playing basketball for Coach Gene Bess and 20 years later my son, Brian Foster, played for the same coach at the same (school). I think that is amazing. Of course, the facilities and accommodations were much-improved thanks to the booster members and community.

“It is humbling to remember all those who made my time at TRCC a success. I did not get here alone.”

One of Foster’s fondest memories includes the run for the national title in 1978 and especially when Otto Porter hit the winning shot in the regional final to beat Mineral Area College and send the Raiders to the site of the tournament.

“But some of my best memories was playing pickup ball during the off-season with a group of guys who loved the games as much as I did,” Foster said.

Foster moved into the mining industry and continued to play hoops before blowing out his knee at a local tournament.

He has been retired for the past year and gets to enjoy his grandchildren’s love for the sport as he watches intently.

“My wife and I have settled down near Current River,” Foster said. “We feel blessed to be near family and friends and seldom miss a ball game. I still love the game.”

CHUCK MALONE, Baseball

The former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher is definitely glad to have gotten the call from Three Rivers.

“First of all, I was very surprised when I got the call,” Malone said. “I didn’t know until then TRC had an athletic Hall of Fame. I do appreciate even being considered. it is a very unexpected honor.

“The memories I have are of playing with a great group of guys and, the fun we had competing. Also playing for a great coach, Dave Jarvis who I felt I had known my whole life.”

Malone was drafted by the Phillies in 1986 and played in the organization for six years, making it to Major League Baseball for a small stint in 1990.

He pitched for the Raiders from 1984-86 and is among a handful of athletes to have played both baseball and basketball at Three Rivers. He is the only baseball player to have his number retired at Three Rivers and was also the first Three Rivers player to reach the major leagues.

He set a school record with 159 strikeouts in his career. He currently ranks second in career strikeouts, fifth in career ERA with a 2.30, and ninth in single-season ERA with a 2.00.

He and his wife Sadie live near Osceola, Arkansas and they have two children and two grandchildren.

For the past 10 years, he has been the manager/caretaker of a privately owned recreational hunting property on the Mississippi River.

MALLORY SIEBERT, Softball

Still one of the best hitters in program history, Siebert ranks No. 1 in career hits (188), first and third in single-season hits, first in batting average for a season (.487 in 2011), and second in career batting average (.456).

She is also third in stolen bases (85), eighth in runs scored (92), and 10th in doubles (23) and when she was finished (2010-2012), she completed her career at Williams Baptist University, where she helped lead the program to the national tournament in 2014.

“This is the highest honor and I am extremely excited and humbled,” Siebert said. “I think the best thing about playing at Three Rivers was that I was never playing to be the best or to win any awards. I was blessed with the best teammates and friends and we played as a team, for each other, and of course to win, but we always had fun doing it which took away any pressure to perform, which I think is why it was so easy to do exactly that.

“I had the biggest support system and they encouraged me, pushed me to be my very best, and ultimately are a big reason why I am receiving this award today so that just makes it even more special. It also is a small validation to my current softball players that I was in fact athletic at one point, so that is icing on the cake.”

She said her best memories of her career come from her time at Three Rivers.

“Setting the season record with my teammates my sophomore year and winning conference was probably one of the top memories,” she said. “Also, surprisingly, a lot of great memories were made as we were suffering through conditioning together and celebrating by jumping into the pool afterward. We also got to play against Mizzou and scored first in that game; that is something I will never forget.”

Siebert coached softball at Scott City High School and then ultimately got a teaching job at Poplar Bluff High School.

“Coaching was a unique way to keep softball in my life after my days as a collegiate athlete had ended,” Siebert said. “(At Poplar Bluff) I also coached, and I loved every second of moving back (there) again. Since living there for college, Poplar Bluff felt like home. I loved teaching there and learned so much from my amazing coworkers and administration. I will forever be thankful for that first year of teaching.”

Siebert moved back to Cape Girardeau and her alma mater Notre Dame Regional High School to teach and coach there as well.

ANNA VOGT, Women’s Basketball

The most recent graduate of Three Rivers, Vogt was quite the hooper for the Lady Raiders.

The post player is ranked top 10 in 13 statistical categories and is No. 1 in both career rebounds (516) and rebounds-per-game average (9.4).

Vogt was an NJCAA third-team All-American and was also a top academic achiever while being named a member of All-Region and All-Conference teams.

She continued her career at Coastal Carolina University before matriculating to Arkansas State where she graduated from in 2016.

“Honestly, it’s kind of surreal,” Vogt said of her selection. “When I first came to Three Rivers, I was fresh off of two season-ending knee surgeries. Three Rivers was a chance for a comeback — and a chance to reach my dream of playing Division 1 basketball. I’m over the moon that I was able to make such a positive impact on an organization that made such a huge impact on my life and gave me that second shot at my dream.

“I was blessed to play some of my best basketball, meet so many amazing people, and learn so many valuable lessons along the way. This honor means the world to me, and I had so much fun during my time at Three Rivers.”

The personal accomplishments don’t burn as brightly for Vogt, but more so do the ones of her time on the court with her fellow Lady Raiders.

“I remember the comradery we had as a unit (her sophomore year) from the coaching staff all the way down to each and every player,” Vogt said. “That team was resilient and played with so much heart. I remember due to losing players for a multitude of reasons, we had to play on the road in Crowder with only six players-one of which had the flu. We ended up winning the game.

“I also remember a rap we wrote and sang about that trip on the bus. The coaches really didn’t want to laugh, but honestly, that rap was hilarious. That team found a way to win, play hard, and find the humor in even the craziest moments that season, which is why I remember these memories most.”

At Coastal Carolina in her junior season, Vogt ranked second in field-goal percentage, third in free-throw percentage, four in points-per-game, and eighth in rebounds in the Big South Conference.

Vogt now lives in Kansas City and is working hard raising her 1-year-old puppy. She is currently a territory manager for a medical device company where she specializes in advanced wound care.

“(The pully) loves to run around in the backyard, play endless tug of war, and eat way too much popcorn with me,” Vogt said. “I make frequent trips back to St. Louis to visit my family. In my spare time, I love to travel, and you can still find me on the court, in the sand, or on a diamond, playing as many recreational sports as possible.

“My heart still lies on the court though, with my favorite days of the week being coed or women’s league basketball.”