Central to add to HOF with 4 individuals, 2 state champs

The Central Hall of Fame will induct four individuals and two state championship teams tonight before the Tigers' final regular-season home game against Riverview Gardens.

Individual inductees will be Ross Bennett, a 1998 graduate, Seth Hudson (2003), coach Gary Lynch, Angela (James) Poindexter (1986) and the 1994 Class 4 state championship baseball team and the 1980 Class 4 state championship boys basketball team.

The inductees will be honored at a ceremony before tonight's game against Riverview Gardens, and the new HOF members will be honored at halftime of the game.

Bennett excelled in football and baseball at Central. He was first-team all-conference and all-region at both wide receiver and defensive back and won the team's academic award. Bennett's talents particularly stood out on the baseball diamond, where he was a three-year starter in the Central outfield, earning first-team all-conference honors all three years. He was named Class 4 first-team all-state his senior season and selected to the Missouri Class 4 All-Star Team. He made his mark in the Tigers' record book, tying for the most all-time career hits and broke the school record for runs. His career batting average is the third highest in Central history. He went on to help Baylor University to a Big 12 baseball title and four NCAA regional appearances. He had a .335 career batting average at Baylor, which ranks 12th in school history. Bennett is currently a dentist in Cape Girardeau.

Hudson excelled on the football field and baseball diamond for the Tigers. A three-year letterman in football, Hudson, a speedy receiver, was named first-team all-region and first-team all-conference as a senior when he led the team in receptions, yards and touchdowns. A four-year starter in baseball, Hudson also put his speed and quickness to use at shortstop and on the basepaths, setting the school's all-time stolen-base record. He was a first-team all-conference selection and also all-state. He went on to play baseball for Murray State, where he was a four-year starter and two-time All-Ohio Valley Conference at second base. He led the squad in batting three straight years, ranking second on the school's all-time lists in hits and triples. Hudson currently is a practicing physician at Hudson Chiropractic in Cape Girardeau.

Angela (James) Poindexter lettered all four years in track and field, capping a stellar career with the state high jump title in 1986. She was all-conference and all-district all four years. Poindexter also excelled on the basketball court, earning all-conference and all-district honors three times. She topped 1,000 points her junior year and won the Darla Pannier Award as a senior. She received a basketball scholarship to Southeast Missouri State, where she lettered all four years. Poindexter currently is an elementary school teacher in St. Charles, Missouri.

Gary Lynch guided Tiger football teams to undefeated regular seasons in 1969 and 1972 after serving as an assistant for two years. During his five years as head coach he led the Tigers to a 44-5 record. He later became the offensive coordinator at Southeast Missouri State and returned to Central first as the AD in 1976, and then to the sideline as head coach in 1977, where he led the team through the 1992 season. He finished as the winningest coach in Central history with a record of 94-59. His teams won seven conference titles and qualified for the playoffs five times. Lynch is currently serving as an assistant for the Tigers football program.

The Central 1994 baseball team (23-4), led by coach Steve Williams, made a memorable run through the playoffs, ultimately ending in an 8-1 win over Joplin in the Class 4 title game. The playoff run was jump-started by a daring two-out steal of home in the seventh inning by Lance Craft in the district championship game, allowing the Tigers to force extra innings and ultimately emerge with a 4-3 win over Sikeston. Coaching staff members were Williams, Bob Coons, Cory Crosnoe and Chris Stanfield. Players were J.P. Clubb, Craft, Greg Hellwege, Brandon West, Aaron Barham, Ben Arbieter, Randy Stovall, Tommy Bolen, Leroy McCauley, Chris Davis, Greg Hutteger, Ryan Redfearn, Robert Kern, Sean Dougherty, Jason Bowers, Talley Haines, Shawn Pemberton and David Michel. Brandon McCullough was team manager and Jordan Coons served as batboy.

The Central boys 1980 basketball team (29-4), led by coach Dan Milligan, turned a rebuilding year into the school's second state championship in the sport. Milligan announced his decision to retire near the end of the season, and his team gave him quite the sendoff, including a 53-51 win over Hickman Mills in the Class 4 championship game. The team, which featured future University of Missouri player Ron Jones, set school records for points scored (2,075), field-goal percentage (52.5), as well as field goals made in a game and for a season. Dick Wadlington served as assistant to Milligan. Players were Matt Busch, Doug Schlegel, Mike Colon, Kevin Williams, Jones, Pete Nelson, John Korns, Steve Williams, Danny Schweer and Greg Sippel. Team managers were Brent Parker, David Nichols and George Smith.