Oct. 20, 2003
San Diego - Three former Aztec individual standouts plus an SDSU national championship team will take their place in San Diego State's Hall of Fame as they are inducted in ceremonies to be held in the Aztec Athletics Center on Friday, Oct. 24.
The 2003 Hall of Fame members will also be honored at halftime of Saturday's (Oct. 25) football game vs. Wyoming, which kicks off at 7:05 p.m. at Qualcomm Stadium.
The new inductees are comprised of the 1973 men's volleyball team, women's tennis player Nicole Storto, former men's basketball player Al Skalecky and international track and field star Marla Runyan.
Friday's event begins at 7:30 p.m. and will include induction ceremonies in the first floor auditorium of the Aztec Athletics Center followed by a reception in the adjacent Aztec Hall of fame. Admission for the general public is $10.
The Aztec Hall of Fame presented by the Wise Foundation inducted its first class in 1988. Including the class of 2003, 76 individuals and three teams have been inducted.
Nicole Storto
Nicole Storto played tennis at San Diego State in the early 90s. The Arizonan was an immediate contributor to the Aztec squad and would become a three-time All-American. She played on four squads were they ranked among the nation's top 20. Storto is perhaps the best doubles player in San Diego State's tradition-laden history.
Al Skalecky
Hoops star Al Skalecky continues to have an amazing impact on the Aztec record book 35 years after his final game as an Aztec. His rebounding averages of 13.7 and 13.6 per game still rank as the two best in school history. He is still among the school's top 10 career scorers, an incredible feat when considering that Skalecky played in an era that did not feature the three-point line or freshman eligibility. Skalecky led SDSU to a 20-4 conference mark, including two championships, during his junior and senior seasons.
Marla Runyan
Former Aztec track standout Marla Runyan is now an international household name. Her career has evolved from high jumping to distances to the heptathlon and now she is one of America's best marathoners. She will be running in the New York Marathon Nov. 2nd. Runyan has accomplished the feat despite being legally blind. In 2000, when she finished eighth in the 1,500 meters, Runyan became the first blind athlete to participate in the Olympics.
1973 Men's Volleyball Team
The 1973 men's volleyball team is the second squad inducted into the Hall in two years, joining the 1987 men's soccer team. The '73 spikers caught the attention of San Diego and the nation when it claimed the national championship. The crowning moment came in the San Diego Sports Arena when the Aztecs knocked off top-ranked Long Beach State in the championship match. The event was televised nationally on ABC with legendary broadcaster Keith Jackson calling the action. The national title remains the only one claimed by San Diego State as a member of NCAA Division I.