The Kansas Sports Hall of Fame will hold the 2024 induction ceremony

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – The Kansas Sports Hall of Fame inducted 12 new members as part of its 2024 class Sunday evening at the Maner Conference Center.

The full list and biographies of all 12 newcomers can be found here.

It was not just a night to celebrate their individual achievements, but Kansas sports as a whole.

“When I talk about the people who are in this Hall of Fame, it’s truly incredible that you were chosen. “What you have done throughout your career would rival these great athletes and coaches,” said Dave Bingham, former head baseball coach at Emporia State and KU.

Hayden and KU basketball alumnus Mark Turgeon said nothing could have stopped him from traveling across the country to be there.

“No place treats me better than Kansas State,” he said. “I wouldn’t miss that. That means a lot to me. It’s funny how you spend your whole life doing team sports, team sports, and then here comes this, it’s pretty cool.”

Even NFL Hall of Famer, Chiefs star and Fort Riley native Will Shields stopped by to be honored by his home state.

“It’s always an honor to be able to say you’ve had a career where someone else says you’re worthy of being in the Hall of Fame,” Shields told 13 Sports.

Shields, of course, loves the current era of Chiefs football. He still works with the NFL, so he gets to work pretty closely with his former team.

“Anytime you’re part of an organization and they become winners, champions and everything else, it makes life a little different, but it also makes it cool,” he added.

Hummer Sports Park director and basketball great Annette Wiles is especially grateful to represent women’s sports in this year’s class.

“I think there is always this constant search for mentors, role models and leadership. And I think this is the opportunity to carry that flag,” she said.

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