ISU to Honor New Class to Sports Hall of Fame

Five athletes will be inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, Oct. 22 in the Beverly B. Bistline Thrust Theatre of the L.E. and Thelma E. Stephens Performing Arts Center.

Corky Federico

Football, 1984-87
Originally from Twin Falls, Federico came to ISU in 1984 as a walk-on for the football team. After showing his coaching staff what he was capable of, he was offered a scholarship by Jim Koetter, his one and only coach at ISU. His ISU career spanned 1984-1987. He was in the same back field as ISU Hall of Famer Merril Hoge, who heartily supported Federico’s selection into the Hall of Fame. Federico was team leader in career rushing attempts, 1,433 career rushing yards, All-Big Sky Academic team and named Player of the Week three times.

Story H. Holston

Tennis, 1990-91
Holston was a tennis champion before coming to ISU and continued that process during her two years as scholarship athlete for Coach Bobby Goeltz (1990-91). In 1990 in singles, she had a 15-6 record. In 1991 she was 19-5 in singles and 17-2 in doubles and was unbeaten 16-0 in conference play in both singles and doubles. Holston was chosen MVP of the 1991 team and was recognized as Big Sky Player of the week in 1991.

Paul Litchfield

Track and Field, 2003-05
Litchfield distinguished himself with his record performance in the pole vault as the ISU record holder and Big Sky record holder in 2002 and 2004. He finished 15th in the pole vault at the 2004 NCAA Championships. In Outdoor Track and Field, Litchfield was All-American in 2004, 4th place finish in the pole vault at the NCAA Championships, ISU record-holder and Big Sky champion in 2002, 2003, Big Sky champion in the Decathlon in 2003 and Outstanding Field Athlete in 2002 and 2003.

Nick Whitworth

Football, 1997-2000
Whitworth, known as the “Mackay Missile,” followed family tradition by coming to Pocatello and ISU after high school. Whitworth received honorable mention as both a running back and receiver at ISU. He is 1st in single game yards gained at 273, 6th in career rushing attempts at 463, 6th in rushing yards at 2,353 and 10th in touchdowns at 16. He was named Academic All-Conference in 1998 and Big Sky Player of the week three times in his career at ISU.

Dirk Koetter

Lifetime Achievement Award
Koetter played for ISU from 1977-1981. He has two degrees from ISU: a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education (1981); and a Master of Physical Education degree in athletic administration (1982). Endorsement for this recognition came from Marvin Lewis, ISU alumnus and head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals and Merril Hoge, also an ISU alumnus and current analyst and broadcaster for ESPN and former Pittsburgh Steeler. Each of these ISU Sports Hall of Famers highly recommended Koetter citing his highly successful professional career but more important, his exemplary character and the distinction he has always represented for his alma mater.