NWAC Announces Hall of Fame Class of 2024

VANCOUVER, Wash. - The Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) is pleased to announce the NWAC Hall of Fame Class of 2024. The 2024 NWAC Hall of Fame Induction Dinner & Awards Ceremony will take place on May 30, 2024 at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center in Tacoma, Washington. Tickets will be available for purchase at a to-be-determined date. Event details can be found at www.nwacsports.org/halloffame 

Individuals

Dave Andrew • Lower Columbia College • Jim Jackson Award for Outstanding Service
Dave Andrew will go down as one of the greatest Red Devils and NWAC supporters of all-time. His commitment and service to the Lower Columbia College Athletics program and the NWAC is unsurpassed. Dave has served as the LCC Booster Club President where he has not only provided leadership, but is also a top-level monetary contributor. Dave is the "Voice of the Devils" on TV, Radio, and Public Address. He has served as mentor to hundreds of LCC student-athletes and coaches for well over 40 years. Dave and his wife Linda have been involved with the LCC chapter of FCA since 2003. Andrew has been a volunteer coach for LCC softball since 2015. 

Dave has donated his time to NWAC Championship events and is instrumental to LCC's success as the long-time host of the NWAC Baseball Championships where he has served as press box coordinator since 2005. Andrew has stepped up to help NWAC events in six different sports. A true "go to" guy, Dave is a most valuable person to the success of the Red Devil Family and the NWAC.  The administration, athletic staff, coaching staff, and student/athletes all thank Dave and his wife Linda for all of the time, money, service, and support to the LCC program and the NWAC as a whole. 

Yukari Kuranuki Wright • Pierce College • Softball Student-Athlete (2004-2006)
Yukari came to Pierce College as an International Student from Kyoto, Japan. She contacted the athletic department wanting to try out for the Raiders Softball team. As a walk-on freshman, Yukari became an immediate starter splitting time between catcher and third base. She finished the season with a .375 average and was named a West Region Second Team All-Star. The Raiders finished in 8th place with a 6-24 league record (8-31 overall).

Yukari exploded in her sophomore season (2006). She was one of the leading hitters in the NWAC, with a .509 average. Her 82 total hits are the most in a single season for Pierce Softball, as well as runs scored (71), and is second all-time with 68 runs batted in. As one of just two sophomores, Yukari led the rebuilt Raiders to a 23-7 league record, a second-place finish in the West Region, and the team's first NWAC post season appearance in 10 years. For her outstanding season, Yukari was selected the West Region's Most Valuable Player. She finished her career at Pierce with a .461 average. Yukari's 2006 Pierce softball records for hits and runs scored in a season still stand today.

She was an outstanding student, being named to the Dean's List four times. Yukari signed a letter of intent and received an academic scholarship to continue her education and athletic career at Pacific Lutheran University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Physical Education.

Steve Mohn • Highline College • Men's Soccer Student-Athlete (2004-2005)
Steve Mohn arrived on the Highline College campus in 2004 and as a freshman led the Thunderbirds to a single-season record at the time of 16 wins, culminating in the 2004 NWAACC championship title. In 2005, Mohn was named NWAACC men's soccer Most Valuable Player. He had 17 goals and 10 assists in leading Highline to the West Region title and a record of 16-1-1.

In 2006, Mohn transferred to play soccer at the University of Washington where he helped the Huskies reach the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2007 and 2008. After finishing his collegiate career, Steve played professionally (2009-2012) in the United Soccer Leagues, was team captain and led the team to the National Championship in 2011. In addition, he has played professionally for the Tacoma Stars of the Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL) and the Major Arena Soccer League and won the PASL national championship in 2010.

Mohn has been an assistant coach and head coach at Highline College for the past 15 years. As the head coach at Highline, Mohn has won three NWAC championships, been named West Region Coach of the Year five times and named NWAC Soccer Coach of the Year three times.

Jason Prenovost • Highline College • Head Men's Soccer Coach (1994-2014)
Former Highline College head men's soccer coach Jason Prenovost is the NWAC's all-time winningest men's soccer coach with a record of 306-97-66. Under Prenovost's leadership, his teams won three NWAC soccer championships, eight regional championships, while making nine final-four appearances and four finals appearances. He has been named NWAC Soccer Coach of the Year twice, regional Coach of the Year eight times, with his teams appearing in 18-straight playoffs.

Prenovost has not only impacted soccer at Highline College, but also at Tacoma Community College as athletic director. In 2016 he stepped into the head coaching role due to an injury to the head coach and helped lead the Titans to an NWAC championship. His youth coaching record is filled with state, regional and national championships. At the professional level, Prenovost worked with the Seattle Sounders U23 men's and women's programs where he was a part of four division and conference championships.

At least 10 of Prenovost's former players have and or are currently coaching high school to the Division I level. Many of his former players are also coaching at the youth level. Prenovost has impacted many young men and women through his skillful coaching, leadership, and his commitment to the total student-athlete. 

Prenovost continues to serve the NWAC as the Athletic Director at Tacoma Community College, was the former chair of the NWAC men's and women's soccer committee and still serves on that committee, and currently serves on the NWAC Executive Board.  It was under his leadership as the chair of men's and women's soccer that the elevation in NWAC soccer began to go to new heights. There are few people in any sport that have the respect and admiration that Coach Prenovost has in the soccer world. In 2021-2022, he was named the Distinguished Alumni of the Year at Highline College.

Jim Roffler • Lower Columbia College • Head Men's Basketball Coach (1991-2017)
Jim Roffler coached 26 seasons at the helm of the Lower Columbia College men's basketball program. He compiled a record of 546-24 (.710 winning percentage) as the head coach. Roffler earned NWAC Coach of the Year honors during his back-to-back championship seasons in 2004 and 2005. Roffler's squads appeared in the NWAC title game five times. He was named the Western Region Coach of the Year 12 times in 26 seasons, and his teams won 11 division titles. The Red Devils made the NWAC tournament 21 times in Roffler's 26 seasons.

Under Roffler, 82 players moved on to four-year colleges and universities. Roffler also coached the Lower Columbia women's basketball team for two seasons, taking time from his collegiate playing career to lead the program. Roffler played two seasons at LCC before playing at Western Washington University and then Alaska-Juneau following his stint as the LCC women's head coach.

Teams

1992 Men's Soccer Team • Pierce College
The 1992 Pierce College men's soccer team won the NWAACC Championship with a league record of 11-0-1. During the course of their undefeated season, they recorded seven shutouts victories and had a goal differential of 42-5. Following a first round bye in the NWAC tournament, Pierce defeated Skagit Valley in the semifinals 1-0. In the championship game, Pierce defeated Edmonds in an overtime shootout, on the fifth and final shot by goalkeeper Carey Smith, to seal the 2-1 win and the Raiders first and only men's soccer conference championship.

Seven Raiders were named Southern Division First Team All-Stars (Carey Smith, David Hawkins, Gabino Mendez, Denis Hillius, Jeff Hopkins, Peter Deeds, and Coquito Devettori), and four received Second Team All-Star recognition (Kyle Cross, Derel Wolfe, Lindy Blankenship, and John Callaway). Head Coach Joel Balmer was named Southern Division Coach of the Year. Carey Smith was named the Championship Tournament MVP, and Coach Balmer was named NWAC Coach of the Year.

David Hawkins ended the season tied for the league lead in goals with 13.

2003-04 Men's Basketball Team • Lower Columbia College
The 2003-04 Lower Columbia College men's basketball team broke a 50-year championship drought for the Red Devils, going 26-5 and capturing the crown with a 73-68 double overtime victory over Mt. Hood at the Toyota Center in Kennewick, Washington. The Red Devils went 4-0 in the tournament with victories over Skagit Valley College, Chemeketa Community College, Peninsula College, and Mt. Hood Community College. 

The Devils were led by head coach Jim Roffler and assistant coach Roosevelt Smith Jr. Point guard Chris Bannish piloted a talented, versatile squad which featured the inside-outside talents of Steven Trotter, thundering big man Bryan Freshwaster, fellow big forward Brett Tompkins, defensive stalwart Doug Dietz and super reserve Keith Nelson. Tompkins went on to become a surgeon in California, reserve Mike Fourtner became a TV celebrity with the Deadliest Catch. Tompkins, Trotter, Trevor Person, and Jason Buffum would also be members of the 2004-2005 Red Devil team that won the second of back-to-back NWAC championships.

About Northwest Athletic Conference: 

The NWAC is the athletic governing body of two year colleges in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia. There are 15 men's and women's sports and 10 championship events.  Approximately 4,200 student-athletes compete in the NWAC representing a student population of over 400,000. Many NWAC student-athletes continue their academic and athletic careers at the NAIA-NCAA levels. The NWAC promotes the three ideals of Character, Competition, and Community. NWAC…..more than sports.

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