In front of a crowd full of peers, coaches, friends, family and students, Western inducted four new members into its Athletic Hall of Fame, Saturday, Feb. 4. With the addition of inductees Celeste Hill Hoffman, Jim Freeman, Liz Bishop-Quitiquit and Craig Welty, the hall’s membership grew to 121 Vikings.
The four honorees were players on the basketball, volleyball, golf, cross country and track and field teams. 
Hill Hoffman played on Western’s women’s basketball team for four years. She was named the Western female Athlete of the Year twice. She was also a first-team Kodak All-American in 2000 when she helped the Vikings reach the NCAA Division II national semifinals.
For her efforts her senior year, Hill Hoffman was named the regional Most Valuable Player and named to the national all-tournament team.
She ended her career third in total points, second in blocked shots and ninth in rebounds.
“Being inducted into the Hall of Fame is validation that all my hard work paid off,” Hill Hoffman said. “Western is a wonderful place.”
After graduation, Hill Hoffman continued her basketball career overseas for four years. She played for teams in New Zealand, Switzerland, Portugal and Finland.
She now lives in Virginia and works as an assistant high school girl’s basketball coach and a personal trainer.
Western’s women’s basketball coach Carmen Dolfo honored Hill Hoffman at the ceremony.
Liz Bishop-Quitiquit, a 2004 Western graduate, was inducted into the Hall of Fame for her time spent playing volleyball.
During her time at Western, Bishop-Quitiquit finished second among school and Great Northwest Athletic Conference career leaders in assists. She was also a first-team American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American in 2002, and made the second-team in 2003.
Bishop-Quitiquit was named Western’s 2002-03 female Athlete of the Year, earned the title of GNAC Player of the Year twice and was a three-time GNAC academic all-star.
She led the Vikings to three GNAC titles, finishing those seasons with perfect 18-0 conference records.
Bishop-Quitiquit now coaches volleyball at Kentridge High School, coaches at a local volleyball club and runs her own photography business.
“This is an amazing honor,” Bishop-Quitiquit said. “It’s overwhelming.”
Western’s volleyball coach Diane Flick awarded Bishop-Quitiquit the honor.
Another honoree was Craig Welty, a member of the men’s golf team from 1997 to 2000. After redshirting his first year, Welty went on to become one of Western’s greatest golfers.
Welty is a member of Western’s All-Century team and was named Western’s male Co-Athlete of the Year in 1999-00. He was the first Western player ever to place at nationals in each year of his career.
Welty finished his senior year third nationally in stroke average and was a first-team member of the Golf Coaches Association of America All-America team.
His ninth-place finish at nationals helped lead the Vikings to a sixth-place team finish. That year, he was named District 8 Player of the Year.
After graduation, Welty had a successful amateur career. He placed second at the Pacific Northwest Golf Association Men’s Amateur Championship in 1998 and competed at the U.S. Amateur Championship in 1999. He also competed in the British Amateur in 2001.
Welty is currently the PGA Professional at the Skagit Golf and Country Club and the assistant coach for Western’s men’s golf team.
Western’s men’s golf coach Steve Card honored Welty with his award.
Jim Freeman was also inducted. Freeman competed in cross country and track at Western, but is best known for his coaching contributions.
Freeman coached 118 teams over his 43-year career. Many of his teams won league titles and went to state championships.
Freeman set the school three-mile record his junior year and placed third at the Evergreen Conference Cross Country Championships as a senior.
Freeman is now a part-time teacher and assistant basketball coach at Whatcom Community College.
During an afternoon of reminiscing on fond memories and acknowledging great accomplishments, the athletes received one of Western’s greatest athletic honors.
Western’s Sports Information Director, Paul Madison, who served as the program’s emcee, said, “This is the most special day of the year. We get to honor athletes who are the cream of the crop athletically, and have gone on to do great things with their lives.”
WWU Athletics Hall of Fame Facts
Oldest Hall of Fame in the Pacific NW
First class in 1968
121 members, including:
15 coaches
9 administrators
21 basketball players (men and women)
24 football players
6 baseball players
23 track and field athletes (men and women)
Related articles:
