RCC to Induct Eight into Athletic Hall of Fame

The Riverside City College Athletic Department will celebrate the College’s 100th anniversary by inducting its largest Hall of Fame class since its inception. On Oct. 22 at 5:30 p.m. in the Mission Inn Music Room, eight individuals will be honored for their contributions as well as success on the playing field. Among them is possibly the College’s most decorated athlete, Andrea Antonissen, a four-time All-American in swimming and water polo, and former Olympian and track standout, Astia Walker. Former major league baseball player, Jeff Bajenaru, will be honored in the male athlete category along with former tennis player, Marty Montigel. Former men’s basketball coach Bill Mulligan, who passed away in 2010 at the age of 79 and is the third winningest men’s basketball coach in the history of men’s basketball, will be enshrined and celebrated. He becomes the fourth men’s basketball coach inducted into the Hall, joining Jerry Tarkanian, who Mulligan replaced at RCC, Dave Waxman and Bob Schermerhorn, who served as an assistant to Mulligan at UC Irvine. Three other individuals will be honored for their contributions to the Tiger athletic program. Richard Ramirez, a former RCC athlete in football and baseball, will be presented the President’s Award. Ramirez spent 14 of his 39 educational years as vice president of Student Services, which oversaw the athletic program. Mulligan’s son, Billy Mulligan, who was tasked as the College’s first sports information coordinator, will be honored with the Contributor Award. The Bengal Award will be presented to Sam and Blanche Knight. A former RCC men’s basketball player, Knight and his wife, Blanche, a former RCC cheerleader, have become active members in the Tiger Backers. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased by calling the RCCD District Foundation Office at 951-222-8626.