SAN FRANCISCO – The Pac-12 Conference today announced the 2020 class to be inducted into the Pac-12 Hall of Honor, including Arizona State swimming's Melissa Belote Ripley, who represented the Sun Devils as a former Olympic swimmer and All-American.
One of the greatest American swimmers of all time, Belote Ripley shattered the Arizona State record books and left an unparalleled legacy for the Sun Devils. Bringing home three gold medals for the American swimming team in Munich 1972, she also set a new American record during those Olympic games in the 200-meter backstroke. While at Arizona State, she won six individual National Collegiate Swimming Championships, leading the university to two national championships. A four-year All-American, Belote Ripley also earned the esteemed Broderick Award in 1977 as the most outstanding women's collegiate swimmer in the country. She was later selected to the U.S. Swimming "Team of the Century" in 1999.
The 2020 Hall of Honor class will be the 19th since its creation in 2002, and the third to feature legendary figures from an array of sports after the Pac-12 expanded the field to be inclusive of the broad-based athletics success across the Conference of Champions. Each year a new inductee from each Pac-12 university is welcomed into the Hall of Honor.
"The extraordinary achievements of this year's Hall of Honor class represent the very best of our universities' rich history of excellence athletically, academically and professionally," said Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott. "The Pac-12 is incredibly proud to call them our own and to honor their legacies."
From Olympic Gold Medalists and Super Bowl Champions to NBA and WNBA veterans to NCAA Champions and collegiate athletics trailblazers, the 2020 class features another star-studded list of 12 inductees. For the full list of inductees, head to the Pac-12's website.
Among the many combined accolades of this year's inductee class includes:
Formal induction will take place on Friday, March 13 during a ceremony prior to the semifinals of the 2020 Pac-12 Men's Basketball Tournament, presented by New York Life. Following induction, the class will be honored during a special halftime ceremony of the day's first semifinal matchup at T-Mobile Arena. Tickets for the 2020 Pac-12 Men's Basketball Tournament are available at Pac-12.com/tickets.
One of the greatest American swimmers of all time, Belote Ripley shattered the Arizona State record books and left an unparalleled legacy for the Sun Devils. Bringing home three gold medals for the American swimming team in Munich 1972, she also set a new American record during those Olympic games in the 200-meter backstroke. While at Arizona State, she won six individual National Collegiate Swimming Championships, leading the university to two national championships. A four-year All-American, Belote Ripley also earned the esteemed Broderick Award in 1977 as the most outstanding women's collegiate swimmer in the country. She was later selected to the U.S. Swimming "Team of the Century" in 1999.
The 2020 Hall of Honor class will be the 19th since its creation in 2002, and the third to feature legendary figures from an array of sports after the Pac-12 expanded the field to be inclusive of the broad-based athletics success across the Conference of Champions. Each year a new inductee from each Pac-12 university is welcomed into the Hall of Honor.
"The extraordinary achievements of this year's Hall of Honor class represent the very best of our universities' rich history of excellence athletically, academically and professionally," said Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott. "The Pac-12 is incredibly proud to call them our own and to honor their legacies."
From Olympic Gold Medalists and Super Bowl Champions to NBA and WNBA veterans to NCAA Champions and collegiate athletics trailblazers, the 2020 class features another star-studded list of 12 inductees. For the full list of inductees, head to the Pac-12's website.
Among the many combined accolades of this year's inductee class includes:
- 20 NFL Pro Bowl selections
- 12 seasons in the NBA
- Numerous Olympians, Olympic gold medalists, NCAA championships, world records, All-American recognitions, Hall of Fame inductions, Super Bowl appearances and retired jersey numbers
- Conference Player of the Year recognitions
- Honda Sports Awards
- Rose Bowl appearances
- Senior leadership who played key roles in establishing women's athletics on campus
- The first woman ever to receive an athletic scholarship on campus
Formal induction will take place on Friday, March 13 during a ceremony prior to the semifinals of the 2020 Pac-12 Men's Basketball Tournament, presented by New York Life. Following induction, the class will be honored during a special halftime ceremony of the day's first semifinal matchup at T-Mobile Arena. Tickets for the 2020 Pac-12 Men's Basketball Tournament are available at Pac-12.com/tickets.