TEMPE — The Sun Devil Hall of Fame is adding six more members to its 2025 Class, joining the 1975 Sun Devil Football team and Men’s Basketball star Jeff Ayres (Pendergraph), who were previously announced in June by Athletics Director Graham Rossini.
The 2025 Class now includes Paul Asmuth (Men’s Swimming), Ryan Bader (Wrestling), Gary Donnelly (Men’s Tennis), Dallas Escobedo (Softball) and Cali Farquharson (Soccer), while long-time athletic trainer Troy Young will join the Hall of Distinction.
All honorees are being celebrated during events leading up to and during the Sun Devil Football game against Texas Tech on October 18, including a luncheon on Oct. 17.
Let’s learn more about the legacy of our newest Sun Devil Hall of Famers.
Paul Asmuth / Men’s Swimming / 1977-80
One of the best premier marathon swimmers, Paul Asmuth, was a three-time All-American at Arizona State under ASU Hall of Distinction member coach Ron Johnson and served as co-team captain. In 1978, Asmuth garnered his first All-America honor in the 1650 freestyle. Then, in his junior season, he earned All-America accolades for a second time in the 1650 free, finishing fourth. Asmuth closed out his collegiate career in 1980 by earning All-America honors in the 1650 free and held school records for several years in the 1000 free and the 1650 free. He graduated from Arizona State with a BS in accounting before continuing his professional swimming career.
After departing from ASU in 1980, Asmuth notched seven world Professional Marathon Federation titles, eight Atlantic City Around the Island Swim events and six La Traversee du Lac Memphremagog championship records. Additionally, Asmuth won the Lac St. Jean crossing in Robertal, Quebec at 21 miles and at 40 miles. The Florida native made history by becoming the first man to swim Nantucket to Cape Cod, Mass., and he has swum the English Channel three times and set the men's swimming record in 1985. Asmuth was named athlete of the decade by The Press of Atlantic City in 1990 and was inducted into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame in 1982 and the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2010.
In 2007, he advised the USA Swimming’s open water national team from 2007-2012, and was responsible for the strategic plan of the open water national team at world championships and the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. In 2018, Asmuth published a book on his swimming journey and is the founder of the Napa Valley Community Forest helping plant 2,500 redwood and oak trees to benefit the environment in St. Helena, Calif. Asmuth resides with his wife Marilyn and two children.
Ryan Bader / Wrestling / 2002-06
Ryan Bader embarked on a memorable career in Tempe by representing Sun Devil Wrestling by becoming a two-time All-American and a three-time Pac-10 Champion (2003, 2004, 2006), competing at 197 lbs and collected 120 wins in his collegiate career which ranks 9th all-time in program history. The Reno, Nevada native is the only two-time All-American in the 197 lb weight class and helped the Sun Devils win the 2005 and 2006 Pac-10 conference championships.
In three of his four seasons wrestling at ASU he surpassed the 30-win mark, including a career-best sophomore season in 2004 by going 33-8 that was capped off with a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships. In 2005, he went 31-8 and finished as a runner-up in the Pac-10 championship and had an 11-match winning streak throughout his junior year. In 2006, he managed to rattle off 32 victories and won his third conference title at 197 lbs, eventually earning All-American honors with a seventh-place finish at NCAA Championships.
Bader graduated from ASU with a BS in Justice and Social Inquiry with a minor in Business in 2006. After college, he pursued a career in MMA fighting, where he has a 31-8 career record and is the current Bellator heavyweight champion with three successful title defenses since 2019 and was the light heavyweight title holder. Bader is married to his wife Daisy and has three kids of their own.
Gary Donnelly / Men's Tennis / 1981
As ASU Men’s Tennis entered the 1980s, Myron McNamara was named head coach and Gary Donnelly was just beginning his ASU tennis career. Donnelly, who played under the watchful eye of Lou Belken at Scottsdale Racquet Club, went on to achieve fame as a doubles finalist at Wimbledon in 1986. He also competed in the doubles semifinals at the 1985 U.S. Open and the 1987 French Open. His singles career has been highlighted by his appearance in the round of 16 at the 1985 U.S. Open.
Dallas Escobedo / Softball / 2011-14
Dallas Escobedo burst onto the scene in Tempe and led the Sun Devils to the 2011 NCAA championship as a freshman. During the run to the title, Escobedo went 37-3 with a 1.51 ERA and 326 strikeouts. She held the opposition to a .173 batting average, allowing only 153 hits in 255.1 innings pitched. At the Women’s College World Series, Escobedo went 5-0 with 38 strikeouts. In each of her four seasons at ASU, Escobedo accumulated over 200 innings pitched while never winning fewer than 24 games.
Her 2014 campaign saw an average of 10.08 strikeouts per seven innings with a 1.95 ERA and a 24-9 record with 12 shutouts. Escobedo won 155 games in her career, recorded 1,224 strikeouts and held opponents to a .189 average.
She ended her career as one of two players in program history with 100 wins and 1,000 strikeouts. Her career totals placed her second in program history in strikeouts per seven (9.02), wins (155), appearances (173), starts (140), complete games (116), shutouts (39), innings pitched (950.1) and strikeouts. Escobedo was a three-time NFCA All-American while making three All-Pac-12 teams.
Cali Farquharson / Soccer / 2012-15
From Shadow Mountain High School in Phoenix and born in Yokota, Japan, Cali Farquharson left an indelible mark on Sun Devil Soccer during her career from 2012-15.
She's one of the most prolific scorers in program history, she is the only Sun Devil to record double-digit goals in four straight seasons, finishing her career second all-time in goals (44) and points (102).
Farquharson was a clutch performer, one of four at ASU through 2015 with more than 10 game-winning goals, and she holds the record for the longest streak of consecutive games with a goal—eight matches that spanned parts of two seasons.
She earned NSCAA All-Region honors and All-Pac-12 recognition three times, was a finalist for the prestigious Senior CLASS Award, and was named Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week multiple times.
Her career featured unforgettable moments, including an eight-point performance against USC (three goals, two assists)—a Pac-12 benchmark—and a hat trick in her final collegiate game against rival Arizona.
Off the field, she earned a degree in Biological Sciences and later became a mentor and coach in her local community. In 2016, Farquharson was drafted 12th overall by the Washington Spirit, going on to play professionally for the Spirit, Sweden’s KIF Örebro, and the Houston Dash.
Hall of Distinction
Troy Young / Athletic Trainer / 1968-91
Troy Young earned his Bachelor of Science from Fort Hays State University in Health and Safety and his Master of Science in Athletic Training from Indiana State University and served as the Director of Sports Medicine at Arizona State University from 1968 to 1991, where he was a leader for some of the greatest coaches and moments in Sun Devil history, including Frank Kush and Ned Wulk.
Additionally, Troy volunteered his time with the Olympics, Pan American games, and the National Sports Festivals, as well as being active in his community by providing healthcare related lectures, seminars, and workshops for coaches, administrators, and fire fighters.
Troy is a Hall of Fame inductee for the NATA, RMATA, and Arizona Athletic Trainers’ Association, and received the Athletic Trainer of the Year Award in 1980 from the Arizona Athletic Trainers’ Association. Troy and his late wife Roberta have two sons (Troy Dean and Toby Lee) and two daughters (Tammy Laine and Terrie Lynn).
Previously announced
1975 Sun Devil Football team
Guided by the unwavering leadership of Head Coach Frank Kush, the 1975 Sun Devils stormed through the season with a flawless 12-0 record, clinched the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) championship, and earned a No. 2 national ranking, the highest in ASU history.
Not only did they overwhelm their competition by outscoring opponents by a remarkable 347-127 margin, but they also finished conference play 7-0 with signature victories over Utah, Wyoming, and archrival Arizona.
The unforgettable run concluded with a dramatic 17-14 win over national powerhouse Nebraska in the Fiesta Bowl. A fourth-quarter rally, capped by a clutch 29-yard field goal from Danny Kush, Coach Kush’s son, with under five minutes remaining, sealed the victory. The performance earned national championship honors from both The Sporting News and the National Championship Foundation.
Standouts were plentiful.
- Wide receiver John Jefferson went on to earn four Pro Bowl selections, three with the San Diego Chargers and one as a member of the Green Bay Packers
- “Fast Freddie” Williams tore through defenses en route to 1,316 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, cementing his legacy as one of ASU’s all-time great backs.
- Cornerback and co-captain Mike Haynes anchored the defense with lockdown coverage and would later enter both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
- Linebacker Larry Gordon earned Defensive MVP honors in the Fiesta Bowl and went on to a successful NFL career with the Miami Dolphins.
Jeff Ayres (Pendergraph) / 2005-09
A true Sun Devil standout, Jeff Pendergraph, now known as Ayres, etched his name in school history as one of the most efficient and productive players ever to wear maroon and gold. During four remarkable seasons, he set school records for games played (126) and started (120), while climbing to sixth on ASU’s all-time scoring list with 1,588 points, just ahead of NBA great Byron Scott.
Beloved by fans, respected by teammates, and admired across the conference, he left ASU as not just a record-holder but as a cornerstone of the program’s resurgence by leading ASU to 25 wins in 2008-09 for the first time since 1974-75 and just the third time in school history.
He was equally impressive in the classroom, earning his BA in economics in just three and a half years. He went on to be the 31st overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft and play for the San Antonio Spurs, where he won a championship in the 2013-14 season, the Portland Trail Blazers and the Indiana Pacers.