Completed Event: General versus Arizona on January 18, 2002
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General
vs Arizona
The University of Utah Athletics
Photo by: Evan Jones
Utah Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2022 Inducted Friday Evening
9/9/2022 10:45 PM | Football, General, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Gymnastics, Cross Country, Track & Field, Skiing, Women's Swimming & Diving
Eight former athletes, including two Super Bowl champions, celebrated at Rice-Eccles Stadium & Tower
Utah Athletics enshrined its latest class into the Hall of Fame on Friday evening at the Rice-Eccles Stadium & Tower. The 2022 Utah Athletics Hall of Fame class is comprised of eight former athletes.
Honored on Friday night were Christl Hager (skiing), Heidi Hausknecht (women's swimming), Chris Kemoeatu (football), Carla Pittelkow (cross country/track & field), Mitch Smith (men's basketball), Shona Thorburn (women's basketball), Melissa Vituj (gymnastics), and Eric Weddle (football). The class will also be recognized during the Utah-Southern Utah football game on Saturday afternoon.
"This evening is always one of the highlights of the year for us," said Utah Athletics Director Mark Harlan. "It is a night to connect with our past and to celebrate the start of a new year. To all of our inductees, congratulations. You are among the best there ever was and the best there ever will be in the history of Utah Athletics. A special salute to all of our women inductees. This is the 50 anniversary of Title IX. I think we understand that it was a little different back then but you kept on fighting. So many amazing women have come here and thrived, and we are proud to have some of them going into the Hall of Fame tonight."
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Christl Hager – Skiing
One of the most dominant down-hillers in NCAA history, Christl Hager became Utah's only three-time national champion skier in the mid-1990s and led the Utes to a pair of national titles.
Hager joined the U.S. Team at age 14, but after a series of injuries she was forced to give up on her dream of competing in the Olympics and turned her focus to skiing collegiately.
Hager joined the Utes in 1994, winning the first of her three giant slalom titles as a rookie. The following year, Hager won another gold medal in the giant slalom and captured the first of her three second-place finishes in the slalom at the NCAA Championships. She also placed third in the GS at the 1995 U.S. National Championships. Hager capped off her career by winning another NCAA giant slalom title in 1997. She won or shared Utah's Toril Forland Women's Outstanding Skier Award all four years of her career.
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Heidi Hausknecht - Women's Swimming
A two-time Mountain West Conference champion and Utah's first All-American in women's swimming, Heidi Hausknecht left an indelible mark during her career with the Utes.
She began her college career at Hawaii and competed in three events at the NCAA Championships as a freshman. Hausknecht then decided to come back home and took second in the 100 fly, fourth in the 50 free and ninth in the 100 free at the 1999 WAC Championships. She placed eighth in the 100 fly at the NCAA Championships to become an All-American.
Hausknecht won a pair of Mountain West Conference titles in the 50 free and 100 butterfly. She advanced to NCAAs for the second straight year, placing 22nd in the 100 butterfly. During her Utah career, Hausknecht set seven school records, including individual marks in the 50 free, 100 free and 100 fly, as well as the 200 and 400 free relays and the 200 and 400 medley relays.
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Chris Kemoeatu – Football
A first team All-American in 2004, lineman Chris Kemoeatu paved the way for a record-setting Ute offense during the undefeated Fiesta Bowl season before playing in a pair of Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
He became a starter at left guard in 2002, earning honorable mention All-Mountain West Conference. Kemoeatu was having a first team all-conference caliber season in 2003 before he missed four games. But he came back in 2004 to have a dominant senior year.
As a starter at right guard, Kemoeatu averaged 68 snaps a game and had a team-best 81 knockdowns. Kemoeatu was named First Team All-Mountain West Conference and First Team All-America by two outlets. The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Kemoeatu in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He was a starter on the Steelers' 2008 team that won the Super Bowl. He made another Super Bowl appearance with Pittsburgh two years later.
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Carla Pittelkow - Cross Country/Track & Field
A four-time All-American distance runner during the early days of women's athletics, Carla Pittelkow helped lead the Utah cross country team to the 1981 AIAW Division II National Championship.
Pittelkow got her college career off to a fast start in 1980, taking third at the cross country regionals and earning All-America honors at nationals. The following year, she took seventh at the national meet, helping Utah capture the 1981 AIAW Division II Championship.
She had an outstanding track & field season in 1982. She placed sixth at the indoor nationals and won the outdoor regional title in the 800 meters. At the AIAW National Championships, she earned All-America honors in two events, placing third in the 1,500 meters and second in the 3,000 meters. A series of injuries limited the last few years of her college career, but she still managed to place seventh at the 1984 NCAA Cross Country Regionals.
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Mitch Smith - Men's Basketball
A three-time All-Western Athletic Conference forward for the Runnin' Utes in the late 1980s, Mitch Smith was Utah's top rebounder and top shot blocker all four years of his college career, and led the team in scoring the last three years.
Smith averaged 7.6 rebounds a game his freshman season as Utah tied for the 1986 WAC title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. As a sophomore, he had his best offensive year while averaging 16.8 points per game. As a senior in 1988-89, Smith recorded 55 blocked shots, the seventh-most in a season in school history.
On the career charts, Smith remains 10th with 1,628 points, fourth with 1,026 rebounds, third with 157 blocked shots, seventh with 134 steals, and eighth with 418 free throws made. He is one of just four Ute players all-time to reach 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. Once his college career came to a close, Smith embarked on a decade-long professional career in Spain, Turkey and Belgium.
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Shona Thorburn - Women's Basketball
A two-time All-American and first-team all-conference point guard, Shona Thorburn was the floor general for Utah's run to the NCAA Elite Eight in 2006.
Thorburn earned second-team All-Mountain West Conference honors as a redshirt freshman and sophomore. As a junior. She averaged 14.9 points and ranked sixth in the nation with 6.5 assists per game that season. Full Court Press placed her on its All-America Third Team, and she shared Mountain West Conference Player of the Year honors. Her senior year in 2006, Thorburn ranked second in the nation with 7.1 assists per game, earned honorable mention All-America honors and made the All-Mountain West first team for the second straight year.
She finished her career ranked sixth in Utah history with 1,735 points, first with 689 assists, and fourth with 203 steals. She was the No. 7 overall pick in the 2006 WNBA Draft, spending two years in the league. She went on to play professionally overseas and was a member of the Canadian National Team.
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Melissa Vituj – Gymnastics
An 11-time All-American gymnast, Melissa Vituj achieved four top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships and led the Red Rocks to the Super Six all four years of her career.
Vituj had a brilliant debut season in 2001, placing third on beam and eighth on floor at the NCAA Championships. She was also a second team All-American on vault. After finishing 14th on floor and earning second team All-American on beam and vault as a sophomore, she placed ninth on floor as a junior and was named the North Central Gymnast of the Year.
As a senior, she won the South Region all-around and beam titles. At the NCAA Championships, she placed third on floor, seventh in the all-around, and captured second team All-America honors on beam at the NCAA Championships. She was also one of four nominees for the Honda Broderick Award, honoring the nation's top female gymnast, and earned third team Academic All-America honors.
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Eric Weddle – Football
One of the most versatile college football players of all time, Eric Weddle was honored as a Consensus All-American in 2006 before becoming an All-Pro safety and a Super Bowl champion in the NFL.
Weddle earned first-team Freshman All-America honors in 2003 and played a key role on Utah's undefeated Fiesta Bowl team in 2004. In each of the next two seasons, Weddle was voted the Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year. He led the league with seven interceptions as a senior, returning two of those picks for touchdowns. Weddle scored eight touchdowns during the 2006 season with five of those coming as a ball carrier. He also passed for a score. Weddle was named a First Team All-America defensive back by the AFCA and The Sporting News, and was a Second Team All-American by to other outlets. He finished his career with 18 interceptions, ranking second in school history.
Weddle was selected in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers, going as the No. 37 overall pick. In his 14-year NFL career, Weddle was a six-time Pro Bowl selection. After initially retiring following the 2019 season, Weddle came back to join a short-handed Los Angeles Rams team for their playoff run in January of 2022 and led them to a Super Bowl victory.
Honored on Friday night were Christl Hager (skiing), Heidi Hausknecht (women's swimming), Chris Kemoeatu (football), Carla Pittelkow (cross country/track & field), Mitch Smith (men's basketball), Shona Thorburn (women's basketball), Melissa Vituj (gymnastics), and Eric Weddle (football). The class will also be recognized during the Utah-Southern Utah football game on Saturday afternoon.
"This evening is always one of the highlights of the year for us," said Utah Athletics Director Mark Harlan. "It is a night to connect with our past and to celebrate the start of a new year. To all of our inductees, congratulations. You are among the best there ever was and the best there ever will be in the history of Utah Athletics. A special salute to all of our women inductees. This is the 50 anniversary of Title IX. I think we understand that it was a little different back then but you kept on fighting. So many amazing women have come here and thrived, and we are proud to have some of them going into the Hall of Fame tonight."
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Christl Hager – Skiing
One of the most dominant down-hillers in NCAA history, Christl Hager became Utah's only three-time national champion skier in the mid-1990s and led the Utes to a pair of national titles.
Hager joined the U.S. Team at age 14, but after a series of injuries she was forced to give up on her dream of competing in the Olympics and turned her focus to skiing collegiately.
Hager joined the Utes in 1994, winning the first of her three giant slalom titles as a rookie. The following year, Hager won another gold medal in the giant slalom and captured the first of her three second-place finishes in the slalom at the NCAA Championships. She also placed third in the GS at the 1995 U.S. National Championships. Hager capped off her career by winning another NCAA giant slalom title in 1997. She won or shared Utah's Toril Forland Women's Outstanding Skier Award all four years of her career.
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Heidi Hausknecht - Women's Swimming
A two-time Mountain West Conference champion and Utah's first All-American in women's swimming, Heidi Hausknecht left an indelible mark during her career with the Utes.
She began her college career at Hawaii and competed in three events at the NCAA Championships as a freshman. Hausknecht then decided to come back home and took second in the 100 fly, fourth in the 50 free and ninth in the 100 free at the 1999 WAC Championships. She placed eighth in the 100 fly at the NCAA Championships to become an All-American.
Hausknecht won a pair of Mountain West Conference titles in the 50 free and 100 butterfly. She advanced to NCAAs for the second straight year, placing 22nd in the 100 butterfly. During her Utah career, Hausknecht set seven school records, including individual marks in the 50 free, 100 free and 100 fly, as well as the 200 and 400 free relays and the 200 and 400 medley relays.
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Chris Kemoeatu – Football
A first team All-American in 2004, lineman Chris Kemoeatu paved the way for a record-setting Ute offense during the undefeated Fiesta Bowl season before playing in a pair of Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
He became a starter at left guard in 2002, earning honorable mention All-Mountain West Conference. Kemoeatu was having a first team all-conference caliber season in 2003 before he missed four games. But he came back in 2004 to have a dominant senior year.
As a starter at right guard, Kemoeatu averaged 68 snaps a game and had a team-best 81 knockdowns. Kemoeatu was named First Team All-Mountain West Conference and First Team All-America by two outlets. The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Kemoeatu in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He was a starter on the Steelers' 2008 team that won the Super Bowl. He made another Super Bowl appearance with Pittsburgh two years later.
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Carla Pittelkow - Cross Country/Track & Field
A four-time All-American distance runner during the early days of women's athletics, Carla Pittelkow helped lead the Utah cross country team to the 1981 AIAW Division II National Championship.
Pittelkow got her college career off to a fast start in 1980, taking third at the cross country regionals and earning All-America honors at nationals. The following year, she took seventh at the national meet, helping Utah capture the 1981 AIAW Division II Championship.
She had an outstanding track & field season in 1982. She placed sixth at the indoor nationals and won the outdoor regional title in the 800 meters. At the AIAW National Championships, she earned All-America honors in two events, placing third in the 1,500 meters and second in the 3,000 meters. A series of injuries limited the last few years of her college career, but she still managed to place seventh at the 1984 NCAA Cross Country Regionals.
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Mitch Smith - Men's Basketball
A three-time All-Western Athletic Conference forward for the Runnin' Utes in the late 1980s, Mitch Smith was Utah's top rebounder and top shot blocker all four years of his college career, and led the team in scoring the last three years.
Smith averaged 7.6 rebounds a game his freshman season as Utah tied for the 1986 WAC title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. As a sophomore, he had his best offensive year while averaging 16.8 points per game. As a senior in 1988-89, Smith recorded 55 blocked shots, the seventh-most in a season in school history.
On the career charts, Smith remains 10th with 1,628 points, fourth with 1,026 rebounds, third with 157 blocked shots, seventh with 134 steals, and eighth with 418 free throws made. He is one of just four Ute players all-time to reach 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. Once his college career came to a close, Smith embarked on a decade-long professional career in Spain, Turkey and Belgium.
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Shona Thorburn - Women's Basketball
A two-time All-American and first-team all-conference point guard, Shona Thorburn was the floor general for Utah's run to the NCAA Elite Eight in 2006.
Thorburn earned second-team All-Mountain West Conference honors as a redshirt freshman and sophomore. As a junior. She averaged 14.9 points and ranked sixth in the nation with 6.5 assists per game that season. Full Court Press placed her on its All-America Third Team, and she shared Mountain West Conference Player of the Year honors. Her senior year in 2006, Thorburn ranked second in the nation with 7.1 assists per game, earned honorable mention All-America honors and made the All-Mountain West first team for the second straight year.
She finished her career ranked sixth in Utah history with 1,735 points, first with 689 assists, and fourth with 203 steals. She was the No. 7 overall pick in the 2006 WNBA Draft, spending two years in the league. She went on to play professionally overseas and was a member of the Canadian National Team.
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Melissa Vituj – Gymnastics
An 11-time All-American gymnast, Melissa Vituj achieved four top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships and led the Red Rocks to the Super Six all four years of her career.
Vituj had a brilliant debut season in 2001, placing third on beam and eighth on floor at the NCAA Championships. She was also a second team All-American on vault. After finishing 14th on floor and earning second team All-American on beam and vault as a sophomore, she placed ninth on floor as a junior and was named the North Central Gymnast of the Year.
As a senior, she won the South Region all-around and beam titles. At the NCAA Championships, she placed third on floor, seventh in the all-around, and captured second team All-America honors on beam at the NCAA Championships. She was also one of four nominees for the Honda Broderick Award, honoring the nation's top female gymnast, and earned third team Academic All-America honors.
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Eric Weddle – Football
One of the most versatile college football players of all time, Eric Weddle was honored as a Consensus All-American in 2006 before becoming an All-Pro safety and a Super Bowl champion in the NFL.
Weddle earned first-team Freshman All-America honors in 2003 and played a key role on Utah's undefeated Fiesta Bowl team in 2004. In each of the next two seasons, Weddle was voted the Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year. He led the league with seven interceptions as a senior, returning two of those picks for touchdowns. Weddle scored eight touchdowns during the 2006 season with five of those coming as a ball carrier. He also passed for a score. Weddle was named a First Team All-America defensive back by the AFCA and The Sporting News, and was a Second Team All-American by to other outlets. He finished his career with 18 interceptions, ranking second in school history.
Weddle was selected in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers, going as the No. 37 overall pick. In his 14-year NFL career, Weddle was a six-time Pro Bowl selection. After initially retiring following the 2019 season, Weddle came back to join a short-handed Los Angeles Rams team for their playoff run in January of 2022 and led them to a Super Bowl victory.
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