UCLA Announces the Hall of Fame Class of 2015

UCLA Athletics has announced the Hall of Fame Class of 2015. The 2015 Hall of Fame Inductees are:

Annett Buckner Davis (Women's Volleyball, 1991-94)

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Our 1st member of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCLA?src=hash">#UCLA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HallofFame?src=hash">#HallofFame</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Classof2015?src=hash">#Classof2015</a> is <a href="https://twitter.com/UCLAWomensVB">@UCLAWomensVB</a> NCAA Champion &amp; Olympian Annett Buckner Davis! <a href="http://t.co/ZYBpvXKryS">pic.twitter.com/ZYBpvXKryS</a></p>&mdash; UCLA Athletics (@UCLAAthletics) <a href="https://twitter.com/UCLAAthletics/status/603667346427883520">May 27, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

In addition to being a key player on the Bruins' 1991 NCAA Championship team as a freshman, Buckner Davis was named as an All-American in 1993 and 1994. In her first season, she was selected as the Pac-10's Freshman of the Year, and in her final season, she was the Pac-10 Player of the Year. Buckner Davis competed in beach volleyball in the 2000 Olympics with former UCLA teammate Jenny Johnson Jordan.

Danny Farmer (Football, Men's Volleyball 1996-99)

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">2-sport star &amp; 2-time NCAA Champion Danny Farmer enters the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCLA?src=hash">#UCLA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HallofFame?src=hash">#HallofFame</a> for <a href="https://twitter.com/UCLAFootball">@UCLAFootball</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/UCLAMVB">@UCLAMVB</a>! <a href="http://t.co/NSRbxdZskU">pic.twitter.com/NSRbxdZskU</a></p>&mdash; UCLA Athletics (@UCLAAthletics) <a href="https://twitter.com/UCLAAthletics/status/603669339175198720">May 27, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Two-sport stars are increasingly rare, and the combination of football and volleyball is particularly unusual. Farmer excelled at both. As a volleyball player, Farmer played on two NCAA Championship teams (1996 & 1998) and earned All-America honors as a senior.

Farmer's accomplishments on the gridiron are even more impressive, especially considering the fact that he started his football career as a walk-on. By the time his UCLA football career was over, he was the Bruins' all-time receiving yards leader. As a freshman, Farmer led the team in receptions; as a sophomore, Farmer was All-Pac-10 honorable mention; as a junior, Farmer was selected All-Pac-10 First Team; as a senior, Farmer was named a preseason All-American. Farmer played three seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL.

Danny's father, George, was also a multi-sport athlete at UCLA. George Farmer played football and basketball, and ran track. He was a member of UCLA's 1970 NCAA Championship basketball team.

Billy Martin (Men's Tennis Player, 1975; Head Coach, 1994-present)

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A NCAA champion as a player &amp; a coach, current <a href="https://twitter.com/uclatennis">@uclatennis</a> head coach Billy Martin is now a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCLA?src=hash">#UCLA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HallofFame?src=hash">#HallofFame</a> member! <a href="http://t.co/1knyyl8CSx">pic.twitter.com/1knyyl8CSx</a></p>&mdash; UCLA Athletics (@UCLAAthletics) <a href="https://twitter.com/UCLAAthletics/status/603670810335703041">May 27, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Billy Martin was only a UCLA athlete for one year (1975), but his list of accomplishments is impressive nonetheless. As a freshman, he captured the Pac-10 singles title and the NCAA singles title, and he led an undefeated UCLA team o the NCAA Championship in 1975. After turning pro, Martin was named ATP Rookie of the Year in 1977.

Martin became head coach of the Bruins in 1994. During his tenure, UCLA has won an NCAA Championship (2005), and 11 conference titles. Martin has been selected Pac-12 Coach of the Year four times.

Paul Nihipali (Men's Volleyball, 1994-97)

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The all-time kills leader for <a href="https://twitter.com/UCLAMVB">@UCLAMVB</a> &amp; 2-time NCAA Champ Paul Nihipali is now a member of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCLA?src=hash">#UCLA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HallofFame?src=hash">#HallofFame</a>! <a href="http://t.co/1RoMwuIJKa">pic.twitter.com/1RoMwuIJKa</a></p>&mdash; UCLA Athletics (@UCLAAthletics) <a href="https://twitter.com/UCLAAthletics/status/603672793641693184">May 27, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Paul Nihipali's UCLA teams played in the NCAA Championship every season. The Bruins won two national titles (1995 & 1996) during the Nihipali era, and Nihipali was a four-time All-American. He is UCLA's career leader in kills (2096) and the only Bruin to surpass the 2000 kill mark. Nihipali played on the U.S. National team for three seasons while he was at UCLA.

Jan Palchikoff (Women's Rowing, 1973-75/Swimming & Diving, 1971-74)

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A pioneer for women&#39;s athletics, rower/swimmer &amp; 2-time Olympian Jan Palchikoff enters the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCLA?src=hash">#UCLA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HallOfFame?src=hash">#HallOfFame</a>! <a href="http://t.co/SPdZn012GI">pic.twitter.com/SPdZn012GI</a></p>&mdash; UCLA Athletics (@UCLAAthletics) <a href="https://twitter.com/UCLAAthletics/status/603672807113883648">May 27, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Jan Palchikoff was on the UCLA swim team from 1971-74, and took part in the AIAW Swim Nationals in three of those seasons. However, her stronger sport was rowing, She rowed for UCLA's first varsity team in 1974 which qualified for the U.S. Women's Rowing Association National Championships. Palchikoff was a national championin double sculls in 1979 and a two-time Olympian (1976, 1980).

But Jan Palchikoff also deserves recognition for her contributions to the growth of women's athletics. As the official site notes:

While [Palchikoff] had great success as a competitor, perhaps her greatest contributions came off the playing surface. One of the founding members of the Union of Women Athletes, she was a strong advocate for Title IX and served as a student representative on the Chancellor's Advisory Council on the Status of Women and on the UC Athletic Advisory Board.

Janice Parks (Softball, 1986-89)

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">1989 Honda Award winner Janice Parks is the latest <a href="https://twitter.com/UCLASoftball">@UCLASoftball</a> player to be inducted into the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCLA?src=hash">#UCLA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HallofFame?src=hash">#HallofFame</a>! <a href="http://t.co/f8Wxjo9K73">pic.twitter.com/f8Wxjo9K73</a></p>&mdash; UCLA Athletics (@UCLAAthletics) <a href="https://twitter.com/UCLAAthletics/status/603675134663258113">May 27, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Janice Parks helped lead UCLA to back-to-back  NCAA Softball Championships in 1988 and 1989. She was a first-team All-American three times, and the Honda Award winner for softball as a senior. Parks was named to the NCAA All-Decade Team for the 1980s. She received All-Pac-10 recognition every season she played, and she received the Pac-10 Conference Medal as a senior.

Parks represented Puerto Rico in the 1996 Olympics.

Eric Valent (Baseball, 1996-98)

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/pac12">@pac12</a>&#39;s all-time leader in career HRs - Eric Valent - is the newest <a href="https://twitter.com/UCLABaseball">@UCLABaseball</a> alum in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCLA?src=hash">#UCLA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HallofFame?src=hash">#HallofFame</a>! <a href="http://t.co/LaZF9xiQ2i">pic.twitter.com/LaZF9xiQ2i</a></p>&mdash; UCLA Athletics (@UCLAAthletics) <a href="https://twitter.com/UCLAAthletics/status/603677606114910208">May 27, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Eric Valent was a key member of UCLA's College World Series team in 1997. In his three seasons as a Bruin, Valent became the career leader in home runs (69) and RBI (219), and he holds the single-season RBI record with 91 in 1997. Valent was named the Pac-10's Player of the Year in 1998, and he earned Freshman All-American recognition in 1996.

Valent was a first-round MLB draft choice in 1998, and played five seasons in the majors with the Phillies, Reds, and Mets.

Richard Washington (Men's Basketball, 1974-76)

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The final member of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HallofFame?src=hash">#HallofFame</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Classof2015?src=hash">#Classof2015</a> is <a href="https://twitter.com/UCLAMBB">@UCLAMBB</a> All-American &amp; 1975 NCAA Tourney MVP Richard Washington! <a href="http://t.co/8niH8khhxR">pic.twitter.com/8niH8khhxR</a></p>&mdash; UCLA Athletics (@UCLAAthletics) <a href="https://twitter.com/UCLAAthletics/status/603679598652456960">May 27, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Richard Washington led the Bruins to the 1975 NCAA Championship, earning recognition as the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. The following season, Washington earned first-team Pac-10 and first-team All-America honors and led the Bruins in scoring. He ranks 35th on the UCLA career scoring list.

Washington was selected third in the 1976 NBA Draft. He played six seasons in the NBA.

According to the official site, the new class will be honored in a ceremony on Saturday, October 3, at halftime of the UCLA-Arizona State football game.

Congratulations to these eight UCLA legends. Their selection for induction into the UCLA Hall of Fame is well-deserved.

Go BRUINS!