Courtesy: Arizona Athletic
TUCSON, Ariz. — Six outstanding athletes, one of the department’s all-time winningest coaches, and a dedicated former administrator will be honored with induction into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame, Arizona Athletics announced today. The eight-member class of 2023 includes All-Americans, Olympic medalists, all-time greats in professional sports, and more.
Arizona Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2023
- Beloved Promise; Arizona Track & Field student-athlete, 2009-13
- Kirsten Smith; Arizona Women’s Basketball student-athlete, 1982-86
- Rob Gronkowski; Arizona Football student-athlete, 2007-09
- Preston Guilmet; Arizona Baseball student-athlete, 2005-09
- John Perrin; Arizona Athletics Chief Financial Officer, 1979-2014
- Dave Rubio; Arizona Volleyball head coach, 1992-2023
- Stephen Sambu; Arizona Cross Country and Track & Field student-athlete, 2010-13
- Justine Schluntz; Arizona Swimming & Diving student-athlete, 2005-10
The 2023 class will be officially inducted into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame on Friday, Nov. 3 at the Westin La Paloma with a ceremony beginning at 5:15 p.m. MST. Tickets to the event can be purchased here.
Promise, formerly known as Brigetta Barrett while competing at Arizona, is a six-time NCAA National Champion, eight-time All-American, Olympic silver medalist, and repeated record breaker in the high jump. While at Arizona she tallied three conference championships, set the school record in the indoor and outdoor high jump, excelled in the classroom to the tune of two CoSIDA Academic All-America selections, and earned the 2013 Pac-12 Woman of the Year award. Promise’s domination of the high jump continued outside the friendly confines of collegiate athletics, boasting four medals in international competition and a pair of USA championships, among other accomplishments.
Smith, the first Women’s Basketball player at Arizona to score 1,000 career points, enters the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame after having earned a spot in the Ring of Honor this year. Over 33 years after her playing career ended, Smith still remains in the program’s all-time top ten for numerous records. At the time of her graduation in 1986 she held the Wildcats all-time scoring record with 1,264 career points. Smith picked up All-Pac-West First Team honors her senior year to cap one of the most prolific careers seen to date.
Gronkowski, one of the Wildcats most prominent alumni, enjoyed an All-America career at Arizona before going on to establish himself as one of the most accomplished tight ends in the history of the National Football League. The 2008 First Team All-Pac-10 and Third Team All-American finished his collegiate career as Arizona’s record holder in a single game, season, and career for receptions, yards, and touchdowns by a tight end. Gronkowski was selected in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots and went on to enjoy an 11-year NFL career that included four Super Bowl championships, four First Team All-Pro selections, five Pro Bowl appearances, and a spot on the NFL’s 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.
Guilmet, a two-time All-American for Arizona Baseball, remains to this day the program leader in games started (61) and innings pitched (416.2) while ranking second all-time with 419 strikeouts. A steady presence on the mound for Arizona, he twice led the team in wins and ERA while pacing the club in strikeouts in all four of his collegiate campaigns. As a sophomore in 2007 Guilmet was selected as the Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year and earned the first of his two First Team All-Pac-10 selections. Following his outstanding collegiate career, Guilmet was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the ninth round of the 2009 MLB Draft and broke through to earn his Major League debut in 2013.
Perrin served 35 years in the Arizona Athletics department, touching four decades of Wildcat student-athletes and administrators and covering 20 of the school’s 22 team NCAA Championships. As the department’s chief financial officer he grew Arizona’s budget from $6 million to $70 million and oversaw the business, facilities, and event management departments. During Perrin’s tenure every sport saw upgrades to their venues or enjoyed brand new facilities being constructed to enhance their competitiveness in an evolving collegiate sports landscape.
Rubio finished his 31-year career at the helm of Arizona Volleyball ranked 11th among active Division I coaches with 692 career victories, 570 of which came at Arizona. Under his guidance the Wildcats made 20 NCAA Tournament appearances, advancing to eight Sweet 16s, four Elite Eights, and one Final Four. Rubio molded three Wildcat Olympians for Team USA, four First Team All-Americans, four Pac-10/12 major award winners, and an AVCA Freshman of the Year. His athletes also excelled in the classroom, with 68 earning academic all-conference honors.
Sambu, the second Arizona Track & Field athlete honored with induction in the class of 2023, was an eight-time All-American and a two-time conference champion while at Arizona. After setting a program record in the 10K in 2011 that still stands to this day he earned Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honors, kicking off a remarkable two-sport career. Sambu finished as high as second place at the NCAA Championships five times across three different events and was a back-to-back Pac-10 champion in the 10K in 2011 and 2012.
Schluntz, one of four Wildcats to earn NCAA Woman of the Year honors, was a driving force behind the Women’s Swimming & Diving team NCAA Championship in 2008. During her time in Tucson Schluntz was part of five NCAA Championship winning relay teams, including back-to-back titles in the 400 yard medley relay. She was a 16-time All-American, two-time Pac-10 Champion, and still to this day holds times in the Arizona all-time top ten in six events. Schluntz was also a standout in the classroom having been a 2010 Rhodes Scholar, three-time Pac-10 All-Academic First Team honoree, and a CoSIDA First Team Academic All-American.
The entire list of members in the UA Hall of Fame can be found online at ArizonaWildcats.com.