ELKHART — The old saying about saving the best for last was certainly fitting Saturday night during the 2011 Induction Ceremony for the Elkhart County Sports Hall of Fame at the Matterhorn Restaurant.

Vince Turner, media inductee, was the 23rd and final speaker for the evening and didn’t disappoint those waiting to hear from the former WTRC radio sports director.

“I feel little bit out of place here,” he said. “I’m beginning to think this is my grand daughter’s game that asks which one of these things doesn’t belong. I can’t jump, I can’t run, I can’t shoot and if you ask my high school football coach I couldn’t tackle.

“But I’m grateful to God for the blessings he showers upon us beyond our comprehension. Forty years ago, I was a foster kid who was wondering if he was even going to finish high school. To go from that point to the Hall of Fame is remarkable. God has put me in the right places a lot of times.”

Phyllis Tubbs, one of the evening’s moderators along with Bob Riley, said, “ Vince there is a reason why we put you last.”

This year’s class brings to total number of inductees to 380.

Plaques recognizing all members are on display at Rush Memorial Center in Bristol (old Bristol High School). The Hall also has a Web site at www.ElkhartCountyHOF.com.

GHS graduates

Three of the newest members are Goshen High School graduates in Pete Weddell (1967), Maurie Kline (1977) and Penny Hoffman-DiPomazio (1977).

Weddell was the most valuable player in basketball as a senior playing for legendary coach Art Cosgrove (member of the Elkhart County and Indiana Basketball Hall of Fames) and in tennis helped the Redskins win the Northern Indiana Conference championship for coach Tom Sovine.

“Seeing all these people brings back a lot of memories,” Weddell said. “When I was in high school I played against Jim Powers Sr. when he was at South Bend Central and when I got into coaching went against him when he was at Elkhart Memorial.”

Weddell has special memories of Cosgrove and one of his other coaches.

“It would be very nice if he (Cosgrove) could be here tonight,” he said. “He was a very good person who cared about his players whether you were a starter or a reserve.

“Another coach I remember is Ernie Sample at Waterford Elementary School. He was my first coach in organized sports.”

Four former Redskins — Bob Lau, Jim Lindhorn, Steve Morse and Dave Stewart — who played for Weddell were in attendance at the banquet.

Kline earned six letters in cross country and track at GHS. He helped the cross country team to a 59-2 record over three seasons that included an individual runner-up finish in the state finals as a senior.

“This is a big honor,” Kline said. “When I think of all the great athletes in the Hall it was a little bit of a surprise when I found out about my selection.

“My senior season in cross country when the team finished third in the state is one thing that stands out to me. The other seniors on the team were Bryan Warstler, Pat Barranca. Tom Lower and Caryle Schlabach.”

Kline’s former coach Carl Weaver introduced him.

“When I first talked to Maurie about running cross country he didn’t want to do it because his bitter rival from Whiteman Junior High (Bryan Warstler) was running and he didn’t want to do it,” Weaver said. “Maurie played football his freshman year before coming out as a sophomore. Maurie and Bryan became the best of friends. Wouldn’t the world be a much better place if we could all make a friend out of an adversary?”

Kline offered an apology to GHS football coach Ken Mirer (who was in attendance) during his talk.

“I’m sorry coach Mirer about quitting, but I think I made the right decision,” he quipped.

Hoffman-DiPomazio was a standout diver for the GHS swimming team (placed 14th at the state finals as a senior) and high jumper for the track team (still holds the school record). She was the Honorary Referee for the Goshen Girls Relays in 2004 and is currently a very accomplished high school swimming coach in Lubbock, Texas.

Hoffman-DiPomazio thanked high school classmate Kevin Cotherman for nominating her for the honor and her former coach Dori Keyser.

“Dori not only believed in my athletic abilities, but more importantly in me as a person,” she said.

Concord coach

Former Concord boys basketball coach Jim Hahn was also among the inductees. The former Penn High School player coached the Concord Minutemen to a 203-68 record from 1983-94. His teams won four NLC titles, six Elkhart sectional championships, four Elkhart regional titles, two Fort Wayne semistate crowns and had state runner-up finishes in 1988 and 1990.

“Elkhart County has a fine tradition of producing good athletes and I’m honored to be included,” Hahn said.

Hahn guided the Minutemen to 61 straight home victories from 1985-92.

“One of things I remember most is the tremendous atmosphere we had at Concord,” he said. ‘The whole community supported us. We had good players, a good coaching staff and a very supportive administration. Two members of the administration I want to thank are George Dyer (principal) and Bob Culp (athletic director). They took a chance on a 26-year-old kid who had no head coaching experience.”

Young inductee

One of the evening’s younger inductees was 2005 Northridge graduate A.J. Miller. The four-year letterrwinner in swimming won the 200-yard individual medley, the 100 backstroke and was on the winning 200 medley relay at the 2005 state finals.

“It’s wonderful to be a part of this. I’m thankful for getting to enjoy this experience,” he said. “It’s great to have the support of my family and friends. The things I have achieved to date are 100 percent due to their support. Mom and dad provided me with the opportunity to start swimming and I will never forget that.”

Miller showed his sincerity when he asked the members of his family in attendance to stand so the rest of the crowd could give them a round of applause.