Pittsburg State University will induct six individuals into its Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame during ceremonies on Friday, Sept. 26.

PSU’s Class of 2008 is headlined by a pair of former All-Americans in baseball star Daniel Esposito (1995-97) and golf standout Aaron AuBuchon (1989-92) – both the inaugural inductees in their respective sports.

Two-time All-American tight end Blaise Bauer (1985-88) joins the Hall of Fame representing the sport of football, while former football standout Gene John, the long-time football coach at Fredonia High School, posthumously joins the Hall of Fame as a meritorious service inductee.

 Additionally, Jim Jolgen (1948-49), a member of PSU’s 11-man 50th Anniversary Football Team and the school’s first football All-American, and track and field standout Joe Winchester (1927-30) will be inducted in the Hall of Fame’s “Legacy” category, which was created in 2005. The category focuses solely on athletes from the school’s first 50 years (1903-53) in an attempt to bolster the school’s rich heritage from its first half-century.

“We’re extremely excited about our newest class of inductees into the PSU Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame,” athletic director Chuck Broyles said. “Each year we feel as though we have a class of inductees that measures up well with past induction classes, and this year is no exception. These six individuals are an impressive collective cast, including the first All-America athletes in three sports at our university. This group represents a wide range of years in the history of our athletics programs with several historical figures and some of our more modern greats. Each of these individuals is most deserving of joining the group of all-time elite Hall of Fame members at Pittsburg State University.”

Pittsburg State’s 21st class of inductees will be honored at a special Kickoff Luncheon at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 26, in the Crimson & Gold Ballroom of the Overman Student Center on the PSU campus.

The group also will be honored at halftime of PSU’s football game against the University of Central Missouri on Sept. 27.

A seven-person selection committee composed of alumni and current athletic staff members evaluates the merits of the candidates who have been nominated for this distinction. The committee selects a new class each fall, with an induction ceremony celebrating the event. The PSU Athletics Hall of Fame was founded in 1988 with 15 individuals and Pitt State’s 1957 and 1961 NAIA National Champion football teams comprising the inaugural class.