Sept. 25, 2007

EUGENE, Ore. - Wake Forest head women's basketball coach Mike Petersen was announced as a member of the inaugural class of the Northwest Christian College Athletics Hall of Fame on Monday, Sept. 24. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on Friday, Oct. 26th in Eugene, Ore.

"It's a huge honor for me and I'm very flattered and humbled to be included in the first Hall of Fame class," said Petersen. "Northwest Christian College was and continues to be an important part of my life and shaped who I was as an athlete and a person. My experience there had a huge impact on me and it's very gratifying and humbling to be honored."

Petersen enjoyed a stellar college playing career. He began at the College of the Redwoods in Eureka, Calif. and after two seasons transferred to Northwest Christian College, an NAIA school in Eugene.

In his junior year, Petersen helped the Crusaders to a 22-7 record and led the team to back-to-back Pacific Northwest Collegiate Conference titles. Petersen earned All-Conference honors both years and was named to the National Little College Athletic Association All-America team as a senior. Petersen was also named the MVP of the conference and the Pacific Northwest Region his final year as a Crusader.

Petersen, who was the second-leading scorer in the country as a senior, finished his career among the top 10 all-time leading scorers in school history in just two full seasons from 1978-80.

Other inductees include Dr. William Richardson, the school's first Faculty Athletic Representative, who was the driving force behind starting an intercollegiate men's basketball program in 1959 and Petersen's coach, Duane Cox, who also was a member of the NCC men's basketball team in the mid 60's.