The Fulton Hornets found 1981 to be a prosperous year.
The Hornets' 1981 wrestling and boys' track and field teams - which both captured state titles - lead the 2010 inductees for the Fulton High School athletic Wall of Fame. Also to be inducted will be two-time, undefeated state wrestling champion Delbert Hampton (Class of 1973) and the Lady Hornets' 1991 state championship cross country team.
The Wall of Fame induction is set for Friday night during the Hornets' North Central Missouri Conference basketball matchup against Boonville in the high school's Roger D. Davis Gymnasium. The ceremony will take place between the junior varsity boys' game, which tips off at 6, and the varsity contest.
The Hornets' wrestling squad - coached by Jim Wallace and assistant Steve Minnick, both previous Wall inductees as individuals - won the Class 1A-3A state title in 1981 with 97 points. Fulton was led by Clinton Brooks, who capped off a perfect 30-0 season by capturing the state championship at 98 pounds.
Adding a pair of second-place finishes for the Hornets were Clinton's older brother, Tony Brooks (29-1), and Scott Oestreich (21-4) at 119 and 105 pounds, respectively. John Martin (25-5) also took third place at 132 pounds, while Flynn Nickens (20-8-1) came in fifth in the unlimited weight class.
Meanwhile, an amazing performance by Herbert "Junebug" Johnson launched the Hornets' 1981 track and field squad to the Class 3A state title. Fulton - coached by the late Bob Fisher, another individual Wall inductee - tallied 75 points.
Johnson - also a previous Wall inductee as an individual - put on a stunning show, winning individual state championships in the 100 (10.7 seconds), 200 (:21.4) and 400 meters (:47.8), as well as the long jump (24 feet, 9 1/2 inches).
Andy Rice also finished second in the 800 (1:56.6) and third in the 1,600 (4:20.3), while Mark Robinson placed second in the long jump (24-1/4). Clinton Collier came in third in the high jump (6-2).
The Hornets' 1,600 relay of Robinson, Kevin Richmond, Ryan Richmond and Rice also finished third in 3:25.2.
Hampton - who was also coached by Wallace - pulled off a remarkable feat of his own, winning state wrestling championships in his junior and senior years at Fulton while combining to go undefeated with a 57-0 record during that span.
As a junior in 1972, Hampton topped off a 27-0 record by capturing the Class M state title at 145 pounds. Moving up to 155 pounds for his senior season in 1973, Hampton closed out his high school career by winning the Class M state championship with a 30-0 mark.
Hampton played on both offense and defense for Fulton's 1971 football team that lost to Richmond for the Class 3A state championship. He was also one of the co-founders of the Fulton Kids Wrestling Club, which started in February 1983.
The Lady Hornets' 1991 cross country team - directed by Minnick - won the Class 3A state title with 59 points. Fulton was led by sophomore Kristen Allen, another previous Wall individual inductee, who came in ninth in 21:36, and freshman Megan Meythaler's 10th-place finish of 21:38.
Also placing for the Lady Hornets were sophomore Megan Rist, 16th in 21:54; junior Jennifer Anderson, 20th in 22:16; freshman Carrie Toosley, 37th in 22:37; senior Missy Neterer, 97th in 24:29, and sophomore Michelle Cassidy, 102nd in 24:38.
Steve Mallinckrodt - the play-by-play voice for Hornets football, basketball and baseball on KFAL-AM (900) - will serve as the master of ceremonies for Friday night's Wall induction. A cake and punch reception for the inductees will be held in the high school commons after the varsity game.