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3 inducted to hall
Metro celebrates new members with plaques, halftime ceremony
By Eric Lansing
lansing@mscd.edu

Metro inducted three new members and a team into the Metro State Hall of Fame Feb. 10 at the Auraria Events Center.

Former women’s volleyball player Marina Bazana, former men’s basketball player DeMarcos Anzures, former assistant athletic director Greg Smith and the 1987 baseball team were honored at a ceremony at the center, and were later recognized at halftime during the women’s game against Regis.

“Back in the ’80s, so many people didn’t even know that we had athletics,” Metro athletic director Joan McDermott said. “The baseball team and Greg Smith were the ones who put Metro on the map. They were the ones who really started the foundation.”

Smith was not only the assistant athletic director from the mid-1980s until 1994, but he also served as the sports information director. Smith began the hall of fame in 1994 and started the record-keeping process for Metro athletics. During his speech, he reflected on how they started record keeping from scratch with pads, pencils and a ton of file folders so that every sport and every player had a file.

“Everyone used to say, ‘What is your secret in getting Metro State more fair share of coverage?’” Smith said. “It was just hard work. Hard work and a great student staff. The hours never seemed so long because we were working with one another.”

Bazana played only two seasons with Metro, in 2000-2001, but led the team to two regional tournament appearances in those seasons, including a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championship in 2001.

Bazana, who came from Brazil so she could get an education while playing volleyball, finished her career ranked second in school history in kills per game (4.51) and second in digs per game (4.26), and led the team in both categories (475 kills, 471 digs) during the 2001 campaign.

Bazana is currently a volleyball coach in California.

“I just wanted everyone to know how excited and how honored I am in receiving this award,” Bazana said in her acceptance speech. “I was not expecting this award since I was only here for two years, but I had a great time here at Metro.”

Anzures was already a part of the hall of fame with the 2000 national championship basketball team. He is now inducted as a player who finished his career as Metro’s all-time leading scorer with 2,116 points.

Anzures is also the program’s leader in 3-point baskets, minutes played, field goals and attempted field goals.

The 1987 baseball team was inducted into the hall of fame for posting the highest winning percentage in the school’s history. The team went 34-15 (.694) and was coached by Bill Helman.