Imlay City Honors Hall of Fame Class

The Imlay City softball team poses for a photo during its Hall of Fame induction on Friday. In the foreground (left to right) are Julie Barton, Darby Litz, Tina Penzien, Tara Jackman, assistant coach Rick Finkbeiner, Amber Slingerland, Amalia Monroe Aguinaga, Morgan Makedonsky Bator, Rachel Bramlett, Laura Beacom, Chanda Arnold De Sutter, Marie Brown Douglas, April Burrell, coach Steve Plunkitt and coach John Gonzales.

IMLAY CITY — Imlay City honored the Athletic Hall of Fame inductees prior to Friday’s BWAC football game against the Yale football team.

Matt VanDyk was recognized for his play on the basketball court and on the track.

The 2012 graduate was selected twice to the All-State basketball team. Van Dyk continued his athletic career at SC4, where he earned All-Conference, All-American and Freshman of the Year honors.

He was also named All-State track and field champion during the 2012 season.

From there, he continued his basketball career at Michigan State University, where he won the Tim Bograkos Walk-On Award and secured a scholarship in 2016. Matt was notably a member of the 2015 Spartan team that reached the Final Four.

VanDyk was inducted into the SC4 Sports Hall of Fame in 2023.

Also recognized was longtime tennis coach Gus Theodore. Theodore, who had 155 career victories, spent 20 years coaching the boys and girls tennis programs and helped transform the program into a competitive force in the region.

In 1996, he was inducted into the Michigan High School Tennis Coaches Hall of Fame.

In addition to his role as tennis coach, Gus was also a football coach and teacher at Imlay City High School. He was known for his exemplary behavior and sportsmanship.

The 1998 Imlay City softball team was also recognized. They finished their season with an overall mark of 33-1, winning the MAC Silver Division title and a district and regional championship.

Imlay City spent the entire season ranked No. 1 in Division 2 and was ranked No. 6 in the nation by USA Today before being eliminated in the state quarterfinals.

Kevin Kissane

Kevin Kissane has covered high school sports for the Tri-City Times since 1985. When he’s not on a field or court with his camera and notebook, he enjoys golf, traveling and family. Kevin graduated from Capac High School in 1980 and is also a graduate of St. Clair Community College and earned a degree in journalism from Central Michigan University.