INA, IL (Oct. 29, 2021) – The Rend Lake College Sports Hall of Fame recently welcomed in a couple of outstanding former student-athletes during a ceremony held in the campus Student Center Private Dining Area.
Family and friends along with retired and current faculty and staff gathered to celebrate the HOF Class of 2020 inductees included baseball pitcher Randall Shively and basketball guard Lee “Sonny” Wyatt.
“Tonight is about you guys,” RLC Athletic Director Tim Wills said. “We want to make this night special for you.”
The first inductee of the night was Randall Shively, a pitcher who was an integral part of the 1977-79 Warriors baseball teams. During his freshman year, he was a relief pitcher in the rotation and finished 2-0 that fall. He went on to have a two-time All-Star pitcher.
Class of 2018 RLC Sports Hall of Fame Inductee, First-Team catcher and former RLC Warrior teammate Scott Wagner introduced Shively. He described Shively as someone he looked up to during his freshman year at Rend Lake.
“There’s not a more deserving person,” Wagner said. “He should have been in way ahead of me because he did lead the pack for me… He was a real true inspiration for all of us. I could stand up here and talk about his curveball, his fastball and all these things. It’s his high moral character is what I want to talk about and his loyalty as a team leader.”
Brought up his Warriors ball, a memento that he said has had longer than he has known most people, Shively spoke candidly about his early days as a player, the struggles he faced his first semester in college and away from home and the day he decided to give 110 percent in academics and his athletic career.
“I was going to do my part and was hoping God would do his part,” he said. “I couldn’t have predicted. I couldn’t have dreamed. I couldn’t have planned a better outcome than what took place. I owe all that credit to Rend Lake College and Coach Mike McClure. Thanks for giving me a chance. Things can happen if you are given a chance.”
The second inductee, Lee “Sonny” Wyatt, averaged 16.7 points in 29 games as a freshman. His sophomore year he emerged as the scoring leader with 16.5 points per game in 25 games. He also was the second-best shooting percentage both seasons, including 49.0 percent in ’72-73, quite an accomplishment for a guard considering the range of many of his attempts.
During his sophomore year, the Warriors went 20-6 and produced the first-ever league championship.
Class of 2019 RLC Sports Hall of Fame Alumni Coach Brad Weathers introduced Sonny Wyatt said he counts his former teammate as among the top players he has ever had the privilege to know.
“He is one of the best all-around athletes I’ve ever been around,” Weathers said.
Wyatt said he was grateful to be added into the RLC Sports Hall of Fame, especially since his time at the college impacted so much of his life.
“I look at Rend Lake as the foundation for a lot of [our] lives,” Wyatt said. “You come out of a small town and you really don’t know what’s going on. You try to give some momentum in your life. It was such a comforting and encouraging environment there.”
Check out the full ceremony on the Rend Lake College YouTube channel.
