2006 - YHS Induction Class

Hall of Fame - 2006

Hall of Fame induction Class of 2006

• Charles Bates
• Robert England
• Ernest C. Gillum III
• Ronald H. Gillium
• Dennis Lewis
• Nancy Oestrike 
• Dwight Eugene Walls, Sr.
• Bert Waterman
• Nicole Wilson
• James Wolter

​​​​​​​

CHARLES BATES – YHS 1951 – SWIMMING AND DIVING

• Attending a high school swimming meet while watching the divers, Charlie thought that he could slip seamlessly into the water with the best of them
• 1949 and 1950 – 2-time Michigan high school state champion diver
• 1948-49-50 – 3-time high school All American diver
• Enrolled in the University of Michigan and lettered in gymnastics and diving
• 1954, 1955, and 1956 – 3-time NCAA Diving All American for the U of M
• 1960 – Member of the USA Trampoline Team that competed in the World Championships in Vryberg, German
• Member of the “cast” of the comic entertainment diving troupe that performed in Aqua Shows in America and Europe
• 1960 World’s Fair in New York, Mr. Bates and his Aqua Show partners, shared the star billing with the “Three Stooges”
• Performed in the Aqua Follies in Seattle, Washington
•  Coaching career includes Ypsilanti High School, University of Minnesota, and 6 years at Harvard
• 1968 – Returned to Michigan as a high school Chemistry and science teacher.
• 1988 – Awarded the Bruce Harlan Diving Coach of the Year Award
• 1978-2000 – Coached diving at Brighton High School
• 2000 – Retired and enjoys attending and supporting youth sports and athletes

ROBERT ENGLAND – YHS 1962 – FOOTBALL – WRESTLING – BASEBALL –  EMU ADMINISTRATOR

• SCHOOL ACTIVITIES – All School Play, Varsity Club, Jets Club, Intramural sports,  and Homeroom officer
• 3 – Sport athlete ; football, wrestling, and baseball
• 1961 – Tri-captain of the football team
• 1961 and 1962 – Member of the 2-time team State Champions in wrestling
• 1962 – Accepted football scholarship to the University of Michigan
• 1964 – Member of the Big Ten Football Championship team
• 1965 – Member of the Rose Bowl winning U of M football team
• 1966 – Graduated from U of M with a degree in Education
• 1968 – Completed his master’s degree from the U of M
• 1968 – 2011 - 43 year career as Intramural Director at Eastern Michigan University
• 1981-2011 – Mr. England was the sole IM Director at EMU
• Key person in the development and growth of EMU IM Program
• Became well known throughout the country for his IM accomplishments
• Called upon numerous times to consult with, and help improve, IM programs throughout the country
• He was the leader behind the development of the award-winning Recreation and Intramural facility at EMU
• Under Mr. England’s leadership, he developed the REC/IM programs that set attendance records
• Earned much credit for the development, construction, and operation of the Robb-Olds Rec Center’s Campus Lake House and Pond – affectionately referred to as “Bob’s Lake House and Pond”
• Was a member of the Forum Club which fosters goodwill between the business and university communities
•  Popular, and well-respected by students and staff alike
• 2011 – Retired after 43 years of “selfless service” to EMU
• 2014 – Received the “EMU John W. Porter Distinguished Service Award” from the EMU Alumni Association
• Received the “Gold and Silver Medallion Award for Service” from EMU
• Received the “Outstanding Michigan Intramural Sports Association Award”
• Earned the “Outstanding Services Award” from EMU
• Awarded the “Design Award” from the Michigan Parks and Recreation, for his consulting work for the city of Lapeer’s Recreation Building

“Sports involvement teaches you to work and get along together, to take criticism without taking it personally, and to use it to grow. It’s all been helpful to me in my career and in my life”. Bob England

ERNEST C. GILLUM III – YHS 1962 – CROSS COUNTRY – WRESTLING - TRACK

• SCHOOL ACTIVITIES -  Varsity Club and Intramural sports

• 11 varsity letters – 4 each in cross country and track, and 3 in wrestling
• 1961 – All-State in cross country – 4th place individual
• 1960 – Member of the State championship cross country team
• 1959 and 1961 - Member of the cross country team finished 3rd and 2nd in State
• 1960 and 1961 – Co Captain of the State Champion and State runner-up  cross country teams
• 3 – time All-state wrestler -1960 -3rd in State
• 1961 and 1962 – Two-time undefeated State Champion wrestler
• 69   consecutive  wins in wrestling establishing YHS record
• YHS Career record - 100+ wins, 4 losses and 2 draws -
• 1961 and 1962 – Member of the wrestling State championship teams
• 1962 – Co-Captain of the State Champion wrestling team
• 1962 – Co-winner (with twin brother Ronnie) of the YHS All Sports Trophy
• 1962 – Accepted full scholarship for wrestling to Iowa State University
• 1964 – Olympic Team Camp Qualifier
• 1965 – Midlands Champion
• 1965 – NCAA All American – 3rd place medalist
• 1965 – Member of the Iowa State University NCAA National Championship wrestling team
• 1966 – NCAA All American – 2nd place medalist
• 1966 – U.S. World Team Camp qualifier
• 1st Team – 115 lbs -Named All Time Great by  Amateur Wrestling News
• Eastern AAU Freestyle and Greco-Roman Champion
• Iowa State Hall of Fame – member of the history making 1965 NCAA championship team
• National wrestling Hall of Fame – Member of the 1965 NCAA Championship Team
• Michigan’s first black, head wrestling coach – Ann Arbor Huron High School
• Coached numerous state champions and state place winners
• Mr. Gillum’s former wrestlers have gone on to great achievements after high school including… 1st Team High School All American; a 6-time Freestyle National Champion; a National Greco-Roman National Champion; 8 NCAA All Americans and place winners; a 2 time NJCAA National ; 3 who were members of NCAA National Championship team; 3 Midland Champions; a World champion; a U.S. Olympic wrestler silver medalist;  3 members of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame; a head U.S. wrestling coach for four, consecutive Olympic Games
•  A strong advocate of female wrestling, which has grown into an international and Olympic sport.
• Mr. Gillum was the first American coach to have a  female state champion, national champion, and world champion – Tricia McNaughton won 11 female national championships and 4 female world championships, and would have been an Olympic champion, but it was before female wrestling became an Olympic sport
• 2013 – Passed away
• In 2013 in their tribute to Ernie,  Iowa State University Athletics wrote,

“Ernie Gillum helped set the gold standard for what it means to be an Iowa State Wrestler. He will be remembered not only for his many accomplishments on the mat at Iowa State, but for the many lives he touched in his teaching and coaching career. Ernie is responsible for so many kids getting high school diplomas and college degrees. He was a real advocate for diversity. Whether it was the classroom, wrestling mat, or at his church, Gillum lit up the room wherever he went. Ernie was truly one of Iowa State’s greatest contributions in teaching and coaching young men and women.”

RONALD H. GILLUM – YHS 1962 – CROSS COUNTRY – WRESTLING – CROSS COUNTRY

• SCHOOL ACTIVITIES – Junior class vice president – Varsity Club – Intramural Sports
• 11 Varsity letters – 4 each in Cross Country and Track and 3 in wrestling
• 1959 – Cross Country team – undefeated in dual meets, and won championships in League, Regionals, and Albion Invitational
• 1959 – 3rd in State - Cross Country Team
• 1960 -  Co-Captain of Cross Country Team
• 1960 – Cross Country – Team State Champions
• 1960 – Was team’s number one runner and set 4 course records
• 1960 – Michigan A.A.U. wrestling champion
• 1961 – C.C team co-captain, team’s number one runner, setting course record for the Hastings Invitational
• 1961 – 2nd in State - Team Cross Country
• 1961 – Member of the State Championship Wrestling Team
• 1962 – 33-0 – Undefeated State wrestling champion
• 1962 – Member of the repeat State Championship wrestling team
• 3 – Time state qualifier in the mile run
• 1962 – Co-winner of the YHS All-Sport’s Trophy (with his 8 minute older twin brother, Ernie)
• 1962 – Earned an athletic scholarship to Colorado State University
• Retired from Ford Motor Company as an inspector
• Continues to be active in his church – Ekklesia Fellowship Ministries

DENNIS LEWIS – YHS 1977 – BASKETBALL – TRACK AND FIELD

• 1977- Basketball career highlight – in state quarter finals blocked a shot from future NBA Hall of Famer, Earven “Magic” Johnson
• First Michigan high school high jumper to clear 7 Feet
• 1976 and 1977 – 2 Time State High Jump Champion
• 1976 - at 6’ 9 ¼”,  tied with YHS teammate Victor Freeman
• 1977 – Repeated as High Jump State Champion with a jump of 6’ 10”
• 1977 – 7’ 2” - Set National Indoor High Jump record
• 1977 – Accepted Track and Field Scholarship to Michigan State
• 1978 –7’ 3” All American High Jumper as freshman at MSU placing 2nd in NCAA
• 1978 – Left MSU to come home  and work in the Ypsilanti Ford Plant – as he said in his YHS Hall of Fame acceptance – this was not a good, personal decision for him
• 1983 – Watching a televised international track competition, the winner jumped7’ 3” and Dennis decided it was time to get off his couch and get back to competitive jumping
• 1983 - With no club affiliation, no official sponsorships, no coach,  no official training facility, a fulltime 40 hours a week job at the Ford plastics plant, 2 – month recovery after collapsing from a severe inflammation of his heart sac, irregular training, volunteer track coach at YHS, Mr. Lewis began his comeback.
• 1984 – January placed 3rd in the prestigious Millrose Games in Madison Square Garden with a jump of 7’ 4 1/2” behind 4 -time Olympian (2 -time medalist) Dwight Stones
• 1984 – February – Placed 2nd – 7’ 4” in the Olympic Invitational
• 1984 – February – 7’7” – 24 years old - Won the Mobil-American Indoor Championship – defeating the Soviet Union’s world Indoor record holder, 4-time Olympian and 4-time American indoor champion Dwight Stones, and top U.S. high jumper – Jim Howard
• 1984 – Participated in the tryouts for the L.A. Olympics, but did not make the team
• 1985 – Entered Long Beach State Junior College as a 26 year old freshman.
• 1985 – 7” 8” – Tied the American high jump record and set the National  Junior College High Jump record – which still stands today
• 1985 – 7’ 8 1/4”  Competing  for the New Balance Track Club
• 1986 – 7’ 8” – Tied D wight Stones American high jump record at the Los Angeles Sports Arena – Competing in the Sunkist Invitational Track Meet
• Dennis Lewis was not done as he continued to enter Masters Tournaments
• 1997 – 7’ ¾” - 37 years old - 35-39 - Masters age group – 17th best in world
• 2000 – 7’ ¼” – 40 years old - 40-44 - Masters age group – 4th best in world
• 2006 – 6’ 7” – 46 years old - 44-49 – Masters age group – 1st place tie best in world
• Former coaches at Long Beach State, Ron Allice and Baruch Elias, described Dennis Lewis as having, “more raw talent than Dwight Stones” and he “gets more out of his talent.”
• He loved to high jump as his outstanding resume’ shows. Very few athletes continue success and enthusiasm for their sport for over 30 years

     “ Athletics taught me discipline. It taught me it is easy to be the top, but it is hard to stay on top”. Dennis Lewis

NANCY OESTRIKE – YHS 1979 – VOLLEYBALL – BASKETBALL – TENNIS – SOFTBALL

• SCHOOL ACTIVITIES – National Honor Society – YHS Band
• Lettered in 4 sports – volleyball, basketball, Tennis, softball
• 3 –Time All-Conference in softball
• 1979 – Accepted athletic scholarship to Eastern Michigan University
• 1983 – Softball – MAC All-Conference
• 1983 – Field Hockey – MAC All-Conference
• 1984 – EMU Scholar-Athlete
• 18 Years  softball coach; 6 years EMU head coach – 1997 - 2002
• BA and MA - EMU
• At EMU – Professor of Mathematics and Statistics teacher-placement specialist
• Active in First United Methodist Church of Ypsilanti

DWIGHT EUGENE WALLS, SR – YHS 1968 – COSS COUNTRY – TRACK AND FIELD

• 1966 – Anchor  member of the YHS record setting mile relay team
• 1967 – Champion of the Indoor 60-yard dash at the Michigan State Invitational meet
• 1967 – Champion of the indoor 60-yard dash at the EMU Huron Relays
• 1967 – Anchor runner of the 1st place indoor mile relay team
• 1966, 1967, 1968 – Member of the 3-time record setting 880 relay team at the Mansfield Relays
• 1967 and 1968  – Earned All-State in cross country
• 1967 -  Top 440 runner in the state
• 1968 – Named Best All-Around Track Star
• 1968 – 6.3 seconds – record-setting 60-yard dash
• 1968 – 1.53 – Half-mile time
• 1968 – 48.8 seconds in the 440 dash – tied state record and set YHS record – school record still stands
• 1968 – Member of the 880 relay team that placed 2nd in state
• 1968 – Jumped almost 22 feet in the long jump
• Mr. Walls was a rare combination as an outstanding All-State distance runner in cross country and a record-setting sprinter in the 60-yard dash and middle distances in the quarter and half-mile .
• Bishop Dwight Walls, sr has been pastor of the Shiloh Church of God in Christ Church in Ypsilanti for over 25 years. He has been on the National Board and chairman for many years.

“Sports prepared me for life. It taught me patience and tolerance; how to take the good and the bad; and when you succeed, to be gracious. I learned through athletics never to give up and when you fall to get back in the race”, Bishop Dwight Walls, Sr.

BERT WATERMAN – YHS  1951- 1968 – YHS COACH – YALE UNIVERSITY COACH

• 1951 – Established the first YHS wrestling team
• 1953 – Amid a groundswell of parents’ protests to eliminate the sport,

Mr. Waterman and his wrestler parents, fought to keep wrestling and brought the sport back to be one of the most successful programs at YHS and in the state

• YHS - Coached 16 years of wrestling
• 8 Conference Team championships (8 out of 8 – First one was in 1961)
• 11 -  Consecutive Regional Team Championships – 1958-1968
• 10 -  Consecutive years his teams finished in the top 5 in the state
• 3 – Times YHS teams finished 2nd in state – 1955, 1960, and 1966
• 4 – Times State Champion teams – 1956, 1961, 1962, and 1964
• He coached over 20 YHS State Champions, over 30 other All-State wrestlers, and over 50 other state qualifiers
• 192-35-4 – Career coaching record at YHS
• 1968 – Left YHS to coach Yale University
• 1978 – Inducted as a charter member of the Michigan Wrestling Hall of Fame
• 24 Years – coached at Yale University
• 1991 - Yale dropped the wrestling program, he formed a Yale Wrestling Club that continued for several more years
• 1991 – 416 Collegiate wins when Coach Waterman retired, placing him at #14 overall, at that time
• 608 – Combined career victories with high school and college
• 2020 – 17 former wrestlers coached by Mr. Waterman have been inducted into the Ypsilanti Community High School Athletic Hall of Fame
• 2004 - Passed away

“He was a hard coach but he taught us to win on and off the mat. He was a passionate man. He wanted us to win but he wanted us to learn to lose gracefully”, Ernest C. Gillum III.

NICOLE WILSON – YHS 1990 – TRACK AND FIELD

• SCHOOL ACTIVITIES – Honor Roll, Student Council, mentoring middle school students, and Senior Class Vice President
• Nicole earned the nickname “Slick” for how she sliced the air and breezed down the track
• 1990 – 100 meters – State Champion
• 1990 – 200 meters – State Champion
• 1990 – Accepted track scholarship to the University of Toledo
• 1992 – Member of the outdoor 4x100 relay Mid-American Conference Champions
• 1993 – Indoor MAC Champion in the 55-meter dash
• 1993 – Indoor Mac Champion in the 200-meter dash
• 2006 - Assistant Principal of Mc Tigue Junior High School in Toledo, Ohio

“Being part of the track team taught me self-discipline.” – Nicole Wilson

“Nicole came to practice energized, ready to work hard. She was a “sparkplug” that always did what was right.” – YHS track coach Tom “Mick” Micallef

JAMES WOLTER – YHS 1947 – FOOTBALL – SWIMMIMG – BASKETBALL – BASEBALL

• SCHOOL ACTIVITIES – Honor Student,  President of the National Society
• 1945 and 1946 – 2 time  football team captain
• 1946 – Offensive guard at 5’11” weighing 175 pounds – Nicknamed “Moose”
•  1946 - Named to the Detroit News All-State Football Team
• 1946 – Captain of the Undefeated State Champion YHS Football Team
• 1946 – Highlight was defeating Ann Arbor, 7 - 6
• 1947 – Accepted Football scholarship to the University of Michigan
• 1948 - 49-50 – Member of 3 “Big Nine” Conference championship teams for the U of M
•  1948 - Member of the National Champions U of M football team
• Highly respected by both teammates and coaches
• Retired real estate appraiser and bank executive
• Now living in Plymouth