The Colorado State University Pueblo Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2023 features six former student-athletes, a former football coach, the Trahern Family (Jim, Bob, Sue, Jake and Ty) and the 2016-17 women's basketball team. Chelsea Vallejos of Lamar was a member of the team.

The Hall of Fame Induction ceremony was held in the Occhiato Student Center Ballroom on the CSU Pueblo campus October 6. The Hall of Fame Class of 2023 inductees were recognized during the Homecoming football game October 7 against Adams State played in the CSU Pueblo ThunderBowl.

The members of the Hall of Fame Class of 2023 are former men's basketball player Bobby Graham (1963-66), former women's cross country and women's track and field athlete Bailey Hughes (2015-17), former women's basketball and volleyball player Deborah Hunter (1985-87), former football player and current nine-year NFL veteran center Ryan Jensen (2009-12), former women's basketball player Shelly Watts (1985-88), and former men's cross country and track and field athlete and 14-time All-American Derrick Williams (2014-18). Additionally, former football coach Mike Friedman (1974-83) will join the Hall of Fame as a coach, while the Trahern Family, who spanned 13 seasons and over 400 games and matches in both volleyball and basketball, will join the Hall of the Fame as a Legacy Contributor and the 2016-17 women's basketball team that posted a 28-4 overall record and captured the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular season title and hosted the NCAA South Regional Tournament for the first and only time in school history will join the Hall of Fame in the Team category.

Shelly Watts Has Departed Pueblo, But Not Forgotten

Shelly Watts (Women's Basketball, 1985-88) – Watts was a two-time All-RMAC selection in women's basketball as she was a Second-Team honoree in 1987 and received Honorable Mention accolades in 1986

• She currently ranks second in school history in field goal percentage (50.5 percent), sixth in career scoring average (14.8), seventh in career rebounds (651) and 11th in career scoring (1,185 points)
• One of 16 women's basketball players in school history to score 1,000 or more career points
• Played in 80 games over three seasons with the Pack
• Watts' 1987-88 Pack team won a then school record 17 games, finished the season with a 17-10 overall record and a 12-2 mark in the RMAC and advanced to the NAIA District Tournament in Cedar City, Utah
• Was a part of 41 overall wins and 26 RMAC wins during her time with the Pack

Read more about Shelly Watts Pearcey here.

Photo Credit-Colorado State University-Pueblo Athletics