Check out who is being inducted into the 2024 Bartlesville Athletic Hall of Fame

Basketball and swimming will dominate center stage at this year's 16th Annual Bartlesville Athletic Hall of Fame (BAHOF) Induction Celebration.

The Class of 2024 will also enshrine one of the BAHOF's most familiar exemplars: former Bartlesville Sports Commission (BSC) Board Chairman Bob Pomeroy.

Joining Pomeroy for the inductions on September 27 will be former College High School/Phillips 66 Splash Club swim legends Lee Engstrand, the 1982 Bartlesville girls swim team, Bartlesville Lady Bruin basketball legend Cassie Consedine Asante and former Sooner High/Bartlesville High coaching stalwart Carol Green.

The BSC, which oversees the BAHOF and selects incoming inductees, will hold the September event at the Bartlesville Community Center.

Current BSC Board Chairman Chris Batchelder revealed the new hall of fame class during a Wednesday afternoon gathering in the Bruin Fieldhouse's hospitality room.

He praised the work of the BAHOF's selection committee but suggested expanding the process to include more community members in the future.

Let's take a closer look at these titans of Bartlesville sports that greatly impacted the town's ever-growing athletic legacy.

Lee Engstrand

Lee Engstrand cast a giant shadow in the pool during his high school and college years.

After shattering several Oklahoma high school/age group records, he went on to put University of Tennessee swimming on the map.

He earned the SEC Swimmer of the Year award in two separate seasons, setting American and world records, serving as Tennessee team captain, and swam at the Pan-Am, World University Games, and U.S. Olympic trials.

Engstrand also made the cover of "Swimming World" magazine and became the first-ever poolster to swim the 200 individual medley in less than 1:50.

In January 1983, "Lee Engstrand Day" was declared in the Congressional Record in Washington, D.C.

Batchelder said that when he called Engstrand to inform him of his election to the BAHOF, Engstrand was holding his new baby granddaughter.

1981-1982 girls swim team

1981-1982 girls swim team was the first year a combined girls team of Col-Hi and Sooner High swimmers won the state title under the supervision of long-time popular coach Ram Gonzals.

This took place one year before the two schools merged to create Bartlesville High, but they still wore Bartlesville colors and team shirts.

Starting with the 1981-82 season, Bartlesville captured the girls state swim title for eight straight seasons, through 1988-89.

Cassie Consedine Asante

Cassie Consedine Asante was a 2007 Bartlesville High graduate who excelled in basketball and track & field.

She then recorded an amazing basketball career for the Naval Academy women's team, including setting the school record for career blocked shots (215), blocked shots per game (1.74) and career defensive rebounds (727).

She also still ranks among the all-time Navy women career leaders in rebounds (882, 3rd), made three-pointers (165, 3rd) and points (1,417, 7th),

Consedine collected a superabundance of honors and formal recognition for her production and impact on the Navy program. In 2011, she became the first Navy player named to the Patriot League Regular Season and Tournament Championship team.

She earned a commission as an Ensign in the United States Navy and served for nine years active duty and four years on reservist duty. She made multiple sea deployments. Her husband, Lieutenant Commander Osei Asante, is still on active duty, and they live in San Diego, Calif.

Carol Green

Carol Green worked for 35 years in Bartlesville Public Schools and helped shape the high school girls' basketball program as a long-time head coach, both at Sooner High and Bartlesville High.

Her 1981-82 team at Sooner High, led by Cindy Cooper, advanced to the state semifinals. Cooper is one of at least three former Green-coached players who were inducted as individuals in the BAHOF.

When Bartlesville High opened, she coached the new Lady Bruin basketball team from 1982-82 through 1988-89. She also made a strong impact on elementary-aged sports.

Batchelder said that while attending school at Bartlesville, he witnessed the positive effect Green had on her student-athletes.

Bob Pomeroy

Bob Pomeroy chaired the BSC from 2011-22. During those years, he served as the Master of Ceremonies at the BAHOF induction ceremonies and was the first person to welcome each inductee into the hall.

He also played a leading role in making Bartlesville High the host site for two NCAA Division II conference championship tournaments: the Lone Star Conference from 2008-2011 and the Great American Conference from 2012-2020. The tourneys introduced Bartlesville to several hundred out-of-town visitors and had several millions of dollars of economic impact.

Pomeroy has supported local sports in several different ways.

Batchelder called Pomeroy's career at Phillips 66 "the stuff movies are made of," noting his rise from an entry-level job to an executive position. He also praised Pomeroy for being part of the charter group that formed the BSC almost 20 years ago.

A little extra

In the business portion of Wednesday's meeting, Batchelder said the Third Annual Master's Party is set for April 10 at Hillcrest Country Club. Tickets are still available for what he described as a very enjoyable event.

In a related announcement, Batchelder said some of the money raised at the Masters Party will be dedicated to scholarships for one male and one female graduating student-athlete.

The BSC is reworking its two popular annual events, the Kick-Off Luncheon and Tip-Off Luncheon for Bartlesville football and basketball teams, respectively.

Under the possible new format, both luncheons would incorporate all Bartlesville sports.

The fall sports kickoff would include time to preview all sports through the end of the year, while the spring sports kickoff would give time to all sports through the end of the school year.

This past year, the BSC provided $30,000 to Bartlesville High to help fund unbudgeted items in the budget. The BSC contributed money toward what Batchelder referred to as the "Godzilla-tron" at Custer Stadium, referring to the new scoreboard.

"We're thrilled to continue to partner with Bartlesville High School," Batchelder said.

Among its non-school assistance, the BSC contributed to the recent Shamrock the 'Ville 5k run and also the 4F baseball/softball program at Price Complex.

BSC membership is open to everyone. There are two levels of membership: Champion ($100 annually) or All-Star ($250 annually, which includes to vouchers to Bartlesville High School athletics). The money collected through memberships helps fund the BSC's support of local school and non-school sports activities.

For more information about membership and the BSC activities, visit the organization's website at bartlesvillesports.net.

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: The 2024 Bartlesville Athletic Hall of Fame inductees unveiled