Sept. 20, 2012

STANFORD, Calif. - Former Stanford softball player and two-time Olympian Jessica Mendoza ('02) is one of eight members selected to be inducted into Stanford's Athletic Hall of Fame, the university announced today.

Along with Mendoza, the inductees will be Ellen Estes '02 (women's water polo), Ron George '92 (football), Larissa Fontaine '99 (women's gymnastics), Dan Hanan '90 (men's volleyball), Brad Hauser '00 (men's cross country, track and field), Misty Hyman '01 (women's swimming) and Meredith McGrath `93 (women's tennis).

One of the most recognizable names in the sport, Mendoza played for Stanford under John Rittman from 1999-02, and became a two-time Olympian, an ESPN analyst and reporter, and a professional player.

At Stanford, Mendoza became the first four-time NFCA All-American in program history. The Camarillo, Calif., native, played on the 2001 squad which made the school's first appearance in the Women's College World Series. The 1999 Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year and 2000 Player of the Year, Mendoza still holds school career records in batting average (.416), hits (327), home runs (50), slugging percentage (.719), runs scored (230) and stolen bases (86).

Mendoza went on to win an Olympic gold medal at the 2004 Athens Games, and a silver at the 2008 Beijing Games, and helped the U.S. to three World Championship and three World Cup titles. She also played professionally in the National Pro Fastpitch league, winning MVP honors in 2011.

All of the inductees will be honored at a private reception and dinner at McCaw Hall in the Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center on Friday, Nov. 9, beginning at 6 p.m. The class will also be introduced at halftime of Stanford's football game against Oregon State on Nov. 10.

With the addition of these eight individuals, the Stanford Hall of Fame will number 389. The Hall of Fame was the brainchild of the late Walt Gamage, the longtime sports editor of the Palo Alto Times, and the first class was inducted in 1954.