Hall of Fame History

“I saw and heard of the team’s reaction to the induction, and I could sense the pride of accomplishment; a result of a lot of hard work over and above the necessary 'student' in being a 'student athlete' that was put into the season. Just a great recognition. I couldn’t have been more pleased at their reaction” 

Frank Cosentino was first inducted into the Western Mustangs Sports Hall of Fame in 1982 for his many accomplishments as a Mustang. He would eventually see the Hall of Fame once again in 2018 as a part of the Football National Champions teams from 1959, 1971, and 1974. 

“There was a noticeable feeling of what the team did and each person, I believe, took some pride in being part of the euphoric feeling; it felt as if it was a gathering of family coming home again.” 

On Friday, October 19, 2018, the Western Mustangs Athletic Alumni (WMAA) presented the first stand alone Western Mustangs Sports Hall of Fame Dinner Event. 

For the first time, two Lifetime Achievement Awards were included along with the four male and four female Hall of Fame inductees. The first recipients were Jack Fairs and Fran Wigston Eberhard. 

Men's and women's outstanding teams were also honoured for the first time, as were championship football teams of the Frank Cosentino era and the championship volleyball teams of the Fran Wigston era. 

In 2019, the event was featured at the Great Hall on Western's campus. Due to Covid, there are no inductions for the year 2020.

Western Mustangs Hall of Fame recognitions have been awarded since 1978 through the W Club and the Hall of Fame committee. On the women's side these recognitions have been awarded since 1989 through the WAA and the Hall of Fame committee. These awards used to be celebrated with other Western University alumni recognitions. 

This event stands as one that is cherished by Mustangs across the nation. 

"All I can say is - it means a lot. To be given this high honour after careful consideration and adjudication by a Selection Committee composed of accomplished individuals in their own right" states Bob Vigars, 2019 Western Lifetime Achievement award winner, "All hail to the significant work done by those involved in making the Hall of Fame of the Western Mustangs Athletic Alumni a major part of our university."

For the list of previous inductees, visit the John P. Metras Sports Museum website. The Hall of Fame Awards are proudly displayed along the walls in Alumni Hall, adjacent to the location of the John P. Metras Sports Museum. Anne Benedetti, lacrosse player and Hall of Fame Inductee from 2019, remarked about seeing her picture among the greats on the wall. "My time at Western, both in the classroom and on the playing field, taught me the skills and gave me the courage I needed to take leaps forward in my life. The fact that the opportunities that I was given at Western led to a moment where I could watch my children find my picture on the Hall of Fame wall in Alumni Hall still feels like a dream." 

More details to come regarding our upcoming Western Mustangs Sports Hall of Fame event tentatively set for November 19, 2021. Tickets to go on sale in September. 

On top of the Western Mustangs Sports Hall of Fame event, check out these upcoming Alumni events heading your way. 

Mustangs Women's Virtual Volleyball Huddle – Wednesday August 25, 2021, 7pm

4th Annual Friends of Mustangs Track and Field/Cross Country Golf Tournament – Saturday August 28, 2021

Western Mustangs Sports Hall of Fame Event - November 19, 2021