MICHIGAN WATER SKI ASSOCIATION

HALL OF FAME – PRESS RELEASE

4-4-08

The Michigan Water Ski Association (MWSA) is pleased to announce that Marguerite “Willie” Williams-Hatfield has been elected into the Hall of Fame.  Willie was introduced to water skiing while attending a summer camp in Holland, Michigan in 1945.  Charles R. Sligh was directing a ski show with the Macatawa Bay Water Ski Club and volunteers in the audience were offered a chance to learn how to ski. Willie learned quickly and soon the boys in the club were encouraging her to go over the jump. She made it over on the first try and “Uncle Chuck” invited her back to ski with the group anytime.

MICHIGAN WATER SKI ASSOCIATION

HALL OF FAME - PRESS RELEASE

2-2-04

The Michigan Water Ski Association (MWSA) is pleased to announce that Linda Roer of Belding has been elected into the Hall of Fame. After starting out as a ìshow skierî Linda became a competitor in 3 Event (slalom, trick, jumping) and excelled in jumping. She learned to water ski when she was 5 years old and has been competing since 20. Off the water Linda earned her Senior Judge rating in all three events and has been involved in both the state and national governing bodies of organized skiing.

Michigan Water Ski Association - Hall of Fame Press Release

2-1-05

The Michigan Water Ski Association (MWSA) is pleased to announce that Robert (Bob) Sligh of Holland has been elected into the Hall of Fame. Bob grew up on Lake Macatawa in a family that was entrenched in the relatively new sport of tournament water skiing. Learning to ski at age 12 Bob skied in shows with the Macatawa Bay Water Ski Club and the Sligh Ski Troupe. With Bob as a featured skier they would perform double acts, pyramids and jump over ramps. This training created an opportunity later for him to ski at the famed Cypress Gardens ski show in Winter Haven, Florida.

MICHIGAN WATER SKI ASSOCIATION

HALL OF FAME ñ PRESS RELEASE

5-19-06

The Michigan Water Ski Association (MWSA) is pleased to announce that Mary Gronberg Pelto has been elected into the Hall of Fame. Mary grew up in Holland, Michigan which produced some of the top water skiers in the world in the 1940ís. After watching the U.S. Nationals on Lake Macatawa in 1946 and 1947 she decided to get involved. Mary became a student at the Sligh Water Ski School learning the latest techniques in water skiing.

Michigan Water Ski Association

Hall of Fame ñ Press Release

2-16-07

The Michigan Water Ski Association (MWSA) is pleased to announce that Katie Mawby from Grand Haven, MI has been elected to the Hall of Fame. Katie has enjoyed a great water skiing career that includes 54 gold medals at the U.S. National Water Ski Championships and 22 gold medals at the World Water Ski Championships. These performances are even more incredible when you consider that Katie is legally blind.

Michigan Water Ski Association

Press Release

2-12-03

The Michigan Water Ski Association (MWSA) is pleased to announce that Sandy Swaney-Lecklider has been elected into the Hall of Fame.  After observing the 1949 National Water Ski Tournament held on Lake Macatawa, in Holland, Michigan, Sandy learned to water ski as a teenager.  In 1951 she won the Junior Girls Championship at the North America/Canada Open Water Ski Tournament held in Toronto.  Later that summer she was chosen to be on the cover of the first issue of the American Water Ski Association's new magazine called The Water Skier.

In 1953 Sandy performed with the Tommy Bartlett Water Ski and Jumping Boat Thrill Show as it toured the Midwest.  As part of a promotion for the show Sandy skied live on the Today Show while performing on the Chicago River.  Later that summer Sandy won the Women's Overall Championship in 3-Event at the Midwest Regionals and 3rd overall at the U.S. Nationals in Long Beach, California.  Sandy was chosen to represent the United States at the 1953 World Water Ski Tournament held in Toronto and won the jump competition.  At the International Water Ski Tournament at Cypress Gardens Sandy placed 3rd overall with placements of 2nd in jump, 4th in slalom, and 5th in trick skiing.

Sandy went on to teach water skiing and perform exhibitions.  She was featured in a Sunday Pictorial in The Detroit News on August 10, 1958 while skiing at Metropolitan Beach.  She also performed during a ski show at the Lowell Show Boat.

Sandy will be formally inducted into the MWSA Hall of Fame on May 31.  The Hall of Fame is located in Krupa's Boat Mart at 3909 Francis in Jackson, Michigan.  The induction will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 and will include a reception and tour of the Hall.

The MWSA Hall of Fame was created to recognize individuals who have made extraordinary contributions and/or excelled in the sport of water skiing in the state.  The purpose of the Hall is to honor and perpetuate the names of skiers, pioneers, industry leaders, and officials whose accomplishments have made a major impact on organized water skiing in Michigan.  For more information about the Hall of Fame contact Mike Hill, 1541 Charlotte Landing, Duck Lake, MI 49284.  Phone/Fax 517-857-3070 or email to mfhill@springcom.com 

2000 Inductee - Bill Murbach

MasterCraft Promotional Team member Bill Murbach, who started officiating in 1973 and has ratings in nearly every capacity, is the 2000 inductee to the Michigan State Water Ski Hall of Fame.

1992 Inductee - Jerry Hosner

Began competition in 1961

Won first state championship 1962

President of MWSA 1962

Won first Midwest regional overall title in 1964

Ranked second nationally in Menís Tricks 1967

Skied in US Masters 1968

Chairman AWSA Rules Committee 1971

Won first national trick title 1975 in Men's III. Repeated in 1976 and 1979

Set first national trick record 1976

At the time of his induction Jerry had won sixty-five state event and overall titles, twenty regional event and overall titles and three national titles. He held current or past records in slalom and tricks at state, regional and national levels.