July 26, 2004
BELLINGHAM, Wash. -
A distance runner who earned All-America honors in two sports and a pair of All-American soccer players who competed on the best men's and women's teams ever fielded at Western Washington University, are the newest members of the school's Athletic Hall of Fame.
The inductees are Marilyn Thibodeau (pronounced THIB-ah-doe, now Sliva, pronounced Sleev-uh), who competed in both cross country and track and field for the Vikings; Tom Venable, a midfielder in men's soccer; and Debbie Carter (now Walford), a midfielder in women's soccer.
The trio, which brings the hall's membership to 103, will be formally inducted on Sat., Oct. 16 (9:30 a.m.) in a ceremony at the Viking Union on the Western campus as a part of Homecoming week. They also will be honored at halftime of Western's football game with Humboldt State University that afternoon.
Thibodeau was named Western Female Athlete of the Year for 1981-82 as she earned All-America honors in cross country by placing 20th at the AIAW National meet in the fall of 1981 and was a two-time All-American in track, finishing second in the 1,500 meters and sixth in the 3,000 at the NAIA National Championships, in the spring of 1982. She helped the Vikings place sixth in the team standings at both national meets during that school year.
A NAIA National Scholar Athlete in track in 1982, Thibodeau set three school records that spring, including the 1,500 (4:39.16), 3,000 (10:11.9) and 5,000 (17:46.0).
Thibodeau was a two-time AIAW Region IX all-star in cross country, helping Western to two regional titles and three trips to nationals. She earned two letters in track and three in cross country.
Thibodeau was a two-time Southeast Region cross country all-star at Juneau-Douglas High School in Juneau, Alaska, where she placed third at the 1977 state track championships in the mile. She transferred to Western from Whitworth College, where she lettered in cross country as a freshman.
The 45-year-old Thibodeau graduated from Western's Huxley College in 1982 with a bachelor's degree in environmental health. She is currently a bookkeeper for Pink Elephant Car Wash at its main office in Auburn.
Thibodeau and husband Shane, who also was a track and cross country runner at Western, have two sons: Todd 18 and Tyler 14.
Venable was an honorable mention NAIA All-American in 1989 and 1990, helping the Vikings to their only national tournament appearance in 1989 when they won District 1 and Area I titles, finishing 16-6-1. Their two losses at nationals were both to teams ranked No.1 nationally during the regular season.
That season Western scored a school-record 55 goals with Venable serving as the triggerman. He tallied six goals, five of which were game winners.
"Unquestionably, he was the best player on our team," said then Vikings' head coach Kevin Quinn. "His dedication to the team was outstanding and you couldn't ask for more from a player."
During Venable's senior season in 1990, Western was 16-4-0 and ranked as high as No.5 nationally. The Vikings won a second straight district title and lost 2-1 to Warner Pacific in the area championship game, the Knights later forfeiting because of the use of an ineligible player.
The 35-year-old Venable was a NAIA Area I all-star in 1989, District 1 all-star two years and three-time Northwest Collegiate Soccer Conference all-star. A four-year letter winner, he was team captain three years and team MVP two seasons.
Venable attended Kentridge High School in Kent where he was a two-time North Puget Sound League all-star, leading the league in scoring as a senior.
Venable is in his first year as principal at Carl Cozier Elementary School in the Bellingham School District. He held that same position for five years at Larabee Elementary after teaching four years at Alderwood Elementary.
Venable received his bachelor's degree in economics at Western in 1991 and master's degree in education from the University of Maryland-Baltimore County in 1994 while he taught special education for two years at an elementary school in Baltimore's inner city. Venable obtained his principal's certification in 1999 from Western.
Carter was a first-team NAIA All-American in 1986, leading Western to a 13-4-2 record and third-place at the NAIA Region I playoffs. She also was a first-team NAIA District 1 and Northwest Collegiate Soccer Conference all-star that season, scoring 11 goals and assisting on six others.
A four-year letter winner, Carter helped the Vikings to three district titles and three regional playoff appearances. Western was 53-12-2 during her four-year career as she scored 32 goals and had 10 assists.
Carter was a member of Western's undefeated and untied 14-0-0 squad as a freshman in 1983 and helped the Vikings to a 16-2 record and the championship game of the regional playoffs in 1984 when they extended their winning streak to 38 games, one of the nation's longest strings.
"You couldn't ask for a more devoted individual," said Dominic Garguile, who coached Carter at Western. "She displayed leadership on and off the field and was a real ambassador for soccer and Western.
"She scored a lot of long-range goals, but also could mix it up with anybody."
The 39-year-old Carter attended Highline High School in Burien where she earned North Puget Sound League all-star honors as a senior and received her bachelor's degree in accounting from Western in 1987 and is a CPA currently working for Boullioun Aviation Services. Carter is the co-founder of the Kirkland Dance Center where she serves as vice president and treasurer and also teaches Irish Hardshoe dancing, and she completed the Chicago Marathon in 1993.
Carter and husband Kieron have two daughters: Kylie 6 and Kaysha 3.
MARILYN THIBODEAU
Women's Track & Field and Cross Country
WWU Female Athlete of the Year for 1981-82
Two-time Track All-American in 1982, placing second in 1,500 and sixth in 3,000 at NAIA National Championships
Set school records in 1,500, 3,000, and 5,000
NAIA National Scholar Athlete (1982)
AIAW Cross Country All-American in 1981, placing 20th at national meet
Three-time AIAW National meet participant and two-time AIAW Region IX all-star
Earned three letters in cross country and two in track
TOM VENABLE
Men's Soccer (Midfielder)
Honorable mention NAIA All-American (1989, 1990)
NAIA Area I all-star (1989)
Northwest Collegiate Soccer Conference all-star (1988, 1989, 1990)
NAIA District 1 all-star (1989, 1990)
Helped WWU to 16-6-1 record and NAIA National Tournament in 1989 and 16-4-0 record and Area I final in 1990
Three-time team captain
Two-time team MVP
Four-year letter winner
DEBBIE CARTER
Women's Soccer (Midfielder)
First-team NAIA All-American (1986)
NAIA District 1 all-star (1986)
Northwest Collegiate Soccer Conference all-star (1986)
Helped Vikings to three district titles and regional playoff appearances, and 53-12-2 record, which included 38-game winning streak
Finished career with 32 goals and 10 assists
Four-year letter winner
