SPOKANE, Wash. – Legacy and lasting impact are two primary attributes for the three members of the 33rd class to the Whitworth Heritage Gallery Hall of Fame. A multiple-time swimming Athlete of the Year and conference record-setter, a three-sport All-American, and a former student-athlete who has gone on to become a longtime faithful supporter of the department comprise the newest Whitworth Heritage Gallery class.
Frank Knott, Kayla Leland and Wes Walton will be inducted as the 33rd class of the Heritage Gallery. The ceremony takes place on Saturday, October 14th in the Hixon Union Building at 9:00 am. The ceremony includes a breakfast and reservations can be made by calling 509-777-3224. The cost is $15 per person.
Frank Knott was a state champion runner out of Mead High School who took a circuitous route to Whitworth. He had a successful career in cross country and track and field as a Pirate. Following his graduation in 1964, Knott first went into teaching and coaching, but soon shifted into a successful business career. He never forgot Whitworth and has faithfully supported the school and the athletics department financially throughout his life. His contributions have played significant parts of the WALT athletic building and the new Mondo track. He has given a truck and a golf cart to the school for athletic department use. He has supported virtually every team in some capacity and is a major sponsor at the annual Pirate Night Dinner and Auction.
Over the course of her Whitworth running career, Kayla Leland was a 10-time Northwest Conference champion and seven-time USTFCCCA All-American in six events across track and field and cross country. She set 13 school records, five in outdoor track and field, five in indoor track and field, and three in cross country. She also set two Northwest Conference records, in the 3,000-meter steeplechase the 10,000. Leland was an NCAA Division III All-American in three sports in 2017-18, beginning with a 19th-place finish at the Cross Country Championships. She finished fifth in the 5,000 meters at the Indoor Track & Field Championships and closed out her year by taking second place in the steeplechase at the Outdoor Track & Field Championships. In between Leland was the 2018 Northwest Conference women's track Athlete of the Year after she won the 1,500 meters, 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters in a span of less than 24 hours. Leland was selected as Whitworth's Senior Athlete of the Year in May. She was a third-team Academic All-American in 2018 and was finalist (top 9) for NCAA Woman of the Year. Leland went on to complete Doctor of Pharmacy degree at Washington State University.
Wes Walton was a three-time Northwest Conference Swimmer of the Year from 2014 through 2016, who set several championship meet and conference records over the course of his career. He won 11 out of 12 possible individual events at the NWC Championships over four seasons and was part of five conference champion relays. He finished his career as the NWC record holder in the 200-yard individual medley and the 200-yard backstroke, and the NWC championship meet record-holder in the 400-yard individual medley. He was an NCAA Division III All-American in the 200 I.M. in 2016 and a three-time honorable mention All-American. Walton went on to be an assistant coach for the Pirates while earning a post-graduate degree in counseling.
The class of 2023 will join a group of 110 individuals and eight teams already enshrined in the Heritage Gallery. The current class, along with all previously-inducted Heritage Gallery members attending the event, will be recognized at halftime of the Whitworth – Puget Sound football game that afternoon.
The Whitworth Heritage Gallery Hall of Fame was created in 1989 by the (then-named) Whitworth Crimson Club and inducted its first class in the fall of 1990.
