This is the sixth of nine articles highlighting the CSU Pueblo Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2023 Inductees and today's sixth article features former women's volleyball and women's basketball player Deborah Hunter (1985-87).
If it wasn't for her brother being stationed at Fort Carson, Deborah Hunter's induction into the Colorado State University Pueblo Athletics Hall of Fame would not take place this Friday at the Occhiato Student Center.
"In 1985, my brother had the opportunity of being stationed in Fort Carson as a part of his military duty," said Hunter, who was living in Arkansas. "During my visit, I fell in love with the mountainous view of the Rocky Mountains."
During that visit, Hunter took a trip south to visit the campus of then-University of Southern Colorado.
"My initial visit was filled with excitement," Hunter added. "I got the opportunity to meet my coaches, Rich Arguello (basketball) and Yvonne Torres Arguello (volleyball). With mountains to the west, my brother to the north and the welcoming atmosphere, it made my decision easy to attend USC."
Joining Hunter as 2023 inductees are Bobby Graham (men's basketball, 1963-1966), Bailey Hughes (women's cross country, track & field, 2015-2017), Ryan Jensen (football, 2009-012), Shelly Watts Pearcey (women's basketball, 1985-1988), and Derrick Williams (men's cross country, track & field, 2014-2018).
Also being inducted in Mike Friedman, who coached USC to its first RMAC football title and national playoff berth and the Trahern Family Legacy that spanned 13 seasons and over 400 games and matches. Also being inducted is the 2016-2017 women's basketball team that posted a 28-4 overall record and captured the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular season title and hosted the NCAA South Regional Tournament for the first and only time in school history will join the Hall of Fame in the Team category.
Volleyball was Hunter's first sport as she was named an NAIA All-District and All-RMAC selection in all three seasons with the Pack volleyball team, including earning back-to-back First-Team all-league honors in 1986 and 1987."
A Malvern (Ark.) High School product, Hunter holds CSUP's volleyball record for career blocks (1,076), blocks per game (2.95), solo blocks (472) and block assists (604). She also ranks seventh all-time in career kills with 1,052 in 365 games for an average of 2.88 kills per game with a career hitting percentage of .302 to rank second all-time.
As for memorable moments during her time at USC, Hunter remembers a road trip to Durango. "We were traveling to Fort Lewis and hit some bad weather and our van got stuck as we neared the top of the pass. A truck driver stopped and helped the coach put chains on the tires to make it safely to our destination."
Being from the south central region of the United States, Hunter noted that the "memory of our trip to Durango and getting stuck on the path was something that we rarely experience living in Arkansas. Those mountains that we have are like hills compared to the mountains in Colorado. If it ever snowed in Arkansas and it reached an inch; they would shut everything down. This was a new adventure for me."
A business major, Hunter remembers her "teammates for their passion and internal love. I was having a hard time being away from home, and my volleyball team surprised me and flew Mom out to visit the campus and to see me play basketball."
Hunter, who was from Malvern, Ark., Hunter added that USC was playing Adams State "when my mom was there, and I made the bucket to win the game. After we tied the game, Adams State chose not to call a time out. On the inbound pass, I tipped the ball and Debbie McDonald retrieved it as mid-court and passed the ball me. I made the bucket. It is something that we dream about all of our lives - making the winning basket."
As a basketball player, Hunter also earned all-district and RMAC recognition as she played in 61 games over three seasons (1986-1988). Despite missing the second-half of the 1986-87 season due to injuries (shoulder issues from volleyball), she scored 559 career points (9.8 per game) and grabbed 453 rebounds (7.4).
"Deborah was strong and did great rebounding for our team," said Watts Pearcey. "She was a great teammate. She was a quiet leader who played hard every game and led by example."
Hunter career was cut short as she missed her senior season to return to Arkansas to care from her mother.
"I did not play my senior year," Hunter said "as my mother was diagnosed with Lupus. I had to go home to be with her and take care of her."
And her visit this week will be her first to Pueblo since the summer of 1999. "I am excited to return to Pueblo," said Hunter, who lives in Live Oak, Texas, where she works for United Healthcare. "It is an honor to be recognized by the school where I grew up as person and an athlete. I love traveling. My friends always tell me that I only work to save for my next vacation."
Hunter added that she "is very excited to hear that I would be inducted with Shelly (Watts Pearcey). She was dominate in the paint and made our fast breaks look seamless. We were able to beat several teams with the speed of Suzanne Gonzalez pushing the ball up the court with Shelly trailing for an easy bucket. Shelly was very instrumental in helping me grow into being a better basketball player."
