CALGARY – The University of Calgary Athletics Hall of Fame will induct its 13th class, with four athletes, one coach, and one builder set to be bestowed with the Dinos' highest honour.

Olympic gold medallists Erica Wiebe (wrestling) and Hayley Wickenheiser (hockey), Super Bowl champion Dan Federkeil (football) and star sprinter Sam Effah (track & field) make up the Class of 2024 in the athlete category. Gord Franson has spent more than a half-century with the Dinos as a coach, historian, team manager, and supporter in soccer and is the inductee in the builder category, while legendary track and field coach Les Gramantik – who has dedicated over 40 years to the Dinos while also coaching Team Canada at a multitude of international events – will be inducted as a Coach.

The formal induction ceremony will be held on Monday, Oct. 28, at the Fairmont Palliser. Tickets are available now.



It has been over a decade since Sam Effah (BComm '14) last sprinted down a university track, but that hasn't changed his place as the fastest man in Canadian university track & field history. The standout sprinter claimed 24 medals between conference and national championships – an incredible 17 of which were gold. The four-time U SPORTS Male Track & Field Athlete of the Year still holds the conference and national records in the 60 metres and has gone on to represent Canada on the international level at a number of competitions.



Dan Federkeil (BA '11) is one of his generation's most accomplished Canadian football players. The Medicine Hat, Alta. native was a five-year standout as a Dino from Day 1 – becoming the youngest player to dress for the Scarlet & Gold at 17 years and two months. As a defensive lineman for the Dinos, Federkeil was a two-time All-Canadian, finishing his university career with 111 tackles and 13 sacks, and was named the 2005 Dinos Male Athlete of the Year. At the professional ranks, Federkeil moved to the offensive line and played four seasons in the NFL – helping the Indianapolis Colts to a Super Bowl win in 2006. He then returned to Canada and spent five seasons back at McMahon Stadium, helping the Calgary Stampeders to three Grey Cup appearances, winning it all back in 2014.



One of the most recognizable names in all of Canadian sport and the greatest women's hockey player of all time, Hayley Wickenheiser (BKin '13, MSc '16, MD '21), continues to break barriers to this day. The four-time Olympic gold medallist was named the Canada West Player of the Year in 2011 and 2013 and helped lead Calgary to the program's first conference and national titles during the outstanding 2011-12 season. She racked up an eye-popping 72 points (24 goals, 48 assists) in those two seasons and averaged over two points-per-game for the Dinos. The all-time leading goal scorer at the Olympics continues to make a name for herself, most recently being named assistant general manager for the Toronto Maple Leafs while continuing to practice medicine in Toronto.



Erica Wiebe (BKin '12, BA '16) went from not making the varsity team as a rookie with the Dinos to winning an Olympic gold medal less than 10 years later. The 2016 Olympic gold medallist is the second member of the University of Calgary women's wrestling program to enter the Dinos Hall of Fame. Wiebe helped the Dinos to three consecutive conference titles from 2009-11, along with the program's fifth national title in 2009. She claimed three individual U SPORTS gold medals and was named the 2011-12 Canada West Outstanding Wrestler. The Stittsville, Ont. product brought home gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the World University Games before claiming gold at the 75kg division at the Rio Games.



One of the most prominent coaching names in the sport, Les Gramantik joins the Dinos Hall of Fame after nearly 40 years of involvement with the University of Calgary's track & field program. Growing up as an elite athlete and international pole vaulter in Romania, Gramantik came to Calgary in the late 1970s and quickly made a name for himself. He served as the Dinos head coach from 1978-2005, being named national coach of the year in 1991 to go with six conference coach of the year awards. He helped lead the Dinos to 12 Canada West titles and five U SPORTS championships as head coach and still works with the program at the time of his induction as an assistant coach. In addition to his outstanding university success, Gramantik has been selected to coach the Canadian National Team in various roles, headlined by serving as head coach at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.



Gord Franson (BComm '72) enters the Dinos Hall of Fame as a Builder – becoming the first person from the Dinos men's soccer program to earn the honour. With over 35 years of service, Franson has become engrained in the fabric of the Dinos men's soccer program. He has provided an unselfish and unwavering commitment to the success of Dinos soccer, serving in a variety of roles over the years. Franson has been a critical contributor to organizing fundraising events, managing fundraising, and constructing the home field. He also collected and maintained a database of contact information for all alumni and played a significant role in integrating university-based teams across the city. Doing everything from ordering team gear, providing sports medicine equipment, and keeping accurate statistics for the Dinos and the entire Canada West conference, all while maintaining strong relationships with current and former Dinos.

Dinos Hall of Fame Class of 2024
Sam Effah – Athlete (track & field)
Dan Federkeil – Athlete (football)
Hayley Wickenheiser – Athlete (hockey)
Erica Wiebe – Athlete (wrestling)
Les Gramantik – Coach (track & field)
Gord Franson – Builder (soccer)

-UC-