KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A pair of former All-America Pittsburg State University student-athletes – baseball All-American Daryl Cronk and football All-American Troy Wilson – were inducted among the MIAA Hall of Fame Class of 2023 Tuesday (June 6) at the MIAA Awards Celebration, presented by Husch Blackwell, at the historic KC Music Hall.
The Pitt State honorees were joined by the University of Central Missouri's Ana Dilkes (women's soccer, 2014-17) and Heavin Warner (women's track & field, 2011-16), the University of Central Oklahoma's Kacie Edwards (softball, 2010-13), Emporia State University's Brittney Miller (volleyball/women's basketball, 2007-11) and Cassondra Boston Richards (women's basketball, 2006-10), Missouri Southern State University's Diane Miller (softball, 1989-92) and Patty Vavra (cross country/track & field coach, 1994-2016), long-time MIAA Football Official Gene McArtor and former MIAA Commissioner and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Northwest Missouri State University Dr. Bob Boerigter.
Additionally, Pitt State Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Jim Johnson accepted the 2022-23 Commissioner's Cup from representatives from title sponsor McCownGordon Construction. This is the Gorillas' second consecutive Commissioner's Cup victory.
The Commissioner's Cup presented by McCownGordon Construction is an all-sports award presented at the end of each academic year to the association's top-performing school in conference play and is based on a point system, reflecting the finish of each team in conference play.
The Gorillas collected five MIAA championships in the 2022-23 academic year – football, women's cross country, men's and women's indoor track & field, and men's outdoor track & field. The women's track & field team also earned a runner-up finish at the outdoor championships.
Either Pitt State or the University of Central Missouri has won every MIAA Commissioner's Cup since the award's inception during the 2016-17 academic year. The Gorillas also claimed the MIAA Commissioner's Cup in 2018-19. The MIAA previously awarded the All-Sports Trophy for five years between the 1998-99 academic year and the 2002-03 academic year.
Pitt State Hall of Fame Member Biographies
Daryl Cronk - Pittsburg State
Baseball Student-Athlete (1997-1999)
Daryl Cronk earned second-team NCAA Division II All-America honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association as a sophomore in 1997. Cronk also garnered Central Region Pitcher of the Year honors that season. He compiled a 27-12 record with a 3.51 ERA in 48 career appearances for the Gorillas, setting the Pittsburg State record for career wins. Cronk earned All-MIAA honors three times (1997-99), helping the Gorillas to three straight appearances in the NCAA Division II National Tournament as well as the program's first MIAA title as a senior in 1999. Following graduation, he served as an assistant coach at Pittsburg State and Central Missouri (helping the Mules to the 2010 Division II World Series) before becoming head coach at Avila University. He served as head coach at Avila from 2011 until tragically passing away at age 46 from the Covid-19 virus on Dec. 26, 2021. Cronk was inducted into the PSU Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2014.
Troy Wilson - Pittsburg State
Football Student-Athlete (1989-1992)
Troy Wilson finished his collegiate career in 1992 as a three-time NCAA Division II All-American at defensive end for the Pittsburg State football team. Wilson was an honorable mention All-America selection as a sophomore in 1990. He then earned second-team All-America honors as a junior in 1991 when he recorded 104 tackles with a school record 23.0 quarterback sacks. Wilson earned first-team All-America honors his senior season when he recorded 112 tackles with 32.0 tackles for loss and 14.0 quarterback sacks. He finished his career with 317 tackles and 45.0 sacks. Wilson also was a three-time NCAA-II All-American in the shot put and discus in track & field at PSU. Following his collegiate career, he was a seventh-round selection of the San Francisco 49ers in the 1993 NFL Draft. Wilson enjoyed a seven-year NFL career and helped the 49ers capture the 1994 World Championship in Super Bowl XXIX. He was inducted into the PSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003.
