Plainview – Former Flying Queen Legend, Sharla Harrison Rich, will be inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2024.
"It is a great honor to be inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame. I loved the game of basketball, and I loved playing at Wayland for the Flying Queens. Honestly, when I graduated from high school, I didn't want to do anything other than play. My goal was to win, not to get awards. I wanted my team to be the very best it could be!" said Sharla.
Sharla attended Wayland Baptist University from 1985-89, leading the Flying Queens to four NAIA National appearances and breaking numerous program records along the way. Sharla made her impact on the Flying Queen program the moment she stepped on campus, and it showed on the court.
Sharla is the current Flying Queen record holder in career points (2,461), career rebounds (1,230), best field goal percentage in a season (.661), best career field goal percentage (.624), most points scored in a single game (49) and is tied for first with most field goals made in a game (20).
Sharla received countless honors during her time with Wayland Baptist. She is a two-time NAIA First Team All-American, a 1987 NAIA Second Team All-American, two-time Kodak All-American, 1986 American Women's Sports Federation All-American Freshman Team recipient, a three-time American Women's Sports Federation All-American, a 1988 WBCA All-American, and a 1989 NAIA All-Tournament Team recipient.
Sharla also received multiple individual awards such as the 1988 Emil Liston Award, a 1988 and 1989 NAIA Scholar Athlete award, and she was inducted into the Wayland Baptist University Athletics Hall of Honor as member of the Class of 2000.
Sharla continued, "You don't receive honors like this without being surrounded by incredible teammates, coaches and supporters. I was surrounded by the very best. They believed in me, they passed me the ball, they trusted me and they helped make me who I am. I made such strong bonds with my teammates while I was at Wayland. These ladies were and still are like family to me. They made me a better player and a better person. I wouldn't trade those relationships for anything! The Flying Queens program was a special place to be."
As a freshman, Sharla finished second on the team in both points and rebounds, and helped the Flying Queens advance to the NAIA National Championship Game. During her sophomore season, Sharla led the Flying Queens to the NAIA Quarterfinals, was named an NAIA 2
nd Team All-American, and also won an NAIA Player of the Week award.
Sharla graduated Cum Laude from Wayland Baptist in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. Today, Sharla resides with her family in Sudan, Texas, and serves as the Director of Customer Support Operations at Abbott Laboratories.
"I never dreamed I would set records or be inducted into any Hall of Fame. I just wanted to be the very best that I could be. It's an honor for me that the Flying Queens Foundation took the time to nominate me and push to have me inducted. These are people that were my heroes growing up. It's very special to be a Hutcherson Flying Queen and to have support from these ladies is incredible. I can't express how humbled I am to receive this honor and to represent this team. "said Sharla.
Sharla credits Wayland Baptist the opportunities academically that Wayland Baptist provided as a key component into shaping her into the woman she is today, saying "Things specific to what I wanted to be when I grew up and about life in general. My professors in the Biology and Chemistry Department were so good – Dr. Bowers, Dr. Randolph, Dr. Reese, Dr. Thompson, Dr. Baldwin, Mrs. Clark….. to name just a few!! I received a quality education that allowed me to go on to Medical Technology School and ultimately led to a great career at Abbott Laboratories. I am blessed to travel all over the world in my current job. It has been such an incredible experience."
Sharla also reaffirmed her relationship with God while playing for the Flying Queens, saying "The fact that Wayland was built on good Christian beliefs and that they stood firm in God's word made such a difference to me. It helped nourish the firm foundation of my faith."
To read the NAIA's Awards Day release, please visit
here.
