Ann Elizabeth Reifel, an Anderson, Indiana native, distinguished herself in track and basketball, particularly the former sport. She has participated in top meets both nationally and internationally, and received honors in places from Indianapolis and Terre Haute to Romania, Yugoslavia, Sweden and Venezuela.
Ann first participated internationally while in high school when she was selected to participate in the World Games for the Deaf in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. She placed fourth in the 80 meter hurdles and was a member of the U. S. record-setting 100 meter relay team that finished second.
As a student at the Indiana School for the Deaf, Ann participated in their basketball, track, softball and volleyball programs, then continued in track and basketball at ISU. She twice finished among the nation's top 20 in the AIAW pentathlon, first at Kansas State University and later at UCLA.
Meanwhile, Ann was establishing several records and winning competitions at various Deaf Games events. In 1973, she was the first U. S. woman to win a medal in the pentathlon, finishing third. Two years later, she was a double gold medal winner at the Pan American Games for the Deaf. In 1976, Ann was named the Outstanding Female Athlete of the trials for the Deaf World Games while winning several events.
Ann also was a member of the women's basketball team and played on the varsity squad for three years. During that time, ISU participated in the National Women's Invitational Tournament (NWIT) twice, recorded a 56-22 record, and won the Midwest AIAIW tourney once. At 5-9, Ann was the starting center on the team and according to publicity releases at that time had a vertical jump of 24 inches and "played a tremendous defensive game."
Finally in 1977, she was selected United States women's team captain for the World Games for the Deaf and again was a multiple medal winner.
Ann's accomplishments have not gone unnoticed. She became the first female recipient of the Tom Carnegie Award, awarded to the person who has overcome personal adversity in the pursuit of her career. She was a 1983 inductee into the Indiana Track and Field Hall of Fame, and as a basketball player at ISU, she was the 1977 Mental Attitude Award winner.
At the time of her induction, Ann was fulfilling her lifelong ambition to help others as she was a teacher and coach at the Indiana School for the Deaf in Indianapolis.
1973-1977
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Indiana Track Hall of Fame inductee
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First Woman to win Tom Carnegie Award
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Outstanding participant in Basketball
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National Qualifier in Track
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Inducted into Hall of Fame November 1, 1985
