2024 Tribute to Champions program

2024 Tribute to Champions 2024 Tribute to Champions

Tuesday, May 14th 2024 Tuesday, May 14th 2024

2024 DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENTS

2024 DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENTS

CONNELLY LAW OFFICES EXCELLENCE IN OFFICIATING AWARD

Baseball—Phil Taylor • Boys & Girls Basketball—Cedric McClure

Football—Shawn Farber • Softball—Regie Johnson • Soccer—Scott Webster

Volleyball—Joe Sakaria • Wrestling—Michael Maye

FIRST FAMILY OF SPORTS AWARD

The Bartelson Family (Wrestling & Soccer) - Bryan, Jennifer, Jordyn, Brooklyn and Chance

FROSTY WESTERING EXCELLENCE IN COACHING AWARD

Katrina Cardinal - Peninsula High School Volleyball Coach

Duane Lee - Lincoln High School Cross Country & Track Coach

DOUG MCARTHUR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Kathy Hemion - Coach Basketball/Volleyball/Softball - Pacific Lutheran University

Duncan Stevenson - Athletic Director - Pierce College

DICK HANNULA MALE AND FEMALE AMATEUR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARD

Hannah Pukis - Volleyball - Bellarmine Prep/Washington State University/University of Oregon

Brandon Kaylor - Wrestling - Bonney Lake High School/Oregon State University

2024 TACOMA-PIERCE COUNTY SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

Administrator - Ed Ploof Boys Basketball & Tennis - Gary Wusterbarth Football - Stafford Mays Golf - Jim Pike Officiating - Jerry Meyerhoff Soccer - Mary Rink

Fastpitch Softball - Margaret Heinrick (dec.) & Pat Kelly Swimming/Diving - Kellen Harkness Track (Boys) - Joseph Gray Track (Girls) - Sheila (Kaskie) Robak Volleyball - Kylie (Marshall) Whitehill Wrestling - Doug Cowan

SPECIAL VIDEO PRESENTATION HONORING DOUG MCARTHUR

If a list were made of the men whose contributions had a monumental impact on the Tacoma-Pierce County sports community, Doug McArthur’s name would be at or near the top. He worked tirelessly and selflessly with others of like mind to develop and promote local sports for the past half century. Celebrate the legacy of Doug who passed away in December at the age of 94.

Welcome to the 2024 Tribute to Champions.

The Tacoma Athletic Commission and the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Museum are proud to host tonight’s event to recognize outstanding accomplishments at the highest level of sports in our community. For decades, we have honored positive contributions to our community in the areas of sports, recreation, and civic betterment.

Congratulations to our Hall of Fame inductees and Distinguished Achievement Award winners. You have achieved excellence and made our community better through your effort as athletes, coaches, officials, administrators and supporters. Your passion for sports is remarkable.

We are grateful for the opportunity to support and recognize so many worthy individuals. And a tip of the cap to the First Family of Sports, for the positive example they have set for future generations on how to build strong family bonds with sports as a contributing factor.

Tonight, two deserving individuals will receive the Doug McArthur Lifetime Achievement Award. Our recipients truly embody what Doug was all about as you will see in the special video presentation this evening.

The Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Museum is committed to preserving our sports history through written, visual and audio means. The museum is grateful to those who have shared their stories, trophies, game programs and many other forms of impressive memorabilia for the public to enjoy. We encourage you to visit www.tacomasportsmuseum.com to see thousands of artifacts, Hall of Famer bios, video interviews, radio clips, and more wonderful evidence of achievements by local athletes.

The TAC has supported local sports events and recreational activities and participants since World War II. The member-driven organization pledges to continue its efforts on behalf of those who excel both in the classroom and in the various areas and fields where they play.

Thank you to this evening’s many sponsors. Without your financial support this event would not be possible. And, a big “Attaway” to the committee of volunteers who have been working for the past year to ensure a memorable Tribute to Champions for all.

You can read all about the Tacoma Athletic Commission and the TPC Sports Museum elsewhere in this program. Feel free to contact us if you would like to help maintain a tradition of supporting athletic participation and excellence in Tacoma-Pierce County.

Enjoy the memories that nights like these create.

Sincerely,

Paul Stabbert

President, 2023-24

Tribute to Champions Committee Members

Our appreciation goes to these sports fans that volunteered to serve on the committee to make this a memorable evening for all.

CHAIRMAN

Marc Blau

VENUE LOGISTICS, REGISTRATION & SETUP

Colleen Barta, Cheryl Blau, Robyn Buck-Holdener, Lisa Blevins Harrison, Doug Cail, Laina Chavez, Dave Demick, Lauralee Hagen, Karen Ivy, Jamie Lange, Dave Lawson, Ed Menotti, Heidi Rowntree, Tim Templin, Kate Rue, Aubrey Shelton, Tim Thomsen, Sandi Ulrich, Teri Wood and Bob Young

SOUVENIR PROGRAM

Athlete Bios

Layout and Design

Gary Brooks, Annette Griffus, Kevin Manning, Todd Milles, Shawn O’Neal and Tyler Scott

Jeff Davis of Sun Showers Design

Doyle Printing John Doyle

VIDEO SCRIPTS

Gary Brooks

VIDEO PRESENTATIONS

Joanne Lisosky, Steve Thomas, Jay Stricherz and Branson Gustafson

SILENT AUCTION

Colleen Barta, Falena Ables, Doug Cail, Don Gustafson, Chelle Miller, Aaron Roetcisoender and Lou Ulrich

DECORATIONS

Rocky Zlock and Brittany Thovsen and Angie Eichholtz

TACOMA-PIERCE COUNTY SPORTS MUSEUM STAFF

Megan French and Ainsley Austin

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Mike Sage-Sage Photography

Stace Tyler-Intensity Sports Photography

TACOMA ATHLETIC COMMISSION LIAISON

Karyn Siegrist Jessica Moore

RESEARCH

A special thanks to Ilona Perry of the Northwest Room, Tacoma Public Library, for her efforts in tracking down contact numbers, photos and information about our inductees when requested. Her efforts were invaluable.

Marc Blau

President & Co-Founder

Tacoma Athletic Commission Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Museum

Visit the museum online at www.tacomasportsmuseum.com

Paul Stabbert

Marc Blau

Chris Egan - King 5 TV

Chris Egan has been a sports anchor/reporter at King 5 television in Seattle for 23 years. Chris has won 11 Emmy Awards, three Edward Murrow Awards, in 2022 he was named the National Sports Media Association Sportscaster of the year, and this year he has 5 Emmy Nominations.

Over the past two decades Chris has covered 5 Olympic games, three Super Bowls, 3 MLS Championships, 3 WNBA Championships, MLB and NHL playoffs, the Washington Huskies at the National Championship game, a Rose Bowl, and hundreds of high school sporting events.

Chris is a very proud graduate of Puyallup High School, where he played basketball and tennis. From 19911995 Chris attended Pacific Lutheran University where he played tennis and also started up a ½ hour sports show called, The Lutes Sports Profile. In 1995 Chris was named the Man of the Year in Sports at PLU.

Since graduation Chris has worked in Klamath Falls, Medford, and Boise before heading to Seattle to work at King 5 TV. Chris married his high school sweetheart Melanie, who is successful realtor in Pierce County. Melanie and Chris have three kids, Madison, Austin, and Luke. Madison plays tennis at Portland State, Austin is a freshman, playing baseball for Shoreline College, and Luke is a 7th grader at Ballou junior high. When Chris is not watching his kids, working, or on a date night with Mel, you can find him playing his favorite sport, pickleball.

Derik Nelson & Family to sing National Anthem

Raised in the Pacific Northwest, Derik Nelson & Family’s signature sound features velvety three-part pop/folk vocal harmonies only a family can deliver. Siblings Derik, Riana, and Dalten have been performing together since childhood. They’ve garnered over 4 million views on YouTube, performed in 150+ cities across the USA, and reached 100,000+ students of all ages with educational music workshops, outreach programming, and fundraising assemblies. Derik appeared regularly as the lead guitarist on television’s “Glee,”among other shows. Derik Nelson & Family has performed the US National Anthem at Seattle Seahawks, Sounders FC, and Portland Trailblazers home games, and are proud to tour nationwide with their own headlining concert as a family in some of the finest performing arts centers and historic halls in the country.

Derik Nelson & Family, from Olympia, will sing the National Anthem. L. to R: Riana, Derik and Dalten

Welcome

5:30pm ...........................................

Dessert Social

Silent Auction Sports Memorabilia benefitting Sports Museum

6:30pm ...........................................

Welcome — Paul Stabbert, TAC President

Master of Ceremonies — Chris Egan

National Anthem — Derik Nelson & Family

6:45pm ........................................... Video

Special Presentation of Distinguished Achievement Awards

Connelly Law Offices Excellence in Officiating Award-Jack Connelly, Presenter

Boys & Girls Basketball—Cedric McClure

Football—Shawn Farber

Baseball-Phil Taylor

Soccer—Scott Webster

Softball—Regie Johnson Volleyball—Joe Sakaria Wrestling—Michael Maye

First Family of Sports Award

Jim Meyerhoff, Presenter—Mat Classic State Wrestling Championships Director

The Bartelson Family—Bryan, Jennifer, Jordyn, Brooklyn and Chance

Frosty Westering Excellence in Coaching Award

Maidee Watson, Presenter—Daughter of Dan Watson, HOF Lincoln HS Track Coach

Katrina Cardinal - Peninsula High School Volleyball Coach

Duane Lee - Lincoln High School Cross Country & Track Coach

Doug McArthur Lifetime Achievement Award

Tim Thomsen, Presenter—2022 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient

Kathy Hemion— Elite multi-sport athlete, coach, official and teacher from college to Special Ed (MS/HS) students

Duncan Stevenson—Athletic Director, Pierce College

Dick Hannula Male and Female Amateur Athlete of The Year Award

Dave Williams, Presenter—2008 TPC Sports Hall of Fame member-swimming

Hannah Pukis - Volleyball - Bellarmine Prep/Washington State University/ University of Oregon

Brandon Kaylor - Wrestling - Bonney Lake High School/Oregon State University

Video

2024 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame

Chelle Miller, Presenter-2007 TPC Sports Hall of Fame member-Basketball

Administrator—Ed Ploof

Boys Basketball & Tennis—Gary Wusterbarth Football—Stafford Mays

Golf—Jim Pike

Officials—Jerry Meyerhoff

Soccer—Mary Rink

Softball (Fastpitch)-Margaret Heinrick (dec.) & Pat Kelly

Swimming/Diving—Kellen Harkness

Track & Field—Sheila (Kaskie) Robak and Joseph Gray

Volleyball—Kylie (Marshall) Whitehill

Wrestling—Doug Cowan

Closing- Chris Egan, MC

PLAYGROUNDS TO THE PROS:

AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF SPORTS IN TACOMA-PIERCE COUNTY

From games played in schoolyards to professional championship teams, sports have occupied an important place in the cultural development of the Tacoma area. Playgrounds to the Pros provides an extensive overview of the sports played in the region during the last 150 years. It is not limited to such crowd favorites as baseball, football, and basketball; it also includes archery and auto racing, bowling and boxing, horseshoes and hydroplanes, marbles and mountaineering, soccer and swimming, and much more.

This history of more than 40 sports acknowledges the many men and women athletes who have contributed to their sports over the years, including Lois Secreto, who epitomized ice skating in the 1940s; pro golfer Ken Still, who competed in six Masters, 13 U.S. Opens, and seven PGA Championships; Ryan Moore, who won the 2004 U.S. Amateur Championship; Doug Stevenson, goalie of the riotous Tacoma Rockets in the late forties and fifties; and Gertrude Wilhelmsen, 1936 Olympic athlete and star shortstop of the Tacoma Tigerettes. It is also a tribute to the colleges, schools, organizations, owners, managers, coaches, referees, umpires, and fans who have helped make sports such a significant part of Tacoma and Pierce County’s community, a place where love of a game, any game, is honored and enjoyed.

HOW TO ORDER PLAYGROUNDS TO THE PROS

Books may be purchased for $25.00 plus an additional $10.00 if shipping

For additional information contact Marc Blau at mhblau@comcast.net or call 253-677-2872.

Thanks To the Following Sponsors for Their Support!

HOSTS

Tacoma Athletic Commission

Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Museum

PRESENTING SPONSOR

Connelly Law Offices

GOLD SPONSORS

Cheney Foundation

Evergreen Excavation

Harkness Furniture

SILVER SPONSORS

Bucky’s Complete Auto Repair

Commencement Bank

Dominos

Guardian Roofing

Willie Stewart

Bob Young

BRONZE SPONSORS

Lineage

Paul Wallrof/Tacoma-Pierce County Chapter -

National Football Foundation

Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler, L.L.

Woodworth Capital

SUPPORTING SPONSORS

American Party Place

Anthem Coffee

Anthony’s Restaurant

Cloverleaf Tavern

Drangsholt Orthodontics

Doyle Printing

Financial insights

Horizon

Matt’s Rotisserie

Metro Parks Tacoma

Olive Garden

Sunshowers Design - Jeff Davis

Tacoma Rainiers

TAPCO Credit Union

Tower Lanes

Umpqua Bank

University of Puget Sound

Wanna Cupcake

Winning Seasons

Sports Photojournalist, Alan Reed, Passes Away

Alan Reed, a longtime sports photojournalist at KING 5, passed away in March. He spent more than 22 years at KING 5, starting as a general assignment photojournalist before moving into the sports department. Reed covered every major sporting event and story in Seattle for two decades and had a hand in countless awards at KING 5. But Alan was also well-recognized at UPS and PLU athletic contest, Tacoma Rainiers games and numerous WIAA State Championship events as well.

Alan spent more time out covering sports than in the office. He loved his job. He loved being around the coaches and players – many of whom knew him by name. He was a recognizable face at practices, press conferences and games. With his silver hair, round face, and, often, a big smile, it seemed like Reed was always there. He will be missed by the sporting community, but not forgotten.

Courtesy of King 5 Sports

A Shout-Out To Our Local Sports Writers

Thanks to these individuals who prepared the biographies about the following honorees in this publication

ANNETTE GRIFFUS

Katrina Cardinal, Kellen Harkness, Kathy Hemion, Hannah Pukis, Mary Rink, Stafford Mays and Gary Wusterbarth.

Annette Griffus is a contributing writer for the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Museum and former sports reporter for the Kitsap Sun for 17 years. Griffus’ nearly 30-year award-winning career included working at the Spokesman-Review in Spokane and contributing to the Tacoma News Tribune, The Vancouver Columbian, KING-TV, Peninsula Gateway, The Olympian and her own online website, West Sound SportsPlus.

TODD MILLES

The Bartelson Family

Todd Milles is a contributing writer for the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Museum and a former sports reporter for The News Tribune. He is a Senior Editor for Scorebooklive.com.

SHAWN O’NEAL

Doug Cowan, Joseph Gray, Sheila (Kaskie) Robak, Duncan Stevenson and Kylie (Marshall) Whitehill.

A graduate of Spanaway Lake High School (1991), Washington State University (1995) and the University of Idaho (2016), Shawn O’Neal works in media advocacy for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and as senior editor for college sports at Lindy’s Sports Annuals.

TYLER SCOTT

Shawn Farber, Regie Johnson, Brandon Kaylor, Duane Lee, Michael Maye, Cedric McClure, Jim Pike, Ed Ploof, Joe Sakaria, Phil Taylor, Scott Webster.

Tyler Scott is a contributing writer for the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Museum. A Puget Sound native and Pacific Lutheran University alumnus, Tyler has worked in several small college sports information offices in Washington and Oregon and also provided freelance high school sports coverage for The News Tribune. Tyler currently teaches social studies at Stadium High School.

KEVIN MANNING

Margaret Heinrick, Pat Kelly, Stafford Mays and Jerry Meyerhoff

Kevin Manning has spent the better part of 14 years covering Northwest sports, and covered the 2019 MLS Championship for PRC Publishing, the publication he created. He currently works as a grant writer for Valley Cities Behavioral Health Care.

Robert C. Young Board of Directors

SPORTS WEBSITES TO KEEP YOU INFORMED

Tacoma Athletic Commission www.tacomaathletic.com

Shanaman Sports Museum of Tacoma Pierce County www.tacomasportsmuseum.com

State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame www.washingtonsportshof.org

Tacoma-Pierce County Baseball-Softball Oldtimers Association www.oldtimerbaseball.com

Tacoma Rainiers Baseball Club www.tacomarainiers.com

West Central District III www.wiaadistrict3.com

WIAA

www.wiaa.com

Scorebook Live-High School Sports in WA www.scorebooklive.com/washington

Photo courtesy of Northwest Room at The Tacoma Public Library, (Richards Studio D9369-2)

What We Do

Provide scholarship * Stage events

Raise money * Support youth sports

Meetings

Monthly September - June

2nd Thursday of the month Visit our website for full details

TacomaAthletic.com

Membership Discount Partners

Starts at $75 per year for 40 and under or $150 per year for 41+

Recognition for amateur athletics All 4 Pierce Co. colleges: free admission to their athletic competitions. 20% off tickets

A new benefit of membership at the TAC is our Discount Partners program. We already have 5 organizations, shown below, which offer discounts to current TAC members and we are just getting started. We appreciate our current partners and look forward to adding more. Contact us if you are interested in adding your business.

TAC members receive a membership card which is your key to discounts.

253-677-2872 | www.tacomasportsmuseum.com

Throughout the years, Tacoma-Pierce County has received recognition thanks to the national and international caliber of its athletes and teams. Since its founding in 1994, the Sports Museum has honored athletes, coaches, officials, and other figures who have brought acclaim to our community.

Visit www.TacomaSportsMuseum.com to see the extensive collection and learn more about the terrific stories of athletic achievement that our community has to share.

Support the Museum Today

When you support the museum’s efforts to preserve the rich sports history of Tacoma-Pierce County, your contribution helps maintain the virtual museum archives including:

• Photo and artifact catalog (with over 6,000 archived documents)

• Old-school sports programs (more being added from personal donations)

• The Locker Room Chat interview series (featuring dozens of prominent athletes and coaches)

• Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame (an excellent archive honoring our area’s best athletes, including those inducted tonight at the Tribute to Champions)

DONATE TO SUPPORT THE MUSEUM

1. Visit TacomaSportsMuseum.com

2. On the home page, click the yellow DONATE button. This takes you to a PayPal transaction page where you can pay with a credit card or your personal PayPal account.

3. We will follow-up with acknowledgement of your gift, which may be tax-deductible if you itemize deductions on your tax return.

• Sports Spotlite quarterly newsletter (articles and anecdotes about athletes and events that shaped Tacoma history, you can subscribe to this quarterly email newsletter)

• Clay Huntington Broadcast Center (listen and watch historic radio and TV clips)

• Scrapbooks (view decades-old histories via personal scrapbooks donated to the museum)

In addition to the extensive virtual collection, we continue to raise money for an eventual return to a physical location. Your support is greatly appreciated.

The Amocat baseball team played from 1901-1906.

The “EXCELLENCE IN OFFICIATING AWARD”

THE “EXCELLENCE IN OFFICIATING AWARD” is presented to collectively honor officials previously recognized for their leadership, dedication and high standard of professionalism displayed on and off the “field of play.” Their efforts are acknowledged for laying a foundation of excellence as officiating pioneers.

Presented annually to a currently active official in Tacoma-Pierce County who has made a significant contribution to the betterment of officiating. Factors used in the selection of this individual include, but are not limited to, the following:

-Respect for the Spirit and the Letter of the “Laws of the Games.”

-Integrity and ethics.

-Exhibits a “service above self” attitude.

-Has a motivating effect on others and/or strong community involvement.

-Excellence in officiating

-Years of service and positions held in Local, State and National Official’s organizations.

-Awards received from these organizations.

-A member in good standing of the Washington Officials Association, if applicable.

Connelly Law Offices Excellence in Officiating Award

Boys & Girls Basketball – Cedric McClure

Two decades have passed since Cedric McClure first stepped onto the hardwood to officiate basketball, and in that time he has made his mark on the local sports scene.

Born May 27, 1959, in Atlanta, Georgia, McClure graduated from Murphy High School in Atlanta in 1977. After retiring as a Master Sergeant in the military, he worked as an attendant counselor manager for DSHS before retiring and now working as a tax professional. He earned degrees from Pierce College (1990) and Excelsior University (2019).

McClure has more than 20 years as a member of Tacoma Basketball Official Association and three with the Tacoma Pierce County Volleyball Association as a volleyball official. He has officiated high school league playoff and championship games, district and regional playoff games, and state playoff games, listing refereeing the high school 3A and 4A state playoffs in the Tacoma Dome as career highlights.

DINE-IN

Connelly Law Offices Excellence in Officiating Award (continued)

Baseball – Phil Taylor

Going on a quarter-century this year, Phil Taylor has found his second home on the diamonds of the South Puget Sound region, determining balls, strikes, and calling those close plays on the basepaths.

Born February 7, 1960, in Chicago, Illinois, Taylor graduated from Dunbar High School in 1978 before making his way to Tacoma where he works in information technology.

In 1999, Taylor began his local umpiring career by joining the Western Washington Baseball Umpires Association. After 22 years, he transitioned to the Pierce County Umpires Association in 2021, where he continues to umpire to this day. Highlights of his career have included several high school regional and playoff games, along with the high school state finals in 2023.

CONNELLY LAW OFFICES EXCELLENCE IN OFFICIATING RECIPIENTS

2023 RECIPIENTS

Baseball Bob Matekel

Basketball Drew McDougall

Football Keith MacFie

Soccer Cal Lovering

Softball Mike Partlow

Volleyball Nadia Tialavea

Wrestling John Rivers

2022 RECIPIENTS

Baseball No recipient chosen

Basketball (B & G) Rick Fox

Football Jeff Ausbun

Soccer Pat Muir

Softball Bill Schey

Volleyball Jerry Aeschlimann

Wrestling Kevin Bauers

2021 RECIPIENTS

No recipients due to COVID-19

2020 RECIPIENTS

Baseball Jim Jezek

Boys Basketball Larry Berg

Girls Basketball Ricky Underwood

Football Tyler Olsen

Soccer Ray Moffatte Jr.

Softball Randy Sears Amy Wertz

Track & Field Joanne Flom

Volleyball Dave Dempski

Wrestling Darrell Spivey Jr.

2019 RECIPIENTS

Boys Basketball Mike Stephenson

Girls Basketball Hiram “BJ” Aea

Football Joe Horn

Soccer Larry Baughman

Softball Scott Buser

Volleyball Peter Thomas

Wrestling Chris Brayton

2018 RECIPIENTS

Boys Basketball Mark Polcyn

Girls Basketball Allen Estes

Fastpitch Softball Graig Bolton

Football Dwayne Johnson

Soccer John O’keefe

Volleyball Debbie Beckwith

Wrestling Ton Maki

2017 RECIPIENTS

Baseball Tom Purchase

Boys Basketball Randy Black

Girls Basketball Alberto Perez

Fastpitch Softball Ken Laase

Football Dan Stivers

Soccer Dana Reinhart

Volleyball John Wohn

Wrestling Glen Kuhn

2016 RECIPIENTS

Baseball Phil Taylor

Boys Basketball Tony Schoeler

Girls Basketball Kevin Walk

Fastpitch Softball Bruce Ledbetter

Football Ron Anderson

Soccer Cy Palmer

Track Cathy Sanderson

Volleyball Lenny Llanos

Wrestling Randy Holberg

2015 RECIPIENTS

Baseball Dave Williams

Boys Basketball Ed Rounds

Girls Basketball Frank Manowski

Fastpitch Softball Ken Cheslik

Football Dennis Mullens

Track and Field Ed Viering

Volleyball Walt Gogan

Wrestling Daryl Eygabroad

2014 RECIPIENTS

Boys Basketball Larry Stevens

Girls Basketball Bill Weatherby

Fastpitch Softball Greg Farias

Football Clarence Leingang

Soccer Joe Tompkins

Volleyball Paul Jensen

Wrestling Hugh Birgenheier

2013 RECIPIENTS

Boys Baseball Rob Ruth

Boys Basketball Mark Stricherz

Girls Basketball Ross Parker

Fastpitch Softball John Everett

Football Rich Salstrom

Lacrosse Keith MacFie

Volleyball Tina Preece

Wrestling Bruce Osborne

2012 RECIPIENTS

Boys Basketball Lee Gregory

Girls Basketball Ron Rosi

Fastpitch Softball Bill Rudd

Football John Dively

Swimming/Track Dick Unrue

Volleyball Teri Wood

Wrestling Eric Davis

2011 RECIPIENTS

Boys Basketball Paul Guetle

Girls Basketball Mandel Scott

Fastpitch Softball Jack Stonestreet

Football Ken Wood

Volleyball Robyn Buck

Wrestling Brian Dunbar

2010 RECIPIENTS

Baseball Ron Shaw

Boys Basketball Steve Wusterbarth

Girls Basketball Wayne Agness

Fastpitch Softball Dick Hassan

Football Terry Keister

Volleyball Earl Powell

Wrestling Terry Beckstead

Connelly Law Offices Excellence in Officiating Award (continued)

Football – Shawn Farber

Native Washingtonian Shawn Farber returned home to the Pacific Northwest several years ago and has established a lengthy resume as a football official across two states and nearly 10 years.

Born December 13, 1974, in Ephrata, Farber played football, basketball, baseball, and tennis at Ephrata High School before graduating in 1993. After retiring from the Air National Guard, he attended Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Oklahoma, graduating in 2016.

While in Oklahoma, Farber began officiating high school football in 2016. The following year he added officiating in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College conference to his resume, and he worked at both levels until 2021. Since moving back to Washington, he has officiated football in the Northwest Conference since 2022. During that time, he’s also officiated high school football, basketball, and baseball in the area.

Connelly Law Offices Excellence in Officiating Award (continued)

Soccer – Scott Webster

A lifelong Tacoma native, Scott Webster has been a constant presence on the pitch as a soccer referee over the past 20 years.

Born in Tacoma on November 8, 1963, Webster played a variety of sports growing up and competed in cross country and track and field at Franklin Pierce High School before graduating in 1982.

Webster coached several local soccer clubs between 1996 and 2009, but it’s been since 2005 that he’s established a nearly 20year career as a United States Soccer Federation referee. During that time, he’s logged more than 2,500 matches refereed. Beginning in 2009, he has also worked with the Washington Officials Association, where he has refereed 85 high school district and state boys and girls matches.

Webster spent five years refereeing for the Washington State Special Olympics, with more than 120 regional and state matches and serving as the center referee for the high school state unified championship in 2018. He has refereed for a variety of leagues, state cups, and tournaments during his 20-year run.

Off the pitch, Webster has also served in numerous administrative roles for the Franklin Pierce Soccer Club, the Pierce County Soccer Referees Association, and the Rainier Soccer Alliance, and he continues to serve as a USSF Soccer Referee Mentor.

SPORTS

IF INTERESTED CONTACT:

Baseball Sylvester Collins 206-496-8230

Basketball (B&G) Larry Stevens 253-831-5219

Football Terry Simmonds 360-943-3323

Lacrosse Jeff Bambrick 253-579-2106

Soccer Taylor Vance 253-797-0288

Softball Greg Farias 253-732-1323

Volleyball Rick Stage 253-973-3218

Water Polo Marvel Shoen

Wrestling Daryl Eygabroad 253-222-6721

Sports Officials Wanted For Youth And Adult Recreation League And Interscholastic Athletic Games. Training Provided. Earn Money And Provide A Much Needed Service To The Youth Of The Tacoma-Pierce County community.

pcua2013@gmail.com tboatacomawa@gmail.com tsimmonds@q.com jbambrick@comcast.net Taylor.vans@hotmail.com dngfarias@hotmail.com tpcvobassigner@gmail.com WApoloRefs@msn.com deygabroad@gmail.com

@PierceCountyUmpires (Facebook) tboa.com tacomafootballofficials.com https://waloa.info/ www.Pcsra.org

www.tpcvob.com

NOTE: Officiating can be a great part-time job for high school and college students as many assignments are in the afternoon With proper training, you can officiate two afternoons a week and earn $150 Don’t wait call us now!! 206-390-2945

Connelly Law Offices Excellence in Officiating Award (continued)

Softball – Regie Johnson

While it’s fairly common for athletes to compete in multiple sports, for more than 15 years, Regie Johnson has been a multi-sport official.

Born November 11, 1970, in Cleveland, Ohio, Johnson competed in basketball and track and field as a high school athlete at David Starr Jordan High School in Long Beach, California, before graduating in 1990.

Johnson has been a high school basketball official in New Jersey and Washington State for more than 20 years, earning 2022 TBOA Referee of the Year honors. On the softball diamond, he has umpired high school and college softball for more than 15 years, earning selection to umpire three state tournaments, in 2016, 2022, and 2022.

Outside of his officiating, Johnson is an educator, having previously retired from the Air Force and Department of Treasury.

Connelly Law Offices Excellence in Officiating Award (continued)

Volleyball – Joe Sakaria

Joe Sakaria has established a lengthy resume officiating high school and college volleyball in the region over the past decade-plus.

Born July 10, 1954, in American Samoa, Sakaria played football at Leone High School prior to graduating in 1973. While in the Army, he played football and coached the volleyball Unit Army Team.

Sakaria began officiating volleyball while in the Army, officiating for eight years. He has worked 20 years as a volleyball official for the Tacoma-Pierce County Volleyball Officials Board. Working as a referee, line judge, scorer, and libero tracker, Sakaria has worked countless high school and college matches. Some of the highlights include his work as a line judge at multiple state tournaments – including finals – and working several community college championships and the Northwest Conference Championship matches in 2023.

Connelly Law Offices Excellence in Officiating Award (continued)

Wrestling – Michael Maye

Not many things in life are more difficult than Marine Corps Boot Camp. For Michael Maye, that experience in 1995 was “easy compared to wrestling.” Ever since that time, he sought an opportunity to find his way back to the mat.

Born February 19, 1975, in San Bernardino, California, Maye was a multi-sport athlete at Chaparral High School in Phelan, California, before graduating in 1994. An Operations Sergeant Major in the Washington Army National Guard, he was introduced to the idea of officiating wrestling in 2010.

Maye joined the Western Washington Wrestling Officials Association that year, and he has officiated eight regional tournaments and three state tournaments (2022, 2023, and 2024) since then.

“Being back on the mat has given me the opportunity to give back to the sport that gave so much to me as well as develop new friendships and experiences with fellow officials,” Maye said.

First Family of Sports Award--The Bartelson Family First Family of Sports Award

The First Family of Sports Award recognizes the contributions of parents, foster parents or guardians who instill and help maintain athletes’ successes.

The First Family of Sports Award recognizes multi-generational contributions to athletics in Pierce County. Parents, grandparents and siblings play critical roles to support athletes and their pursuit of excellence. We salute the families that seek generational connection through sports.

FIRST FAMILY OF SPORTS AWARD RECIPIENTS

2023 Stueckle Family—Dan, Heather, Kayla, Kimmie, Karlee, and Kyle

2022 The Armstrong Family—Parents Frank and Ivy and children Eloise, Dorothy, Bayyinah, Frankie, David, Dennis, Al and Beverly.

2021 No recipients due to COVID-19

2020 The Heinrick Family-John, Irene, Jack, Patricia, Margaret, Dennis and Kathleen

2019 The McPhee Family- Bill & Georgia, Kathy, Diane, Scott, Colleen, Brad, Mark, Maureen, Bryce and Jim

2018 The Barsh Family-- Israel, Denise, Joshuael, R-Jay, Jacob, Caleb, Joseph, Isaac and Josiah

2017 The Beauchene Family---Paul, Janice, Suzanne, Angie, Renee and Lisa

2016 The Mullen Family—Mike, Rosanne, Pat, Molly and Nick

2015 The Carrigan Family—Paul, Jean, Andy, Mike, Casey, Tim and Clancy

2014 The Shelton Family- Alan, Sheri, Aaron, Aubrey, Ben, Austin, Karina and Kaleb

2013 The Clark Family---Bob, Pat, Jackie, Denise, Robyn, Lori and Michele

2012 The Medved Family—Bob, Shirley, Ron, Judy, John, Susie, Michael, Pat, Tom, Tim, Karen, Kevin, Jim and Jerry

2011 The Tingstad Family—Ed, Darlene, David, Mark and Ed

2010 The Huard Family—Mike, Peggy, Damon, Brock and Luke

2009 The Westering Family—Frosty, Donna, Holly, Sue, Brad, Scott and Stacey

2008 The Hannula Family—Dick, Sylvia, Dan, Dave, Dick and Debby

2007 The Names Family--Scott, Sis, Tom, Clint and Paula

2006 The Williams Family--Joe, Cleo, Joe, Jerry, Susan, Dave, John, Jordan and Jennifer

The Bartelson house has the look and essence of where many successful American families live. It is clean, spacious, modern and touched by the love of dogs and cats - with plenty of welllandscaped surrounding property on which to play.

But the Bartelson barn represents the epicenter of where dreams are made.

The restored 10,000-square foot wooden facility in Midland is big enough to host a wedding reception, but that would be difficult given it is the ideal size in which to fit a few wrestling mats - to drill moves, simulate real-match strategy and get sweaty.

In plain view, it fosters the Bartelson foundation - hard work and no-quit determination equals gain.

For the first time since the Tacoma Athletic Commission created the “First Family of Sports Award” in 2006, a wrestling-based family is being honored - the Bartelsons; father, Bryan; mother, Jennifer (Stewart); daughters, Jordyn and Brooklyn; and son, Chance.

How accomplished are they? Very.

The Bartelson Famly (L. to R.): Chance, Brooklyn, Bryan, Jennifer and Jordyn

First Family of Sports Award (continued)

Bryan Bartelson was a state-placing wrestler at Puyallup High School under national hall of famer George Wilfong - but has made more of a name for himself as a coach.

He was largely responsible for building the Orting dynasty from scratch, coaching the Cardinals to seven league titles during his 12-year tenure (1990-2002). Orting placed fifth in the 1994 WIAA championships.

After that, he enjoyed two successful stints overseeing both the boys and girls programs at his alma mater - Puyallupfrom 2002-08 and 2012-21. After 30-plus years of service, he was inducted into the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Association (WSWCA) hall of fame in 2023.

Jordyn Bartelson was Washington’s second four-time WIAA girls champion (2013-16) behind Kiona-Benton’s Sheridan McDonald, winning state titles at 118 pounds as a ninth grader and sophomore, and 120 pounds as a junior and senior. Her career record was 143-7 with 127 pins.

Brooklyn Bartelson was also highly-accomplished at the state level, winning the 120-pound title as a senior in 2017. She also was a state runner-up twice - at 112 pounds as a ninth grader in 2014, and 110 pounds as a junior in 2016. She placed third as a sophomore in the 115-pound class in 2015, and finished her prep career with a 136-18 record with 114 pins. She also was the only member of her family to wrestle in college (Simon Fraser University).

And like his two older sisters, Chance Bartelson wrestled for his father at Puyallup. He was a two-time state participant and senior team captain during the pandemic-shortened 2021 season.

Bryan offers fatherly advice to Brooklyn who was wrestling for the YMCA Mustangs.

Bryan shouts out words of encouragement at the 2017 Girl’s State Tournament as Coach Danni looks on.

First Family of Sports Award (continued)

“Wrestling,” Chance Bartelson said, “was something that brought us all together.”

A son of a military boxing champion, Bryan Bartelson had tried a variety of sports while at Edgemont Junior High School in the mid-1980s before he was introduced to wrestling during a three-week instructional in physical-education class.

He instantly gravitated toward it - and set a goal to someday become a state high school champion.

Bryan Bartelson came close, placing third as a senior in 1986which led to another goal as he pursued coaching.

“I will be the hardest worker in the room,” he said.

He was a volunteer assistant in youth programs around east Pierce County until he was hired to coach Orting Middle School in 1988.

“There were 14 kids who were all different weights,” Bartelson said. “We had super old polyester singlets with track shorts

Brooklyn wrestled Centralia in the finals of the 2017 WIAA State championships and won in the last second of the match to claim top honors in the 120 lbs division.

Brooklyn wrestles a Grainger of the 2017 State tournament in a semi-final match.

Jordyn wrestles against a Naches HS opponent in 2016 in the 120 lb division and wins her fourth title.

Jordyn competed on the Western Washington University soccer team as they won the GNAC championship and took second at the NCAA D2 National Championships.

First Family of Sports Award (continued)

- all hand-me-downs - for uniforms. I remember I washed so many cars that first year to fund-raise for gear.”

Slowly, he turned a middling program into a force on the mat. And two years later, after he was hired as the new Orting High School coach, he began turning that program around as well.

“It was sort of an, ‘If you build it, they will come’ thing,” Bartelson said.

In 1999, Bartelson hired good friend and former Puyallup teammate Mike Sowards as an assistant - and turned over the reins to him a year later when he resigned to manage the family business (Bartelson Transport) after his father, Byron, had died.

The groundwork for greatness was set: It happened, too. Since 2009, Orting has won seven WIAA team wrestling championships and established itself as one of the state’s powerhouses under Sowards (2000-12) and now Jody Coleman (2013-present).

“I have never seen anybody work like him,” Sowards said. “Everything he does, he puts in 100 percent. It’s because he cannot stand to fail. His wife (Jennifer) is the same way.”

With his business flourishing and his family growing up, Bartelson jumped back into high school coaching at Puyallup, just in time to mentor future five-time national champion Whitney (Conder) Cox, one of the trailblazers of girls wrestling in Washington.

After a four-year hiatus, Bartelson returned to the Vikings in 2012 in time to coach his three children - all of whom spent

Jordyn (left) and Bryan root for Chance who was wrestling at the fairgrounds

Chance wrestles at 152 lbs against Olympia on the outdoor turf stadium at Rogers High school during the COVID season.

Chance was the holder for his cousin who was the kicker, his senior year in 2020.

In 2019, Chance competed at the state tournament in the 126 lbs division.

First Family of Sports Award (continued)

countless upbringing hours around their dad in a wrestling room.

“We grew up in the gym going to practices, tournaments and matches with my dad. Mom was part of that, too,” Jordyn Bartelson said. “When I go back to the gym, I can picture the scenes and smells, and hear my dad’s voice.

“It was a huge part of my childhood memories.”

As the girls sport continued to rise in popularity - and

numbers - the high school success of Jordyn and Brooklyn Bartelson only helped accelerate that growth.

“Other people might have thought we were pioneers,”

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Jenny (#42) shoots a lay-up against district arch-rival Puyallup during the ’88-’89 season.

Jenny at the 2016 State Tournament with Brooklyn (left) a junior in the 112 lb. division and Jordyn (right), a senior in the 120 lb. division.

First Family of Sports Award (continued)

Brooklyn Bartelson said, “but all Jordyn and I did was show up to wrestle.”

All of the qualities cultivated in wrestlingtoughness, insatiable drive and unmatched work ethic - transferred well to other athletic endeavors.

Jordyn and Brooklyn Bartelson played youth soccer for their mother, who was a five-sport standout at Rogers High School of Puyallup (1990 graduate). In fact, that is the sport the oldest sibling chose as her future sport in college.

A three-year all-4A SPSL starting midfielder at Puyallup, Jordyn Bartelson signed with Western Washington University in 2016, and was a regular on the Vikings’ NCAA Division II national championship squad months later. She also was a national runner-up as a senior in 2019, and her 92 career appearances rank No. 2 in school history.

She even still plays soccer today - for the indoor Snohomish County FC Steelheads that are playing at nationals in April.

“I don’t have a great answer why I chose soccer over wrestling,” Jordyn Bartelson said. “I played for Washington Premier (FC), and they fostered a culture of going off to play in college - so I did that.”

Bartelson Family

“What you do makes a di erence, and you have to decide what kind of di erence you want to make.” – Dame Jane Goodall

A special thank you to everyone who has supported our family throughout this journey.

Congratulations to all of the 2024 Tribute to Champions Honorees

Both sisters played two seasons on Puyallup’s fastpitch squad, and were starters on the school’s WIAA championship team in 2014 - Jordyn at second base, and Brooklyn at third base.

Chance Bartelson was a cornerback and holder on the Vikings’ football team, and dabbled in baseball, soccer and judo as a youth.

“Wrestling makes you tough - and these kids are tough,” Bryan Bartelso n said. “And that flowed into every other sport they played. It helped them raise the bar. They weren’t the best athletes, but they were mental warriors in what they did. You could not break them.”

And in a full-circle instance, all of them have made their way back to wrestling - as adult coaches. Bryan Bartelson recently opened the barn to house a family-oriented Puyallup freestyle wrestling club. All of his children will stop by to help instruct.

“Once you wrestle,” Chance Bartelson said, “everything else in life is so easy.”

Frosty Westering Excellence In Coaching Award

This award was established to honor a legendary coach, Frosty Westering, and to inspire and recognize those who follow in his footsteps. Frosty emphasized a double-win theme: victory on the scoreboard and the satisfaction of playing to one’s personal potential. He instilled a love of teamwork and competition, and stressed “service above self.” For 40 years his players responded by portraying excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the community. The award is presented to a local coach in recognition of their commitment to excellence and devotion to the personal growth of their players.

Frosty Westering Excellence in Coaching Award

Katrina Cardinal, Peninsula High School Volleyball Coach

Athletic diversity was a strength of Katrina Cardinal during her versatile playing days. Whether it was as a soccer goalie, the high jump and long jump in track and field, a post player in basketball, playing first base/ left center in softball, or ultimately the sport that won her devotion as an outside hitter/middle blocker in volleyball, Cardinal remained a quintessential leader and teammate.

Katrina had an outstanding prep career at Peninsula High School in Gig Harbor. A four-year varsity volleyball letter winner, she was named allleague three times (twice on first team), a two-time All-Area selection, and an All-State selection in 1993 as she helped lead the Seahawks to a West Central District championship and a state appearance in 1991.

Katrina’s success continued on the softball diamond where she was a four-year letter winner, earning two Golden Glove awards and two All-League nods. She was also a three-year letter winner in basketball and played club volleyball for Puget Sound Volleyball Club from 1991-93.

Her excellence on the court propelled her to the NWACC where she played for Green River CC and earned an All-NWACC team nomination and a scholarship to Eastern Washington University. Cardinal graduated with a BA in education from Eastern before earning her masters at Walden University in Minneapolis, MN. While in Cheney, Katrina officially picked up her whistle for the first time as a coach as coach of Cheney High School’s C-team in volleyball.

It would be on the sidelines where Katrina has shined the brightest.

As head volleyball coach at Peninsula, Cardinal has guided her alma mater to new heights in two different stints. Her first varsity experience was from 1998-2005, where she earned the Pierce County League Coach of the Year in 2004. After a brief hiatus she returned to the same role in 2017 and where she remains today.

Katrina has compiled a 131-54 coaching record from 2017-2023. In 2019 the Seahawks qualified for the 3A state tournament. They raised the notch even more in 2021 as the team went undefeated in league, district and finished in second place at the state tournament. Katrina was named the 2021 South Sound Conference Coach of the Year, the TNT All-Area 3A Coach of the Year, and the 3A Washington State Coaches Association Coach of the Year. The following year, Katrina repeated as the SSC Coach of the Year after the Seahawks finished fifth at the state tournament and this past season the team finished among the top 12 in the state.

“I am grateful for the nomination for this award,” Cardinal said of earning the Frosty Westering Excellence in Coaching nod. “I truly believe that fostering mutual respect among teammates is essential for success, and I am convinced that the strength of a team lies in the quality of relationships built between teammates.”

Cardinal said it is through the relationships formed as teammates and sacrifices made as athletes and coaches that they learn invaluable assets when faced with bigger life challenges as they age.

“Thank you again for recognizing me, and for honoring other coaches who believe in this as well,” she said.

Peninsula’s volleyball team celebrates their 2021 second place 3A state tournament finish

Frosty Westering Excellence in Coaching Award (continued)

Duane Lee – Lincoln High School Cross Country & Track Coach

Duane Lee left an impressive mark on Lincoln High School cross country and track and field history as a student-athlete in the 1980s. However, it is his time as coach at his alma mater that has completely rewritten the history books at the historic Tacoma school and earned this year’s honor as the Frosty Westering Excellence in Coaching Award recipient.

“It is an honor to be nominated for the Frosty Westering Excellence in Coaching Award,” Lee said. “As a local athlete, I enjoyed following Coach Westering throughout his career at Pacific Lutheran University. I admired the accomplishments of the PLU program and was inspired by the beliefs and messages that Coach Westering shared with his athletes and community. I am humbled by this nomination.”

Born July 20, 1964, in Everett, Lee led the Abes’ cross country team to a ninth-place finish – the highest in school history at the time – and held 10 of the 11 course records in cross country for the school when he graduated in 1983. During track and field season, he helped lead the team to a second-place state finish in 1981 and a fourth-place state finish in 1983.

For someone who placed his name all over his school’s record book, however, he has spent the past 30-plus years coaching his name out of those top-10 positions.

Lee returned to his alma mater in 1993 as a volunteer assistant coach for the cross country and track and field programs, and he has remained ever since. He officially joined the staff as an assistant the following year, and in 2001 he was named head coach.

During those 32 years with the program, Lee has built a historic coaching resume. He has overseen 74 changes to the Lincoln record boards – 41 new boys records and 33 girls records. He has coached 15 individual state champions – 11 boys and 4 girls – along with one boys state relay champion. His teams have claimed five league titles, two district titles, and a team state championship in 2016.

Lee’s career achievements also include three Narrows League Coach of the Year honors and the 2016 Washington State Track & Field Coaches Association 3A Coach of the Year and US Track & Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association Coach of the Year for the state of Washington. While his roster of top runners

EXCELLENCE IN COACHING RECIPIENTS

2023 Dave Miller Football Lakes

Michelle Pielak Girls X-Country Curtis

2022 Joe Clark Boys X-Country Lakes

Robi Sumner Soccer Sumner

2021 No recipients due to COVID-19

2020 Don Gustafson Girls Golf Life Christian, Joe Waters Boys Soccer Bellarmine Prep

2019 Paul Souza Softball & Volleyball Washington

Patty Ley X-Country Gig Harbor

2018 Sam Ring Boys Track & Field and Girls X-Country Wilson

Chris Gibson Girls Basketball White River

2017 Mark Bender Girls Golf Bellarmine Prep

Mark Lovelady Boys Basketball Life Christian

2016 Kevin Aoki Volleyball Pacific Lutheran

2015 Randy Davis Football Cascade Christian

2014 Gary Wusterbarth Boys Basketball Steilacoom

Coach Lee’s #1 Fan and biggest part of his support system, his wife Jeanette Lee!

The 2016 Lincoln coaching staff celebrating with Hall of Fame coach Dan Watson whom four of them ran for him. L-R: Richard Johnson, L’Shray Jones, Sam Washington, Andrew Fuller, Dexter Clark, Chris Fuller, Duane Lee, Brad Dupea, Stacy Smith, Rodney Stokes, HOF Coach Dan Watson

is far too long to list, it includes Brandon Fuller and James Mwaura. Both are among the best distance runners in city history, while Mwaura is one of the best runners in state history and went on to an All-American collegiate career.

Lee’s presence at Lincoln expands beyond even the cross country and track and field positions. He also served as an assistant basketball coach for the boys’ team for 11 years and for the girls’ team for six years. Since stepping away from the sideline in 2013, he has remained on the court as an official in the area. During the school day, he is an Education Support Professional, serving in classrooms to help students overcome all sorts of challenges to achieve success.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to coach at Lincoln High School,” Lee said. “I am proud of the successes that our programs have seen over the years, and it is a thrill to see so many of my former student-athletes thrive and become successful in their respective careers.”

After a highly-decorated prep career and more than three decades of coaching, Lee stands as one of the most impactful Abes in Lincoln history, with more in store in the future.

L-R: Brandon Fuller, Andrew Fuller, James Mwaura, Duane Lee, Brian Wickens Lincoln coach Duane Lee celebrating what would be the first of two individual State Cross Country Championships for James Mwaura. James would go on to be the number distance runner in the Nation for the 2017-2018 seasons.

Doug McArthur Lifetime Achievement Award

The Doug McArthur Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual who captures the true passion for athletics.  This passion can be demonstrated through participation, promotion and organization.

Athletics brings out the best of us as individuals as well as collectively as a team.  It challenges us both physically and mentally.  It brings out our best in moments when our best is required.  This competitive spirit shows itself in a variety of ways over the course of a lifetime.  It is not about winning but about competing.  It is about sustainability and perseverance.   It is about bringing out the best in yourself and others, through ability, effort and attitude.  When one does that, it leaves a legacy, a road map of courage, for others to follow.

This award recognizes all of the above and the Tacoma Athletic Commission is proud to honor this year’s recipient of the Doug McArthur Lifetime Achievement Award.

Special Video Presentation Honoring Doug McArthur

Thanks to the many well-wishers whose financial support made this video possible:

Ben B. Cheney Foundation, Karl Benson, Marc Blau, Rocky Botts, Jim Catalinich, Butch Dunlap, Angie Eichholtz, Tim Evans, Dolores Fabulich, Steve Freimuth, Jim Gallwas, Fred Grimm, Mike Hanson, Pat Kelly, Mike Kuntz, Bob Lucey, Matt McCully, Ed Menotti, Bill Parker, Curt Peterson, Harvey Rosen, Willie Stewart, Mike Strand, Tim Templin, Jim & Christine Thomas, Rick Walker, Mark Wells, Jan & Shirley Wolcott, Bob Young, and the Paul Wallrof/Tacoma-Pierce County Chapter—National Football Foundation, University of Puget Sound, Cloverleaf Tavern and Woodworth Capital Inc.

Sadly, the Doug McArthur Lifetime Achievement Award has become a memorial honor as Doug passed away in December 2023 at age 94. For decades, Doug was an influential supporter of athletic endeavors in Tacoma.

A graduate of Lincoln High and the College of Puget Sound, Doug had a hand in many outstanding achievements. He was a baseball manager for a national championship team -- the Stanley Shoemen (1956). He was the athletic director at the University of Puget Sound (1969-1978) at the height of its athletic history when the Loggers won the NCAA Division II men’s basketball national championship (1976) and played baseball at the NCAA Division I level with multiple Major League draft picks. In the 1980s, he rallied support for the campaign to pass a bond measure to build the Tacoma Dome, bringing years of memorable sporting events to Tacoma. Golf was prominent in Doug’s life as well. He managed the LPGA Safeco Classic event in Kent for years and later owned Tacoma’s Highlands Golf Course where many Tacomans learned to play on the executive nine.

PAST RECIPIENTS

2023 Phyllis Templin & Jan Wolcott

2022 Wendy Malich & Tim Thompson

2021 No recipients due to COVID-19

2020 Brian Kamens & Aaron Pointer

2019 Willie Stewart & Dan Watson

2018 Tom Mustin

2017 Angie Eichholtz

2016 Dick Hannula

2015 Stan Naccarato & Ken Still

2014 Bob Robertson

2013 Joe Stortini

2012 Ruggles Larson

Doug was a terrific storyteller and often shared the meaning of sports, explaining that athletics brings out the best of us as individuals as well as collectively as a team. It challenges us both physically and mentally. It brings out our best in moments when our best is required. This competitive spirit shows itself in a variety of ways over the course of a lifetime. It is not about winning but about competing. It is about sustainability and perseverance. It is about bringing out the best in yourself and others, through ability, effort and attitude. When one does that, it leaves a legacy, a road map of courage, for others to follow.

That is why our Lifetime Achievement Award carries Doug’s name. He set a high bar with enduring passion for sports from his youth to his final days.

Top row L. to R.: Brian (Dusty), Kari and Sandy Front row L. to R.: Arlene and Doug McArthur

Special Video Presentation Honoring Doug McArthur (continued)

1947- 2024

“Building Leaders Through Football” National Football Foundation

Paul Wallrof (Tacoma-Pierce County) Chapter #175

The Paul Wallrof/Tacoma-Pierce County Chapter - National Football Foundation extends a heartfelt thanks to Doug McArthur for his contributions and support of athletics in our community.

Executive Board

Darren McKay - President

Bob Lucey - Treasurer

Willie Stewart

Bob Hunt

Mike Roberts

Jason Silbaugh

Brian Burdick

John Divley

Jenna Wallrof Langston

Lisa Wallrof Blair

Stan Naccarato and Doug McArthur Stanley Shoemen are crowned the 1956 AABC National Champions

Matt McCully cuts down the net, emblematic of the Loggers 1976 National Championship

Doug McArthur Lifetime Achievement Award

Kathy Hemion Multi-Sport Athlete, Coach,

Official & Teacher

Pacific Lutheran University

Kathy Hemion has earned the Doug McArthur Lifetime Achievement Award for her body of work as an elite athlete and coach in multiple sports.

Kathy’s knack for coaching began well before she stood on the sidelines whether it was in basketball, volleyball, softball and even tennis and synchronized swimming in college.

A Lakes High School and Western Washington University graduate, Kathy tried just about any sport available and turned out to be one of the best all-around female athletes in Pierce County history. In her spare time, she even found time to referee collegiate basketball for several seasons.

It was on the basketball court where she made her biggest impact. During four seasons at WWU, Kathy, a forward, helped the Vikings advance to the AIAW National tournament in 1973 and ‘74. She held the school records for most rebounds in a game (24) and season (12.3 avg.), and earned a tryout with the U.S. Women’s Pan American Games team. Her success on the court resulted in her induction into the WWU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1982. She was later named to the WWU All-Century Women’s Basketball team in 2000.

1972 MCKNIGHTS FOODS TEAM

Front row L. to R.: Jan Chase, unknown, Denise Hoober, Phyllis Textor, Sam Turnley, Judy Gray and Nancy Craig. Sitting in front is Cherry Goudeau. Back row L. to R.: Kathy Hemion, Nancy Jerkovich, Darlene Cartwright, Silvanna Walker, Peg Loverin, Sally Grandquist and Sandy Bickford.

Doug McArthur Lifetime Achievement Award (continued)

Upon graduating in 1974, Kathy returned to her hometown and picked up slowpitch softball, playing the outfield for Spud’s Pizza, McKnight’s Foods, and B&I Sports. While playing for McKnight’s, Kathy earned the Women’s Region 31 tournament MVP honors when she finished with an .875 batting average, seven home runs and 18 RBIs. In 1994, Hemion was honored with her induction into the USSSA Slowpitch Hall of Fame in Washington.

Along with softball, Hemion was active in volleyball and basketball leagues. She came by her athletic prowess naturally as brothers, Whit, Jr., and Dave, were also top local slowpitch players who also played basketball at WWU.

Kathy taught PE classes at PLU and also built a strong coaching resume with the Lutes where she guided the women’s basketball program from 1975-85, coaching the team to a national tournament berth in 1980 and an 18-win season in 1982. She also coached the volleyball team for 10 years and softball for two seasons. She also served as the Women’s Athletic Director at PLU for one year.

Kathy said she is “grateful for all the opportunities and all (the) people I played with and against,” and for the love and support of her family.

Kathy did not limit herself to playing and coaching. As a special education teacher, she had the compassion and training to work with children who needed a special touch. She spent 28½ years teaching special education at self-contained sites not on school campuses for middle school and high school students in the Tacoma School District prior to retirement.

WHAT WOULD TACOMA-PIERCE COUNTY SPORTS BE LIKE WITHOUT THE TAC?

There might not be a Tacoma Dome. (The TAC raised the dollars and coordinated the campaign to vote “YES” in March of 1980)

There might not be a Heidelberg Park. (Clay Huntington & the TAC secured the $$ to build the multi-field sports complex in 1957)

There might not be a Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Museum. (The TAC generated the necessary $$ for this project)

There might not be a Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame. (The TAC conceived this coveted recognition in 1957 for hundreds of local athletes, officials, administrators, volunteers)

There might not be a Washington State Sports Hall of Fame (The TAC has honored 200+ of the state’s best-ever athletes)

There might not be an Athlete of the Year, Tom Names’ Salute to Sports and a Distinguished Achievement Awards program. (The TAC honors student-athletes, boys and girls, from 34 Pierce County high schools in 23 sports as “Athletes of the Year” in their sport, provides scholarships and recognizes coaches, officials and other sports advocates and leaders in the community)

There might not have been millions in assistance given to schools, parks departments, boys & girls clubs since its inception. (TAC grants of over $6 million)

There might not have been a renewal of middle school sports in Tacoma (The TAC obtained a $105,000 grant from the Cheney Foundation to equip 99 teams in 9 schools to revive inter-school sports in the Tacoma School District)

There might not be life-saving AEDs in every Tacoma school. (TAC made it happen with two $25,000 grants from the Grindstone Foundation in recent years)

”Doug McArthur Dedication”

The TAC Tournament

July 22 - 3PM

At The Highlands

Kathy Hemion was one of the most dangerous hitters in slowpitch softball on a local, regional and national level.

Doug McArthur Lifetime Achievement Award (continued)

Duncan Stevenson – Athletic Director - Pierce College

Duncan Stevenson is quick to define himself, be it from a true sense of self-awareness or to make sure others know that his job title and job duties don’t fully align with what people might traditionally assume.

Yes, he is the athletic director at Pierce College. Has been for 37 years.

And he’s a damn good one -- those are others’ observations, not his own -- as can be ascertained from the many committees he’s headed, projects he’s driven and the two Dutch Treibwasser Awards he picked up for outstanding service to Northwest Athletic Conference student athletes.

But he has not walked a traditional path. Nor does a school like Pierce really have need for a traditional AD in the mode one might expect at the University of Washington or even Pacific Lutheran University. In fact, when he was notified he had been named as the winner of the Doug McArthur Lifetime Achievement Award, his first instinct was to pass and let somebody else be honored. He didn’t really see the fit.

“I have read a lot of bios for people who win awards like these and (my bio) is different,” he said. “I was not a standout athlete in college. I was not a standout athlete in high school. I did not make a varsity team in high school. I was on the basketball C team and so I do not have that high-profile background that so many have, which makes me a bit of a fish out of water. When I talk to sports management students I tell them that mine is probably the least traditional path to becoming an athletic director that they will ever find. I came in through the backdoor and have been here 37 years.”

Stevenson has been at Pierce for a very long time and his career can be judged on a metric that might not mean much to some, but in higher education it remains the ultimate mission despite what it can seem in the era of one-year coaches, quick transfers and disintegrating tradition: “We are always focused on student goals and student needs and how we help them on their path to success.”

And it’s aways “we” with Stevenson. Sometimes he’s referring to longtime collaborator Cheryl Batschi, whose 46 years at the school make Stevenson look like a relative rookie and for whom he cannot offer enough praise or respect. She was there when the guy from Davis, California, by way of Western Washington University and Gonzaga was hired out of food service, more for his business sense and budgeting acumen than anything about sports. Other times he’s referring to the coaches and other Pierce staff, all working well off the radar of mainstream sports consciousness. Other times it’s the student athletes or just students who never played a sport.

“Pierce College is just a really odd duck,” Stevenson said. “It is the ultimate kind of underdog and you do not have facilities, your coaches are all part-time and you are fighting uphill against everybody and I guess that is my lot in life and I have been fighting to prove that we can be successful and not from championships, but turning out good, young people and helping their journey and giving them an opportunity at this level and at the next level in both sports and school.”

When Stevenson does leave Pierce -- and he said he can see the end, though it’s not imminent -- he will have left it better than he found it. He once had to cut a deal with Pierce County for the Raiders to play their games in the Lakewood Community Center because a coach he was hoping to hire would not agree to coach a team that played at Western State Hospital. The Raiders ended up back at Western State, but Stevenson eventually was able to engage student leadership in getting a full-service health facility built -- including a gym for the school’s volleyball and basketball teams -- and is soon to open a baseball facility in conjunction with the City of Lakewood. When the Pierce College Health Education Center opened in 2007, it was the first of its sort since the school started competing in sports in 1967 and a jewel for the area. It also happened during an era when Stevenson was more than the athletic director, but had full oversight of all student activities, student government and the student newspaper among them.

Duncan Stevenson and wife, Sabrina, hosted an NWAC All-Star event.

NWAC executive board chair, Mark Yoshino (Bellevue College), presents Duncan Stevenson with the 2013-14 Dutch Triebwasser Award, recognizing the conferences’ outstanding athletic administrator. Stevenson was the first recipient to receive the award twice.

Doug McArthur Lifetime Achievement Award (continued)

Stevenson said he believes Pierce is the home of second and third chances and once was called to the cafeteria to break up a fight between players over a jersey number. He eventually had to remove one of those players from a team for poor grades and later was able to hire that same former player as head coach. The personal growth that allowed for that trajectory is what Stevenson takes pride in most.

The Raiders have won two Northwest Athletic Conference titles in his time -- 1992 in soccer, 2012 in baseball -- but the number that perhaps defines him best is the 97 percent, year-to-year, athlete retention rate. It’s a staggering number and an indicator of the significant program stability student athletes experience at Pierce.

“I think it goes back to that he cares and he just looks for the best in people and tries to bring it out of students,” Batschi said. “Even if it appears they are struggling in a class, he looks for ways to help them so they can keep moving forward. People come back to us and they come out of the woodwork to say what a great experience they had while they were here.”

Another Stevenson legacy is the Pierce College Athletics Hall of Fame, which has inducted five classes of athletes. One of those included a posthumous honor for former basketball player Tony Adams, who was murdered in Alaska, but whose four children all reunited for the first time in years as their dad’s number was retired.

“I still cry when I think about Tony Adams,” Stevenson said. “It was so impactful for me. ... It’s those pieces that makes it a special journey. I am just really thankful for the path that my life has led me down.”

The words, “slow down” do not exist in Duncan’s vocabulary. He continuously advocates for the student-athletes at Pierce College and for top-notch facilities.

From the Collection

Clearing Cheney Stadium’s Big Blue Monster

Many artifacts that have been donated to the Sports Museum represent athletes or teams that have accomplished something special or rare. This Tacoma Rainiers batting helmet was worn for the rarest feat at Cheney Stadium since it debuted as a Triple-A ballpark in 1960.

A.J. Zapp was wearing this helmet when he hit a home run over the center field fence at Cheney in August 2004. It was the first time in a game that a home run cleared the fence 425 feet from home plate and 29 feet high. Zapp’s blast was estimated to travel 505 feet. It was his 28th home run of the season, which he finished with a career-high 29 homers. Zapp autographed the helmet. He went on to play 11 seasons in the minors without reaching the majors.

The following season, Shin-Soo Choo cleared the wall. During the 2021 season, current Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh homered close to the right edge of the wall, leaving it debated whether it became just the third home to clear the tallest portion or passed just beside it.

The Tacoma Rainiers 2024 season begins Friday, March 29 against Oklahoma City. Buy tickets here.

You can view more artifacts, photos, game programs and more in the archives on the Sports Museum webiste.

Penguin Power by Ron Cey, foreword by Peter O’Malley (Triumph, 256 pp.), $30. A slugging third baseman who belonged to the longest-running infield foursome in baseball history, the author, a Mount Tahoma grad, spent 17 years in the majors, played in the All-Star Game, and was on the field for Hank Aaron’s 715th home run. His humorous memoir is packed with stories about Tommy Lasorda, Steve Garvey, and even salary negotiations in the age before free agency.

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Dick Hannula Amateur Athlete of the Year Award

The Dick Hannula Award is given to the top male and female amateur athletes in or from Tacoma-Pierce County for the past year. Hannula, an internationally-known coach and a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, also led his Wilson boys swim teams to 24 straight state titles, and coached numerous worldclass swimmers such as Kaye Hall-Greff, Janet Buchan Elway, Barbara Mitchell, Chuck Richards, Dick, David and Dan Hannula, Miriam Smith, and Sarah Rudolph.

Dick Hannula Male and Female Amateur Athlete of the Year Award

Hannah Pukis – VolleyballBellarmine Prep/Washington State University/University of Oregon

Shortly after completing her college volleyball career at the University of Oregon in December 2023, Bellarmine grad Hannah Pukis was selected by the Vegas Thrill (3rd pick) in the first round of the inaugural Professional Volleyball Federation Draft.

“I could never have imagined any of this,” Pukis said in a story from KTVZ in Bend, Oregon, after the draft.

Pukis showed her outstanding volleyball ability from the get-go at Bellarmine Prep. As a setter/right side hitter for Lions coach Caroline Meines, Pukis was a four-time 4A All-South Puget Sound League first-team nominee, league MVP in 2016, a twotime All-State player 2015-16, and an all-area second team in 2015 and first-team in 2016-17.

The Lions’ penultimate success came in 2014 when Bellarmine Prep won the 4A state championship. The Lions finished sixth in 2015 and third in 2016. Pukis didn’t just find success on the court in high school.

As a member of the Kent Juniors Volleyball Club, U13-U18, Pukis was selected to the Emerald City Classic U16 AllTournament team which went on to play in the Patriot Division of the USAV National Championships. Pukis also played beach volleyball where she also found success as a member of the 2014 Doubles and Quad U14 Seaside Beach Championship teams. Her 2015 U18 and 2016 U16 Doubles teams were also runners-up at Seaside.

Pukis, who graduated in 2018, signed to play at Washington State University where she started as a redshirt freshman before transferring to the University of Oregon for the start of the 2022 season. Pukis left WSU as one of, if not the best, setter in Cougars’ history.

While at Washington State, Pukis was named a two-time AVCA Pacific North All-Region setter, and a two-time All-Pac-12 first-team selection while helping the Cougars to three NCAA tournament appearances. She ranked sixth on the Cougars’ all-time assists list with 2,876 and finished her career there with 741 digs and 266

Dick Hannula Male and Female Amateur Athlete of the Year Award (continued)

kills. She led the Cougars to a record of 23-9 and 12-8 in the Pac-12 as a freshman, including wins against the University of Washington which was ranked among the top 16 teams in the nation at the time.

Pukis entered the transfer portal in 2021 and joined the Ducks the following season. It was at Oregon where Pukis blossomed even more. She helped the Ducks reach the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament, was a two-time All-American, a Pacific North All-Region selection, AllPac-12 team and had a career high of 11.18 assists per set, second in the Pac-12 and 10th in the NCAA.

“Through the sports in this community, I have been shaped to be the athlete and person I am today,” Pukis said. “I truly feel indebted to the youth sports programs in Tacoma. Without the incredible experiences I had as a child, I could never have found my passion.”

2023 Emeka Egbuka Steilacoom HS and The Ohio State University

2023 Brynna Maxwell Gig Harbor HS and Gonzaga University

2022 Kendall Burks Stadium HS and University of Washington

2022 Zyonna Fellows Mt. Tahoma HS and University of Arizona

2021 No recipients due to COVID-19

2020 Morgan Weaver Curtis HS/Washington State University

2020 Malachi Flynn Bellarmine Prep/WSU/San Diego State University

2019 Jamie Lange Sumner HS/University of Puget Sound

2019 Kaleb McGary Fife HS/University of Washington

2018 Margaux Arntson Annie Wright School/Claremont McKenna College

2018 Michael Gretler Bonney Lake HS/Oregon State University

2017 Kate Landau Tri-Valley HS (NY)/Georgetown University

2017 Sefo Liufau Bellarmine Prep/University of Colorado

2016 Jenna Mullen Emerald Ridge HS/Portland State University

2016 Morgan Weaver Curtis HS/Washington State University

2016 Josh Garnett Puyallup HS/Stanford University

2015 Whitney Conder Rogers HS/Northern Michigan/US Army

2015 DaVonte Lacy Curtis HS/Washington State University

2014 Courtney Schwan Bellarmine HS/University of Washington

2014 Scott Crichton Foss HS/Oregon State University

2013 Andrea Geubelle Curtis HS/University of Kansas

2013 Courtney Schwan Bellarmine HS/University of Washington

2013 Taylor Meeks Orting HS/Oregon State University

2012 Andrea Geubelle Curtis HS/University of Kansas

2012 Austin Seferian-Jenkins Gig Harbor HS/University of Washington

2012 Kaleb Shelton-Johnson Lincoln HS/University of Puget Sound

2011 Alex Montgomery Lincoln HS/George Tech University

2011 Andrew Putnam Life Christian Academy/Pepperdine University

2010 Brie Felnagle Bellarmine Prep/University of North Carolina

2010 Isaiah Thomas Curtis HS/ University of Washington

2009 Melanie Roach 2008 Summer Olympic Games

2009 Johnny Spevak Puyallup HS/Central Washington University

2008 Christal Morrison Puyallup HS/University of Washington

2008 Brandon Gibson Rogers HS/ Washington State University

2007 Megan Quann Jendrick Emerald Ridge HS/Pacific Lutheran University

2007 Kellen Harkness Cascade Christian HS/Ohio State University

2006 Christal Morrison Puyallup HS/University of Washington

2006 Joe Rubin Foss HS/Portland State University

2005 Ryan Moore Cascade Christian HS/University of Nevada at Las Vegas

2004 Reggie Williams Lakes HS/University of Washington

2003 Ryan Moore Cascade Christian HS/University of Nevada at Las Vegas

2002 Dana Boyle University of Puget Sound

2001 Chad Johnson Rogers HS/Pacific Lutheran University

2000 Megan Quann Emerald Ridge HS/Pacific Lutheran University

1999 Kirk White Curtis HS/Boise State

1996 Karl Lerum Pacific Lutheran University

1997 Shannon Forslund Mt. Tahoma HS

1996 Dusty Brett Bellarmine Prep

1995 Brock Huard Puyallup HS/University of Washington

1994 Marc Weekly Rogers HS/Pacific Lutheran University

1993 Kate Starbird Lakes HS/Stanford University

1992 Sonya Olejar Bellarmine Prep/Stanford University

1991 Damon Huard Puyallup HS/University of Washington

1990 Andy Maris White River HS

1989 Sonya Brandt Pacific Lutheran University

1988 Mike Oliphant University of Puget Sound

1987 Jim Martinson Puyallup HS

Dick Hannula Amateur Athlete of the Year Award Recipients

Dick Hannula Male and Female Amateur Athlete of the Year Award

Brandon Kaylor – Wrestling

Bonney Lake High School/Oregon State University

Brandon Kaylor wrapped up his college wrestling career in March 2024 by competing in the NCAA Tournament at 125 pounds for the fourth time as an Oregon State University Beaver. He placed third in the Pac-10 for the 2023-24 season after winning the Pac-12+ title at 125 pounds in 2023.

Kaylor racked up the honors during his four years at Bonney Lake prior to graduating in 2018. Over four years, he compiled a 172-6 overall record, including four state championships. He was a Greco Junior Fargo National Champion and a runner-up in freestyle along with a two-time Virginia Beach National Dual Team Champion and a three-time Tacoma Athletic Commission Wrestler of the Year selection. He also was a California 5 Counties Champion and a 2017 Flo-Nationals Runner-Up, as well as a two-time All-American who placed third at the Super 32 Challenge.

While at Bonney Lake, Kaylor stepped up to support younger wrestlers on the team, something that his coach Dan Pitsch highlighted.

“They want to get to his level,” Pitsch said. “They want to be successful and they want to have everything that Brandon’s already got. They see where

Brandon’s been, they see what he’s done and they know it’s attainable. I think it just motivates the rest of the kids on the team to try to get to that point, which is awesome.”

At Oregon State, Kaylor has competed in the 125-lb class and is a multitime NCAA qualifier. He finished third in the Pac-12 in 2020 and 2021 before taking second in 2022 and claiming the conference crown in 2023. His 2022 season ended with All-American honors and an eighth-place finish at the NCAA Championships. At the conclusion of the 2024 regular season, Kaylor boasted 88 career collegiate victories.

Brandon was a 4x state champion during his high school career at Bonney Lake HS and competed successfully for four years at Oregon State

Dick Hannula Male and Female Amateur Athlete of the Year Award (continued)

Moving

on, moving up – Tacoma area hoopers on the rise

Malachi Flynn and Brynna Maxwell, past recipients of the Amateur Athlete of the Year Award, shine on the hardwood floor.

Pierce County is no stranger to incredible athleticism. Two recent Dick Hannula Amateur Athlete of the Year (AOY) award winners in particular have been making waves as professional basketball players as of late. Malachi Flynn, the 2020 male AOY, and Brynna Maxwell, the 2023 female AOY, have added to their local legend status.

On April 3, Flynn, playing for the Detroit Pistons, became the third NBA player ever to score 50 points off the bench. Flynn, whose previous career high was 27, was 18-for-25 from the floor and 9-for-12 at the line. He also had a six rebounds, five assists and five steals in 34 minutes. The only NBA player ever to score more than 50 off the bench was also a Washington-bred standout. Jamal Crawford, from Rainier Beach High, scored 51 in 2019. Flynn, who averaged 5.2 points per game for his career entering his 50-point night, had the lowest scoring average of any player with a 50-point game in NBA history. Perhaps this eye-opening performance will earn him more playing time. Flynn broke multiple school records while at Bellarmine Prep. He was the Washington State Player of the Year by the Associated Press in 2016. Flynn was the only true freshman to start every game he played while at Washington State and then transferred to San Diego State University. He was drafted by the Toronto Raptors as the 29th pick in 2020.

As The News Tribune’s 2019 All-Area Player of the Year, Maxwell is also no stranger to breaking records. After graduating from Gig Harbor High School, she excelled at University of Utah for three seasons with over 1,000 career points for the Utes before transferring to Gonzaga University, where she shot 48.3% and 44% on 3-pointers, among the national leaders, in her two seasons at GU. On April 15, Maxwell, a 6-foot-1 guard, was selected as the 13th overall pick (first pic of the second round) of the WNBA draft by the Chicago Sky.

“We strongly feel that Brynna is the best shooter in the nation,” Chicago Sky General Manager Jeff Pagliocca said. “She can be a floor spacer for us, she has a quick trigger, she is fearless, she can shoot with closeouts, shoot on the move and she sprints into her threes. She sees the rim and nothing else. We are ecstatic to bring Brynna to Chicago.”

2024 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall Of Fame

Administrator

Ed Ploof

Through a career that spanned more than 30 years, Ed Ploof established an incomparable legacy at the helm of the Bellarmine Athletic Department from 1987 to 2019.

The success of Bellarmine’s athletic programs owe a significant debt to Ploof’s leadership. During his time, he developed and maintained a competitive athletic program that won numerous league and district championships, an astounding 49 state championships, and six News Tribune 4A Washington State All Sports Championships.

The size and scope of Bellarmine’s athletic department when Ploof first joined was unrecognizable from the point of his retirement. Ploof helped increase the size of the athletic department during his time by nine teams, 31 coaches, and more than 155 student-athletes. In order to support that growth, he oversaw the design of, assisted in fundraising for, and managed the construction of two softball and two baseball fields, six tennis courts, a track and field facility, and a two-story gymnasium. He also assisted in the renovation of Memorial Field, including updated seating and artificial turf.

He successfully managed league volleyball tournaments for six years, league football playoffs for 12 years, and league medalist golf tournaments for both boys and girls for 29 years, as well as numerous West Central District soccer, baseball, and basketball tournament games. He also managed two Washington Interscholastic Activities Association State Golf Tournaments at Fircrest Golf Club.

Such growth in teams and athletes requires high-quality and consistent athletic training. Ploof made sure his teams received the support they needed, as he initiated an athletic training program that currently employs one full-time and one half-time athletic trainer and numerous student trainers. He added three sections of athletic training to the school’s physical education curriculum.

Outside of his direct position at Bellarmine, Ploof contributed his tremendous leadership experience throughout the region in a variety of roles. He served five terms as president of the Narrows League and the South Puget Sound League, and he was three-time chairman of the Narrows League realignment sub-committee. That committee, consisting of athletic directors, principals, and district personnel, oversaw the expansion of the Narrows League from seven to 16 schools.

Ploof was a member of the West Central District Board from 1999-2019 and represented the Narrows League at the WIAA Representative Assembly from 1999-2004. He was elected to serve on the WIAA Board of Directors for nine years, serving as president of the association in 2010 and chaired various board ad hoc committees throughout nine years on the board.

Ploof was also a charter member of the Jesuit Schools Network Athletic Directors Association. This group meets yearly in the western region and every four years nationally to review athletic policies and procedures for Jesuit high schools and promote Ignatian philosophy in their schools’ athletic programs. His involvement included serving as JSN Western Region Chairman (2001-2007) and National Chairman (2008-2012).

Ploof’s leadership at Bellarmine and beyond garnered him a variety of honors and awards over the years. He was named West Central District Athletic Director of the Year in 2012 and the “Best of Washington” award winner as outstanding private school administrator in the state of Washington by the Washington Federation of Independent Schools in 2010. He earned the Gareth Giles Award in 2015, given by a vote of member schools of the WIAA for outstanding contributions made to the youth of Washington State. And he received the West Central District Meritorious Service Award in 2019 for service and contributions to the schools of the West Central District.

Ed Ploof with long time principal Chris Gavin managing a home football game on Memorial Field.

After presenting the trophy to Bellarmine's state champion volleyball team, Ploof poses with his daughter, Stephanie, an assistant coach

2024 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall Of Fame (continued)

Boys Basketball & Tennis

Gary Wusterbarth

It seemed wherever he played, Gary Wusterbarth was under the tutelage of some of the Puget Sound’s best coaches.

A Tacoma native and Puyallup resident, Gary starred in basketball and tennis at Washington High School before keeping his considerable talent close to home and playing both sports at PLU.

Something else he learned from another legendary coach, former Pacific Lutheran University football coach, Frosty Westering, was how to “make the big time where you are”.

A 6-foot-2 post player, Gary played under long-time Washington High boys basketball coach Bob Ross, where he was used for his inside game. In college, he started as a shooting guard for the Lutes for two seasons, under coaches Gene Lundgaard and Ed Anderson, including helping PLU to a second-place Northwest Conference finish during the 1976-77 season.

Come spring, Gary moved from the basketball court to the tennis court. At PLU he was part of another coaching legend, that of Mike Benson. Wusterbarth was a district doubles champion as a senior and helped the Lutes win three straight men’s Northwest Conference Championships. He also helped establish a tradition that saw PLU garner 24 conference titles in Benson’s 30 years at the university.

“He was a fierce competitor,” Benson said in a story by Nick Dawson, former sports information director at PLU. “He was loved and respected by his teammates, and he provided great inspiration and leadership to them.”

In 1977 Gary was selected to be a national tennis official. In the ensuing years, Wusterbarth officiated local matches and worked his way up to officiating World Team Tennis, the Virginia Slims Circuit, the Davis Cup, Federation Cup, the U.S. Open and various USTA events.

Wusterbarth was an official during a time that saw the strongest growth in professional tennis. He was on the court witnessing some of the greatest players and matches from 1977-1992 — including overseeing such tennis greats as Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Jimmy Conners, John McEnroe, Gabriela Sabatini, Ivan Lendl, Pete Sampras, Pam Shriver, Gigi Fernandez, Rod Laver, Margaret Court, Stefan Edberg, Steffi Graf and others.

Upon graduation from PLU in 1977 with a BA in education and a focus on physical education and social studies, Gary served one season as an assistant coach for Ross at his alma mater. He then contemplated three job offers that would start his illustrious coaching journey in 1984. Wusterbarth’s instincts had him pick Steilacoom High, which had just won a state title under coach John Medak. His choice proved to be serendipitous.

Wusterbarth stayed as the head boys basketball coach for the Sentinels for nearly 30 years, leading the team to 11 Nisqually League and West Central District championships and appeared in 19 state tournaments. His first season in 1985 saw Steilacoom earn a second straight championship with a 78-55 win over Highland. It also finished second in the 1994 state tournament. Wusterbarth earned his 500th career win at the same school — becoming the fourth coach in Washington state history to earn such a distinction. Gary retired in 2019 after 34 years at Steilacoom, compiling a 567-288 record.

In 2007, Gary was inducted into the Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association (WIBCA) Hall of fame. He was the recipient of the Frosty Westering Coaching Excellence Award in 2014, and inducted into the Court of Honor by the National High School Basketball Coaches Association. He was also honored with the John Wooden Legacy Award in 2021.

“Wusty” remains active in the WIBCA where he serves as vice president. He also continues to expand the Coaches vs. Cancer program for high schools in the state and national level as a board member and is enjoying retirement with his wife, Sandy, and daughters Megan and Allison.

Among the notables Gary officiated tennis matches were Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova (seen here), as well as John McEnroe, Billie Jean King, Bjorn Borg and Jimmy Connors.

Coach Wusty guided the Steilacoom Sentinels from 1984-2019

2024 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall Of Fame

Stafford Mays

Playing during an era when hard-nosed football was just regarded as football, Stafford Mays stood out among many of his teammates — from high school to college to the National Football League.

Mays, a Lawrence, Kansas native and Tacoma resident, played football at Lincoln High before starring at Mount Hood Community College in the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC). It was at Mount Hood where Stafford made his presence known. As a linebacker, Mays helped Mount Hood to an NWAC Championship in 1977 after a second-place finish the season before. Mays earned All-NWAC honors and led the Saints in tackles both seasons. He received the MHCC Distinguished Alumnus Award — the only football studentathlete to earn such recognition — in 1985. During his two-year career, Mays was named first-team NJCAA All-American in 1977 and was inducted into the NWAC Hall of Fame in 1999.

It would come as no surprise that Stafford was recruited by nearby University of Washington for two seasons. In 1979, Mays was second on the team with 131 total tackles and led the Huskies with 13 tackles for loss. Stafford, who lettered twice and started all 23 games in his career, still remains among the top 10 in Washington’s history as having most tackles by a lineman in his career with 227. While at UW, Mays played on the defending 1978 Rose Bowl and Sun Bowl teams. Stafford was honored as an All-Pac-10 nose guard for the Huskies.

His work on the field did not go unnoticed by NFL scouts. Stafford was drafted in the ninth round by the then-St. Louis Cardinals in 1990 where he played as a defensive end and defensive tackle from 1980-86. He also played for two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, from 1987-88, where he helped the Vikings make it to the NFL Championship game in 1988.

Following his 10-year NFL career, Mays worked in several different capacities for Microsoft, including as its Director of Outreach. Stafford, who currently coaches the defensive line at O’Dea High School in Seattle, has also witnessed both his sons play football in high school, college and the NFL. Oldest son Taylor Mays was a star safety for USC and went on to play for San Francisco, Cincinnati and Oakland in the NFL and in the Canadian Football League. Younger son Parker played at Seattle Prep before heading to the University of San Diego in 2015.

“My greatest joy is my wife (Laurie) and raising two outstanding boys who also played football at a high level in college and pros,” Mays said.

2024 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall Of Fame (continued)

James Pike

One of the most decorated prep golfers in South Sound history, James Pike went on to enjoy a stellar career as Director of Golf for the Sahalee Country Club.

Born March 22, 1958, in Tacoma, Pike played three years in the number one position for Stadium High School prior to graduating in 1976. On the links, he helped lead the team to first-place finishes in the Tacoma City League in 1975 and 1976, qualifying for the Washington State High School Golf Championship both years while playing for legendary coach Max Dubois. He also won the Tacoma City Junior Championship in 1975. Along with golfing, he played one year of basketball at Stadium. Following his time at Stadium, he attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, graduating in 1982.

Pike joined the Professional Golfer Association as a member in 1986 and started coaching golf that same year. In 2011 and 2012, he was named one of the top 10 coaches in Golf Digest’s Top Teachers in Washington.

“Some of these golfers I coach, some of whom I still coach, have become fine players, club champions, enjoyed successful junior and collegiate careers, amateur careers, and some are pursuing professional careers,” Pike said. “I love coaching – their accomplishments have brought me tremendous joy.”

Pike has had the opportunity to administer and conduct major professional golf championships, amateur golf championships, women’s collegiate golf events, and USGA qualifying events at Sahalee while serving as the Head Golf Professional, Director of Golf and General Manager for 35 years.

Pike’s list of achievements and connections established during his time at Sahalee is lengthy and impressive. Some of those highlights include the 1998 PGA Championship (won by Vijay Singh), the 2002 World Golf Championships – NEC Invitational (won by Craig Parry), the 2010 US Senior Open (won by Bernhard Langer), the 2016 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship (won by Brooke Henderson), the Sahalee Player’s Championship from 1992 to 2020, the Edean Ihlanfeldt Invitational/UW Women’s Golf Invitational from 1981 to 2018, along with countless local and sectional USGA qualifiers.

Both on and off the course, Pike continues to achieve high levels of success and contribute greatly to the game of golf. He was a PGA Pacific Northwest Section Board Member (1994-2002), a PGA Western Washington Chapter Board Member (1994-2004), and a PGA Western Washington Chapter President (2001-2002). He was named PGA Western Washington Chapter Golf Professional of the Year, 2001-2002. He also participated in the PGA Pacific Northwest Section Senior Hudson Cup in 2008 and 2022 and was a PGA Western Washington Senior Champion from 2009 through 2011. In 2010, he teamed with former Mariners pitcher Erik Hanson and Sue Ursino to win the Albertson Team Championship, and he was the PGA Western Washington Chapter Senior Match Play Champion in 2016 and 2017. 2016 brought Pike the Bill Strausbaugh Award – WW Chapter and PNW Section.

Pike continues to praise his high school golf coach Max Dubois as “a great man and coach. I wish he were still with us so I could thank him for being such an outstanding example and inspiration to us young men on the golf team.”

In the midst of all his other duties and achievements, Pike also authored the book “Your Road to a Championship,” which contains his coaching and player development program, as well as several anecdotes from his golf experience at Sahalee.

Jim Pike and former Seattle Mariners pitcher, Erik Hanson, won the 2010 Albertson Team Championship at Indian Wells Golf Course

2024 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall Of Fame (continued)

Jerry Meyerhoff

Very few officials have had the keen eye Jerry Meyerhoff brought to collegiate football.

With a passion for the game that spanned into seven decades, both as a player and official, Meyerhoff’s dedication to the craft was on display every weekend, with 31 years spent as a collegiate football official.

Jerry’s playing career began at Puyallup High (1965-1965), where he was a two-sport athlete. He then spent the next four years (1967-1970) playing Division II football for the University of Puget Sound, where he was an AllNorthwest Team Honorable Mention (1969, 1970). After a stint with the Pierce County Bengals (1972), Meyerhoff’s playing career came to a close.

Fortune shined on Jerry, as the Pierce County native found his calling in 1980 when he began his officiating career starting with the Western Washington Officials Association, a position he held for 24 years (1980-2004).

Fortune or fortuitous, with a playing career as a center, it was a natural leap for Meyerhoff to move from a position who was always in the thick of things, to an official needing thick skin as he made some of the toughest and crucial calls during games.

In the fall of 1999, Meyerhoff’s two-decade-plus career with the NCAA began when he of took on the officiating duties of the Pacific-10 Conference (later the Pac-12), where he honed his craft with 14 years of on-the-field work, and his last 11 years in the Replay Booth.

Jerry took on some of the biggest games in the NCAA, with 19 years of post-season officiating, including the Replay Official during the 2022 Peach Bowl in Atlanta, the site of the College Football Playoff Semi- Final matchup between the University of Georgia and The Ohio State University.

Some of the other notable post season responsibilities included the Sugar Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Pac-12 Championship Game, Alamo Bowl, Texas Bowl, and the Pinstripe Bowl.

Meyerhoff is currently living his retirement years soaking up the sun in Arizona.

Jerry’s extensive football playing career at Puyallup High and UPS, lent itself well to an extensive officiating career including multiple Bowl games.

2024 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall Of Fame (continued)

Soccer

Mary Rink

Tacoma native Mary Rink was born to be a Bellarmine Prep alum. Mary’s mother went into labor on a chilly Friday night in November — when the Lions team doctor was on the sidelines for the varsity football game that was running late. Dr. Larkin arrived at St. Joseph’s hospital in Tacoma shortly after the game ended, and Mary was delivered to two happy parents.

A 1988 graduate, Mary grew up to star for the Lions softball and soccer teams, winning state championships for both. Her stellar high school career earned her many accolades including all-league, first-team honors in soccer three times and honorable mention as a freshman. In Mary’s four years, the Lions won the Narrows League championships each season and competed at state every year. Bellarmine, with Mary at midfield and centerback, placed fourth in her sophomore year and two years later won the state title her senior season.

Once the soccer season ended, Rink grabbed her infielders’ glove and headed to the softball field where she saw the same amount of success. Mary earned the starting job at shortstop in her sophomore season, helping to lead the Lions to the Narrows League, West Central District and 3A state championship. That same year she was named the outstanding sophomore of coach Bill Wetzler’s squad and named to the All-Narrows second team. As a senior, Mary once again helped Bellarmine to a league title and won the prestigious coaches award, Most Valuable Player award and was selected first-team All-Narrows shortstop.

Until Bellarmine’s recent girls’ cross country and track teams state championships, Mary and Kris Nelson were the only athletes in Bellarmine’s history to compete on state championship teams in two different sports.

Mary enrolled at Pacific Lutheran University where she played soccer for the Lutes from 1988-91. Her championship run didn’t end in high school as she helped lead PLU to three NAIA National Championships (1988, 1989, 1991). The Lutes lost in a shootout in the national title game in 1990, nearly making it a four-year sweep. A two-time team captain, Rink was named to the 1991 All-Tournament team and selected as a second-team All-American.

Mary started her coaching career at PLU by helping out with the softball team. She returned to Bellarmine Prep in 1992 to co-coach with Jenny Phillips, leading the soccer team to six league championships and six final four state tournament appearances. The Lions won state titles in 1994 and 1996. Rink also coached fastpitch and was an assistant coach with the volleyball program as the Lions won the state crowns in 2012 and 2013.

She continues to teach at Bellarmine Prep and helps coordinate service and advocacy opportunities for students. Mary was also an assistant sports recreation coordinator for youth and adults Metro Parks Tacoma from 1989-93 as well as the interim youth sports supervisor in 1993.

Mary entered the Bellarmine Prep Athletic Hall of Fame as an individual and a member of the 2005 state championship softball team. She was inducted again in 2015 as a member of the 1987 soccer team. And, Rink was inducted into the PLU Hall of Fame in 2010 as a member of the 1988, 1989 and 1991 soccer teams.

Mary (far right) was a member of PLU’s Regional Championship team Mary (back row, third from left) played on the PLU team that won the 1988 women’s NAIA national championships and then repeated again in 1989.

2024 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall Of Fame (continued)

Fastpitch Softball

Margaret Heinrick (posthumous)

Margaret “Maggie” Heinrick was a wizard on the diamond, where her talent shined at an early age.

Born in Tacoma on July 22, 1932 to a prominent sports family, with her father, John, a well-known player and athletic director at Stadium High and College of Puget Sound, Heinrick’s talent could not be held back over her 27-year fastpitch career.

At the age of 13, Heinrick’s playing career began with Lincoln Electric (1945), a highly competitive team. In 1948 and 1949, she landed with the Sumner Athletic Club “Maids” where the team won the Washington State Softball Championship (1949), where she was a true coaches’ player, taking on every position on the diamond.

Heinrick’s skills took her all over the state, into Oregon, and into Canada, where she played with some of the best players in the nation.

A 14-year-old Heinrick joined the national scene when she was selected to play catcher for the Ft. Lewis women’s team, a season where she also pitched against the Phoenix Queens and Her Court, a premier team at the time.

In the 1950’s, Heinrick’s career saw her play for the Hollywood Boat & Motor team, and then the Cage Tavern, which became the first slowpitch team to qualify for the Nationals from the area. Heinrick played on the team, which became Spud’s Pizza Pete, until 1972, and then with Tony Wahzoos as a Player and Coach, where she passed along her knowledge to the younger players.

After her active years as a player in multiple sports, Margaret developed a passion to teach, and before passing in 1998 she taught and coached various sports at Curtis Jr. High. A tenacious basketball player on the court and bowler, even with a full plate, Heinrick still found time to become one of the top officials in volleyball, basketball and softball in the 60s, respected by all and not willing to challenge her calls.

Maggie was as passionate and committed to fastpitch softball as any player in Tacoma-Pierce County history.

1945-46

1949

1950 and 1951

1952-54

1955-57

Lincoln Electric

Pacific Mutual Fuels Coached by Frank Cey, Ron Cey’s father

Pacific Mutual Fuels (aka Tacoma Fuelerettes)

Tacoma Rustlers

Hollywood Boat & Motor

Maggie played for Lincoln Electric at age 13 in 1945

Joyce Wolf and Maggie played for the Tacoma Fuelerettes in 1952

1951-Tacoma Fuelerettes

1949 Sumner AC Maids

2024 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall Of Fame (continued)

Fastpitch Softball (continued)

Pat Kelly

It is said of Pat Kelly that he never pitched in a fastpitch softball game that he didn’t remember, and when you have pitched in nearly 1,000 games between 1954 and 1974, that is some kind of memory. It also describes Pat’s love for the game.

Pat started his pitching career with St. Rita’s in the Church League, a very active league during the era. Pat was a dominant pitcher for seven seasons with St. Rita’s, and with several of his teammates was picked up by the Longshoremen. He pitched with that team until for six years. He finished his hurling career with Puget Sound Bank from 1968 until 1974.

Any fan of the Seattle Mariners knows who Jamie Moyer is, and what he does to be successful as a major league pitcher. Moyer has used a great changeup and a lot of guile to win more than 200 games in the “bigs.” Pat Kelly was his era’s Moyer – not a great deal of velocity, but an intelligent and tenacious competitor.

His ability and competitive nature made him a favorite of various teams who needed an extra pitcher for invitational tournaments, and as a result he pitched in as many as 78 games in a year. He earned many all-tournament and tournament MVP awards and played in several regional tournaments.

Pat was born in Tacoma in 1939 and graduated from Stadium High School in 1958.

Pat was the go-to hurler and work-horse for the Longshoremen team as well as St. Rita’s and Puget Sound Bank.

These “kids” grew up playing softball together in the Tacoma’s north-end neighborhood. Pat enjoyed a sterling pitching career, John Messina coached the Sons of Italy teams for several decades and Louise Mazzuca went to to become one of the great female fastpitch hurlers in the country, earning induction into the National ASA Fastpitch Hall of Fame. L. to R.: John Messina, Louise Mazzuca, Joe DeRosa, Pat Kelly and Joe Munizza.

Swimming/Diving

Kellen Harkness

With each full-body twist, flip and flawless entry into the pool, diver Kellen Harkness accomplished success after success during an outstanding prep and collegiate career.

Harkness, a 2003 Cascade Christian High School graduate who competed for Puyallup High School, rocketed to the top of the 4A class as a freshman in 2000 when he won the state meet at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way. He followed his debut win with another victory at state as a sophomore where he set a record at that time of 500.05 points in 2001, the first in state history to break the 500-point barrier. During his junior and senior seasons, Kellen put himself in position to contend for two more state titles and finished second both seasons.

Kellen was named a two-time Washington Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association (WISCA) Athlete of the Year, a four-time All-American and four-year letter winner. His work in and out of the pool put him on the map for swimming collegiately and he ultimately chose to continue his diving career at The Ohio State University where he was on scholarship all four years.

As a freshman, Kellen earned two first-place finishes during the dual meet season, competed at both the Big Ten and NCAA Championships and earned scholar-athlete honors. His sophomore season saw him achieve another level of success when he recorded the Buckeyes’ highest posting in the platform event in a Big Ten meet with 376.05 points. Kellen once again competed at both the Big Ten conference and NCAA championships, earning both OSU scholar-athlete and All-American status.

Harkness’ junior season was capped by a fifth-place finish in the 3-meter event at the NCAAs and was runner-up in the conference championship, earning second-team All-Big Ten and eighth in the 1-meter event. Harkness proved just as tenacious in the classroom with a third-team selection to the CoSIDA Academic All-American (3.85 GPA) and CSCAA Academic All-American teams. He was named the coveted Miller Anderson Award winner for most valuable diver, OSU scholar-athlete and Academic All-Big Ten winner.

Kellen’s penultimate season occurred during his senior season in 2007 when he won the 3-meter title at the Big Ten Championships, was named the meet’s top diver and earned the Big 10 Diver of the Year. At the NCAA Championships, Harkness finished second in the 3-meter springboard with a seasonhigh 407.15 points, edging out bronze medalist Magnus Frick of Hawaii by one-tenth of a point.

Harkness earned All-American honors when he vaulted from fourth place into second place at the multi-day meet in the 3-meter event. Kellen also placed fourth in the 1-meter event, giving the Buckeyes their highest national finish at that time.

Following the 2007 season, Kellen became the first diver in Ohio State history to win the coveted Mike Peppe Coaches Award. He also repeated as Miller Anderson MVP and was named the Medal of Honor recipient as the top OSU male academic athlete, the top honors for the college. Kellen was previously awarded the Dick Hannula Amateur Athlete of the Year in 2007 by the Tacoma Athletic Commission at its Tribute of Champions presentation.

As the 3-meter winner at the Big Ten Championships, Kellen was named the Big 10 Diver of the Year in 2007.

In 2007 Kellen was named the Medal of Honor recipient as the top OSU male academic athlete.

2024 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall Of Fame (continued)

Joseph Gray

Joseph Gray was pretty clearly a talented, young runner, but was maybe starting to get bored with it. After all, he had never lost.

But, as it will for most everybody who tries the sport, that winning streak eventually ended at some point in middle school. And that’s when the thing that would drive Gray to greatness took hold.

“I had been winning everything and then I lost in the mile and that was the first time it kind of spurred me on to be more serious about running and do a bit more training as opposed to just relying on basketball,” Gray said.

He was pretty good at basketball, too, but quickly learned one had more upside for him: “Basketball was definitely a sport where I could have gone to college and aspired to go even further. I wanted to be great at whatever sport I chose to do and, with running I just found success much quicker and, at that age, your parents are not looking to pay for college ...”

Gray’s parents did not have to, as he graduated from Lakes High School in 2002 and signed at the University of Portland and moved on to Oklahoma State. These were really just the next steps of the accolades that started to pour in while he was prepping in Lakewood. State and NCAA titles may have eluded him, but in a long and distinguished career, major championships have come pretty much non-stop ever since.

Gray turned 40 recently and -- in a sport where a professional career is difficult to obtain, much harder to maintain -- he’s still going strong. And he’s not an age-group or master’s monster: Gray still competes and wins against the world’s prime and peak athletes and does so in many events in many settings.

Gray competes in traditional events, but also excels in trail, mountain and snowshoe races as well as mountain events. He is a 36-time USA National Team member, 12-time USA Mountain Runner of the Year, two-time World Mountain Running Champion, six-time XTERRA Trail Running World Champion and the two-time Pan American Games Cross Country Champion.

He led Team USA to gold at the World Mountain Running Championships in 2016 and was the first Black American to not only make the Team USA World Mountain Running Team, but also the first Black American to win the USA National Mountain Running Championships and the World Mountain Running Championships. Gray was voted the greatest male mountain runner of all time by a poll conducted by the World Mountain Running Association. He also has, for a record 15 consecutive years, represented the USA Mountain Running Team at the World Mountain Running Championships.

And he’s not done.

“I aspired to be a pro runner but I did not foresee me being in the sport this long or having the success I have had,” Gray said. “My initial goal list was something to laugh at as compared to what I have done. This was not something that I saw for myself.

Training run in the Swiss Alps

2024 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall Of Fame

Track (continued)

I had to make some changes in my lifestyle and get more serious about craft and stay hungry and the goals that I had set ... it looks like I set the bar too low.”

He looks back and is thankful for the coaches he had early on in Tacoma -- guys like Mark Brinkhaus and Joe Clark -- and says when he is pushing himself to the max on a mountain or trail, his mind settles in on why it is he’s still competing in the sport that has, in many ways, defined him since he was a child, the son of a military family in south Pierce County. These days that is his wife Christy, son Isaiah and daughter Leila.

“You’ll probably be hearing about them someday,” he said with a laugh.

He said he never thought much about being a Black athlete in a sport that didn’t have many of them, but is glad to be a guy who broke a few barriers and a person others might look up to.

“With Black Americans, there is still a lot of issues in terms of inclusivity and accessibility ... to chase this kind of dream. There are races where they are not supporting a lot of unsponsored athletes and it can cost a lot of money ... I know it was hard for me,” he said. “It took me some years to really reflect on that because I did not think of it as important despite the fact that I looked at the Encyclopedia (for athletes who looked like me), and I was raised to never brag or toot my own horn, but I always wanted to be more than just that. I did not want people to look at me as a Black athlete. I wanted them to see me as the champ.”

Like a good Timex watch, Joseph keeps on ticking.

2024 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall Of Fame (continued)

Sheila (Kaskie) Robak

Sarah Sa’adah is a physician in Pennsylvania but her mind will occasionally wander back to Tacoma of the 1970s and her high school friend and teammate Sheila Kaskie.

“I remember how she moved ... her speed and her grace as she ran,” Sa’adah said. “I find that inspiring and even now I find myself aspiring to move through the world like that. She was just exceptional.”

There’s an undeniable beauty in watching greatness in track. It happens when somebody is just so much better than the rest of the field on that day. They are seemingly just doing their thing, but the natural result is a performance that can leave jaws dropped and eyes wide. It happens in swimming too ... one athlete is just so far ahead of everybody else as to cause a murmur in the crowd.

And that was what it was to watch Lakes High School track and cross country standout Sheila Kaskie during her three years as a Lancer. She did not win every meet. There were other quality runners in the state in the era, and some even found their way to beating her. But it was rare. The vast majority of the days there was nobody in her general vicinity.

“We were always very pumped because we had her on our team,” Lancer teammate Betty Bekemeier said. “We were special because we had Shelia Kaskie. She was head and shoulders above everybody else, but she would never admit that.”

No, she most certainly would not.

Now Sheila Robak, married to retired Spanaway Lake High football coach John Robak and mom to current SLHS track and football coach Cameron Robak, she’s not much interested in talking about her past accomplishments, but that’s nothing new. Her teammates said even back when she was chewing up yards faster than anybody in the state, she was quick to blend into the background, not wanting attention for her accomplishments.

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Coach Bob Hurt and Sheila (Kaskie) Robak plot their strategy for another cross country title.

2024 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall Of Fame

The Kaskie siblings rolled eight deep and came of age not just before the internet, but before cable TV or anything that would really make you want to spend much time in the house. Sheila spent hours in Fort Steilacoom Park and ran for fun, often until the sun went down and she had to head in for the day.

“I just ran,” Robak said. “It was what we did growing up. It was about friendships and being competitive. It was very different back then. It was not all the (sports-related) pressure kids have now.”

Robak eventually landed at Hudtloff Junior High and first got the idea that she might be able to do well in competitions, but awards never drove her.

“I just really loved being with my teammates,” she said. “We had a great group of gals on the cross country team and most of us went out for track, too.”

It was a bit hard for her to duck the spotlight when she won consecutive state 3A cross country titles in 1977 and 1978 and finished fourth in 1979. She also won the state two-mile in 1979 and played basketball for the Lancers.

Sa’adah and Bekemeier said there was never a moment that Robak behaved like a star of the sport, but it was tough to deny what they saw daily.

“The only time I really saw her run was when she was lapping me at track practice,” Sa’adah said. “But in cross country, we’d start the race together and then she’d be waiting there at the end.” Bekemeier recalled a time that defined Robak well.

“I was either last on our team or had proudly worked my way up to middle lower and it did not matter an iota to Sheila,” she said. “Our home turf was Fort Steilacoom Park and we would run over hill and dale and she would come across the finish line way ... way ... way ahead of me and she would come back and retrace her steps and come back to where I was and jog in with me. She did not have an egotistical bone in her body and it was all about being a supportive team member.”

When the season was over, Bekemeier was voted Most Inspirational, but she said that award -- along with the MVP she did win -- should have gone to Robak: “Sheila really exuded that. She was an inspiration.”

As would be common now for a three-time state champ, Robak had college offers as the Title IX era had just started to expand opportunities for women, specifically special talents like her, but she had already started in the grocery business, enjoyed it and wasn’t interested in moving on and has never left. She said she enjoys her work and is also enjoying the current rise in women’s sports.

Robak does not care to talk much about her years of dominance, but shares more when she talks about what it was to be on a team with her friends.

“They were just great women,” she said. “You cheer for your teammates and that’s kind of what we did for each other. See, I cannot remember those awards back then, but I remember that we were there for each other.”

Sprinting toward title Lakes junior Sheikla Kaskie went into her finishing kick as she outdistanced the field for a repeat state Class AAA high school girls’ cross-country championship

Lakes’ Sheila Kaskie set the pace On her way to triumph in course record time

2024 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall Of Fame (continued)

Volleyball

Kylie (Marshall) Whitehill

Looking back on it, Kylie Whitehill recognizes that she wasn’t a normal teen.

She works in finance now and is still Type A, likes to plan things, make sure everything is as structured as can be to maximize success. As a wife and a mom of two and a person with a heavy professional workload, she doesn’t exactly have a lot of free time.

And that’s just fine, because it’s always been that way. When she was in middle and high school and known as Kylie Marshall, it was school, practice, workout and then she’d head off to work at Champs Sports in Puyallup to earn enough money to have a good time with her friends when that time came.

“I loved it,” she said. “And looking back on it all, it was a lot, and definitely came with some sacrifice, but I don’t regret the path I went down.”

The hardest part was maybe the most typical teen-age thing: She was really good at another sport, but wanted to play something different that would allow her to spend more time with other girls. Whitehill was an age-group beast in golf and letting her parents know she was done with that was not the easiest thing to do. Of course, she wasn’t even yet a teen ... she was 12. But she was soundly beating plenty of teens, so walking away from the sticks seemed insane.

“I was a very young kid and it is a very isolating sport,” she said of golf. “I remember sitting down on my bed with my parents and saying ‘I don’t want to play golf anymore.’”

Her new sport: Volleyball.

Both of her parents were coaches at Pacific Lutheran University, and Whitehill thinks she must have seemed unhinged to walk away, but she never really looked back and a case could be made she was going to be great at whatever she chose to focus on. The volleyball ascent was quick and steep: She started with the RAGE volleyball program and finally settled in with Kent Juniors Volleyball Club and was quick to make elite teams and jump levels, playing against much older girls – and women – at a very young age. That would eventually lead to making the USA Youth National Team and achieving gold at the NORCECA championships in Puerto Rico. She played high school, of course, but after all the repetitions in junior competition, high school is generally not as rigorous for elite prospects. Emerald Ridge made the state semifinals in all three of her years, but never could get to the state title match.

Kylie was the 2005 Gatorade Player of the Year her senior season at Emerald Ridge HS and at Tennessee, she earned SEC Academic Honor Roll honors three times.

2024 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall Of Fame

Volleyball (continued)

Whitehill won every possible personal accolade in her time with Emerald Ridge and eventually signed with Tennessee, which was fresh off a Final Four appearance before she arrived. That success proved tough to repeat, but the Volunteers made three NCAA Tournament appearances in her four years and Whitehill was a rock -- playing every match in all rotations during her four years and missing only a handful of games.

That work ethic she developed in Puyallup served her well when she arrived in Knoxville and made that iron-woman approach possible. She credits Brian Petersen, a Puyallup strength and conditioning coach, for helping her get past whatever glitches others have with putting in the work.

“Brian Petersen was awesome,” she said. “He pushed me, he motivated me, and was straight to the point which I thrived on. He was a massive part of instilling that drive. I enjoyed going to work and I really think that is the secret sauce to being a great athlete. You have to love the work, it cannot be forced.”

Petersen said he never had to force Whitehill to work: “I cannot recall a day she did not want to work. The hard thing is getting them to embrace that they have to be willing to suffer a bit physically to progress in their sport. They have to put the work in because nobody is going to do it for them. You have to get them to buy into the grind on a daily basis and the earlier you do that, the better it is.”

Another person instrumental in Whitehill’s career was Dawn Colston, Director of Kent Juniors Volleyball Club.

“She was not only an incredible coach, but a mentor in navigating the college scene and ultimately providing valuable guidance on the decision to attend the University of Tennessee,” Whitehill said

Whitehill wrapped her career No. 4 in school history in digs and her single-season aces ranked seventh. She could have gone on to a professional career, but sports wasn’t her only path. Her preparation and achievement transcended the court and she chose to move into the professional world, where she is now a senior asset manager for Cascade Asset Management Company, investment office of Bill Gates.

Although Whitehill has coached some throughout the years, she figures sports will come down the road when her kids are ready to play, but for now, she’s focused on what’s in front of her.

“After grad school and during my fourth year at UT, my career path was set,” she said. “It was a new goal to focus on. I’m not going to lie, I sometimes wonder what professional volleyball would have looked like, but at the time it was absolutely the right call. I am a planner. I am not very good at spontaneous things. My husband’s better at that stuff, which is what makes us a good team.”

Intense, driven, and workaholic were three attributes that defined Kylie’s high school, college and professional careers.

2024 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall Of Fame (continued)

Wrestling

Doug Cowan

Doug Cowan taught science for years at Curtis High School and students who entered his class had a choice: Handshake or hug?

“You would be surprised how many wanted a hug,” Cowan said. “You have to genuinely love these kids and they have to know it’s real and not phony ... and it was real.”

Those who competed against Cowan in his years as a high school and college athlete had a different experience. Oh, he probably loved them, too ... the man exudes confidence through optimism and gratitude the way some current athletes exude it through brag and swag. And he shook many a hand after a wrestling match and there’s a certain amount of hugging that happens just through proximity in wrestling, but make no mistake: Cowan’s kindness was not weakness.

He was ferocious as a wrestler and football player for the Vikings and briefly as a baseball player, though that just did not stick.

As a sophomore he was a starter on the Vikings football team and lettered in that and baseball.

As a junior he became a starter on the football team and joined the wrestling team, placing in district and taking seventh in state in what was an all-class tourney. He also was a thrower on the track team.

As a senior in 1966 and 1967, he went big: first-team all-league in football and named most inspirational among his other awards. He was league and subregional champion and placed third in state wrestling and set a school record in the shot at 55 feet, 6 inches and discus at 149-2. He was also the third leg on the former school record mile relay team at 3 minutes, 29.3 seconds.

Doug led a swarming defense as a 1st team All-American defensive lineman for the Loggers in 1971.

2024 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall Of Fame

On May 4, 2024

Washington Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall

Fame in the category of "Lifetime

He was the inaugural winner of the CHS Senior Outstanding Athlete Award and received a full-ride scholarship to Washington in football and wrestling. After suffering an ankle injury, Cowan bounced back to his hometown and became a first-team All-American for the University of Puget Sound in football and also competed in track.

So yeah ... he was outstanding as an athlete.

But all that athletic success did was give him a ton of experience and a platform to get into his real life’s work and that was being a coach, teacher and mentor at UPS, Woodbrook Junior High, Clover Park High and, eventually, back home at Curtis.

He’s already in two halls of fame for his wrestling coaching and the list of his coaching and teach accolades is a longer than even his athletic feats, but there’s one line that means an awful lot to him and will choke him up: Eight times he was the senior class speaker at Curtis High School, as nominated by the students. The grads also choose a student for the honor and, one year, Cowan was able to speak opposite his nephew, which he said made him nervous.

That said, if Cowan has nerves about teaching, it doesn’t show up in the form of speechlessness. His passion for mentorship is clear and, he said, nothing he ever took for granted. His deep faith played a massive role on a daily basis as well.

“I would pray all the way in,” Cowan said about his drives each morning to school. “I would say, ‘Lord, show me what to do with these kids today. Help me to love them where they are, unconditionally.”

Cowan said he always appreciated each student’s journey because his was not easy. The success and accolades were not because he was gifted with size and strength. He said he was small and slow at first but eventually found his way, which is what he hoped for with every student he encountered.

“I learned humbleness early,” he said. “The gifts I was blessed with, I was given and I am thankful for these gifts and I had to work my butt off to get good grades and it was a pride thing and I was going to do it. School did not come easy for me. Athletics did not come so easy and you get lumps and bumps because you are working on it.”

He retired in 2011 but kept coaching for a few more years before moving on to spend more time with his wife of 46 years, Gail, and their daughters Caitlin and Michelle. But he says his family is much larger than that.

“The rest is an extended family of 20,000 students,” Cowan said. “And they still come out to visit me and it is ... amazing.”

SPORTS

IF INTERESTED CONTACT:

Baseball Sylvester Collins

Basketball (B&G) Larry Stevens

206-496-8230

253-831-5219

Football Terry Simmonds 360-943-3323

Lacrosse Jeff Bambrick

253-579-2106

Soccer Taylor Vance 253-797-0288

Softball Greg Farias 253-732-1323

Volleyball Rick Stage 253-973-3218

Water Polo Marvel Shoen

Wrestling Daryl Eygabroad 253-222-6721

Sports Officials Wanted For Youth And Adult Recreation League And Interscholastic Athletic Games. Training Provided. Earn Money And Provide A Much Needed Service To The Youth Of The Tacoma-Pierce County community.

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Doug was the former school record holder in the shot at 55’6” and discus at 149’2’’ at Curtis HS but another passion he relished was as a wrestler and coach.

Doug was inducted into the

of

Service."

2024 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall Of Fame

1960-2023: 617 individuals, 14 teams and 2 organizations

ARCHERY

Harry Parker 1971 Archery/Football

Sonny Johns 2005

ATHLETIC TRAINERS

Gary Nicholson 2016

Jim “Zeke” Schuldt 2016

Bruce Snell 2020

Walt Horn 2022

AUTO

RACING

Tom Carstens 2006

Leo Dobry 2006

Pete Lovely 2006

Pat Austin 2007

Dick & Wanda Boness 2007

Jim Crews 2008

Ron Eaton 2008

Bucky Austin 2009

Dennis Kitts 2010

Derrike Cope (NASCAR) 2020

BMX RACING

Gary Ellis 2020

BASEBALL

Bob Johnson 1957

Roy Johnson 1960

Paul Strand 1961

Jack Fournier 1962

George Wise 1963 Baseball/Golf

Cy Neighbors 1964

Marv Rickert 1964

Frank Tobin 1964

Dill Howell 1966

Ben B. Cheney (sponsor) 1968

Jesse Baker 1969

Lou Balsano 1969

Tony Banaszak Sr. 1969

Jimmy Claxton 1969

Dick Greco 1969

Walt Hagedorn 1969

Frank Hermsen 1969

Joe Hermsen 1969

Rick Johnson 1969 Baseball/Basketball

Lee Kierstad 1969

Bill Libke 1969

Cliff Marker 1969

Joey Peterson 1969

Frank Ruffo 1969

Jack Sonntag (coach) 1969

Lou Spadafore 1969

Ole Swinland 1969

Hal Votaw 1969

Jess Brooks 1971

Gordon Brunswick 1971

Eddie Carlson 1971

Jimmy Ennis 1971

Ocky Haugland 1971

Neil Mazza 1971

Bobby McGuire 1971

Vern Morris 1971

Jimmy Mosolf 1971

Andy Nelson 1971

Henry “Fat” Williams 1971

Art Berg 1972

Floyd “Lefty” Isekite 1972

Morry Abbott 2005

Ron Cey 2005

Cy Greenlaw 2005

Garry Hersey 2005

Gordy Hersey 2005

Jack Johnson 2005

Bob Maguinez 2005

Lornie Merkle 2005

Cap Peterson 2005

Marv Scott (coach) 2005

Wes Stock 2005

Ron Storaasli 2005

Joe Stortini 2005

Steve Whitaker 2005

1956 Stanley Shoemen team 2005

Baseball/Basketball

Baseball/Football

Baseball/Basketball/Football

Baseball/Football

Baseball/Basketball/Football

Baseball/Basketball/Football

Harry Nygard 2006

Doug Sisk 2006

Mike Blowers 2007

Ed Hardenbrook 2007

John Pregenzer 2007

Pete Sabutis 2007

Bill Hobert 2008

Dave Minnitti 2008 Player/Umpire

Frank Morrone 2008 Player/Umpire

Cliff Schiesz 2008

Craig Parks-Hilden 2009

Jim Nettles 2009

Baseball Tacoma, Inc (1972-1991) 2009

Baseball/Football/Basketball

Baseball/Football

Baseball/ FB & BB Official

Baseball/FB/BB Official

Baseball/Basketball/Football

Baseball/Football/Slowpitch Softball

Team includes Stan Naccarato, Morley Brotman, Doug McArthur, Tom Montgomery, Jack Johnson, Dale Bloom, Mike Dillon, Manly Mitchell, Max Braman, Dick Montgomery, Dick Schlosstein, Russ Wilkerson, Gordy Hersey, Jim Gallwas, Bob Maguinez, Earl Hyder, Ron Storaasli, Gordy Grubert. Pat Dillon, Ray Spalding, Monte Geiger, George Grant, and Jim Harney.

Rick Austin 2006

Earl Birnel 2006

Dale Bloom 2006

Dick Colombini 2006

Mike Dillon 2006

George Grant 2006

Earl Hyder 2006

Arley Kangas 2006

Earl Kuper 2006

Al Libke Jr. 2006

Bob Lightfoot (coach) 2006

Bill Mullen (coach) 2006

Stan Naccarato (General Manager), Robert Alessandro, Tom Baker, Dr. James Billingsley, Mike Block, Harold Brotman, Morley Brotman, Francis Browne, Bill Cammarano, Sr,, Ray Carlson, Brad Cheney, Warren Chinn, Larry Ghilarducci, Doug Gonyea, Norma Honeysett, Clay Huntington, Dr. Robert Johnson, Bob Kelly, Frank Manley, Carl Miraldi, Gus Paine, Frank Pupo, Frank Ruffo, Jim Topping, Mike Tucci, Sr., Walt Wiklund, Alden Woodworth, John Xitco, and E.J. “Jim Zarelli.

Sister City Cultural Baseball Exchange (1987-2009) 2009 Tony Anderson, Tak Ikeda, and Joe Kosai.

Gary Moore 2010

Bob Christofferson 2016 (Groundskeeper)

Joe Keller 2016

Tony Barron 2019

Rick Barnhart (coach) 2020

Bill Murphy 2020

Scott Nielsen 2020

BASKETBALL

Marv Harshman 1958 Basketball/Football

Frank Wilson 1958

John Kennedy (coach/ref) 1962

Bill Vinson (coach) 1969 Basketball/Football

Vince Hanson 1971

Max Mika 1971 Basketball/Football

Harry Werbisky 1971 Basketball/Baseball/Football

Don Moseid (player/coach) 2005

Clint Names 2005 Basketball/Golf

Bruce Alexander (player/ref) 2005

Ron Billings (player/coach) 2005 Basketball/Football

Chuck Curtis 2005

Rod Gibbs 2005

Evalyn (Goldberg) Schultz 2005 Basketball/Volleyball Fastpitch Softball

Dan Inveen 2005 Basketball/Administrator FB & BB Official

2024 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall Of Fame (continued)

Roger Iverson 2005

Gene Lundgaard (player/coach) 2005

Steve Matzen 2005

Harry McLaughlin 2005

Dean Nicholson (coach) 2005

Bob Sprague 2005

Vince Strojan 2005

Jim Van Beek 2005

Tom Whalen 2005

Charlie Williams 2005

Don Zech (coach) 2005

Univ of Puget Sound Men’s 1976 NCAA DII National Champions 2005

Team includes Don Zech, Mike Acres, Jim Schuldt, Doug McArthur, Brant Gibler, Rick Walker, Curt Peterson, Tim Evans, Rocky Botts, Mark Wells, A.T. Brown, Mike Hanson, Phil Hiam, Jimmy Stewart, Mike Strand, Matt McCully, Mike Kuntz, Steve Freimuth, and Bill Greenheck.

Wayne Dalesky (coach) 2006

Bob Fincham (player/coach) 2006

Jim McKean 2006

Clarence Ramsey 2006

Ron Crowe 2007

Jerry Clyde (coach) 2007

Jerry DeLaurenti (coach) 2007

Rich Hammermaster (coach) 2007 Football (athlete)

Chelle (Flamoe) Miller 2007

Donya Monroe 2007

Clover Park HS Girls 1982 State High School Champions 2007

Team includes Rhonda Chachere, Michelle (Clark) Jones, Becky (Davis) Buchanan, Mary Ann Johnson, Alison Lotspeich, Netra McGrew, Donya Monroe, Fifi Robidoux, Ruth (Rufener) Allen, Kathleen Schumock, Darlene Seeman, Kathy (Taylor) Shelby, Karen (Turner) Lee, Jim Angelel (head coach), and Joel Parker (assistant coach)

Jim Clifton (athlete/coach) 2008

Steve Anstett (athlete/coach) 2008

Bob Angeline 2009

Alan Kollar 2009

Mike Mullen (coach) 2009

Kate Starbird 2009

1970-71 Puyallup HS Boys Basketball State AAA Championship Team (23-1) 2009

Team includes Rich Hammermaster (head coach), Jim Clifton (asst coach), Dave Normile (asst coach), Jerry DeLaurenti (scorekeeper), Merv Borden, Dave Crouch, Randy Dorn, Steve Gervais, Rick Gienger, Bruce Graham, Ron Kitts, Tom Krage, Paul Krippaehne, Lanny Lewis, Dan Picha, Jamie Reno, John Trageser, and Doug Weese. Managers Fred Angelo, Paul Baker, and Tom Drury.

Curtis Allen 2010

Casey Calvary 2010

Kay (Koppleman) Peterson 2010

Robyn (Clark) Sharp 2010

Marvin S. “Tom” Tommervik, Jr. 2010

1971 Curtis HS Boys Basketball Class AA State Champions Team (24-0): 2010

Team includes Gerald Redburg (head coach), Mike Mullen (assistant coach), Arne Handeland (assistant coach), Jim Ball, Tim Beard, Mike Berger, Tom Hargadon, Tim O’Connell, Cliff Peterson, Brian Roark, Tom Shoemaker, Gary Smith, Pat Swesey, Mark Wells, Paul Zurfluh, Dave Berger (mgr), and Ray Mahnkey (Athletic Director).

Kim (Butler) West 2016

Bob Ross (coach) 2016

Mark Wells 2016

Jim Black (coach) 2019

Jennifer Gray Reiter 2019

Tim Kelly (coach) 2019

Bob Niehl (athlete/coach) 2019

David Adams 2020

Dave Harshman (coach) 2020

Brendon Merritt 2020

Tatum (Morris) Brown 2020

Mary Ann (Stoican) O’Dell 2020

Kate Rue 2020

Jerry Williams (player/coach) 2020

Plywood Tacoma National NABA Champions (1971 & 1973) 2020

Mark Anderson, Steve Anstett, Jay Bond, Curt Gammell, Mike Dahl, George Grant, Jim Harney, Steve Hawes, George Irvine, Mike Jordan, Charles Lowery, Lynn Nance, Darron Nelson (player/coach), Clint Names, Tom Names, Lee Sinnes, Dan Steward, Keith Swagerty, Tom Tommervik, Jim Van Beek, Ted Werner, Dave Wortman, Gary Wortman and sponsor Dick Burrows.

Debbie Miller 2022

Tyce Nasinec 2022

Julie (Butler) Hiles 2023

Willette White (coach) 2023

BOWLING

Ted Tadich 1962

Earl Anthony 2005

Nadine Fulton 2005

Earl Johnson 2005

Jeff Mattingly 2005

Bertha McCormick 2005

Jeanne Naccarato 2005

Margie (Junge) Oleole 2005

Dave Tuell Jr. 2005

Stella “Babe” Penowich 2006

Jim Stevenson 2006

Jerry Ledbetter 2007

Larry Fulton 2007

LuAnn Moore 2007

Frisco Burnett 2008

Denny Krick 2008

Bob Bjorke 2009

Bob Hanson 2016

Mike Karch 2019

BOXING

Freddie Steele 1957

Jack Connor 1963 Promoter/Manager

Pat McMurtry 1965

Harold Bird 1 967

Frankie “Chi-Chi” Britt 1972

Jim Rondeau 2005 Boxing (referee) Athletic Administrator

Davey Armstrong 2005

Leo Randolph 2005

Sugar Ray Seales 2005

Joe Clough (coach) 2006

Mike McMurtry 2006

Davey Ward 2006

Johnny Bumphus 2007

Dr. Charles Larson 2009 Administrator

George Wright 2009

Tom Mustin 2016

Emmett Linton, Jr. 2019

Bobby Pasquale 2019

Mylon Watkins 2020

CREW

Dan Ayrault 2005

Jim Fifer 2005

George Hunt 2005

Bob Martin 2005

John Sayre 2005

Adrienne Martelli 2023

FENCING

Harald E. Hilleman 2020 (Coach/Founder)

FIGURE SKATING

Jack Boyle 2005

Patsy (Hamm) Dillingham 2005

Jerry Fotheringill 2005

Judi (Fotheringill) Fuller 2005

Jimmy Grogan 2005

Pat (Firth) Hansen 2005

John Johnsen (coach) 2005

Lois (Secreto) Schoettler 2005

Al & Iria Beeler 2007 Administrator/Judge

Kathy Casey (coach) 2007

Scott Davis 2008

FOOTBALL

Marv Tommervik (player/ref) 1958 Football/Baseball

John Heinrick (coach) 1959 Football/Basketball

Cliff Olson (coach) 1959 Basketball/Administrator

Joe Salatino 1959 Football/Baseball

Leo Artoe 1961

Phil Sarboe (coach) 1962

Frank Gillihan (athlete/ref) 1963

Don Paul 1963 F ootball/Baseball/Basketball

Al Ruffo 1964

Ernie Tanner 1964 Football/Baseball/Track

Myron “Chief” Carr (coach) 1965 Football/Track

Chuck Horjes 1969

Carl Sparks (coach) 1969

Mike Tucci Sr. (coach) 1969

Dug Dyckman 1971

Harold “Ox” Hansen 1971

Al Hopkins (coach) 1971

Wes Hudson 1971

Everett Jensen 1971

Vern Pedersen 1972 Football/Swimming

Roy Sandberg (coach) 1972

Frank Spear 1972

John Anderson (coach) 2005

Gerry Austin (coach) 2005

Sam Baker 2005

Ralph Bauman 2005

Frank “Buster” Brouillet 2005 Football/Basketball

Dick Brown 2005 Football/Basketball

Ole Brunstad 2005

Luther Carr 2005 Football/Baseball/Track

Andy Carrigan 2005

Don D’Andrea 2005

Ed Fallon (coach) 2005

Fred Forsberg 2005

Doug Funk (coach) 2005

John Garnero 2005 Football/Track/Basketball

Tommy Gilmer 2005 Football/Track

Vince Goldsmith 2005 Football/Track

Billy Joe Hobert 2005 Football/Baseball

Ray Horton 2005

Mike Huard (coach) 2005

Glenn Huffman 2005 Football/Basketball/Baseball

Norm Iverson 2005

Jim Jones 2005 Football/Track

Eldon Kyllo 2005

Bob Levinson (coach) 2005 Football/Track

Norm Mayer (coach) 2005

Tommy Mazza 2005

Ron Medved 2005

2024 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall Of Fame

Bob Mitchell 2005

Don Moore 2005

George Nordi (coach) 2005

Carl Opolsky 2005

Joe Peyton 2005 Football/Basketball/Track

Earl Platt 2005 Football/Basketball/Baseball

Ahmad Rashad 2005 Football/Basketball/Track

Jerry Redmond (coach) 2005

Mark Ross (athlete/coach) 2005

Bob Ryan (coach) 2005

Fred Swendsen 2005 Football/Track

Gene Walters 2005

Clyde Werner 2005 Football/Track

Frosty Westering (coach) 2005

Dave Williams 2005 Football/Track

Warren Wood 2005

John Zamberlin 2005

1944 Lincoln backfield 2005 Backfield includes Al Malanca, Dean Mellor, Len Kalapus, and Bob McGuire.

Gail Bruce 2006

Phil Carter 2006

Rod Giske 2006

Robert Iverson Sr. 2006

Tim McDonough 2006

Tom Merritt 2006

Jack Newhart 2006

Jerry Thacker 2006

Billy Sewell 2006

Paul Skansi 2006

Jim Vest 2006 Football/Track

Art Viafore 2006

Jerry Williams 2006

1980 PLU Football Team 2006

Mike Agostini, Tom Amos, Eric Anderson, John Bley, Paul Berghuis, Ken Bush, Eric Carlson, Jeff Chandler, Scott Davis, Todd Davis, Dean DeMulling, Eric Dooley, Mike Durrett, Travis Eckert, Guy Ellison, Jim Erickson, Donn Falconer, Greg Farley, John Feldmann, Jay Freisheim, Chris Fritsch, Don Gale, Don Garoutte, Jay Halle, Dan Harkins, Rob Haskin, Dale Holland, Phil Jerde, Joel Johnson, Scott Kessler, Steve Kirk, Dave Knight, Mark Lester, Tim Lusk, Dennis McDonough, Scott McKay, Chris Miller, Eric Monson, Neal Otto, Martin Parkhurst, Mike Peterson, Dave Reep, Brian Rockey, Curt Rodin, Glen Rohr, Greg Rohr, Jeff Rohr, Rocky Ruddy, Jeff Shumake, Kevin Skogen, Rob Speer, Barry Spomer, Dave Turner, Chris Utt, Rich Vjranes, Tim Wahl, Tom Wahl, Kirk Walker, Jeff Walton, Garth Warren, Mark Warren, Mike Warsinske, Chris Weber, Scott Westering, Mike Westmiller, Craig Wright, Frosty Westering (head coach), Paul Hoseth (coach), Mark Clinton (coach), Larry Green (coach), Steve Kienberger (coach), Reid Katzung (coach), and Gary Nicholson (trainer).

Mike Baldassin 2007

Pat Hoonan (coach) 2007

Mike Levenseller 2007

Roy McKasson 2007

Ed Niehl (coach) 2007

Brock Huard 2008

Duane Lowell 2008

Bill McGovern 2008

David Svendsen 2008

Ed Bemis (administrator) 2009

Harry Bird (coach) 2009

Gregg Friberg 2009

Billy Parker 2009

Paul Walroff (coach) 2009

Jack Walters 2009

Paul Hoseth (coach/admin) 2010

Dave Kinkela 2010

Steve Ridgway 2010

Jack Sonntag (coach) 2010

Joe Williams 2010

Damon Huard 2016

Jon Kitna 2016

Bob Lucey (coach) 2016

Lawyer Milloy 2016

Marcus Trufant 2016

Dick Zatkovich (coach) 2016

Singor Mobley 2019

Don Clegg (coach) 2020

Dane Looker 2020

1979 & 1980 MT. TAHOMA HS STATE CHAMPION TEAMS 2020

George Nordi (Head Coach), Morrie Boughton (Coach), Don Leebrick (Coach), Dan Gurash (Coach), Mike Deutsch (Coach), Ken Baker, Brian Barabe, Fred Baxter, Quinn Baxter, Garland Bearden, Steve Blomgren, Mike Bolte, Anthony Broughton, David Cabrera, Robert Callaghan, Mike Carrington, Ted Carter, Ivan Castillo, Curt Chojnowski, John Cole, Fred Cooper, Charles Dalton, Jeff Daschofsky, Earl Davis, Todd deCarteret, Ron Eckert, Dan Flannery, John Fuhrman, Bob Gibson, Brad Gobel, Ralph Gomez, Todd Goodson, Ken Gosteli, Louis Green, Ken Hanks, Maurice Hanks, Darell Harper, Joel Harper, Kevin Harper, Dan Hart, John Hayward, Dave Helzes, Frank Hobbs, Chris Horn, Steve Hoye, Brian Humphrey, Todd Hunter, Rod Jackson, Jody Jacobsen, Alonzo Jennings, John Johnson, Rich Lamonica, Rob Leonard, Todd Lundey, Vic Melton, Craig Meyer, Don Moore, John Moore, Ramon Moore, Larry Murphy, Robert Murphy, Dan Nelson, Scott Nordi, Alain Patton, Doug Parish, Dirk Pettitt, Todd Pressey, Arnie Richard, Robert Ross, Brian Rychner, Curtis Sanders, Dave Seago, Mike Sonnier, Ken Spencer, Angelo Suarez, Malcom Sorrell, Mike Vindivich, Lacy Walker, David White, James Whitford, Mike Young and Ray Richards (Trainer).

Hillary Butler 2022 Sherriden May 2022

Johnny Spevak 2022

Lewis Bush 2023

Jermaine Kearse 2023

GOLF

Charles Congdon 1960

Charles D. Hunter 1960

Shirley (McDonald) Fopp 1962 Golf/Skiing

Jack Walters 1963

Shirley Baty 2005

Ockie Eliason 2005

John Harbottle 2005

Pat Lesser-Harbottle 2005

Joan (Allard) Mahon 2005

Marjorie (Jeffries) Shanaman 2005

Ken Still 2005

Ruth (Canale) Ward 2005

Amy Lou (Murray) Young 2005

Al Feldman 2006

Bob Johnson 2007

Doug Campbell 2008

Brian Mogg 2008

Joan Teats (administrator) 2008

John “Jeff” Harbottle III 2016

John Rudy (club pro) 2020

John Bodenhamer 2020

Golfing Gorilla (Tom Tuell) 2022

GYMNASTICS

Roni (Barrios)Mejia 2005

Yumi Mordre 2005

Onnie (Willis) Rogers 2005

Tiffani (White) Rowland 2007

Catherine (Williams) Kadera 2008

Lindsey Lauderdale 2009

Elli (Maulding) McDaniel 2010

Hali (Saucier) Riechers 2016

Brad Loan (coach) 2020

HANDBALL

Gordy Pfeifer 2005 Handball/Slowpitch Softball

Lea McMillan 2008

HIKING/MOUNTAINEERING

Fay Fuller 2020

Bronka Sundstrom 2020

HOCKEY

Neil Andrews 2005

Joey Johns 2005 Hockey/Fastpitch Softball

Dick Milford 2005 Hockey/Fastpitch Softball

Louie Weir (player/admin) 2008

2024 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall Of Fame (continued)

HORSE RACING

Harry Deegan 1969

HUNTING

Marcus Nalley 1963

HYDROPLANE RACING

George Henley 2005

Armand Yapachino 2005

KARATE

Steve Curran 2019

MOTORCYCLE RACING

Don McLeod 2005 Motorcycle Racing/Auto Racing/ Roller Skating

Bob Malley 2007

MOUNTAINEERING

Lute Jerstad 2005 Mountaineering/Basketball

Lou Whittaker 2006

Dee Molenaar 2006

Eric Simonson 2022

OFFICIALS

Marty Erdahl 2006 Basketball

Merle Hagbo 2006 Football

Jerry Snarski 2006 Basketball

Chuck Gilmer 2007 Football

Wayne Gardner 2007 Volleyball

Ray Highsmith 2007 Football

Dave Kerrone 2007 Baseball, Football, Fastpitch, Slowpitch

Aaron Pointer 2008 Football/Baseball

Ed Stricherz 2008 Football/Basketball

Bruce Osborne 2010 Wrestling

Jan Wolcott 2010 Football/Basketball

Kirk Dornan 2016 Football

Walt Gogan 2016 Volleyball

Ken Laase 2016 Softball

Jay Stricherz 2016 Football

Terry Beckstead 2020 (Wrestling)

Buddy Horton 2020 (Football)

Dan Spriestersbach 2020 (Football)

Mike Burton 2023 (Football)

PHOTOGRAPHER

Bruce Kellman 2016

Bruce Larson 2019

RACQUETBALL

Sid Williams 2007

RIFLERY

Morgan (Hicks) Wallizer 2020

ROLLER SKATING

Lanny (Adams) Werner 2005

Tom Peterson 2006

Lin Peterson 2006

SAILING

Govnor Teats 2008

SNOW BOARDING

Liz Daley 2019

SNOW SKIING

Gretchen Kunigk-Fraser 1957

Joe LaPorte 2007

Marshall Perrow 2008

Rich Nelson 2020

SOAP BOX DERBY

David Krussow 2007

Greg Schumacher 2007

John West 2008

SOCCER

John Best (coach/admin) 2005

Jeff Durgan 2005

Dori Kovanen 2005

Mark Peterson 2005

Jeff Stock 2005

Dan Swain (coach) 2006

Brent Goulet 2007

Frank Hall (coach/admin) 2007

Colleen Hacker (coach) 2007

Danny Vaughn 2010

Joe Waters (athlete/coach) 2016

Tara Bilanski (player/coach) 2020

Brian vanBloomestein (coach) 2020

Gretchen (Gegg) Zigante 2020 (player/coach)

Joey Gjertsen 2022

Tally Hall 2023

SOFTBALL (Fastpitch & Slowpitch)

Lloyd Blanusa 2005 Fastpitch

Vern From 2005 Fastpitch

George Karpach 2005 Fastpitch

Louise Mazzuca 2005 Fastpitch

Jack Hermsen 2006 Fastpitch

Art Lewis 2006 Fastpitch

Vern Martineau 2006 Fastpitch

Kathy Hemion 2006 Slowpitch/Basketball/Volleyball

Betty (Hart) Bland 2007 Fastpitch

Jay Beach 2007 Fastpitch

Gene Thayer 2008 Fastpitch

Dick Yohn 2008 Fastpitch

John Rockway 2009 Fastpitch Player Softball Administrator

Joyce (Jones) Wolf 2009 Fastpitch player/Slowpitch coach

Bob Young 2009 Slowpitch

Bob Frankosky 2010 Fastpitch

Joe Kilby 2010 Slowpitch

Earl Mahnkey 2010 Fastpitch

Steve Orfanos (administrator) 2010 Fastpitch/Slowpitch

1965-71 Players Tavern/Heidelberg Slowpitch Softball Team 2016

Ken Alban, Doug Armstrong, Dave Bishop, Jerry Brodigan, Ed Burmester, Dick Dahlstrom, Jerry Ehnat, Jerry Foss, Bob Grant, Bill Hain, Bob Hause, Bill Herbert, Ken Laase, Jim Lane, Wayne Lange, Denny Larsen, Don Leaf, Don Kitchen, Marco Malich, Don Martelli, Terry Martin, Ron Moseson, Butch Pasquale, Gordy Pfeifer, Mike Prentice (batboy), Bud Reed, Al Reil, Bill Royne, Dick Samlaska, Steve Sand, Ron Schmidtke, Ken Schulz, Scott Schulz (batboy), Bob Sonneman Sr., Tom Sonneman, Jerry Thacker, Terry Trowbridge, Ted Whitney, Bob Young, Mike Zenk and Dick Zierman

Todd Cooley 2020 Slowpitch

Steve Shackett (coach) 2020 Slowpitch

Cleon Tungsvik (player/coach) 2020 Fastpitch

SPEED SKATING

KC Boutiette 2016

SPORTS MEDICINE

Dr. Sam Adams 2010

Dr. Bob Johnson 2010

SWIMMING

Don Duncan (coach) 2005

Janet (Buchan) Elway 2005

Kaye Hall-Greff 2005

Dave Hannula 2005

Dick Hannula Sr. (coach) 2005

Bob Jackson 2005 Swimming/Football

Chuck Richards 2005 Swimming/ Pentathlon

Miriam (Smith) Greenwood 2005

Dick Hannula, Jr. 2006

Dan Hannula 2006

Dan Seelye 2006

Mike Stauffer 2007

Sarah (Rudolph) Cole 2007

Dan Wolfrom (coach) 2007

Susan (Lenth) Moffet 2008

Rod Stewart 2008

Mark Smith 2008

Robb Powers 2008

Dana (Powers) Hubbard 2008

1970 Wilson HS Boys Swimming State Championship Team 2008 Team includes Dick Hannula (Head coach), Jim Boettcher (Diving Coach and Assistant Swim Coach), Dave Asahara, Dave Burkey, Tom Dickson, Jeff Edwards, Jim Gagliardi, Dan Hannula, Dave Hannula, Brent Heisler, Gary Holmquist, Mark Hoffman, Randy Hume, Chuck Johnston, Kevin Kambak, Kurt Knipher, Scot Knowles, Dennis Larsen, Steve Lindeman, Bob Music, Bart Rohrs, Herb Schairbaum, Greg Searles, Brandon Smith, Kelly Smith, Dale Sowell, Bob Tonellato, Rick Unrue, Dave Williams, Hans Wold, and Dave Wright.

Debbie Gratias Williams 2009

Kathryn “K.C.” (Cline) Lemon 2010

Evan Martinec 2010

Jamie Reid 2010

Jim Baurichter (coach) 2016

Megan (Quann) Jendrick 2016

Dennis Larsen 2019

Chris Myhre (coach) 2020

Roxanne (Carlton) Raubacher 2020

Bert O. Thomas 2020

Steve Van Wart 2020

Paige (Wright) Olson 2022

TEAM HANDBALL

Blake Surina (See Track) 2022

TENNIS

Wally Scott 1959

Mike Benson (coach) 2005

Don Flye 2005

Pat Galbraith 2005

Dave Trageser 2005

Sonja Olejar 2006

Marilyn Kropf Appel 2009

1938 Stadium tennis team 2009

Darrell “Righty” Eden, Donald “Lefty” Eden, Bill Guyles, Dick Meyer, and Bill Taylor

Steve Finnigan 2016

Vern Ball (player/coach) 2020

TRACK & FIELD

Herman Brix 1961 Shot Put

Gertrude Wilhelmsen 1971 Javelin, Discus

Doris (Severtson) Brown Heritage 2005 Running

Casey Carrigan 2005 Pole Vault

Jim Daulley (coach) 2005

Sterling Harshman 2005 Track/Football

Dana LeDuc 2005 Shot Put

Mark Smith 2005 Discus

Chuck Soper 2005 Javelin/Discus

Dan Watson (coach) 2005

Mac Wilkins 2005 Shot Put, Discus

Robert A. “RAB” Young 2005 Race Walking

Mitch Angelel (coach) 2006

Hal Berndt 2006

Bob Ehrenheim (coach) 2006

Jack Fabulich 2006

Ericka Harris 2006

Sam Ring 2006

Darrell Robinson 2006

Rob Webster 2006

Jim Angelel (coach) 2007

Donna Dennis 2007

Keith Tinner 2007

Curt Corvin 2008

Michelle (Finnvik) Biden 2008

Warren Logan (coach) 2008

Jim Martinson 2008

Aaron Williams 2008

Burt Wells (coach) 2008

Joline Staeheli Andrzejewski 2009

Cecilia (Ley) Hankinson 2009

Brian Mittelstaedt 2009

Joel Braggs 2010

Jakki Davis 2010

Patty Ley 2010

Darold Talley 2010

Wes Smylie 2010

Sarah (Burns) Hannula 2016

Richard “Dick” Keniston 2016

Calvin Kennon 2016

Mark Salzman (athlete/coach) 2016

Pat Tyson 2019

Joel Wingard (coach) 2019

Brie Felnagle 2020

Terry Rice (coach) 2020

Tom Sinclair 2020 Javelin

Sarna (Renfro) Becker 2022

Blake Surina (see Team Handball) 2022

Andrea (Geubelle) Norris 2023

Steve Slavens 2023

VOLLEYBALL

Laurie (Wetzel) Hayward 2005 Volleyball/Basketball

Sarah (Silvernail) Elliott 2005

Cindy (Pitzinger) Willey 2005

Lisa Beauchene 2006

Lorrie Post Hodge 2006

Karen Goff-Downs 2007

Carla (Reyes) Redhair 2007

Suzanne Vick 2008

1996 Bethel HS Class AAA State Champions Team (34-0) 2010

John Reopelle (head coach), Monica (Lee) Aikins (assistant coach), Christine Nelson (assistant coach), Michelle Barlow, Dori (Bartusch) Shick, Corinn (Breon) Gallegos, Jorden (Gienger) Whittington, Rachelle (Gienger) Downie, Holly (Hobbs) Repp, Joanna Johnson, Jennifer Ladwig, Valerie (Lee) Jackson, Heather (Mayo) Sloan, Malissa Reed, Donja (Walker) Asonte, Vera Wright (scorekeeper), Tynne Swick (manager), and Jim Ball (Athletic Director).

Jan Kirk (coach) 2016

Stevie Mussie 2016

Christal (Morrison) Engle 2020

Christy (Kubista) Brandt 2022

Jennifer Kubista 2022

WATER POLO

Jerry Hartley (coach) 2008

WRESTLING

Frank Stojack 1959 Wrestling/Football

Jerry Conine 2005 Wrestling/Football

Bob Hunt 2005 Wrestling/Football/Track

Jim Meyerhoff 2005

David Olmstead 2005

Jeff Gotcher 2005

Larry Gotcher 2005

Ron Ellis 2006

Bill Stout (athlete/coach) 2006

Vic Eshpeter 2007

Elsworth Finlayson 2007

Kirk White 2008

Terry Dawson 2009

Jesus Villahermosa 2009

Ray Barnes (coach) 2010

Warren DePrenger (coach) 2010

Les Kleinsasser 2010

Dan Hensley (coach) 2016

Brad Muri 2016

Kylee Bishop 2019

Mike Sowards (coach) 2020

Chris Wolfe (athlete/coach) 2023

SPORTS WRITERS/BROADCASTERS/PHOTOGRAPHERS

Elliott Metcalf 1966

Dan Walton 1968

John McCallum 1971

Ed Honeywell 1972

Rod Belcher 2005

Jerry Geehan 2005

Don Hill 2005

Clay Huntington 2005 Sportswriter/Broadcaster

Earl Luebker 2005

Bob Robertson 2005

Don Davison 2007

Dick Kunkle 2007

Art Popham 2008

Stan Farber 2009

Mike Ingraham 2009

Jack Sareault 2009

Nelson Hong 2010

Ted Pearson 2016

Steve Thomas 2016

MEDIA (TEAM TNT 1987-2000) 2020

1987-2000 Tacoma News Tribune Sports Staff: Mike Bainter, Dave Boling, Don Borst, Joe Breeze, Corey Brock, Gary Brooks, Russ Carmack, John Clayton, Patricia (Greenleaf) Clayton, Bob Condotta, Glenn Crevier, Doug Drowley, Ursula (Muecke) Fagerstrom, Roy Gallop Jr. , Greg Gibson, Peter Haley, Greg Harris, Craig Hill, Chuck Hufford, Frank Hughes, Mike Kahn , Dean Koepfler, Robert Kuwada, Larry LaRue, John Lawrence, Arnold Lytle, Casey Madison, John McGrath, Rodney McKissic, Paul Miller, Todd Milles, Bob Mottram, Ron Newberry, Scott Oberstaller, Bob Payne, Dale Phelps, John Piekarski, Paul Ramsdell, Bill Reader, Mike Sando, Bill Schey, John Scott, Gordy Sholtys, Teresa Smith, Sheldon Spencer, Jim Trotter, Rob Tucker, Pete Wevurski, Eric Williams, Lui Kit Wong, Bart Wright and Victor Yoshida.

ADMINISTRATORS

Bob Hager 1969

Harold “Wah” Keller 1969

Tom Cross 2005 Athletic Admin./Basketball/ BB & FB Official

Doug McArthur 2005 Athletic Administrator/ Baseball (coach)

Stan Naccarato 2005 Athletic Administrator/ Baseball (player)

Dr. Dave Olson 2005

Milt Woodard 2005 Athletic Administrator/ Sportswriter

Jim Kittilsby 2008

Karl Benson (College Athletics) 2020

John Bodenhamer (Golf) 2020

Frank Colarusso (Baseball/Hockey) 2020

Robin Hamilton (College Athletics/Coach) 2020

Dick Berg 2023

Ronald (Ron) Mann was born in Tacoma General Hospital on October, 3, 1942, destined to be a lifelong fan of the Tacoma Tigers and Seattle Rainiers. From the time he was a young child, baseball was in his blood; he knew that baseball season was at hand when the robins appeared in his front yard. He learned to love every moment of the baseball season from Spring Training to the World Series, and every second of the game from pregame warm-ups to postgame tv and radio interviews with players and managers. Collecting stadium giveaways, photographs, autographs and cards was a way to connect with players and to keep the game alive in his heart and mind—until the next season.

Ron loved to reminisce about attending Seattle Rainiers and Tacoma Tiger ballgames with his mom and sister. Back then children’s admission was $.30, and a box of popcorn and scorecard could be had for $.15 apiece; his mom could get into the game for $.75. As Ron grew older, he often imagined what it would be like to manage a team. Keeping score at the ballgames was his way to “keep his head in the game” and ensure he would have his personal record of what happened on the field. In the late 80s, he created his own unique scorebook and for years he used red ink to keep score.

In 1966, Ron earned his Bachelor of Arts (political science) at the University of Puget Sound (UPS). During his junior year he played catcher for the UPS baseball team and also served as Assistant Editor and Sports Editor for the UPS paper, The Trail. In his last year at UPS, Ron worked the night desk and holidays at the Tacoma (WA) News Tribune as a student intern.

Continuing his education at the University of Missouri, Ron earned a second degree in photojournalism in 1971. He was an award-winning photographer for the San Bernardino (CA) Sun, Binghampton (NY) Sun, and Jackson (MI) Citizen Patriot, and an award-winning Director of Photography at the Orange County (CA) Register. The highlight, he often said, was assembling the Register’s photography team covering the 1984 Summer Olympics and winning the 1985 Pulitzer Prize for news photos.

Ron’s deep appreciation for photographic images, history, and sports (hockey, basketball, and football) lead him to collect memorabilia. It was his way to honor and remember for a lifetime the players, managers, uniforms, unforgettable plays, (and food) that brought him great happiness at countless sports venues across the country. He was truly an authentic fan.

Ron passed away on August 15, 2023 in Sacramento, CA at the age of 80. Ron’s family members are proud to to donate memorabilia from his extensive collection to be auction off tonight with proceeds benefitting the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Museum in his memory.

From Sumner to the NBA, a story of basketball serendipity

by Shawn O’Neal, contributing writer

Ryan Carr is not one to lack for appropriate words or general eloquence. His basketball life has experienced enough twists and turns to provide many gifts and perhaps the most obvious is a deep perspective.

Every day is busy but life has provided plenty of time for thought and careful consideration.

Yet when he tries to sum it all up, he struggles to find easy words: “You just cannot make sense of it all. You just … cannot. There is no way … none of it. It just does not make sense. There are just all these different times people gave me a chance when they did not have to … and I just cannot explain it.”

Those who know the Rogers High grad, currently the Vice President for Player Personnel with the NBA’s Indiana Pacers, struggle a bit less to explain Carr’s success and longevity. They’ll tell you nobody works harder. Nobody cares more. And – to hear those who know him describe him – few are as kind.

Carr is not a name everybody who follows the game knows well, but those who work in the game know him well. Perhaps more importantly, people who are widely recognized in basketball have seen something in Carr that has helped him continue his basketball journey.

Guys like Bob Knight, Larry Bird and Don Haskins – all in the basketball Hall of Fame.

Carr’s personal explanation for why he’s managed to build a career in a game he wasn’t much good at playing is complicated for some, but perhaps the most simple of all from his perspective: “Divine providence is a real thing for me and for all of us, whether we want to acknowledge it or not.”

The easiest place to start with Carr is maybe where it could have ended: He was a junior at Sumner High and was over it. He was a swing player, according to coach Tim Thomsen, meaning he had two jerseys in his locker. One was for the Spartans’ varsity, the other for JV.

Carr’s love for the game was elite, but his talent wasn’t. He wasn’t a bad basketball player – he would get hot and win 3-point contests in camps against much better players – but he was a late-game sub for the Spartans, and the Spartans weren’t exactly setting the South Puget Sound League afire.

Carr wasn’t getting the time he wanted. Thomsen knew he worked hard enough to earn more, but was “short, small and slow” and simply not talented enough to get more. The minutes and shots he did get were based on how much his coach appreciated what he brought to the team beyond the stat sheet.

“He had the best attitude. He was the most humble, hardest working kid and he had great values,” Thomsen said. “I had been watching him come up through the ranks – even as an elementary kid we saw him – then as a middle schooler and then up to varsity. I knew him and his family and I really valued that and, when I got to know him — he was in my traffic safety class – I found out what a high-character kid he was. He really stood out back in those days when we maybe did not have a lot of high-character kids. But he was one of them.”

Which is what made the day Carr quit so shocking.

“I had gotten so frustrated I was like, ‘I am done …’ and I quit,” Carr said, laughing. “This many years later it is just hard to imagine how frustrated I must have been to do that. I did that in kind of haste and I went home and told my parents that I had been frustrated and they were frustrated for me. And they probably thought I was a better player than I was.”

Carr was a better student than a basketball player, but the mental math eluded him: A kid who could not get on the court for a mediocre SPSL team, transferred to Rogers, which was strong in the SPSL and beyond, stacked with seniors and headed for state. In 2024 the math is a bit easier for him to grasp. A big part of his current job is finding and evaluating players for an NBA franchise. A big part of that, he said, is elimination.

Carr might have been an easy elimination from a talent standpoint for Rogers coach Rod Iverson, but the intangibles Carr brought made for a tough day for all involved. For Carr it was heartbreaking, but it was not easy for the coach or his family. One of the biggest reasons Carr landed at Rogers was his relationship with the coach, and his son, Kyle. Carr had attended Iverson’s youth camps and was tight with Kyle, even when he was a student at Sumner. Being part of the Rams and getting to play with his friend was a big part of the appeal.

“He was already my best friend and I knew what a great guy he was,” Kyle Iverson said. “He clung to me at Rogers and vice versa.”

That moment of quitting, as hard as it is for 50ish Carr to contemplate now, was likely the first unlikely domino to fall in a series of them that winded through the home of virtual strangers, Bloomington, Indiana and El Paso, Texas and back again to Indiana, where he’s been for nearly 25 years.

Carr didn’t make the Rogers basketball team, but what he did get to do was far more aligned with the end game. His best friend was a dynamic guard who would take the Rams to state and go on to play briefly in college. And while Kyle was playing on the same Seattle Center Arena court as Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp – and Larry Bird, of course – Ryan was also there, on the bench, wearing a tie.

“The list gets posted after cuts, my name’s not on there and I just bolt,” Carr said “I am bawling. What was super cool that night is that Kyle calls me just to check in, super gracious and kind. You gotta love a best friend who will say he disagrees with what his dad did and he said he was going to talk to his dad — that maybe there was something he can do.”

Ryan Carr (center) with Tim Thomsen (left) and Rod Iverson.

Meanwhile, Carr had to wake up the next day and go to school, face all the guys who knew he had not made the team and Rod Iverson, who was his U.S. History teacher.

“(That) was uncomfortable, but good for the process and he approached me about helping the team, coming to practice and being a part of it,” Carr said. “He knew me as well as anybody could at that time. His wife was like a second mom, his son like a brother … I was (at his house) more than at my own house.”

And so it began.

Carr brought his shoes to practice and would jump in when the team needed a body, but he was mostly a manager and ultimately became more like a coaching intern, tracking stats and sitting with the coaches during the games, sometimes offering thoughts on numbers he was asked to track. But when Rogers’ season ended in February, Carr was left to figure out next steps.

His stepfather was a retired Marine and admired Bob Knight, the iconic Indiana coach who started his career at West Point. Carr liked Knight just fine, too, but wasn’t initially all in on the Hoosiers. He knew he wanted to stay involved in basketball in college, but it would likely be as a manager — a real one, the kind who picked up laundry and fed balls back to players who are working on free throws.

He wrote dozens of letters of inquiry to the top college coaches of the era, including his idol, North Carolina legend Dean Smith. He was hoping to find somebody who would give him the chance in college that Iverson had given him at Rogers.

He got one reply, from The General, Bob Knight.

“It was a form letter and talked about how if I got into school there they had programs I could look into,” Carr said.

It was a glimmer of hope, and then came another. Carr’s friend from Rogers, Jamey Haigh, is the grandson of late Baden Sports CEO Ed Schindler … and Baden Sports happened to be the supplier of the Indiana Hoosiers. Haigh brought Carr to meet with his grandfather, who happened to be meeting with Knight in the near future. Schindler offered Carr an opportunity to write The General a note, and so he did. A couple of weeks later Carr was invited back to the Schindler home and Knight had sent a return note: “I look forward to working for you at IU.”

“That was it,” Carr said.

Carr showed up in Bloomington the next fall, eager to get started, and ran into Knight coming out of the basketball building and introduced himself.

“It was super surreal,” Carr said.  “I was walking up this ramp, he was walking down. I had never been so intimidated in my life. He was a huge man with this aura around him and I walk up to him and said ‘Hey, Coach Knight, I am Ryan Carr and I am here to be a manager for you.”

The legend didn’t miss a beat.

“He puts his arm around me and we are walking down the ramp. He says there are a lot of kids around here who want to be a manager for me. And I say ‘Mr. Schindler spoke to you.’”

“Oh … you’re Schindler’s guy,” Knight said.

“And he always wore a national championship ring and one of the things he would do as a thing of endearment is he would tap you on the back of the head but with that national title ring it would hurt, he gave me that tap and that was it.”

That was it, indeed.

Carr was given the foot in the door he needed and maximized every chance, eventually graduating from Indiana and getting a job as a video analyst with the Pacers, a job that paid far less than one might think, not nearly enough to live comfortably and led to one of the most movie-worthy moments of Carr’s feature-film reality. Carr supplemented his income by working at a fast-food restaurant. NBA legend Larry Bird, then the coach of the Pacers, found out about how his staffer was making ends meet.

He called Carr in to talk with him about his future and eventually agreed to bump his salary based on the fact that “we can’t have our employees working at McDonald’s.” To which Carr corrected him: “Actually Larry, it’s a Burger King.”

Carr kept grinding and eventually got the chance to do the thing he really wanted to do when he was offered an assistant coaching gig to be part of the staff replacing the legendary Don Haskins at the University of Texas-El Paso. He had met the UTEP head coach – Jason Rabedeaux – while at Indiana when Rabedeaux was an assistant at Washington State and Carr was the Cougars’ student host.

When Carr got to El Paso, Knight let Haskins know he was a good kid and to watch out for him if he could. That led to another of the game’s greats being a mentor to Carr and a few long rides in Haskins’ pick-up truck in the West Texas desert, where the old coach liked to go to clear his mind.

The stories and names could go on forever and Carr’s list of mentors and associates is a Forrest Gump-like journey through the game’s past 25 years.

“Every single one of them invested in me in some way and I am super grateful for that … and in different ways,” Carr said. “Coach Knight, certainly the Xs and Os and the art of coaching. With Larry (Bird) I learned just incredible self-control. With Haskins, I learned how to show respect and how to learn and how he wanted to give back and

Ryan Carr and former Indiana U coach Bob Knight.

pass on the things he learned and loved about the game. Coach Knight was the same way.”

Rabedeaux resigned unexpectedly after three years and the next guy in at UTEP was another character of the game, future controversial Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie. After one year and a lot of losses, Carr was ready to try something new, so he applied for a head coaching job a North Kitsap High School in Poulsbo. Of course, he was a top candidate and his reference list was rather unique: Knight, Bird and Tim Thomsen, his old coach at Sumner.

“(The North Kitsap AD) called me because he was afraid to call the other two,” Thomsen said.

When Carr told Bird he was expecting to take the job, Bird was supportive.

“That’s the thing about Larry,” Carr said. “He looks at things differently. Whether it’s (former Celtics coaches) Bill Fitch or KC Jones … or a high school coach, he doesn’t see much difference in what they are doing. Certainly, the NBA is the highest level, but he isn’t about accolades or any of that, it’s about the person and the work ethic.”

But when Carr told Bird he was going to take the job, in May of 2003, the Hall of Famer advised him to pump the brakes. Something was in the works for him and when it came through, he wanted Carr with him. News soon broke that Bird had been hired as the Pacers president of basketball operations and Carr was soon hired as a scout.

He’s been with the Indiana Pacers ever since.

By 2004, Carr had seen his share of things in the basketball world, but had never been to the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, NC, home to his favorite program growing up and named after the legend he idolized and hoped to one day work for. He was beyond excited, scouting a UNC-Florida State game for the Pacers.

There was plenty of NBA talent on the court — the teams would send a combined nine players to the league, including Bremerton product Marvin Williams. Carr was thrilled to be there but can’t remember much beyond what it eventually led to.

“Right before my 30th birthday, I get a chance to go to UNC for the very first time to see a game … to scout a game. I was super pumped and at that moment it was the coolest thing I had ever done. My 10-year old self was going crazy to see the banners and the jerseys … Jordan and Perkins, all of it. I was jacked … I was so excited. It was not a job that day … it was the pinnacle of life.

“I sat down and all of the sudden it was like I almost had a panic attack. I started getting cold sweats. It was really, really odd and I am having a hard time focusing on the game and I am certainly not enjoying it. I get done with the game and get back to the hotel. I remember nothing of that game.”

Ryan and his wife, Kim, had been married nearly four years. He arrived home from that trip and they sat and made a decision: It was time to find a church. Of course, the Carr’s treated searching for a church like he might treat tracking down a lead guard.

“There was all this sprinkling of Christianity in my life but it had never took … (In finding a church) I was on a mission. I did not know what made a good church or a bad church.”

Eventually, he and his family found comfort in faith and a community that helped him deal with some of the stressors in his life so that he could continue extending his basketball journey.

Life hasn’t all been great for Carr. When his parents died within six months of each other and pandemic life added other anxieties, he leaned back into his faith community to help with depression. He also still has plenty of support at home in Pierce County.

He remains friends with Kyle Iverson, now an elementary physical education teacher in Puyallup.

“I am not kidding when I say this,” Kyle Iverson said. “Ryan Carr’s story needs to have an autobiography written and then made into a movie. I look up to that guy. He has made it to the top … he has worked hard at every single level that he has been at and I am so proud of him for showing that hard work pays off at the end. He is at the pinnacle right now.”

Or is he? Carr laughs, but can’t comment on what his definition of pinnacle is … perhaps being the general manager for a second edition of the SuperSonics should the NBA grant Seattle another team?

For now, Carr is focused on being a husband to Kim, along with being a dad to 12-year-old Bryn and enjoying the senior year of high school for his twins (Austin and Caitlin) – his most important responsibilities. After a rebuild, Carr has helped Pacers’ President Kevin Pritchard and GM Chad Buchanan build a team that coach Rick Carlisle can take into the playoffs with a chance to win a series or two, maybe more.

Carr said he is content, in all ways, but it’s also clear that he is pretty far from done.

“I still have hope that one day there will be a chance to be a GM of a team,” he said. “I would love to take all the stuff I have learned from all these people and see what I could do with it, but if it never happens … I have one of 30 jobs in the world like this and that’s not lost on me. It’s really hard to explain my life. You’d have to write it in a book, but nobody would believe it.”

Shawn O’Neal is a contributing writer for the Shanaman Sports Museum. A grad of Spanaway Lake High School (1991) and Washington State University, Shawn is a Senior Editor for Lindy’s sports and works for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

Ryan Carr evaluating talent with Larry Bird.

2024 Tribute to Champions Auction Items

Seahawks Custom Quilt. Take home this one-of-a-kind, handcrafted Hawks quilt for the ultimate Seattle football fan. Features the Seahawks logo and team colors. Size is 60” X 72”. Value $300 Minimum bid $150

Vintage Baseball Card Artwork One-of-a-kind piece of baseball history. Countless Hall of Fame player cards are presented in a collage, mounted on wood. Value $250. Minimum bid $125.

Safeco Field Groundbreaking Commemorative Poster. Framed poster from the 1997 groundbreaking for the Seattle Mariners Safeco Field. Value $300. Minimum bid $100.

2023 World Series Fan Package. Incredibly special baseball from the 2023 World Series, donated by Quinn Wolcott and signed by his umpire crew: Vic Carapazza, DJ Reyburn, Mill Miller, Alfonso Marquez, David Rackley, and Brian Knight. Also included, t-shirt, rally towel and neck scarf. Value $250 Minimum bid $125.

UW 2024 Natty and Undefeated Season shirts. Two adult size large, University of Washington Football National Championship game t-shirts and one Undefeated 2023 Season shirt. A tribute to a historic Husky football season. Value $150 Minimum bid $75.

KJ Wright autographed Football. KJ played his college football at Mississippi State and was drafted by the Seahawks in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL draft. He was part of the Seattle team that secured a victory in Super Bowl XLVIII. Value $150 Minimum bid $75

Graduation Basket. Perfect for your graduation celebration. Paper plates, glasses, napkins and favors along with one bottle of Wilderness Oak, California Chardonnay, and one bottle 2021 Owl Block Reserve, California Chardonnay Value $85 Minimum bid $50

Ron Cey Signed Autobiography WSU & Dodger great, Ron Cey penned his book, Penguin Power, which features his thoughts on Dodger Blue, Hollywood Lights, and his one-in-a- million journey. Value $50 Minimum bid $25.

Passing Time Magnum of Red Wine. From the award-winning winery, this bottle is signed by owners, Damon Huard and Dan Marino, who played together for the Miami Dolphins. This bottle is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Value $200 Minimum bid $100.

4th of July Basket. Celebrate our country’s independence with this basket. Paper plates, cups, napkins, favors and one bottle of 2019 Layer Cake, California Red wine Value $75 Minimum bid $50.

Golf at the Highland’s. Play nine holes of golf for a foursome at the Inside Golf, top ten ranked golf course in the nation! In addition, take home the book, “For the Good of the Game”, by Bud Selig, and a unique custom pen crafted from a vintage golf club, golf glove and sleeve of balls Value $150 Minimum bid $75

Washington Legends Signed Basketball. This commemorative Banquet of Champions ball is signed by four of Washington State’s high school greats, that went on to NBA careers. Signed by Isaiah Thomas, Curtis HS, Malachi Flynn, Bellarmine Prep, Paolo Banchero, O’Dea, and Dejounte Murray, Rainier Beach.

Value $200 Minimum bid $75

4 Golf Lessons with Todd Erwin. Todd, a Bellarmine Prep grad, has been recognized by Pacific Northwest Golfer Magazine as one of the top Instructors in the Pacific Northwest. He has won four Washington Open Championships, the Montana State Open in 1985 and the Spokane Open in 2000. Todd competed in the U.S. Open at Medinah in 1990 and at Baltusrol in 1993. One of Tacoma’s best! Value $200 Minimum bid $100.

Norman Rockwell’s “Tough Call” framed print. Perfect for your baseball shrine! This is the reproduction of the 1949 Saturday Evening Post magazine cover. A true collector’s item. Value $120 Minimum bid $60.

Ladies Night Basket. Pamper your sweetheart with this basket full of goodies; chocolates, bath salts, loofa gloves, one bottle of 2021 Owl Block Reserve, California Chardonnay and one bottle of Mystified California Soft Red Wine.

Value $100 Minimum bid $60

2024 Super Bowl shirts. One adult XL and one large, t-shirt form Super Bowl LVIII between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Fransisco 49’ers. Value $100 Minimum Bid $50

Mariners Press Box Experience. Enjoy a one-inning visit in the Seattle Mariners radio broadcast booth Winner will get four tickets to an M’s game during the 2024 season and spend one inning for four people in the broadcast booth with Rick Rizzs, Aaron Goldsmith and Gary Hill Jr.

Value $650. Minimum bid $450

Lunch with Ryan Rowland Smith. Your chance to talk baseball with Ryan Rowland-Smith, former Tacoma Rainers and Mariners pitcher and current color commentator for ROOT Sports and the M’s. Enjoy a leisurely lunch for 8 guests at Matt’s Rotisserie & Oyster House in Redmond.

Value $800 Minimum bid $600

BBQ with Wes Stock. Burgers, Brats, Brownies and Brews for 8 and an autographed photo for each guest included in the 2 ½ hour get-together. Enjoy storytelling with Wes Stock, former major league pitcher for the Orioles & KC, Athletics and pitching coach for the Brewers, Mariners, and Oakland A’s. Ho sted by Marc Blau at his home. Bring baseballs & photos to be autographed. Value $650 Minimum bid $450

Lunch with Doug Sisk at Anthony’s. Lunch, dessert and non-alcoholic beverages for 6 in the 2 ½ hour gettogether hosted by Anthony’s at Pt. Defiance. Doug Sisk, Stadium and WSU grad, Sisk played for the New York Mets through the 1987 season and was a member of the 1986 Mets team that beat t he Boston Red Sox in the World Series. Value $600 Minimum bid $350

Tickets to UW - Eastern Michigan Football. Enjoy these four Tickets to the September 7, 2024, Husky game against Eastern Michigan, section 103, Row 19, up close and personal! Also take home two 2019 Rose Bowl t-shirts, UW vs Ohio State. Value $700 Minimum bid $350

Classy Chassis Gift Cards. Make it easy on yourself and keep your ride sparkling clean with these Classy Chassie car wash gift cards Value $200. Minimum bid $75.

Kenny McIntosh autographed Seahawk Football. McIntosh was drafted by the Hawks in 2023. Brother to former WSU running back Deon McIntosh, he played his college ball at Georgia and is famous for the trick play in which McIntosh took a handoff from quarterback Stetson Bennett, and completed an 18-yard touchdown pass to receiver Adonai Mitchell, putting Georgia up 14–0. The Bulldogs later won 34–11 and advanced to the 2022 CFP National Championship Value $250 Minimum bid $125.

NFL Referee Kirk Dornan’s Seahawk Game Analysis Have Kirk give you the inside scoop from a referee perspective. Six people will enjoy lunch at Anthony’s Restaurant. After you’re done, you will be the most informed group when it comes to rule interpretations and the pre-game process that NFL officials go through. Alcoholic beverages not included. Dates to be mutually agreed upon. Value $400 Minimum bid is $250.

Rounds of Golf at Premier Golf Courses. Bid on one of these rounds of golf for four players:

Choose from Trophy Lake, The Classic, The Plateau Club, Oakbrook or Sahalee, which has hosted the NEC World Golf Championship, the USGA Senior Open in 2010, and hosted the 2016 KPMG Women's PGA Championship or The Home Course, Golfweek magazines #2-ranked Best Public Course in Washington.

RARE Aaron Pointer Autographed Baseball. While playing for the Salisbury Braves in the Western Carolina League in 1961, Aaron Pointer batted .402. Pointer, who was just 19 in his first summer of pro ball, was given the choice by his manager of sitting out the final day of the season in order to preserve the milestone but, like Ted Williams did in 1941, Pointer refused and went 2-for-3 to set the mark. To date, Aaron remains the last living professional baseball player to hit over .400 for a full season. The ball is inscribed: 1961 .402 BA Aaron Pointer Salisbury Braves Other notable facts, his sisters are the Pointer Sisters and on September 27, 1963, playing for the Houston Colt 45s, he was part of an all-rookie lineup that remains the youngest lineup in MLB history, with an average age of 19. Joe Morgan, Rusty Staub and Jim Wynn were three players that went on to great careers from that group. Priceless. Minimum bid $400. (Last auction, signed ball went for $525!)

Seattle Sounders Autographed Jersey. This one is a surprise! An authentic, replica team jersey to be signed by one of the 2024 Sounders squad. Perfect for the super soccer fan of the 41-year-old franchise in the topflight of American soccer Value $250 Minimum bid $125

Jackson Smith-Njigba Signed Football & Photo. As a senior in high school, Jackson caught 104 passes for 2,094 yards and 35 touchdowns and was named the recipient of both the Landry Award and the Texas Gatorade Football Player of the Year award. Smith-Njigba played in the 2019 All-American Bowl and was named a high school All-American by Sports Illustrated and USA Today He played college football at Ohio State, where he set school records for most catches in a single game with 15 (twice) and most receiving yards in a single season with 1,606 in 2021. Smith-Njigba was selected 20th overall by the Seahawks in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft Value $250 Minimum bid $125.

1964 Topps giant Mickey Mantle card Value $100 Minimum bid $50

Frank Robinson autographed & framed 500th HR photo Value $175 Minimum bid $75

Sparky Anderson Official American League signed ball Value $100 Minimum bid $40

John Olerud Official Major League signed ball Value $50 Minimum bid $25

October 3, 1942 – August 15, 2023

Above are of few of the very rare pieces from the collection of former Tacoman, Ron Mann, an ardent sports memorabilia collector who passed away last August. Bid on these items and many other treasures tonight during the Banquet of Champions Auction.

It was Ron’s wish for proceeds from his collection to help sustain the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Museum as the search for a permanent home continues. The Executive Board appreciates his kind and generous offer.

RON MANN