Athletic Hall of Fame

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Clovis Unified School District Athletic Hall of Fame

Clovis Unified School District Hall of Fame

“We want you to teach our students to win with class and to lose with dignity. But we also want you to teach them that there is a lot more to being a winner than the final game score. We want you to teach them to root for their team to win, not for the other team to lose. We want you to teach our kids what to do when they lose. We want you to get them off their duffs and get them back in the fight. Don’t you let them give up. And if we can teach them not to be quitters by the time they finish the 12th grade in Clovis schools, they will probably make it through life.”

–Floyd “Doc” Buchanan, Ed.D.

Clovis Unified Athletic Hall of Fame Members

Check out the Athletic Hall of Fame archive that features video stories about the inductees.

Inaugural Class, 2016

Dr. Floyd B. “Doc” Buchanan

CUSD Founding Superintendent (posthumously)

Dennis DeLiddo

Chris Hernandez

Daryle Lamonica

Ruth Lawanson

Amanda Scott

Tim Simons

1968 Clovis High School Boys Basketball Team

1970 Clovis High School Football Team

2017

George Kastner

Doc Buchanan Award

Steve Baxter

Lloyd Merriman

Joan Pitcock

Martin Simpson

Jamie Southern

Adrian Williams-Strong

1974 Clovis High School Wrestling Team

1997 and 1998 Clovis High School Baseball Teams

2018

Satoshi “Fibber” Hirayama

Doc Buchanan Award

Marian Battles

McKay Christensen

Kristen Hastrup

David Lewis

Steve Mosher

Janet Yarbrough-Harvey

1993 Clovis West High School Football Team

1994 Buchanan High School Girls Cross Country Team

2019

James Fugman, Ed.D.

Doc Buchanan Award

Jimmy Aguirre

Kyle Alcorn

Fred Bohna

Doug Fraley

Damien Richardson, M.D.

1961 and 1962 Clovis High School Girls Swim Teams

1985 Clovis West High School Football Team

2020

Daniel E. Kaiser, Ed.D.

Doc Buchanan Award

Mark Gardner

Terry Giffen

Latrese Johnson-Moffitt

Daniel Klatt

Rick Merlo

Courtney (Scott) Deifel

1979 Clovis High School Boys Golf Team

1999-2014 Clovis West High School

Boys Swim and Dive Teams

2021

Program Hiatus due to COVID-19 Pandemic

2022

Roger Oraze, Ed.D.

Doc Buchanan Award

Paige Bowie

Tom Deel

Matt Giordano

George Petersen

Keith Poole

Jaime Ramirez

Dr. Torrey Schroeder

1974 Clovis High School Football Team

1997-2019 Clovis West High School

Girls Swim and Dive Teams

Meet our new 2023 Inductees!

Doc Buchanan Award - Carlo Prandini, Ph.D.

The 2023 Doc Buchanan Award is presented to Carlo Prandini, Ph.D., for his contributions to building an academic and athletic legacy of excellence in Clovis Unified that extends across the nation. Throughout a 38-year career in Clovis Unified, Dr. Prandini consistently demonstrated a commitment to the excellence and high standards established by Doc Buchanan, and he personally worked to develop those same standards in students.

During his hiring interview with Doc in the fall of 1978 for a teaching and track coach position, it didn’t take long for Doc to see that they both held a common vision for the students of Clovis Unified to be the best they can be in Mind, Body and Spirit, and that the district’s athletic programs provided a vehicle to help achieve that vision. Their mutual dream, that ALL Clovis Unified students would have the opportunity to “be their best” and to graduate prepared for any opportunity they chose to pursue, became the cornerstone of Dr. Prandini’s career.

From 1978 to 1990, Dr. Prandini was the head boys and girls track and field coach at Clovis High School and from 1978 to 1986 also served as the assistant coach for the school’s boys and girls cross country programs. As a teacher and coach, Dr. Prandini poured into each of his student athletes the importance of establishing not only a high standard for their performance, but also the importance of putting systems in place to accomplish their goals. Over his track coaching career, he led the team to seven league championships, numerous league and section individual championships, two individual state championships, and one national individual championship. In his cross country coaching career, Dr. Prandini assisted in the achievement of six league championships and seven Team CIF Section Championships.

His coaching philosophy carried into every role he had in the district in the ensuing years as he served as an athletic director, learning director, deputy principal, high school and middle school principal, and as an assistant, associate and deputy superintendent. In each role, Dr. Prandini’s leadership was characterized by strong relationships, personal accountability and systems thinking.

Dr. Prandini was an accomplished athlete himself, competing as a track and field athlete throughout his high school years as well as at Fresno State. The lessons he learned from his own competitive career permeated his personal and professional life and were the basis for the culture he worked to create in Clovis Unified. His leadership was characterized by calm decision-making, forward thinking, relationship building, and an interest in developing in others their personal best so that the team succeeds.

Early in his career, Dr. Prandini and his fellow Clovis High cross country coaches saw the value of bringing the CIF State Cross Country Championships to the local community so that Clovis Unified athletes could run in their “home” environment and Clovis Unified could become known as a state hub for the sport. The CIF State Cross Country Championships continue to this day to be held at Woodward Park in Fresno, along with two other state meets that Dr. Prandini played an instrumental role in bringing to the area. The CIF State Track and Field Championships have been held in Clovis Unified since 2009, and the CIF State Swim and Dive Championships have been held in Clovis Unified since it began in 2015. Each year, these events draw tens of thousands of spectators, coaches and student athletes to our community and continue to establish the district’s athletic programs as some of the best in the nation. In doing so, Carlo has been instrumental in carrying out the vision Doc shared during their first meeting: to open doors at elite colleges and universities for Clovis Unified students and build character traits that serve them well in life.

Background

Interview

1974, 1975, 1976, 1978 Clovis High Girls Tennis Teams

1974 - NYL Championship

Head Coach: Dick Ramage
Team Members: Sharon Blake, Liz Faoro, Susan Garza, Lynn Hargis, Karen Jackson,
Pam Jackson, Cyndi Lorentzen, Jody Peterson, Debbie Smith, Lynda Williams, Denise Zinnel

1975 - NYL Co-Championship

Head Coach: Dick Ramage
Team Members: Patti Donleavey, Liz Faoro, Susan Garza, Debbie Gilbert, Lynn, Hargis,
Karen Jackson, Pam Jackson, Linda Lomier, Cyndi Lorentzen, CiCi Moebes, Jo Ruiz,
Julie Tingle, Denise Zinnel

1976 - NYL Championship

Head Coach: Dick Ramage
Team Members: Teresa Catalano, Cindy Duke, Liz Faoro, Susan Garza, Debbie Gilbert,
LeeAnn Hargis, Lynn Hargis, Karen Jackson, Teresa King, Jaime Kuhns, Linda Lomier,
CiCi Moebes, Jo Ruiz, Chris Watts

1978 - Section Championship

Head Coach: Dick Ramage
Team Members: Leslie Cox, Cindy Duke, Marsha Harrington, Teresa King, Jennifer Knoche,
Teri Lomier, Kandi Lopez, Shelley Nunn, Leiann Rouff, Colette Zinnel

Background

Interview

1991 Clovis High Football Team

CIF Valley Championship (Undefeated Season)
One of Only Two Undefeated Teams in Clovis High School Football History
Scored the Most Points of Any Team in 100+ Year History of CIF Football
Ranked No. 2 in State and No. 16 in Nation

Head Coach: Tim Simons
Assistant Coaches: Bill Biggs, Jack Erdman, Mike Freeman, Robert Griffith, Larry Kellom,
George Petersen, John Sexton, Cliff Wetzel

Team Members:
Jason Adair
Jason Alexander
Richard Alvarez
Casey Armstrong
Jason Bechara
Jacob Belmont
Dan Blankenship
Ryan Blankenship
John Brewer
Scott Cardwell
Aaron Castro
Mike Cavazos
Matt Collins
JC Cordero
Scott Deck
Roy Esquivel
Derek Feramisco
Derrek Figueroa
Scott Franz
Erik Fritz
Danny Giannoni

Lee Green
Leland Grigsby
Mike Hawks
George Hernandez
Dan Hess
Elliott Hine
Brendt Howard
Clarence Hutchinson
Mark Ingram
Brian Jacoby
Travis King
Carson Knizeyski
Doug LaCroix
Kelly Larson
Craig Lingenfelter
William Loftus
Mike Lyons
Mike Maldanado
Derrell Martin
Chad Mast
Mike Metzler
Tom Minas

Bruce Munster
Ryan Nixon
Miles Pavich
Keith Poole
Tony Ramirez
Jayson Sessoyeff
Mike Shipp
Andy Simonson
Daniel Spach
Terry Stamps
Scott Tafoya
Danny Taylor
Eric Tillman
Terry Upchurch
Darren Van Doren
Brandon Vincent
Brice Waterman
Kory Westbury
Mike White
George Willhoite
Jeff Wright
Matt Young

Background

Interview

Jason Donald

Clovis Unified History
• Fort Washington Elementary School
• Alta Sierra Intermediate School
• Buchanan High School

High School
• Four Years Varsity Baseball
• Three Years Varsity Football
• 2003 BHS Athlete of the Year
• 2003 TRAC Player of the Year, Baseball
• 2003 Fresno Bee Player of the Year, Baseball
• 2003 CIF Player of the Year, Baseball
• 2003 Offensive Player of the Year, Football
• 2003 All-CIF and All-City, Football
• 2003 1st Team All-State, Baseball

College
• 2003-2006 University of Arizona
• 2004 Guided the University of Arizona to a berth in the College World Series

Accolades
• 2008 Olympics, Team USA, Bronze Medal
• Led Team USA in Batting Average (.381) and Slugging Percentage (.571)

Professional Baseball
• 2006 3rd Round Selection of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Philadelphia Phillies
• 2008 Eastern League All-Star
• 2008 MLB All-Star Futures Game
• 2008 Arizona Fall League’s Dernell Stenson

Sportsmanship Award
• 2010-2012 Cleveland Indians

Career
• Veritiv – Sales, Packaging Solutions

Background

Interview

Elise Krieghoff

Clovis Unified History
• Woods Elementary School
• Alta Sierra Intermediate School
• Buchanan High School

High School
• Four-year starter in soccer and finished with 100 goals and 37 assists
• Varsity Basketball and Soccer
• 2011, 2012 TRAC Offensive MVP, Soccer
• 2012 1st Team All-TRAC, Basketball
• 2012 Fresno Bee Player of the Year, Soccer
• 2009, 2010, 2012 CIF Central Section Championship, Soccer

College
• 2012-2015 Cal-Poly San Luis Obispo
• Four time All Big West 1st Team Selection
• Big West Conference’s leading goal scorer for three years in a row
• 2012 Big West Conference Freshman of the Year
• 2013 Big West Conference Offensive Player of the Year
• Cal-Poly record holder for single-season goals (21), career goals (52) and game winning goals (7)
• 2013 Soccer News College Boot Award finalist
• 2014 One of 26 players invited to the U.S.

Women’s National Team U-23 Training Camp
• Two-time NSCAA All-West Region honors
• 2014 Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy

Candidate for National Player of the Year Award
• 2015 Cal-Poly Senior Class Award All-American
• 2015 Cal-Poly Female Athlete of the Year

Professional Soccer
• 2016 Boston Breakers
• 2017 Valerenga Damer, Norway

Career
• Firefighter, Seattle’s Central District

Jack Mattox

Clovis Unified History
• Jefferson Elementary School
• Weldon Elementary School
• Clovis High School

High School
• Three Years Varsity Football, Basketball and Track
• 1956 North-South All-Star Game
• Held Clovis High School discus record for 20 years
• First Cougar to play pro football

College
• California State University, Fresno
• Two year starter at Fresno State
• Played offensive and defensive line
• All-Conference, Fresno State

Professional Football
• 1959 Dallas Cowboys
• 1961 Denver Broncos

Career
• 1964-1966 Citrus College, Teacher and Football Coach
• 1966-1991 Fresno City College, Teacher and Football Coach

Accolades
• Started 13 of 14 Games in one season with Denver Broncos
• Four Junior College State Championships
• 1991 Fresno City College Wall of Fame “Cornerstone” Award
• 2018 Clovis High School Football Hall of Fame
• 2019 California Community College Coaches Association Hall of Fame Award

Background

Interview

Chad McCarty

Clovis Unified History
• Cole Elementary School
• Clark Intermediate School
• Clovis High School

High School
• Four Years Varsity Soccer
• 1993, 1994, 1995 All-Valley First Team
• 1994, 1995 Fresno Bee Player of the Year
• 1995 CIF Valley Championship (The first Valley Championship for Boys Soccer in school history)
• 1995 Sassano Blanket Award

College
• 1995-1998 University of Washington
• 1995, 1996, 1997 Defensive Player of the Year
• 1996, 1997 Team Captain
• 1996, 1997 PAC 10 All-Conference
• 1997 NCAA No. 1 Seed, Elite 8

Accolades
• 1998-2015 Nike Endorsed Athlete
• 1993-2003 U.S. National Team
• 2000 Olympics, Team USA (4th Place)

Coaching History
• 2003-2008 California Odyssey Soccer Club
• 2006-2009 Olympic Development Program
• 2008-2017 McCarty Soccer Academy
• 2009-2017 Clovis North Boys Soccer, Director of Sport
• 2016-2023 Clovis Community College Men’s Soccer

Major League Soccer
• 1998-2001 Tampa Bay Mutiny
• 2001-2003 Columbus Crew
• 2001 U.S. Open Cup Champions (Columbus Crew) Career
• 2003-Present McCarty Insurance Agency, Inc.

Background

Interview

James Patrick

Education
• Sierra High School
• San Joaquin Memorial High School
• Reedley College
• Fresno City College
• California State University, Fresno

Coaching History:
Football
• 1979 Kerman High School, Varsity Assistant
• 1980-1982 San Joaquin Memorial, Varsity Assistant
• 1983 San Joaquin Memorial, Junior Varsity Head Coach
• 1984-1986 Clovis High School, Junior Varsity Head Coach
• 1987-2002 Clovis High School, Freshman Head Coach

Baseball
• 1982 San Joaquin Memorial, Junior Varsity Head Coach
• 1983-1984 San Joaquin Memorial, Varsity Head Coach
• 1985-1987 Clovis High School, Varsity Assistant Coach
• 1988-2019 Clovis High School, Varsity Head Coach

Accolades
• 1997, 1998 Baseball National Championships
• 1997, 1998 National Coach of the Year (USA Today)
• 1998 California Coach of the Year (Cal-Hi Sports)
• 2005 Inducted into the California Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame
• 2010-2019 Named California Coach of the Decade (Cal-Hi Sports)
• 2014 National Coach of the Year (American Baseball Coaches Association)
• 2016 Inducted into the San Joaquin Memorial Hall of Fame

Teaching Career
• 1982-1984 Physical Education, San Joaquin Memorial High School
• 1984-1987 Science and PE, Gateway High School
• 1987-2019 Physical Education, Clovis High School

Career Record: 757-272-3
• 757 victories is the most wins by a baseball coach in the history of the CIF Central Section
• 10 CIF Central Section Championships
• 13 League Championships

Background

Interview

Stephen Tirapelle

College
• American River College
• Humboldt State University
• NCAA Division II All-American
• Career Wrestling Record: 120-18

Coaching History:
Wrestling
• 1983-1995 Hiram Johnson High School
• 1995-1997 Alta Sierra Intermediate School and Buchanan High School
• 1997-2018 Clovis High School

Accolades
• 23 League Championships
• Seven CIF State Championships
• Coached 63 CIF State finalist appearances, including 33 CIF State Individual Champions
• 2011, 2013 National High School Coach of the Year
• 2014 California Wrestling Hall of Fame
• 2015 team holds the CIF State Championships team scoring record of 276.5 points
• 2021 National Wrestling Hall of Fame

Background

Interview

How to Nominate an Athlete or Team

CUSD Athletics Hall of Fame nominees sought…..
The nomination window for the Clovis Unified Athletic Hall of Fame is open February 1st through February 28th. The Hall of Fame serves to memorialize the legendary athletes and sports program legacies that make up the rich sports history in the district.

Clovis Unified Athletic Hall of Fame Individual Nomination Criteria

Must have attended school or been in Clovis Unified during the time nominee was making a major contribution to athletics for which nominee is being considered for induction.
May be living or deceased.
Must have reached 30th birthday or has been retired from competition for at least five years. Nominees over 30 years of age must have completed athletic competition before induction can be considered. If athletic competition isn’t completed, more notable accomplishments could still occur thus outdating the Hall of Fame’s record of achievements. If an athlete that is being considered for their individual athletic accolades is a head coach in CUSD, then they will not be considered until they complete their head coaching duties while at CUSD. If inductees are going in for strictly coaching achievements, then they must be finished with any head coaching experiences before they would be considered.
Must have achieved notable accomplishments at the league, section, state, national, and international level.

Clovis Unified Athletic Hall of Fame Team Nomination or Program of the Decade Criteria

A team is defined as any two or more persons constituting one side in an athletic contest or competition. The team must have played it home competition in Clovis Unified.
The team shall have achieved at the league, section, state, national, and international level.

A selection committee will review all qualified nominations and the new class of inductees will be announced in May. A gala celebration will be held at the Performing Arts Center to honor the inductees and highlight their accomplishments.

Please view the nomination form and instructions on how to submit HERE.