Here’s the breakdown of the 2016 Hall of Fame Class being inducted at the October 8th Gala.
As in the past decade the Antioch Historical Sports Legends Museum’s Hall of Fame class is amazingly full of talented athletes, a spectacular team, an exceptional coach and a community leader dedicated to bettering our city through sports.
The 10th Anniversary, 2016 Hall of Fame Gala induction class is no exception.
This Hall of Fame class has many accomplishments to be honored, let’s begin with Antioch High’s legendary Golf Coach Joe Gambetta, who’s unparalleled coaching success enjoyed at least 15 league championships in 31 years of coaching.
Bob Beswick, a community leader dedicated to improving our city by helping start, Antioch Little League, our Sutter Hospital, and the Antioch Community investment Fund and more.
The 1979 Track & Field Team, believed by Hall of Fame Coach Mike Hurd, as the greatest Antioch High Track & Field Team of all time.
Evan Pilgrim
As in so many previous Hall of Fame classes the Antioch Sports Legends is inducting a professional athlete and this year it’s, former NFL Chicago Bear, 2 time BYU All-American and Antioch High linemen class of 1990’s, Evan Pilgrim. Also representing the NFL is AHS class of 1972’s Rich Hall. Besides having a high school football career as one of Northern Cal’s best linemen and championship years at University of Arizona, Rich is now in his 13 year as an NFL Umpire. Rounding off the football inductees will be Antioch High’s, 1950’s All-Northern California defensive tackle, 6′ 185 pound Ray Salazar.
Niles Almarinez
The 2016 Class will also be remembered as the night of the Wolverine, as two Deer Valley High athletes will be inducted into the Hall of Fame, high school All-American Volleyball player and Cal Bear Pac 10 honorable mention, Gabrielle Abernathy and 2000 North Coast “Player of the Year” by Sports Focus, and St Mary’s soccer player, Niles Almarinez.
Many like to think Antioch’s a football town, just don’t tell the 13 AA and above Antioch natives who played in the bigs or chased the dream. Continuing Antioch’s baseball legacy are three outstanding ball players; 1992 All-California Interscholastic Federation softball pitcher Stephanie Andrews; 3 time All-BVAL and AHS class of 1990’s, UC San Diego’s catcher, Al Del Favero and wrapping it up with Steve Ochoa who put on the burners after AHS and was first team- Junior College All-State in ’84, first-team All Pacific Coast Athletic Association at San Jose State and Philadelphia Philly’s free agent pick.
Bill Dupree, Antioch High’s class of 1979, 2 time North Coast Section wrestling medalist, who as a freshman at Park qualified for North Coast, placing 4th.
1995’s volleyball “All North Coast Section MVP” and “AHS Male Athlete of the Year” Larry Lentz ll, will be honored with the high flying pole vaulter, Mitch Mikula AHS 1984, who jumped 15’ 6” at the 1984 California Interscholastic State meet set the school record that stands today.
In the Hall of Fame’s special category of their own, are the All- Around Athletes, those amazing female athletes that varsity letter in at least two sports at high levels and male athletes in three. This year’s Female All-Around is, AHS ’94 “Athlete of the Year” Christine Brockett. Whether it was basketball, track or volleyball Brockett rocked it! A 2 time, first team All-BVAL and team MVP in basketball, Brockett also held the long jump and triple jump records as the team MVP in Track and was 1993’s “Most Outstanding Defensive Player” in volleyball her junior year.
Male All-Around, AHS 1981 Doug Snyder, 2 time All- DVAL and team MVP outfielder in baseball and first team All- DVAL and honorable mention All East-Bay in football. LMC, 1983 All-State honors, MLB 37th round draft choice by the Astros.
The Alumni Golf Tournament October 7, at the Lone Tree Golf Course and Event Center 4800 Golf Course Road, Antioch Ca Call Alumni Chair Steve Parks 925-550-3819 for details
10:00 AM start followed by Alumni and new Inductees social from 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM
The Gala is October 8, 5:00 PM to 9:30 PM at the Lone Tree Golf Course and Event Center 4800 Golf Course Road, Antioch CA
- For the 2016, 10th Anniversary Gala dinner tickets: $65.00 each
- Contact: Joanne Bilbo 234 Flagstone Drive Antioch CA. 94509
- Checks payable to “Antioch Sports Legends”
- Tickets will be mailed to you. September 19, deadline
- Or call Antioch Sports Legends Coordinator Tom Lamothe 925-639-2536 October 1st deadline
Or go online www.antiochsportslegends.com a convenience fee will apply September 19th deadline.
