Cosumnes River College Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame 2014 Inductees
ROD BEILBY
Baseball Coach 1988 – 1995
Rod played baseball for four years at McClatchy High School where he started in the outfield and did a little pitching. He graduated from McClatchy in 1969. He attended Sacramento City College from 1969-1971. Rod planned on playing baseball at Sac City but got hurt so he didn’t get to compete. He transferred to the University of the Pacific and played three years for the Tigers. Rod started his career at UOP playing first base and outfield, but he ended it as a Tiger’s pitcher. Rod didn’t use his fourth year of eligibility because he graduated in 1974.
Rod started coaching as the Freshman Baseball Coach at Stagg High School while earning his teaching credential at Sacramento State University. At that same time, he coached the Cincinnati Reds Rookies in Lodi. In the spring of 1975, Rod accepted an assistant coach position at San Joaquin Delta College. After one season, he then moved to Vanden High School for his first full time teaching and coaching job. At Vanden, Rod was an instructor, the head baseball coach and the athletic director. Rod’s teams were very successful winning the Sac Joaquin Section Championship twice and numerous league championships. Two of his Vanden players were All American Baseball players at UCSB and he had four players drafted to MLB. Rod coached at Vanden from 1975-1988.
Rod left Vanden to coach at Cosumnes River College where he coached for 8 years (1988-1995). In his tenure as the head baseball coach at CRC, Rod’s teams won three Bay Valley Conference championships (1989, 1991, and 1992) and made 5 consecutive playoff appearances. Under his leadership, 44 of his players transferred to four year institutions and competed in baseball, many of those 44 on scholarship. He had a number of players drafted by major league teams. One of his former CRC players, Jermaine Dye, played 14 years in the Major leagues, played in the World Series twice, won the World Series “Most Valuable Player” award, was a MBL All-Star twice, along with many other awards and he was inducted into the Cosumnes River College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010. Jermaine is the only former CRC athlete in the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Hall of Fame, inducted in 2011. Rod loved coaching his teams and watching his players improve their skills and move on to the next level but the thing that he is most proud of is, 23 of Coach Beilby’s former CRC baseball players have finished their degrees and have gone into teaching/coaching careers at the high school and/or college level.
After CRC (1996) Rod moved to Yuba College in Marysville where he was the athletic director from 1995-1997. In the fall of 1997, along with being the athletic director, his job was expanded to include being the Dean of the Health, Physical Education and Public Safety Division. He held that position until 2012 when he became the Interim President of Yuba College. Rod retired in the summer of 2014 after 40 years in education as an instructor, coach and administrator. During his career, Rod served at the state level for the CCCAA: on the Management Council for 8 years (6 years as the Baseball Coaches Association Representative and 2 years as the Sport Coaches Association President), 2 years as the CCC Athletic Directors Association President, 4 years as President of the Bay Valley Conference and 1 year on the CCCAA Board of Directors. Rod has received many honors for his accomplishments, dedication and hard work during his career. Among those honors, Rod was inducted to the California Community College Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2012 and the Northern California Sports Hall of Fame in the spring of 2014.
Rod currently lives in Yuba City with his wife Dionne. They have two sons: Aaron (32), who works for Continental Athletic Supply and Blair (22) who is a full time student working on his degree in Physical Therapy.
MARK HUNTER & BENJI GARNETT
Men’s Basketball 1992 – 1994 & 1989 – 1990, 1993- 1994
Mark Hunter & Benji Garnett – Mark and Benji were a great basketball duo and they did what great duo’s do, they played together like a one-two punch. It’s no wonder these two led their team to a 16-4 Bay Valley Conference record, 22-9 overall and into the 1994 NorCal regional tournament. In the regionals, CRC beat three very good teams (Contra Costa, Kings River, and Diablo Valley College, the last 2 seeded higher than the Chiefs). They continued into the California Community College State Basketball Championship Tournament.
Mark as a point guard would bring the ball down the floor and let Benji get set up in his sweet spot. Mark drew the defense to him and then would get the ball to Benji to put it in. Most of Mark’s assists were to Benji on the 3 point line. One referee said about Mark Hunter, “I think he dribbles so fast, that if he turned the light off, he’d be in the bed before it got dark”. The referee’s comment about Benji was, “If he gets set in his spot, you know what’s going to happen, that’s money, right there”. Another person said, “It was Hunter’s quick first step and dribble penetration that gave Garnett the freedom to rain 3's down from the outside”. In addition to being a strong offensive threat, these two were strong defenders. They forced teams to turn the ball over and then made them pay for it by pushing the ball extremely hard in transition which resulted in numerous baskets, many of them 3’s. This duo was so good that they were both named the “Most Valuable Male Athletes” at Cosumnes River College for the 1993-94 academic year.
Mark Hunter played high school basketball at Rio Americano High School in Sacramento. He was so quick with the ball and could dribble through almost any press. His high school coach was friends with the conditioning coach for the Sacramento Kings so Mark would often go workout with him. His skills got better and better and he got faster and faster with the ball. As a result, he was chosen to play in the Optimist All-Star game after he graduated in 1990.
Mark was recruited and decided to come to Cosumnes River College to play basketball for coach Jim Clark. He was a two year starter for the Chiefs. Mark played so well that both years he played; he was named to the Bay Valley Conference All-Conference First Team. As a sophomore, Mark was also named to the Academic All-Conference Team with a cumulative GPA of 3.78 and he was chosen as the Pepsi Scholar Athlete. While at CRC, besides playing basketball, Mark carried 21 units (he was a math major) and held down a job.
After CRC, Gonzaga wanted Mark to play for them but he decided to attend Sacramento State University (on a basketball scholarship), because he didn’t want to move away from his son.
He competed one season for the Hornets before going to Saint Martin’s College in Washington where the coach gave him a full scholarship even though he only had one season of eligibility to compete. After he graduated, Mark came back home and took a summer class at CRC. He had already accepted a job in Nevada when the head of the Math Department at Western Washington University called him and offered him a Teaching Assistant Scholarship to work on his Master’s Degree. He accepted the position and after two years, Coach Clark called him and said he should apply for a math position teaching at CRC. Mark taught Math at CRC for 15 years from 1999-2014.
When asked what it was like to be in the same backcourt as Benji, Mark said, “Benji was the main weapon on the team. He was a scorer not just a shooter. He was a leader on the team. He was mature and a great leader for us. Everyone looked up to him, I looked up to him. He was all about having fun, basketball was fun to him. He made it fun. Everyone loved to play with Benji, coming to practice every day was a blast. In practice there was a lot of friendly competition but we worked hard. He played hard and had a lot of heart and he wasn’t afraid of anything. He was always focused. Benji Garnett is one of the best players I’ve ever played with or against and I’ve played with pro players. Benji was a pro! I told him at the Kings River game that he was the most clutch player I’d ever seen. You know, when I was being recruited by a Division I coach, he asked me if there was anyone else on the team who could play at the next level. I told him there was one player who was a man against boys. The coach said, you don’t even have to tell me who it is, I already know.”
When asked what the best thing about playing at CRC was, Mark replied, “People wanted to come see us play, we were fun to watch. Coach Clark said he always knew who the starters were #’s 1-4. We all played for each other. There was no sulking, even the players who didn’t play much were cheering for us. Practice was hard competition. Everyone bought into the team and their roles on the team. Everyone wanted to win! The best student athlete experience I ever had was a CRC in 1993-94. Coach gave young men the opportunity to re-define their lives. I wouldn’t be where I am today, teaching math at the community college level, if it wasn’t for Coach Clark giving me the opportunity to come to school and play. Coach Clark received “Coach of the Year” honors and he said it was because of his players.” Mark added, “When you put good people with good hearts in positions, things are going to happen”.
Mark resides in Sacramento. He is currently a professor of mathematics at Sacramento City College; he transferred from CRC this fall. He has one son, Andrew who is currently a football player at UC Davis.
Benji Garnett played basketball and baseball at Hiram Johnson High School in Sacramento. He graduated from Johnson High in 1987 and enrolled in Sacramento City College to play baseball. He played baseball in the fall but didn’t participate in the competitive season. He realized he didn’t really know what he wanted to do. His father wanted him to play for American River College but Benji didn’t listen to him because he was set on Sac City. As a result, Benji showed up at Cosumnes River College and talked to then baseball coach, Rod Beilby. He wanted to play basketball as well as baseball. Coach Beilby told him he could play both sports so Benji enrolled. He played basketball as a freshman during the 1989-90 season. Benji said, “Coach Clark played me at the point guard position and told me I couldn’t shoot the ball”. Meanwhile, Coach Beilby ended up taking another job as an Athletic Director at Yuba College so Benji decided to just play basketball.
After his freshman season, Benji received offers to play at: Albertson College in Iowa, Hawaii Hilo, San Jose Christian and another school in Los Angeles.
As a sophomore, during the 1993-94 season, Coach Clark moved Benji to the shooting guard position and he ended up leading the team and the conference in scoring. In the regular season, prior to Post Conference Play, Benji had made 122 3-point field goals. He finished the season as the 6th best scorer in the state and was named to the Bay Valley Conference 1st Team. He was named the BVC Conference “Player of the Year” and also received “All-State 1st Team” honors, an honor given to only 6 players per region. When asked what it was like to be in the same backcourt as Mark, Benji said, “Mark had the most amazing quickness of any player he had ever seen. He kept the game in control”. When asked what the best thing about playing at CRC was, Mark replied, "Benji was a natural scorer. Benji made other players better with his hard work. He was one of the best players I have ever played with".
Benji lives in Sacramento. He still plays basketball every week. He has 7 children.
MICHELE LIPELT
Women’s Basketball 1992 – 1994
Michele played basketball at Woodland High School as a sophomore and a junior, leading her team to the playoffs in both the 1988 and 1989 seasons. She decided not to play her senior year, opting to work instead. Her team obviously missed her as they finished in the middle of the pack in their league and did not make the playoffs. Despite this, Michele kept her skills polished by playing in “open gym” in the evenings after work. Michele was the only female athlete in the games, and playing against bigger and taller opponents contributed to her toughness and ability as a basketball player.
After graduating, Michele worked for a few years before conceding to her growing desire to play basketball again. She had previously played summer league with CRC and decide to call CRC’s coach to ask if she could try out for the team. That was all it took; at 5’11”, Michele would be the tallest player in the short 4 year history of the women’s basketball program at CRC. Michele was ecstatic to be back playing basketball and going to school.
During the 1992-93 season, even after being away from basketball, she made her presence felt on the court. She led the Chiefs in scoring, rebounding and forced turnovers, averaging 11.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.8 forced turnovers per game. She ended up as the 10th best rebounder in the conference, even though she was much smaller than her opponents’ post players. Michele broke four school individual records: blocked shots/game (5), forced turnovers/game (8), field goal percentage/season (42.8%) and rebound/season (237). She also helped her team break four school team records: field goal percentage/game, field goal percentage/season, 3 point field goals made/game and assists/season. As a result of her outstanding play, she was selected as a member of the Bay Valley Conference All-Conference Team. In her hometown of Woodland, she was nominated for “Athlete of the Year” in the Woodland Hall of Fame by the Daily Democrat newspaper. Michele was also honored by Cosumnes River College by being named CRC’s "Most Outstanding Female Athlete" as a freshman. Michele’s sophomore season was even better than her first. She was once again a team, conference, and state leader in women’s basketball. She led her team in three statistical categories: scoring (15.3/game), rebounding (12.7/game) and steals (1.5/game). During her sophomore season, Michele was in the top three of every statistical category and she played most of the season injured. In pre-season, she chipped a bone and tore a ligament in her ankle; the day before the first conference game she dislocated her lower jaw in practice and the practice before the last conference game she sprained the other ankle. She finished the season as the leading rebounder and the forth leading scorer in the Bay Valley Conference. She was the thirteenth best rebounder in the state, was twenty third in the state in scoring, broke ten school records and finished her career holding twelve women’s basketball school individual records (her last ones weren’t broken until the 2003-04 season). Those records included: forced turnovers (8/game, 124/career), blocked shots (5/game, 43/career), rebounds (24/game, 343/season, 580/career), field goals made (174/season, 292/career), total points (413/season) and field goal percentage (42.8/season, 41.8/career). She also helped her team break nine team records. Among her many accolades Michele was selected to the All-Tournament Team at the Hartnell Tournament, was “Chief of the Week” in the February 11, 1994 Connection, was her team’s “Most Valuable Player” and, for the second time, was voted to the Bay Valley Conference All-Conference Team. Michele was also selected by the Northern California Women’s Basketball Coaches to compete in the State Community College All-Star Game. The top ten players from each region were selected for this honor. She was also voted to the All-NorCal/All-Region Team and was chosen as the 1993-94 Most Valuable Female Athlete at Cosumnes River College.
When asked what the best part of playing basketball was, Michele answered, “Everything! Thankfully you don’t have to be the player that jumps the highest or is the tallest. The physical aspect of the game has always appealed to me, but I think the part I like the most is how strategic the game is. In the end, whether it is about getting that rebound or running a play, every aspect of the game is about positioning”.
When asked what the best part of playing at CRC was, she answered, “The people. The entire coaching and support staff wanted to see you succeed and were there every step of the way to see that you did”.
After CRC, Michele’s decided not to continue her basketball career due to her many injuries. She moved to Southern California and worked as a general manager for an environmental record keeping company. She is currently working as an operations manager at Castlebrook Barns where she has been for the last eleven years. She currently resides in Redlands, California with her longtime boyfriend Mike McCarty.
JOHNNY WARE
Track & Field 1976 – 1978
Johnny attended Sacramento High School where he participated in football, basketball and ran track. He was voted the “Most Valuable Player” on both the football and track teams at Sac High. He was a standout athlete on the track, having an undefeated season in the 440. During his senior year at Sac High, Johnny ran a 47.5 in the 440 which was the fastest time in the state that year. The previous fastest in the 440 was 48.0. Johnny also recorded the area’s best time in the 220 running it in 22.2. Later in the season, he improved his 220 time running a 21.9. He ran the 100 in 9.6 and possessed a mark of 46.0 in the triple jump. He went on to win the California State Championship in the 440 with a time of 47.2 which was a league and section record (a record that stood for 20 years after he set it). When he graduated in 1975 he was chosen to play in the Sacramento Optimist All-Star football game.
After leaving Sac High, Johnny enrolled at the University of Southern California where he ran track for the Trojans.
After one season, Johnny decided to return to Sacramento and enrolled at Cosumnes River College. At CRC, Johnny participated on the football team playing both offense and defense. In fact, he was such a good player; he was named the team’s “MVP” two years in a row (1977 & 1978).
As a track and field athlete at CRC, Johnny ran the: 100, 200, and was a member of the school’s 4 x 400 meter relay team. He set school records in the 100 and 200 and he currently still holds the school record for the 200 meter (21.12). Johnny also helped set a school record in the 4 x 400 meter relay. His team ran the race in 40.6. They ended up taking 4th place in the 1976 California Community College State Track and Field meet. Johnny was the 1976 NorCal Champion in the 200 meters and in the State meet, he inished 3rd with a time of 21.3.
After graduating from CRC, Johnny transferred to the University Nevada Las Vegas on a track scholarship. At UNLV, he again competed in football and ran track. Johnny ran a personal best 10.3 in the 100 at UNLV and helped his 4 x 400 meter relay team to a number 7 national ranking. He also ran in the 1980 National Collegiate Championships in Texas. Johnny returned to Sacramento in 1981. He got married and started a family while working for the Sacramento County Public Defender’s office (a position he held for 25 years until he retired in 2006). He stayed involved in track by helping Dick Cristofani and Travis Parker coach the track and field team at CRC as an assistant coach. At the same time he also coached local youth football and track teams. In 1983, he took over the track and field program at Hiram Johnson High School where he coached until 2001. His 1985 team finished 2nd in the California High School State meet and his 1986 4 x 100 relay team won the state championship in that event. His team finished in 3rd place overall in the 1986 state meet. Johnny continued coaching track at Franklin High School from 2004-2006.
Johnny lives still lives in Sacramento. He has two sons, Johnny Junior and Ransom. He is self-employed with McAfee Trucking Company, a company he owns and started in 2006.
SHANA (GROFF) WOOD
Volleyball 1984 – 1986
Shana (Groff) Wood – Shana’s interest in athletics was sparked after watching her older sister develop into a school sports superstar. Her big sister Denee encouraged her to follow in her footsteps by practicing volleyball with Shana when she was just 9 years old. As a youth Shana was exposed to softball, volleyball and soccer. Shana started playing team volleyball in junior high school. At Elk Grove High School, she competed in softball and volleyball before bringing her talents to CRC.
In her freshman season at CRC, Shana was an integral part of a team that finished with a 6-6 conference record in the fall of 1984. Her sophomore season, 1985, Shana played middle hitter, outside hitter and defense in the back row. The team started the season with only eight players. Shana was one of the four returning players on the team. The Chiefs began the season on a 6-0 win streak while defeating the defending Bay Valley Conference champions, Sierra College, to finish the first half of conference play in sole possession of first place. Things were looking good for Shana and the Chiefs as they continued to dominate conference play. However, Shana had pain in her right shin for quite some time and she soon realized it wasn’t getting better. The pain began during the last month of the 1984 season and continued hurting until half way through summer. As pre-season drills began for the 1985 season in mid-August, the pain returned to her leg. She had her leg taped every day for practice and games and her coach even changed some of the team’s conditioning drills to include biking and swimming, but these measures did not alleviate the pain. Shana was sent to the team’s orthopedic doctor who examined her and x-rayed her leg. Nothing showed up so the doctor did a bone scan and found that she had a stress fracture on her right tibia. Her doctor thought her chances of playing the rest of the season were slim. Shana’s injury couldn’t have come at a worse time. Two thirds of the way through conference play, CRC was sitting in first place, they had a great chance of making the playoffs, but more importantly, it was Shana’s last season of eligibility at CRC. If Shana was out, the team would have been down to six players (the required number of players on the court) and if another injury occurred, CRC would have been forced to forfeit. Shana’s doctor told her there was a small chance of some healing and if that happened she might be able to return to the court. Shana had to sit out for two weeks but she did return and played through the pain. Her coach, Steve Krisiak said, “She came back just as good as she was before sitting out. She provided the team with instant offense and defense. With Shana back, it gave us a lift psychologically, it gave everyone a lift”.
Shana led her team to a conference record of 10-2, overall record of 14-2, the Bay Valley Conference Championship, and a spot in the playoff. The Chiefs lost in the second round of the Northern California Regional Tournament and finished the season with a 15-3 record. Shana was named the “MVP” of the volleyball team that season. She was voted the 1985 Bay Valley Conference Most Valuable Player by the conference volleyball coaches in spite of her two week injury layoff. Shana was also selected as a member of the 1985 All Nor-Cal Team and the 1985 All-State Team. Shana was also selected as CRC’s Most Valuable Female Athlete for the 1985-86 academic year.
When asked, what was the best thing about playing volleyball at CRC, Shana said she enjoyed the small team and the comradery between her teammates, coaches and the trainer. She said everyone got along well.
Steve Krisiak, Shana’s coach recalled: “Shana was an integral part of our success in 1985. With her tenacity and desire to win, she dominated other middle hitters we competed against. Her strong arm swing and ability to block gave us a distinct advantage in the middle of the net. I believe her desire to win was contagious and carried over to her teammates which added greatly to our offense. Midway through the season, Shana developed a stress fracture in her lower leg which proved to be quite an obstacle. Shana was approved to play by her doctor but had to endure an extreme amount of pain. Her strong desire to play and the amount of pain she was going through made it very difficult for me to let her continue to play. Her persistence won out much to my discomfort with the decision. Without a doubt, Shana was probably the toughest athlete I had the privilege to coach.”
Shana also played left field in softball at CRC in the spring of 1986. The team finished in third place in the conference, with a BVC record of 12-6 and went to the first round in the playoffs.
Shana transferred to Humboldt State University and played one season of volleyball.
Shana currently lives in Fair Oaks with her husband Steve. They have three children: Josh (26), Ashley (25) and Courtney (21). She works for the State of California for the Air Resources Board as a Personnel Analyst and enjoys exercising, playing with her dogs, playing softball, going to the gym and more importantly… helping and making people happy.
Class of 2012 INDUCTEES
Edward “Jerry” Kelley
Track, Cross Country, Tennis 1983-1984
Jim Howard
Track, Cross Country 1973-1975
Cheri LaDue
Softball Coach 1990-2006
Alyssa (Chinn) Geromini
Tennis
Class of 2010 INDUCTEES
Steve Petuskey
Soccer 1979–1981
An outstanding soccer player for the Chiefs, this Most Valuable Player was instrumental in the success of our first Men’s Soccer team, helping lead them to the Valley Conference Championship! Steve went on to play on the Olympic and National teams. He also played professional soccer for 10 years.
Cory Ann (Forkner) Ellis
Soccer 1994–1997
This talented and dedicated student-athlete was an outstanding goal-keeper for the Chiefs women’s soccer team in 1996 and 1997. Cory Ann brought honor to Cosumnes River College as an All Conference, All Northern California, and All Region award winner.
Jermaine Dye
Baseball 1992–1993
A dominating hitter for the Chiefs and the Bay Valley Conference MVP in 1983, after playing one season at CRC, Jermaine soared into Major League Baseball where he was named 2005 World Series Most Valuable Player for the Chicago White Sox.
Sarah (Adams) Markoe
Softball 1982–1984
&
Emily (Adams) Collins
Softball 1988–1990
These two dominating pitchers are sisters with a passion for the game of softball, these All-Conference players led the Chiefs to 3 Bay Valley Conference Championships and 4 Northern California Playoff appearances.
Kathy (Kranzler) Peterson
Athletic Secretary 1974–1996
Kathy was the heart and soul of the Cosumnes River College Athletic Department during her tenure as secretary from 1974-1996. Her dedication and commitment supported the success of Deans, Coaches, and hundreds of Student-Athletes!
Class of 2009 INDUCTEES
Archie Dunsmoor
(accepted by Betty Hall and Pat Kirklin)
Coach 1970–1987
As a pioneer for the Athletic Department at Cosumnes River College, Archie coached the Women’s tennis team to the 1987 conference championship. His leadership in the department, on the courts and in the community helped build the foundation for success that our department enjoys today.
1997 Softball Team
Cosumnes River College
Outstanding teamwork, talent, dedication and determination paved the way to a 50 win season, a Conference Championship, a regional championship and Cosumnes River College’s first trip to the California Community College State Softball Tournament.
Pepsi Bottling Group
(accepted by Kirk Murphy, Area VP/General Manager)
Outside Contributor 1970–Present
Our most generous supporter, Pepsi has been and continues to be instrumental in the success of all of our athletic programs.
Andrea (Guijarno) Zarate
Soccer 1994–1996, Tennis 1996
Andrea is the perfect example of what it means to be a student-athlete. Andrea set the single season goal scoring record (22) in 1995, excelled in the classroom and continues to give back to the community today.
Travis Parker
Coach 1972–2003
A track and cross country coach who then started the men’s soccer program at CRC and built it into one of the North’s perennial playoff programs, Travis has touched the lives of many student athletes. His commitment to academics and athletics is unprecedented.
Class of 2008 INDUCTEES
Mike Fischlin
Baseball 1973–1975
Mike displayed outstanding talent, commitment and determination. Mike’s baseball career at Cosumnes River College brought college national attention as he continued on to a successful career as a professional baseball player and coach, and a well respected member of the business world as a leader in the Boras Corporation, a sports agency.
Angie Williams
Track & Field 1983–1985
Angie’s work ethic and her commitment to Cosumnes River College has been an inspiration to all of our athletes and coaches. Her record breaking marks in Track and Field still stand to this day and her loyalty to the college and the Los Rios District is exceptional.
Marlin H. “Skip” Davies
Dean, Athletic Director, Administrator 1983–2004
With his leadership, friendship and vision, Skip was instrumental in building Cosumnes River College athletics into a force in Northern California. His dedication to the school and to the Los Rios District is evident across the campus and the region.
Courtney (Horner) Meisel-Klebsch
Basketball 1995–1997
With passion, intensity and amazing talent, this All-State guard led the CRC Women’s Basketball program to their most successful season in their history. An outstanding scorer, Courtney set numerous scoring and other records that remain today.
George Harper
Football, Baseball 1973–1975
Dedicated to excellence, George Harper excelled both on the football field, the baseball diamond, and in the classroom at Cosumnes River College. His love of athletics led him to coaching and teaching and he continues to be an outstanding mentor in the Sacramento area.
Mark Taylor
Track & Field 1977–1979
A fierce competitor, Mark led the Cosumnes River College Track and Field program to their highest levels of success in the late 1970’s. Mark shares his passion for Track as a coach and mentor at Valley High School.
Class of 2007 INDUCTEES
Gert (Larsen) Tipton
Coach, Athletic Director, Administrator 1970–1998
Gert’s leadership and outstanding work ethic paved the way for many who followed in her footsteps at Cosumnes River College. As a coach, she was a pioneer for women’s sports at CRC and in the state of California. Her highly successful gymnastic teams produced numerous championships and her valuable insight opened the door for volleyball and many other women’s sports on campus. As the first female Athletic Director, Gert continued to build all of our Physical Education and Athletic programs.
Dana McIntyre
Softball, Tennis, Track & Field 1977 & 1979
With strength, versatility, and athleticism, Dana excelled in softball, track and tennis at Cosumnes River College. Dana’s personality and quick wit made her a fan favorite on campus, and her contributions to the Physical Education and Athletic Department are fondly remembered.
Steve Krisiak
Coach, Athletic Counselor 1971–2006
A teacher, coach, counselor, and friend. With unequalled dedication and amazing versatility, Steve led athletes to success in football, golf, wrestling and volleyball at Cosumnes River College. His volleyball teams compiled more conference championships than any sport in CRC history. Steve illustrates by example exactly what an educator should be; someone who is fully engaged in the success of his student athletes, his family and his friends.
Cameron Baxter
Track & Field 1980–1982
Cameron Baxter put Cosumnes River College Track and Field on the sporting map of California Community Colleges. An outstanding career both in the classroom and in the field events of track and field, Cameron accumulated awards and records too numerous to count, but his accomplishments at CRC will always be remembered.
Dick Cristofani
Coach, Coordinator of Workplace Learning 1970–1999
Always full of energy and enthusiasm, Coach Cristofani played a vital role in the lives of his student-athletes in cross-country, football and track and field. Despite numerous records and a championship, his humility and grace always shine through whenever he walks into a room. Coach Cristofani coached some of CRC’s top performers in track and field, and he continues to inspire to this day.
Class of 2006 INDUCTEES
James “Gym” Clark (accepted by Dane Clark)
Coach 1972–2003
Perhaps the most recognized face in the history of CRC athletics, the coach with the longest tenure (31 years), Coach Clark’s commitment to the game of basketball and basketball players may never be equalled. He coached over 900 games and countless numbers of athletes.
Christine (Tanaka) Jang
Gymnastics 1977 & 1979
Christine brought tremendous glory and recognition to Cosumnes River College in the late 1970’s by winning the Women’s Individual All Around competition twice at the California Community College Gymnastics Championship. Christine persevered through some devastating injuries to accumulate numerous awards at CRC and was named “Gymnast of the Year” in 1979 by the Sacramento Athletic Hall of Fame.
Jerry Conway
(accepted by Dorothy Shoemaker)
Coach 1972–1980
Coach Conway’s baseball team produced the first conference championship at Cosumnes River College and paved the way for one of the most successful programs at CRC. His legacy at CRC was honored with the naming of “Conway Field” and his commitment to the game of baseball led to his “Coach of the Year” award in 1978 by the Northern California Baseball Coaches Association.
Del Bandy
Coach, Athletic Director 1970–1989
The 1st Baseball coach at CRC, Coach Bandy demanded excellence, commitment, and sportsmanship on the field and his athletes achieved at every level of play.
Coach Bandy withstood the test of time and produced championship teams in three decades in the sports of Baseball and Softball.
Chris (Kruse) Duarte
Softball 1980–1981
Chris led the way to the first Cosumnes River Softball Conference Championship, anchoring the defense behind the plate and wrecking havoc on the bases. She has earned numerous awards at the Community College level and was one of the first female athletes at CRC to advance to the next level.
Coit Conant
Coach 1970–1995
Dedicated, versatile and fun loving, Coit was a fixture at Cosumnes River College from 1970 to 2008. Along with football, Coit had success as a men’s golf coach, a women’s soccer coach, a cross-country coach, and as the director of the very successful CRC Summer Swim Program. He was the epitome of a team player, he always wanted to do what was best for his school.