The Phoenix Union High School District continued to catch up to its past during a present day celebration that honors its rich sports history. 

Some of the state's biggest high school stars and coaches have roamed the halls of the disctrict's 20 schools. A handful of those big names took over the arena floor of Grand Canyon University along with more than 400 guests. 

The state's largest school district opened in 1895, and for the past four years Dr. Zach Munoz, the district's athletic director, and his dedicated staff have organized the districts first hall of fame ceremonies. 

The latest installment took place Monday. Below are the 11 teams and 38 district alums and coaches who were honored. 

Historic Era Hall of Fame Coaches

Daniel Arredondo

Cary Hayden

Began as Teacher and Multisport Assistant Coach (Football and Wrestling Head Wrestling Coach (1960 – 1976) – 116 Wins, 1971 State Champions.

Was an AIA Wrestling Official (1968 – 1995). 


Principal and Athletic Director

Hayden (1976 – 1978)



(1978 – 1982)



(1982 – 1985) 
Director of Athletics, Health, and Physical Education (1985 – 1998).

Athletic Director of the Year, National Council Secondary School ADs. 
 Arizona Interscholastic Athletic Administrators’ Hall of Fame

Modern Era Hall of Fame Coaches

Coach Charles "Trip" Tribble

South Mountain 

State Girls Track and Field Championship-1981 

AZ Track and Field Coach of the Year-1981 

Hall of Fame Athlete for Arizona State University

Wrestling and Football 

One of the firsts African-Americans to wrestle on a U.S. Olympic team for the 1964 Tokyo Games. 

Coach/Counselor at South Mountain High School for 31 years. 


Linda Volldstedt

Alhambra

Built Lady Lions into a powerhouse (Winning percentage .807) 2 State Championships – 1971, 1977

2 state runner ups; 3 Metro Region Titles and 4 undefeated seasons 

Arizona State University Womens’ Golf Coach 

6 National Championships

3 consecutive crowns 

1995 only undefeated team in NCAA history Coached.

9 Conference Champions, 4 Individual Champions, 42 All-Americans, 12 Conference Medalists, 71 All-Conference Golfers, 15 Academic All- Americans, and 11 USGA Champions.

Mentored 22 LPGA Tour players. 

Retired in 2001 

8-time Coach of the Year and Pac-12 Women’s Coach of the Century (2016) Member of 6 Hall of Fames and Pac-12 Hall of Honor 

Historic Era Hall of Fame Athletes

John Adams

Carl Hayden

Senior season led team with 7-1 Record

1969 All-State Pitcher

Arizona High School All Star Game 1968, 1969

1968 First Team All-Region Catcher; First Team Honor “Brain and Brawn” 

Full scholarship to Arizona State University – Baseball 

First Round Draft Pick- Signed with LA Dodgers – 1972 

Jim Norman

West High

1st Team All-State Football QB-1959

High School All-American Honorable Mention QB, Sporting News- 1959 

Arizona State Decathalon Champion - 1960

Full schoralship Football, Stanford University - 1960

Finished Football Career at University of Arizona (knee injury) – 1961-62 

Paul Bassa Jr. 

Maryvale

First African-American Varsity Athlete at Maryvale HS

1968 – First Team All-State in (Football/Basketball/Baseball) 

All-State Offense and Defense in Football

Basketball State Runner-Up (18ppg/17rebs); Captain State Tournament Team 

Played on State Championship Baseball Team

Thom McAnn Scholar-Athlete Award

Appointed to US Air Force Academy

Played football for 3 seasons on nationally ranked team

Played in 1971 Sugar Bowl (10 receptions, 114yds, 1 TD)

Jerilynn (Jeri) Christian

Camelback

4 State Championship Teams: Badminton (1975, 1976, 1977), Tennis (1975) 

Badminton: 1975 Doubles, 1976 Singles Runner-Up, 1977 Singles Champion 

Tennis Co-Champion (1975) Record 53-4 Singles, 56-1 Doubles

Softball Co-Captain: .487 batting average on Camelback’s first team (1976)

Northern Arizona University Graduate 

Mike Clupper

Maryvale

Starter on Maryvale's First Basketball State Championship

AZ Republic’s All-State Team Selection (Captain)

All-Arizona Football Selection

1968 ACA All-Star Selection (North/South) Game 

Arizona State University – Starting Safety in 31 consecutive games; Averaged 10 Tackles per game; All-WAC Honors; Played on undefeated Peach Bowl and first Fiesta Bowl Team 

Troy Collier

Phoenix Union

All-State Basketball – 1959, 1960

State Championship Team 1958, 1959, 1960

Outstanding Player in State All-Star Game 1960 

Phoenix Junior College – 30 game win streak 1961 – 1962 

Utah State NCAA Tournament Teams - 1963, 1964 

USU Records: All-Time Career Points (27th) Rebounds (14th); All-Time Season Records (Points 6th and Rebounds 4th ).

Drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers - 1964 

Toured 3 years with Harlem Globetrotters 

Inducted Utah State Hall of Fame - 2014 

Fred Combs

North

All State Baseball and Football – 1960-1961

Back-to-back State Baseball Champions – 1960, 1961

4th Place State Wrestling – 1961

Phoenix College – LA Times All-American, Football (DT)

Phoenix College – Catcher National Championship Team - 1962 

University of Arizona - Catcher

3 seasons with Los Angeles Angels Organization 

Ron Davis

Maryvale

Played 1972 State Championship Team 

1st Team All-State Arizona Republic and Phoenix Gazette

1972-1974 Glendale Community College, Hall of Fame 2017-18 

1974 - 1st Team NJCAA All-American (29.9ppg) 

1974 - Nationals in Triple Jump (Track and Field) 

1975 - Washington State University, Pac-8 New Comer of the Year 

1976 – Leading scorer in basketball at WSU, 2nd Team All-Pac-8 

NBA 5th round draft pick, Atlanta Hawks (1976); also played for San Diego Clippers (1980-1982) 

CBA Anchorage Northern Knights (1979-1980); 1979 League MVP, Highest scoring (33.4ppg) over 4-year period 

Joe DiCaro

Camelback

All-State and All-Star Baseball Teams

Pitched at Phoenix College and Grand Canyon College

1975 – 1982 Phoenix College Coach and Associate Athletic Director

1982 Arizona Junior College Coach of the Year 

Lamar University (TX) – 3 NCAA Super Regionals 

1985 Coached Alaska Baseball League 

1986 Coached Texas A & M University – 2 NCAA Regional bids; Southwest Conference Championship 

Don Wngler

West

All-State Football - 1965

AZ Wrestling State Champion/189 lbs. - 1966

Phoenix College – 5th in Wrestling Junior College Nationals 

Phoenix College All-Conference Linebacker

Washington State Starting Linebacker 

James Hall

Phoenix Union

State Champion in 100/220 yd dash and 440/880 yd relays - 1963

Set AZ State Records 100/200yd dash and 440/880 yd relays - 1963 

Phoenix Division Football Championship Team – 1963

Scholarship to University of Tulsa – Football/Track and Field

U of Tulsa/Missouri Valley Conference Record Holder – 100 yd dash 

Member of National Championship Football/Track Teams at PC

Phoenix College Hall of Fame - 2011 

Alex Hinds

Central

3-time State Wrestling Champion, in three different weight divisions 

Won 57 consecutive matches 

Member of 1965 State Wrestling Championship Team 

Scholarship to University of Colorado in Boulder 

Wrestled Varsity at Colorado and competed in AAU freestyle tournaments 

Transferred to University of Arizona to finish wrestling career 

Craig Holland

Maryvale

1968 State Runner-Ups, 1969 All-Valley and All-State Basketball 

1969 Quarterback North All-Star Football Team 

Played both sports at Northern Arizona University 

Quarterback for University of Texas-Arlington

1974- Drafted by Chicago Bears

Coached 37 years(Moon Valley/Flagstaff/Agua Fria)- Football/Boys and

Girls Basketball/Track and Field 

Lynn Larson

Alhambra

First athlete from AHS to play professionally 

All-State Football Selection 

Played football at Phoenix College – Nationally Ranked Team; All- Conference Offensive Tackle; All-American Bowl; College All-Star Game, 

Kansas State University All-Century Football Team 

Drafted in 1970 by the Baltimore Colts and played on Super Bowl V

Championship Team

Retired from British Columbia Lions in Canadian Football League 

Taught/Coached at Glendale High and spent 30 years in Law Enforcement 

Lauri Merten

Alhambra

1977 - State Golf Championship Team 

Arizona State University, All-American

1980 - 1981 All-WAAC Individual Champion

1983 LPGA Tour - won first of 3 championships and Rail Charity Golf Classic 

1984 won inaugural Jamie Farr Toledo Classic

1993 – 2nd Place LPGA Championship and won U.S. Open

13 top-10 finishes over two years before retiring in 1997

2017 - Resumed competing in Senior Tour played inaugural U.S. Senior

Women’s Open Championship and Senior LPGA Championship 

Karen Roberts

South Mountain

1972 – 1976 standout athlete during initial years of Title IX

1975 – Junior season, state champion in 100 and 200 yds, long jump, and anchor of 4x100 relay.

Long jump measured 18’8”, still among top marks in Arizona

Led South to team Track and Field Championship Title in 1976 

Kent Roberts

East High

1st Team All-State Running Back 

EHS All-time Leading Rusher: 2,179 yds and total offense: 2502 yds 

Career Average Yards per Carry: 6.4 yds. 

EHS Most Career Touchdowns Rushing: 25 and overall 29 

1975 – 1977 Scottsdale Community College Rushed 1,510yds, 5.3ypc; 1975 1st Team All-Arizona Community College Athletic Conference

Starred at Illinois State University 

Andy Stoglin

Phoenix Union

State Championship Basketball Team – 1958, 1959, 1960 

First Team All-State Football (Receiver) 1959, 1960

First Team All-State Basketball 1958, 1959, 1960

Basketball “Team of the Century” 1960 

University of Texas at El Paso

Harlem Globetrotters – 1965 - 1968

Dallas Cowboys “Taxi Squad”

Coached Mexican Pro Leagues Aguas Calientes won Championship 1973

College Coach –Head Coach Southern University, Jackson State University 

Dennis Teel

Camelback

1st Team All-State, Arizona Republic - 1971 

Arizona Outstanding Lineman Award - 1971 

Phoenix College Football Scholarship – Starting Center, 1st Team All- America NJCAA 

Oklahoma State University Scholarship – Center, Long Snapper 

Gayle Tolifson

West

Two-time AZ State Wrestling Champion – 1965, 1966

National Junior College Wrestling Champion - 1968

Two-time Rocky Mountain Conference Champion - 1969, 1970 

1968 Olympic Greco Roman Team (Alternate)

Coached Arizona High School Wrestling for 30 years 

Sandra (Van Kilsdonk) Abalos

Camelback

1973 and 1974 - State High School Champion

1973 –Broke singles and doubles Intermediate Girls PAA indoor records. 

1975 - 2nd Nation and 1st Intermediate Division; 6 National records 

1975 - 6th in NAA World Championship Trials

Arizona State University – U.S. Intercollegiate Archery Championships (NCAA), set five National records. ASU Women’s/Mixed Team Champions 

1976 - U.S. Olympic Team Trials

1977 - 3rd place U.S. Intercollegiate Championships; Women’s Championship Team

1976 and 1977 Arizona Republic Women’s Sports Award. Two time All- American 

Modern Era Hall of Fame Athletes

Kammie Baker Hendriz

South Mountain

All-State Selection 1980-1983 in Basketball and Softball

Badminton State Singles Champion in 1983

Played on 1983 SMHS Badminton State Championship Team

Scottsdale Community College -All Conference Junior College Basketball 

Bruce Barge

East High

Back-to-back State Championship Titles (1980, 1981) 

Team ranked 8th Nation, 1st Southwest, and AZ Team of Century

Career point leader (1060), 2nd Field Goals (433) 

1980 and 1981 - 1st Team All-State, All-Southwest, All-American, Super 5

1981 - Sports News Service Co-Player of the Year 

1981 Championship All-Tournament Team 

1981 ACA All-Star Basketball Selection (North/South) Game 

Scholarship to University of Washington and finished career at New Mexico State

Byron Evans

South Mountain

All-State Linebacker-1982 

Attended University of Arizona – 4-year Varsity Letterman, All-American

Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year; holds university record for unassisted tackles in a season. 

University of Arizona Sports Hall of Fame (1992)

1987 - Fourth round draft pick of the Philadelphia Eagles-Played 8 years (87-

94) in NFL-2nd All-NFL 1990 and 1992 

Manuel (Manny) Hendrix

South Mountain

All-State Defensive Back in Football 

All-State Guard in Basketball

All-State member of 4x100 relay team - 2nd in Track State Finals 

University of Utah: 4-year Basketball Starter, 2-year Captain, led team to NCAA tournament and Sweet-16 

Played 6 years for Dallas Cowboys; Started 3 years as Defensive Back 

Senior Associate Athletic Director at University of Utah – 24 years 

Billy Jordan

Camelback

Arizona Republic 1st Team All-Arizona Football Linebacker and Punter 

Arizona Daily Star 2nd Team Linebacker and Running Back; All-North

Valley Football Player of the Year.

1981 All-State 1st Team Baseball; All-North-All Star Co-Captain, AZ Daily

Star Super Nine Team (2nd Base) 

.407 batting average, 5 home-runs, 24 RBIs 

Drafted 5th round by Philadelphia Phillies; 1981 – 1986 Oakland A’s 

John Patterson

Trevor Browne

1984 - All-State Baseball

1984 ACA All-Star Baseball Selection-(North/South) Game 

Central Arizona College 1st Team All-Conference 

Grand Canyon College District 7 Player of the Year, NAIA World Series Golden Glove (2nd Base) 

1990 Player of the Year, 1991 AA All-Star Team 

Scottsdale Scorpions’ first Winter League Team

1992-1995 played Majors – 1994 3rd in RBIs, TOPPS All-Rookie Team 1992

Drafted by the San Diego Padres and also played for the San Francisco Giants 

Tracey Pierce

Alhambra

Three-time State Champion 110 High Hurdles (1981-1983)

State Record 110 HH (14.11) 

Track scholarship to Arizona State University 

Transferred to Phoenix College and then Cal State to play Football 

Phoenix College won consecutive Sun Bowls and Junior College National Championships 

3 years in World European Professional Football League, for Grosseto Condors of Italy. 

Darin Tupper

Trevor Browne

1980 State Runners-Up, 1981 State Champions 

Football Player of the Year Arizona Republic, Phoenix Gazette, Arizona Daily Star, and “Super 11” 

National High School Athletic Coaches Association All-American Honorable Mention, Arizona Republic All-Century 2nd Team Linebacker

Scholarship to Arizona State University – 4 years Fullback – Played on 1983 Fiesta Bowl Championship Team, 1985 Holiday Bowl Team and 1987 Rose Bowl Championship Team 

Bryan Williams 

East

1980 State Champions; 16th in Nation, 2nd in Southwest, #3 Team of the Century 

All-State, Super 5, All-Southwest, All-American

1980 - All-Tournament Team in State Playoffs

1980 - ACA All-Star Selection-(North/South) Game (Co-MVP) 

Played at Grand Canyon – Leading Scorer 

Special Inductees

Rhonda Gorraiz

Central

All-Region Honors in Basketball and Softball 

Played Softball at Central Arizona College – won two NJCAA Region 1 National Championships; batted .350 over two-year career, All-Conference and All-Region (1983-84) 

Played softball at U of Nebraska – starting 3rd Baseman – competed twice in Big-8 Championships (1986, 1987) – third in nation in 1986

Coach Sam Nassif

Alhambra

32 years Teaching and Coaching at Alhambra 

15 years coaching Football at all levels 

9 years Head Coach Girls Track; 6 Region Championships, 7 PUHSD Relays/Metro Relay Championships, 2 Valley Classic Championships 

9 years Head Coach Boys Track; 1985 Metro Region Champions 

2 athletes State Champions (J.W. Hardy 1989 100M, 400M; E. Johnson 1996 200M) 

Head Coach Cross Country, Head Coach Girls Golf 

Coach of the Year – Girls Golf 1998, 2005; Girls Track, 1978 

After retiring Phoenix Union HSD, coaching Track and Field at Boulder Creek HS 

Jonathan Levine

Central

State Runner-Up Singles Sophomore and Junior Seasons 

Senior year, relocated to Nick Bolitieri Tennis Academy in Florida

1981 - Doubles Gold Medalist at Maccabian Games (with Brad Gilbert)

1982 - 1983 Collegiate Junior Davis Cup Teams

1983 - Gold Medal Pan American Games 

NCAA Singles Quarter-finalist, 1983; Semi-finalist, 1984 

1983 - 1984 University Texas All-American; Southwest Conference

Champion 

1985-1986 - 7 Singles Titles on USTA circuit 

1984-1989 - Pro Circuit beat numerous notable opponents

Russ Winer

Carl Hayden

Runner-up State Wrestling Championship– 1960

National AAU Freestyle Finals – 1963

USA Wrestling World Team v. Bulgaria – 1963

First Place Big 8 Conference Heavyweight (Oklahoma State) – 1965 

NCAA Championships, Second Place – 1965 

World Sambo Wrestling – Bronze Medal in Minsk – 1975 

Oklahoma State University Wall of Fame

Arizona and National Wrestling Halls of Fame

Arizona Coaches Hall of Fame  

Teams

Camelback: 1980 volleyball, 1982 boys golf

East High: 1980 boys basketball, 1981 boys basketball

Maryvale: 1980 track and field, 1982 girls track and field, 1983 boys track and field, 1983 girls track and field.

South Mountain: 1981 girls track and field, 1983 boys basketball

Trevor Browne: 1981 football