Madera Hall of Fame inducts seventh class
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Madera Athletic Hall of Fame inductees gather for a group photo during the induction ceremony Saturday at the Peter’s Brothers Banquet Hall. This is the seventh class of inductees into the Hall of Fame.
The Madera Foundation of Athletic Needs (F.A.N.) inducted its seventh class into the Madera Athletic Hall of Fame at the Peters Brother’s Banquet Hall.
This year’s class featured 17 Valley Champions, including 13 members of the 1969 Madera Coyotes wrestling team and eight individual Valley Champions if you include Heidi Seibert’s four all-around championships in gymnastics. It also includes a National Champion with Seibert winning one with her cheer squad and a State Champion with Sam King claiming one in wrestling.
More than 200 people were on hand Saturday to help induct this year’s members into the Hall of Fame.
The inductees were Mark Gustin, King, Valeria Martinez, Seibert, Nicole (Zenger) Guerra, coach Dan Ascanio, contributor Rick Horner of Horner and Sons Well Drilling and the 1969 wrestling team — Pete King, William Bloodworth, Ruben Marquez, Henry Flemming, Robert Arballo, Laddie King, Ed McIntyre, Charlie Freeman, Danny DaSilva, Houston King, Larry Tribble, Tim Del Toro and Don Watson.
Former player and coach for Ascanio, John Fernandez, Madera High School athletics director, began the induction by introducing his former coach and colleague.
Following Ascanio was Horner, who was introduced by his son Adam.
After the dinner break, former Fresno State assistant and Hoover-Fresno head coach Peter Sharkey introduced his former player, Gustin.
Henry Zenger introduced his daughter and told of the many records Nicole still holds in the Coyotes record book.
Madera South athletics director Andrea Devine told the crowd of the many accomplishments of her former player, Martinez, as she helped take the Stallions to their only girls volleyball Valley Championship.
Seibert’s high school gymnastics coach, Tammi Britton, introduced her and told of her accomplishments at Madera, which included a league team title and all around individual championships, as well as a member of the Auburn University Hall of Fame.
Former teammate Corky Napier told the audience of the greatness of Sam King and what he accomplished.
In one calendar year, King won the high school Valley Championship while going undefeated. Then, at Cal Poly, he placed third in the Small College National Championships and then won the State Junior College Wrestling championship.
Napier also introduced members of the 1969 wrestling team who were all present, except for Flemming. Head coach Al Kiddy’s daughter, Theresa, was also on hand to honor the team.
Funds from the Hall of Fame will funnel back to both Madera and Madera South high schools.
Plans for the next induction ceremony in 2020 begins immediately.
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If anyone would like to nominate an athlete, coach or contributor for the Madera Athletic Hall of Fame, email tylert@maderatribune.net.
