As part of the 2024-25 interscholastic calendar, the Metro Conference unveiled its inaugural Hall of Fame Class of 2024. The event honored 16 outstanding individuals — athletes, coaches and distinguished community members — whose achievements and contributions have left a lasting impact on the conference.
“It was a true honor to recognize and celebrate their legacies,” Metro Conference president Alex Estrada said.
The list of honorees included athletes Julia Evans Mottershaw (Hilltop High School, basketball, volleyball, softball), Jim Finnerty (Sweetwater High School, football, basketball, baseball), Benji Gil (Castle Park High School, baseball), Adrian Gonzalez (Eastlake High School, baseball), Mary Lou Ramm Flippen (Hilltop High School, volleyball, basketball, softball), Steve Riley (Castle Park High School, football, basketball, track & field), Dan Saleaumua (Sweetwater High School, football, basketball, track & field) and Jennifer Saleaumua-Taeatafa (Bonita Vista High School, volleyball).
Coaches inducted included John Baumgarten (Hilltop High School, baseball), Janet Balsley (Hilltop High School, basketball, softball, field hockey), Bobby Kennedy (Chula Vista High School, baseball), Karen Day Cravens (Marian High School, volleyball) and Manny Hermosillo (Montgomery High School, baseball).
Distinguished service inductees included Dr. Charles Camarata (attending physician, community sports clinics), Robert Dodds (educator, Sweetwater Union High School District athletic director) and Joe Rindone (educator, Sweetwater Union High School District Superintendent).
Among those coaches honored, Hermosillo stands out with 773 wins over a 41 year-year coaching career with Montgomery’s baseball team to make him the second most winningest coach in San Diego Section history. He completed his coaching career in 2024 with 23 league titles and the 2000 Division II section championship.
Hermosillo’s Aztec teams qualified for the section playoffs 32 times and played in seven division finals.
Gil and Gonzalez both enjoyed the peak of their careers in Major League Baseball — Gil, a two-time CIF Player of the Year, with the Texas Rangers and Anaheim Angels and Gonzalez, a two-time CIF Player of the Year, with the Florida Marlins, Padres, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets as part of a 15-year MLB career.
A five-time MLB all-star and four-time MLB Gold Glove winner, Gonzalez finished as the 2014 MLB RBI leader.
Gonzalez, who hit 0.645 with 13 home runs and 34 RBI as a senior with the Titans, also played in four World Baseball Classics and the 2020 Olympic Games for the Mexican National Team.
Gil won the 2002 World Series with the Angels. He subsequently coached Mexico in the 2020 Summer Olympic Games and 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Riley and Saleaumua both played in the National Football League — Riley with the Minnesota Vikings and Saleaumua with the Detroit Lions (1987-88), Kansas City Chiefs (1989-96) and Seattle Seahawks (1997-98) as part of a 12-year NFL career.
A member of the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame, Saleaumua, who attended Arizona State University, racked up 35.5 sacks in the NFL, earning a nod in the 1995 Pro Bowl.
Riley won the 1972 Rose Bowl national championship with the University of Southern California. A first-round draft pick by the Vikings, Riley played in the NFL for 11 seasons as an offensive tackle, winning the 1974 and 1974 NFC championship titles with Minnesota. He appeared in Super Bowl IX (against the champion Pittsburgh Steelers) and Super Bowl XI (against the champion Oakland Raiders).
The 1972 USC team is regarded as the best-ever in college football.
Balsley ranks as an iconic figure among female coaches in the Sweetwater Union High School District with 379 wins in basketball, softball and field hockey and 19 league championships. She helped start field hockey, posting 197 victories and 11 consecutive league titles at Hilltop. Honored as a San Diego Coaching Legend and a member of Hilltop’s Hall of Fame, she is regarded as a pioneer in women’s sports in San Diego County history.
Baumgarten, whose 37-year teaching career began in 1965 at Hilltop High School, set the standard of play for the Lancers with a 407-299 record as the fifth most winning coach in section history. His Hilltop teams won seven league championships, three CIF titles and two runner-up finishes in the division finals
The school named the baseball field in his honor in early 2024. The annual San Diego Section baseball classic at Petco Park is also named in his honor.
He is a member of the San Diego Coaching Legends Hall of Fame.
Kennedy, who passed away at 94 in 2026, coached varsity baseball at Chula Vista High School for 27 years while compiling a 329-266 career record. He led the Spartans to 19 CIF playoff appearances; his team won six league championships.
He was inducted into the inaugural class of the San Diego County High School Coaching Legends in 1999 and is also member of the Senior Softball Hall of Fame after winning 19 world championships before he retired at age 89.
“Coach Kennedy was a pillar of Sparta at Chula Vista High,” longtime Chula Vista High baseball coach Jim Westlund said. “He was a long-time teacher and coach who embodied all the traits we hope all of our Spartans have. His ability to mentor young students and coaches alike made all of us better people and educators. He is a true legend in our district.”
Dan Saleaumua’s niece. Jennifer Saleaumua Taeatafa helped put the Lady Barons on the map by leading the team to the 2000 California state championship with an undefeated season. She earned honors as both the section and state’s player of the year and was named among the top 50 players in the nation. She continued her athletic career at the University of Nebraska as a two-time All-American, two-time Big 12 all-defensive player of the year and a four-time All-Big 12 team member.
A three-sport athlete at Hilltop High School, Flippen posted a career 0.19 earned-run average to rank seventh best all-time in San Diego Section history. She went on to pitch a no-hitter at Utah State University en route to capturing national championships in 1980 and 1981.
Cravens’ 1979 and 1980 girls volleyball teams posted records of 20-3 and 23-2 in winning 2A section championships. The Lady Crusaders placed third and second in the state tournament with five players named all-state.
A 1965 SuHi grad, Finnerty earned first team all-league and All-CIF honors in three sports his senior year. He earned a full scholarship in basketball to UC Santa Barbara.
Mottershaw was among the county’s best athletes in basketball, volleyball and softball, earning multiple All-CIF honors before receiving all-conference honors in basketball at both USD and SDSU.
Camarata has volunteered at more than 1,200 high school football games as an attending physician and has given 10,000 sports screening examinations as a community volunteer.
Rindone was the founding principal at Chula Vista High School in 1947 and later served as district superintendent for 20 years.
Following in their footsteps
The second Hall of Fame Class of 2025 is set to honor 12 deserving individuals Oct. 19 at Olympian High School. They include seven athletes, three coaches and two awards for distinguished service.
Athletes include Tracy Y. Crawford (Southwest High School, track & field). Christina Murguia (Castle Park High School, volleyball, basketball, softball), Nicole Meyer-Sandez (Mar Vista High School, volleyball, basketball, softball) and Andrew “Andy” Paul Sanchez (Castle Park High School, football, baseball).
A dominant thrower in both the shot put and discus throw, Crawford earned honors as a three-time South Bay League champion and captured the 1986 California state discus title with a throw of 156 feet, ’2 inches. That same year, she won the AAU Junior Nationals and represented the USA Junior Olympic Team in Romania and Greece, placing 12th in the world.
A three-sport standout at Castle Park High School, Murguia became the first athlete in San Diego County history — male or female — to letter in volleyball, basketball and softball all four years. A Metro League MVP in both volleyball and basketball, she earned First Team All-CIF honors in all three sports and was named CIF Basketball Player of the Year.
At San Diego State University, Murguia led the Lady Aztecs to three NCAA tournament appearances, back-to-back WAC championships, and was honored as 1994 WAC Tournament MVP and 1995 WAC Player of the Year.
A 1989 Mar Vista High graduate, Meyer excelled in volleyball, basketball and softball, earning most inspirational in volleyball, most valuable player in softball, and all-league and All-CIF honors in softball. She was a two-time All-Pacific Coast Conference pitcher at Southwestern College, striking out 247 batters and later inducted into the SWC Hall of Fame in 2015. A longtime member of the Mexican National Team, she competed in six international tournaments and was honored with a Hall of Fame ring by the Mexican Softball Federation in 2012.
A 1969 Castle Park High School graduate, Sanchez was a two-sport star in football and baseball, earning All-Metro honors in both. He was named CIF Football Player of the Year as a junior. At Southwestern College, he repeated as a two-sport all-conference athlete and was a Junior College All-American in baseball. He later earned MVP honors in football at USD (1973) and Cal Poly Pomona (1974). Sanchez played professionally in the World Football League and Canadian Football League before serving more than 30 years as an educator and coach in Sweetwater district schools.
Coaches to be recognized include Mike Collins (Chula Vista High School), Jim Knox (Mar Vista/Eastlake High School) and Lori Morris (Montgomery High School).
A 1960 Chula Vista High graduate, Collins played football, basketball and golf before continuing football at San Diego State University under Don Coryell. Returning to Chula Vista as a teacher and coach in 1966, he became head basketball coach in 1972, and over 30 years, built one of San Diego County’s most successful programs. Collins amassed 490 wins, 10 league championships, 15 CIF playoff appearances, and eight Metro Coach of the Year awards. He was inducted into the San Diego High School Coaching Legends in 2003
A San Diego native and Mar Vista graduate, Knox dedicated over 30 years to building championship volleyball programs at Mar Vista, Eastlake, and Southwestern College. His teams earned multiple league titles, CIF playoff appearances, and a CIF Division II Championship in 1999, while also setting records and inspiring athletes.
Beyond the court, Knox represented the USA at the 1994 World Masters Games, winning two gold medals. Honored as San Diego County Coach of the Year and inducted into the San Diego Coaching Legends Hall of Fame, he is celebrated as a teacher, mentor, husband, father, and proud grandfather.
Beginning in 1987, Morris transformed Montgomery High School girls’ basketball from a 0-27 start into a championship program. Through community outreach, she and her players built feeder teams at the elementary and middle school levels, creating a culture of leadership and pride. The Lady Aztecs went on to win seven conference championships and twice finished CIF runners-up (1997, 2007). After leaving in 2008 for a collegiate coaching career, Morris’s former players continued leading the Aztec program, a legacy she considers her proudest achievement.
Athlete/coach inductees include Gene Alim (Mar Vista High School), Ron Pietila (Sweetwater High School) and Gil Warren (Sweetwater High School).
Bonita Vista High School, Coach/Athlete Induction
Alim was a record-setting athlete, coach and lifelong educator. He dedicated 37 years to teaching and coaching In the Sweetwater district. His football teams captured seven straight league titles, two CIF championships (1983, 1984), and a “mythical” California state championship, while setting multiple CIF records. He was an ASB President at Mar Vista High School while earning all-league honors in football, basketball and baseball and All-CIF honors in football and baseball.
Pietila was a three-sport standout at Sweetwater High. He earned all-league honors in football, basketball and baseball, including 1965 Baseball Player of the Year and All-CIF First Team honors. He later played minor league baseball in the Cleveland Indians organization before a 35-year career teaching and coaching in the Sweetwater district. As girls soccer coach, he won 506 games, 23 consecutive league titles, and set a California state record with 300-plus straight Metro Conference matches without defeat.
A Sweetwater High graduate, Warren starred in football and track, helping the Red Devils win league titles in 1957 and 1958 before continuing at Chaffey College and San Diego State University under Don Coryell. Beginning his head coaching career at Castle Park in 1967, he guided the Trojans to CIF titles in 1968, 1994, and 1996, including an undefeated 13-0 state championship season in 1996. With a career record of 214-80-5, Warren was a three-time CIF champion, 10-time league champion, and Hall of Champions Coaching Legend for high school football.
Distinguished service awards will be presented to Star-News sports editor Phillip Brents and retired Sweetwater Union High School District Superintendent Dr. Ed Brand.
A 1976 Sweetwater High graduate with a 3.98 GPA, Brents went on to earn honors at the University of Southern California, graduating in 1980 with a B.S. in Astronomy. He began his journalism career at The Star-News in 1987, where he became a respected voice in San Diego sports. His award-winning coverage of high school, youth, college, and professional athletics earned statewide recognition and special honors from the San Diego High School Sports Association, touching the lives of countless student-athletes and their families.
Brand served as district superintendent over two terms (1995-2005, 2010-2014). He was honored as California Superintendent of the Year and national finalist in 2004. He introduced ninth grade athletics, roller hockey as a CIF sport, and Huck Finn fishing team letters.
Under his leadership, the Sweetwater district earned more Golden Bells, California Distinguished and National Blue Ribbon Schools than any district in the state, highlighted by the pioneering Compact for Success partnership with SDSU. His distinguished career reflects innovation, excellence and an enduring dedication to students and the Sweetwater community.
