WIAA 2008 Hall of Fame inductees

Pat Connors
Athlete
R.A. Long, 1994

Pat Connors was the first four-time state championship wrestler in Washington state history. Hailing from R.A. Long High School, Connors also wrestled his way to three district titles and three regional titles. In 1992 he won the cadet national title and participated with the USA World team in Istanbul, Turkey. He was named as one of Asics Third Team All-Americans in 1994. Connors finished his high school wrestling career with a record of 123-4, including an undefeated 33-0 record as a senior.

After high school, Pat took his talents to the University of Minnesota, where he was an integral part of the wrestling program. He was a four-year letterman for the Gophers. The highlight of his collegiate career was in 1997, when he placed third in the Big Ten Conference and eighth at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.

Pat currently is an assistant wrestling coach at Kelso High School.

Curt Marsh
Athlete
Snohomish, 1977

Curt Marsh is one of the most decorated high school football athletes to come from the state of Washington. Curt attended Snohomish High School, where he was a member of the 1976 football team that was undefeated and won a state championship. Curt was awarded for his talents by being named the Offensive Lineman of the Year, by Prep Sports. In addition to football, Curt was also a member of the track team and captain of the basketball team at Snohomish.

Curt then went to the University of Washington, where he was a participant on three bowl teams, including two Rose Bowls and a Sun Bowl. An All-Pac 10 selection and 3rd Team All-American his senior year, Curt was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the first round of the 1981 NFL draft. He was the first rookie lineman to start for the Raiders since 1967. In 1983, he played on the Super Bowl championship team that beat the Washington Redskins. Curt played with the Raiders until 1987.

Perhaps the most inspiring aspect of Curt’s life is his willingness to give back to the community. A published author, Curt worked many years with the city of Everett to develop programs for youth at risk, such as Silver Mountain Challenge and Code 10. He ultimately was promoted to a position as Recreation Superintendent before choosing a career as a motivational speaker. Curt resides in Snohomish with his wife and three children.

Aileen McManus
Athlete
Reardan, 1984

Aileen McManus is one of the most dominant all-around high school athletes from the state of Washington. She transcended girls’ sports from a novelty to mainstream athletics across the state. Aileen was a four-year varsity letter winner at Reardan High School in both volleyball and basketball, and a three-year letter winner in track. In 1982 and 1983, Reardan took first place finishes in State B Volleyball led by Aileen’s hitting and blocking ability.

Even more impressive were Aileen’s talents on the basketball court. In four years as a basketball starter, she never scored under 10 points in a single game, averaging 18.5 points throughout her career. Her senior year, Aileen averaged 23.3 points, and was named to the Honorable Mention USA Today All-American team. Her command of the offense and defense led her to become an all-state player for four years. During her career, Reardan placed first, second (twice), and third at the State B Basketball tournament.

Before choosing to concentrate on volleyball and basketball, Aileen also competed at the state track meet her sophomore and junior seasons where she competed in the javelin and 800-meter run.

At the University of Washington, Aileen was a two-year starter and helped the women’s basketball program, a very competitive Pac 10 team, advance to the NCAA Tournament all four years and the Sweet 16 in back-to-back years. She was team co-captain her senior year when the team won the Pac 10 Championship.

Aileen then coached at Roosevelt High School for nine years and capped her career by becoming KingCo 4A Coach of the Year during the 1997-98 season.

Dan Strode
Athlete
Moses Lake, 1968

While attending Moses Lake High School, Dan Strode was a three-year letterman in both football and wrestling. A team captain for football, Strode was an All-Conference selection in 1968. Perhaps his most impressive feat was his work on the wrestling mat. In three years of competition, Strode’s only loss came during his sophomore year to a senior from Oregon. In 1968, Dan Strode became the first wrestler in Washington state history to be crowned state champion three times.

After high school, Strode attended Grays Harbor Community College, where he earned two varsity letters in football and wrestling. In both 1969 and 1970, Dan was undefeated and named Community College State Wrestling Champion. For his efforts, he received a full scholarship to the University of Oklahoma.

In 2003, Dan Strode was inducted into the Moses Lake High School Hall of Fame for his overall wrestling accomplishments of 65 wins, one loss and three state championships.

Ruben Van Kempen
Fine Arts

Ruben Van Kempen, better known as “VK,” brought national and international recognition to Roosevelt High School and the Seattle School District. He has taken his students to perform twice in Edinburgh, Scotland, at the International Fringe Festival, led students on a tour in Hawaii with “Broadway’s Fabulous Century,” as well as to the International Thespian Conference in Lincoln, Nebraska, to study the work of other students. Along with the Thespian Board he helped revive the International Thespian Society in the state of Washington and has served on both the WATE and the Washington State Thespian Board. Currently he is co-chapter director of the Washington State Thespians.

Ruben’s constant expectation of excellence from his students sets the bar high and they rise to it consistently. He is proud to have several students currently working on Broadway, in London and in the television industry. He was awarded the 2007 Gregory A. Falls Sustained Achievement Award, which honors an individual who has devoted time, energy and talent to Seattle’s theatre community over the course of his/her career, influencing theatre locally and beyond. He was honored by accepting the first annual Ruben Van Kempen Arts Educator Award from the prestigious INTIMAN Theatre. He was also named a recipient of the Christa McAuliffe 2000 Teaching Award and is listed in the 1992, 1996, 1998 and 2006 editions of Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.

At Roosevelt High School, Ruben coaches three main stage shows a year and has taught musical theatre workshops to student representatives from throughout the states of Washington and Oregon.

DeSales Baseball
Team/Program
1986-2006

Since 1986, the DeSales High School baseball team has become a dominant dynasty. During that time, the Irish have compiled an overall record of 486-93, including 15 first-place finishes, three second-place finishes, and one third-place finish. They have failed to reach the final four only twice during that same time span. Furthermore, DeSales has played the majority of its nonleague games versus 3A and 4A classifications. Overall, the team has a .500 winning percentage against this type of competition.

Irish Head Coach Kim Cox has developed and implemented through the Catholic faith a highly successful and respected program for developing teams on and off the field. When playing against Coach Cox’s teams you knew three things: You will be facing a well-trained, cohesive team; you will be facing a team that plays with passion; and you will be facing a team that plays hard, but plays with fairness, integrity, and sportsmanship.

DeSales’ longest postseason winning streak is 30, but, with the current streak at 29 and Coach Cox still at the helm, the tradition seems far from over.

Cash Stone
Coach

Cash Stone attended Burlington-Edison High School from 1951 through 1954, where he was a three-year letterman in football and baseball and a four-year letterman in wrestling. Francis Bacoka was his high school coach. Cash lost one match his freshman year and was unbeaten as a sophomore, junior and senior.

Cash then wrestled for Bo Campbell at Skagit Valley Community College. He was undefeated for the year, competing at 137 and 147 pounds. Cash transferred to Washington State University and wrestled for Bill Tomaras. He won the 130-pound championship at the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate Tournament in l958. He was honored with the Inspirational Wrestler Award by his teammates in 1958.

Cash earned his Bachelor of Science degree and teaching certificate in the fall of 1958. His first teaching position was at Eltopia, just north of Pasco. In the fall of 1959, Cash was hired as a teacher and head wrestling coach at Mead High School. His energy, commitment, hope, compassion, and work ethic saved, encouraged and inspired thousands of students, staff, parents and community members. Cash compiled a dual meet record of 450 wins, 124 losses and 6 ties in his 38 years of coaching. His teams earned 13 league championships, 15 district, 8 regional, and 2 state championships (1983 and 1993). Cash coached 60 state placers, 10 being state champions and 10 top ten finishes.

Cash's 38 years of coaching at Mead led him to many records and distinguished awards. Some of them include: 1979 Darrell Whitmore Coach of the Year; 1983 Washington State Wrestling Coach of the Year; WIAA Wrestling Coach of the Year; 1993 Inland Empire Coach of the Year; PEMCO/Stanley McNaughton Washington Coach of the Year; 1997 National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Coaches Hall of Fame (first Washington coach to be inducted); 1999 Inland Empire Sports Hall of Fame (first wrestling coach inducted); Washington Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame; and 2002 Washington Chapter of the National Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame.

Maggie Trimble
Coach

From 1951 to 1982, Margaret Trimble influenced the rise of women’s scholastic athletics in the state of Washington. Born in Blaine, Maggie began her career at a time when women were afforded few athletic opportunities. As a coach at Auburn High School, she established herself in coed sports and her PE classes, clubs, camps, and invitational events became a staging ground for the development of women’s athletics.

Maggie established the first-time women’s programs in tennis and gymnastics at Auburn High School. She also coached tennis, swimming, cheerleading, and boys track. Not only a coach, Maggie also worked as a physical education, health, and biology teacher.

Her honors include the following:

1968 Served as the president of the Washington High School Gymnastics Association
1981 Washington State Gymnastics Coach of the Year
1986 Charter member of the Washington State Gymnastics Hall of Fame
1999 Washington State Gymnastics Coaches Association Hall of Fame

She has continued to coach after her retirement and still finds time to supervise at district track meets, football games, and boys and girls swimming meets.

Chuck Wyborney
Coach

Chuck Wyborney was the head volleyball coach at Wilbur High School for 25 years. During that time, his teams appeared in 15 State B tournaments, which resulted in four state championships. In 1994, Wilbur won both the state championship and the state academic championship. Chuck’s career record was approximately 500-65 matches.

Chuck has also been active in coaching seminars and other training that have benefited not only the coaches but the student athletes who practiced under those coaches. His dedication has left a mark as an educator, coach, and human being. A quote by a former player really describes Chuck, “Some of the happiest times of my life were spent in the high school gym where Coach Wyborney spent countless hours preparing our team, not only for the upcoming match, but also for life.”

Clyde Pock
Official

Clyde Pock has served the Okanogan County schools for more than 50 years as an official and assigning secretary. Clyde also spent 30 years in education as a teacher and principal. He started his career in education at Newport High School, after playing tennis and junior varsity basketball at Whitworth College. After a brief stint in the Army, he began teaching at Okanogan High School, where he then served as the principal from 1966 until his retirement in 1981.

Throughout his career as an official, Clyde has officiated football, volleyball, basketball, and softball, including many postseason and state tournament games in all sports. When asked about his career highlights, Clyde responded, “My most memorable moments and greatest accomplishments are just working with the kids. Without the kids, I would not be officiating.”

Clyde has been a registered basketball official for 54 years. Pock once said after a game, “If I ever got a basketball game right, I’d give it up.” A fan overheard the remark and said, “Well, Clyde, you won’t be quitting tonight.” He has officiated football for 53 years, as well as softball since the early 1980’s.
Clyde is also the assigning secretary for football and volleyball and is the board secretary and historian for the basketball association. He has always had an extremely professional approach to officiating and has always been available for young officials to talk about rules, court demeanor, mechanics and anything else. Clyde has even provided transportation to games for officials who can’t find their own transportation. “As a football and volleyball assignor, he makes sure the matches are covered the old fashioned way-with pen and paper. I believe if we had more people like Clyde in the officiating arena, we would all be better for it,” said Cindy C-Wilson, Washington Officials Association (WOA) President.

Clyde continues to be an inspiration to us all by regularly hunting, fishing, and being a role model, always with a smile on his face. Clyde was inducted into the WOA Hall of Fame in August 2007.

Walt Thorp
Administrator

Walt Thorp has been in the educational field for more than 50 years in the state of Washington. This is a man whose heart was always in education. Walt was an administrator who saw the true value of the activities program as one of the best ways of developing successful people and citizens. He was consistently loyal to the students and schools and was an early supporter of promoting equity in programs for young men and women.

From 1953-69, Walt taught and coached at Wilson Creek Schools. He coached boys basketball for 16 years, boys and girls track for nine years, and baseball for seven years. After teaching, Walt then served as the athletic director for 16 years and principal for 14 years. He also started the Wilson Creek Junior High sports program.

In 1969-83, Walt was the Odessa High School Principal and Athletic Director. He was the first athletic director from WIAA District 7 on the Washington Secondary School Athletic Administrators Association (WSSAAA) Board (charter member). During Walt’s career, he was elected president of WSSAAA and was their representative at the national conference in Washington D.C., in 1972.

Walt was a member of the WIAA District 6 Board for nine years and then president for two years, Bi-County Administrator of the Year in 1983-84, Administrator of the Year for WIAA District 7 Activity Association in 1982-83, and was elected to the Washington State Athletic Directors Hall of Fame in 1991. A District 7 Executive Secretary for 24 years, Walt currently has been serving the Bi-County as recording secretary for 25 years. He also served as the assistant tournament manager at the B Basketball State Tournament from 1990-1995.

In 1996, Walt received the WIAA Meritorious Service Award for his service to the youth Washington. Also, he was a recipient of the WIAA Gareth Giles Memorial Award, in recognition of distinguished service to the youth of Washington.