Angels Camp, CA…Bret Harte High School is excited to celebrate 15 individuals and one team as the 2019 induction class in the Bret Harte Athletic Hall of Fame. Induction will take place during “Hall of Fame Weekend” scheduled for Friday, October 4 and Saturday, October 5, 2019. Inductees will be introduced at the home football game before varsity takes on Amador High School on Friday, October 4. Inductees will be honored at the annual Induction Ceremony the evening of Saturday, October 5 at Mark Twain Hall, Calaveras County Fairgrounds.

On its 40th anniversary, the 1979 Football Team will be inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. Led by head coach Hal Clements, the season started with high hopes after their CIF Sac-Joaquin Section run in 1978. The team started strong winning its first two games defeating Hughson and Escalon. After their only loss of the season to Patterson, the Bullfrogs went on to win the next nine games to finish the season with an 11-1 record and be named the Division III Section Champion.

The post-season kicked off with a shutout against Le Grand High School defeating the Bulldogs 13-0. The semifinal matchup against Rio Vista produced a 20-12 victory, which secured the Bullfrogs a championship game against Justin-Siena Catholic High School of Napa. Bret Harte was up to the task as they defeated the Braves 19-12. The 1979 Football Team was the first Bret Harte team to win a Section Championship. Since then, an additional 37 Bret Harte teams have earned a Section championship title.

The varsity coaching staff included Rich Cathcart, class of 1967 and 2018 Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, Tim Elam and the late Don Villella.

Two members of the 1979 Football Team will also be inducted this year: Curt Hecker, class of 1979, and Jeff Sanders, class of 1980. Find the complete list of inductees below:
Leslie “Joe” Rudi, Class of 1945
Ron Lewis, Class of 1957
Jay Barnett, Class of 1965
Richard Inks, Class of 1975
Curt Hecker, Class of 1979
Jeff Sanders, Class of 1980
Mimi Baker, Class of 1982
Rhonda Canepa Menzes, Class of 1982
Keith Rakoncza, Class of 1986
Chris Clements, Class of 1989
Jennifer Test Hartvickson, Class of 1995
Seanna Martin Ziehlke, Class of 2002
Jan Edwards, Coach
Jan Schulz, Coach
Tony Tyrrell, Friend
The 1979 Football Team, led by Head Coach Hal Clements

Athletic Hall of Fame individual inductees were considered primarily on their achievements as high school student athletes and coaches at Bret Harte. Character values, during and after their high school years, are a major consideration.
Dinner tickets are $35.00 and are currently on sale. Tickets may be purchased weekdays in the school office between 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM.

For more information, go to the Athletics Hall of Fame webpage at http://bhhs-bhuhsd-ca.schoolloop.com/athletichalloffame or call Bret Harte Athletics at 209 736 2507.

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The Bret Harte Union High School District is an educational community committed to providing all students a quality education with a multiple of learning opportunities in a safe and orderly environment fully equipped to teach 21st century skills. As a learning community, we strive to increase student achievement, to be responsive to community needs and to foster accountability for all. For more information, visit http://bhhs-bhuhsd-ca.schoolloop.com