Madera Athletic Hall of Fame inducts ninth class

Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune

Members of the 1976 Madera Coyotes baseball team show off their Mayor Certificates with Madera Mayor Santos Garcia, left. From left are Mickey Wright, LaSchelle Tarver, Brian Gutknecht, Vince Petrucci, Randy Martin, Dan Ascanio, Mike Marin, David Jauregui and assistant coach Roger Henderson.

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In another star-studded evening, the Madera Athletic Hall of Fame inducted nine more for the Class of 2022 at the Madera Fairgrounds’ Home Arts Building before about 200 people.

The Hall of Fame is sponsored by the Madera Foundation for high school Athletic Needs (F.A.N.), which helps out the athletic programs at all three Madera Unified School District high schoola.

The Hall of Fame inducted six individuals, two contributors, a coach and a team this year.

Contributor, the late Alan Brown is included as a member of the 2022 class, but he will officially be inducted at the next ceremony because his family was not able to attend Saturday’s dinner.

Inductee Norm Wood, from the class of 1961, was unable to attend the ceremony and his daughter, Valorie, who also was unable to attend the event, accepted on his behalf.

Madera South inductee Megan Bresnick, a record-setting soccer player was absent from the event.

However, those who attended the event enjoyed the evening, including the catering from Sugar Pine Smokehouse.

Each recipient received a Hall of Fame plaque and certificates of recognition from the Madera County Board of Supervisors and Mayor Santos Garcia.

Three-sport athlete and legendary softball coach Judy Shaubach was inducted by her former softball coach Barbara Avila, who started both the softball and basketball programs at Madera High School.

Frank Brunolli, who was inducted as a coach, is the first person to be inducted into the Hall of Fame three times. He was inducted in 2009 as an athlete and a member of the 1948 football team. He was inducted by his son Michael.

Contributor and former Madera Tribune Sports Editor, Executive Director and Publisher Paul Bittick was inducted by his daughter, Andrea.

Three-time Madera Coyotes cross country Valley Champion Heather Hansen was introduced by her former coach Carlos Sanchez, who was inducted later that night.

Then, Sanchez, who was a two-time Valley Champion and three-time team champion, was introduced by his former track coach Jerry Stehman.

Basketball star Heather Bates was inducted by her former coach Steve Duncan. Bates may have set the record for shortest acceptance speech.

Finally, assistant coach Roger Henderson inducted the 1976 baseball team. Nine members of the team were present — 2020 HOF inductee LaSchelle Tarver, 2018 HOF inductee Dan Ascanio, 1976 North Yosemite League Player of the Year Mickey Wright, Brian Gutknecht, David Juarique, Mike Marin, Randy Martin, Vincent Petrucci and Bernard Urrutia.

The baseball team was the first team to win the North Yosemite League championship and the first to play in the Central Section Cchampionship.

The next Hall of Fame induction will feature the class of 2024 in two years.