2021 Inductees
NORTH HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME: 2021 Induction Class
Front Row (l to r): Reed Adamson, George Culver, Joe Smart, Pat Hewes, Don Lemon, Jim Bright, Colby Churchman, Mark Mettler
Back Row (l to r): Larry Congdon, Larry Struck, Guy Rounsaville, Elaine Winchester-Hartwig, Cliff Ford, Barry McCown, Family Member of Ron Pritchard, Gary Pearson, Terri McNamara-Norlock, Jay Ericsson, Pat Evans (son of Max).
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2021 Inductee Biographies
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Bruce Walton was not just an outstanding baseball player, he was also an outstanding 3-sport athlete that could have probably been successful at higher levels in both basketball and football. But, after all was said and done, it looks like Bruce picking baseball turned out to be a great decision.
Born and raised in Oildale, he attended Wingland elementary and Standard Jr. High before entering North High in 1977. He played JV football as a freshman and sophomore then was the starting quarterback on the varsity as a junior. He started for three years on the Stars’ varsity basketball team and was team MVP and all-SYL as a junior. He elected not to play as a senior so he could concentrate on baseball.
In baseball Bruce played JV as a freshman then early in his sophomore year he was promoted to the varsity. That’s when the fun began. He was all-SYL as a junior and senior and all-Valley as a senior. To put the finishing touches on his great high school career in 1981, he pitched the Stars to the Valley Championship with a 10-1 win over Hanford. The team was led by North High Hall of Fame coach Tony Silver. Other North High Hall of Famers on that team included Greg Williamson and Pat Hewes. Stockdale’s first baseball coach, Danny Lemon, was also a key performer on that team. Don Lemon, Danny’s dad, is also a NH Hall of Famer.
After high school graduation Bruce was taken in the 10th round of the 1981 MLB draft by the St. Louis Cardinals but turned down their offer to take the offer of a scholarship to the University of Hawaii. Bruce became the first North High player ever taken in the MLB draft. He’s also one of the very few to ever get a D-I offer right out of North High. He was 10-0 as a freshman for U of Hawaii and was named All-American.
Some arm issues slowed his progress as a sophomore and a junior but the Oakland A’s still thought enough of him to take him in the 16th round of the MLB draft in 1985. After kicking around for a few years in the minors with the A’s, he finally made his major league debut with the A’s on May 11, 1991. He also played for the Montreal Expos in 1993 and the Colorado Rockies in 1994.
When the playing career ended, Bruce took a job with the Toronto Blue Jays organization as a pitching coach. He worked at various levels and stayed with them until he got the call to become the bullpen coach for the Blue Jays in 2002. He got a huge promotion to become the team's major league pitching coach and was there from 2009 to 2012. He now works as a roving instructor for the Miami Marlins after a stint in the minor leagues with the Chicago Cubs organization.
Father Ken and Mother Sheron were obviously big supporters of Bruce’s career and still live in Bakersfield. Sharon is a baseball fanatic and knows more about the game than most men.
Bruce is now married to Katina, a Canadian girl he met while working for the Blue Jays, and they now make their home in Canada. They have a daughter and a son. He has twin girls from a previous marriage, and four grand kids.
Bruce remains one of the very few to have been coached by four North High Hall of Fame members, Turk Eliades and Jack O’Brien (football), Lloyd Williams (basketball) and Tony Silver (baseball). So it should be no surprise he’s having such a remarkable career in professional baseball. Congratulations to this born and bred 08er. Well earned into the North High Athletics Hall of Fame.
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Colby Churchman was a rare athlete who stepped on the North High campus in 1975 and immediately made an impact. Playing three sports, football, wrestling and baseball, he was a coaches’ delight. Born and raised in Oildale, he graduated from Standard Jr. High. His mom came from Oklahoma and was a school teacher. His dad was from Delano and worked for Texaco in the oil business
As a freshman he played running back on the frosh-soph team and was most valuable player. He wrestled varsity that year and the team was undefeated in South Yosemite League team duals. He finished 3rd in the league meet. He played frosh-soph baseball for North High Hall of Fame coach Tony Silver and was MVP of that team.
As a sophomore, Colby was MVP of the JV football team, wrestled varsity again and then was named MVP of the JV baseball team under Silver
In his junior year he really started to blossom. Colby made 2nd team All-SYL on the varsity football team and was named Most Outstanding Back. In wrestling, he won 1st place in the SYL tournament, placed 2nd in the divisionals, 3rd in the valley and was a State qualifier. Then in baseball, playing for the legendary Sam Barton in his final season, made 1st team All-SYL.
As a senior in football Colby received the George Williamson Award as the team MVP and Most Outstanding Back. Also, he was named 1st team all-SYL, was the Bakersfield Californian “Prep of the Week” and was on the Californian’s 1st team All-City Defensive team. Just in case anyone thought he was tired, he also placed first in the SYL Wrestling tournament. In baseball, playing for new varsity coach Silver, his gas tank had to be empty, and the team struggled.
Colby went to Bakersfield College for one year and tried baseball but gave it up before ever playing to concentrate on school. Finally decided to go to work for Schwebel Petroleum and was there for 9 years. He followed that up with going to work for UPS and retired from there after 28 years.
He married his high school sweetheart Jeannine in 1983 and she’s now retired after working for several years as a dental assistant. They will have been married 37 years in August. They have one daughter, Baylie, who is now a court reporter.
What an outstanding career. His middle name could be “MVP.” He surely had to add an extra room to his home to put all of his trophies and awards on display. Congratulations Colby, you’ll go down as one of the all-time great all-around athletes ever at North.
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Normally Oildale residents are affectionately referred to as “Okies.” In the case of former North High baseball standout Don Lemon, that term hits the nail on the head. Born in Oklahoma, his father worked in the oil business and along with Don’s sister Barbara, the family migrated to Oildale. He was just in the 2nd grade when they arrived.
He graduated from Standard Jr. High and walked onto the North High campus in the school’s very first year, 1953. Playing football as a freshman for a team then called Class C “Twinks.” As a sophomore played on the Class B “Comets.” He gave up football after that.
In baseball, Don started on the varsity as a freshman outfielder and would have been part of the team all four years. Unfortunately, his father was stricken with cancer and Don had to stop sports and get a job to help support the family. He was only able to play parts of his junior and senior seasons because of attending to his father. His coaches were Dick Heber (a North High Athletics Hall of Famer) and Dick Westbay.
While at North High he met and eventually married Shirley Wilson and they’ve been married 61 years. They had two sons, Danny and Tim, both outstanding athletes at North and both later became well known local high school coaches. Don is blessed with four grandkids, all outstand- ing athletes.
Son Dan was a key player in the Stars winning the Valley Championship in 1981, hitting .600 in the playoffs with a broken hand! He joined the brand new Stockdale High faculty when the school opened in 1991 and stayed there for 29 years. He became their first ever varsity baseball coach. He coached baseball there for 22 years, leading them to the CIF Valley Championship in both 2008 and 2009. He also coached the men' s golf team for two years. He was recently inducted into the Stockdale Hall of Fame. His son Matt excelled in baseball for the Mustangs and daughter Sydney was a big part of Stockdale girls volleyball program.
Younger son Tim was also an outstanding athlete at North High, playing football and baseball. He played football at BC and has been a local high school football coach for West, Highland and now North. His son Jake (football) and daughter Taylor (volleyball) were also outstanding athletes at Stockdale.
Don took a job with the California Highway Patrol and worked there 13 years before having to retire due to an injury. He worked in various jobs after that, including a stint with the JC Wattenbarger & Sons Hardware store in Oildale. Don’s second love was playing golf with family and friends. He’s had the unique experience of making three holes-in one.
One thing for sure, the Lemons don’t fall very far from the tree. Congratulations Don as this honor is truly a fam- ily affair. All the “Okies” are proud of you.
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The name Winchester is usually associated with a sharp shooting rifle. This would perfectly describe Elaine Winchester, one of the greatest all-around female athletes in the school’s history. Her father Bob and mother Dessa moved Elaine and her older sister and two older brothers to Bakersfield from Washington when she was in the 2nd grade. Her father worked for Contel Telephone and her mom was a nurse. Her dad himself was somewhat of an athletic legend in Massachusetts, and his nickname was “shotgun.”
All four of the kids graduated from North. Sister Shelley and brothers Brian and Bob were all athletes. Elaine put herself on the map while in Jr. High at Beardsley. There she excelled in basketball but tried and succeeded at other sports as well. Particularly volleyball and track and field. She credits her coaches Lonnie Edgemon and Mr. Mathews for her development.
Entering North in 1978 she tried out for the volleyball team as a freshman, not knowing the practices were before school started. Her coach Ms. Lund put her in her place in a hurry. She also played basketball and softball in high school, winning several All-League honors in all sports.
Playing for coach Tom McQuinn, the Lady Stars won the Valley Championship in 1982. They made it all the way to the State playoffs before running into future USC All-American and WNBA star Cheryl Miller. At one point in the game, she blocked one of Miller’s shots and that became one of her greatest thrills.
As a senior in 1982, Elaine was awarded the prestigious Sam Lynn Award as the best female athlete in the school. Not to mention being the quarterback in the powder puff football game for 2 years. Her best memories from North were being able to play three sports and make so many lifelong friends through sports.
After North High, it was on to Bakersfield College where her nickname should have been the “rifle.” Playing volleyball and basketball both years, she really stuck out in basketball where she was team MVP for the Lady ‘Gades both years. In addition, she was named first team All-Conference both years. Amazingly she averaged 24 points a game, shot 87% from the free throw line and averaged 12 rebounds a game. Her crowning achievement was in a game in which she set a school record of 38 points, gathered in 19 rebounds and was 10 for 10 at the free throw line. This was before the 3-point line.
She received a Bakersfield College booster scholarship and was offered a full ride to Cal Poly SLO but turned it down. Instead she enrolled at San Diego State, not for sports, but to study Biology. Eventually she changed her major and became a nurse like her mom. While at San Diego State she met her future husband David Hartwig, himself a stellar high school athlete. They’ve now been married 32 years and have three children. Oldest daughter Ashleigh is a sophomore at St. Joseph’s college in Brooklyn, NY and was named Conference Player of the Year in softball as a freshman! Son Jarrett is a junior in high school and plays basketball. Youngest son Brockton is a 6th grader and plays soccer and baseball.
Maybe the “Shooting Star” would be a better name. Annie Oakley couldn’t have hung with her, that's for sure. This Winchester will go down in the annals of North High athletics. Congrats Elaine.
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Jim Bright was another of the great North High class of 1957. He arrived late at the school as a freshman and it wasn’t until April of 1954 when school was nearly out. His mother and father had packed up Jim and his sister Janet and headed west in the spring of 1954, leaving a farm in Iowa that was struggling. His father was headed to Oildale to attend Jim’s aging grandmother.
He competed in basketball and track in his final three years at North, moving from Class C to Class B to Varsity in basketball as a senior. In track he was a middle distance runner and also competed in the high jump and broad jump. After his senior year he was awarded the very prestigious Sam Lynn Award as the best athlete in the school.
After graduating he attended BC for two years then headed for Stanford to study Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. He then joined the Army, played basketball, and was on the 1963 Army Division Champions in Germany. That team went undefeated.
From there back to Cal Berkley to get his degree in math then returned to Stanford to get his masters degree. He then received a PHD in Applied Social Psychology and then went to work for a diabetic youth foundation. He moved to Raleigh, North Carolina and went to work for IBM and was there for 15 years. While there, met his wife Sharon. After retiring from IBM, he and Sharon moved to Phoenix, Maryland and opened a non-profit Pre-School for 4 year old kids. That lasted for 13 amazing years.
He’s now retired and he and Sharon have been married for some 26 years. It’s Jim’s first marriage but Sharon has 4 kids from a previous marriage. Both now retired and still living in Maryland. Jim’s sister Janet graduated from Standard Jr. High, one year behind him, before heading to North High. His cousin Dick was a North High athlete, also graduating in 1957. Dick’s sister Doris also attended North.
Congrats, Jim. An amazing career, a world traveler and well educated. He’s one of those people that could have excelled in any of life’s path he chose. Welcome to the Hall of Fame.
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Joe’s involvement in wrestling started when he was a fifth grader at Beardsley School. At the time, he was coached by his future high school wrestling coach, Win Bootman, also a member of the Hall of Fame. It was at one of those early tournaments that Joe beat a young wrestler named Herb Cosme. As fate would have it. Herb was waiting for him in the wrestling room for Joe’s first day of practice at North High.
Joe was a three year varsity wrestler at North with two of those years placing in the CIF Valley Tournament. He also won the prestigious Antelope Valley Tournament twice. The 1968 wrestling team lost the Valley championship by one point, which is still the best valley showing in the school's history.
After graduation, Joe went on to wrestle at Bakersfield College where he was a two time All American. In 1969, the Renegade wrestling team, ranked number one in the nation, and, consisting of four North High wrestlers, won the Junior College State Tournament. Joe won the 152 pound weight class at the State Meet when he beat undefeated and returning champion Lee Torres in the finals.
The following season, he placed fourth in the state tournament.
From BC, Joe went on to San Francisco State where he was undefeated in dual meets and won the Far Western Title.
After college, Joe stayed involved with wrestling in various positions. He was an assistant coach at BC for one year, the JV coach at BHS for three years, and worked with junior wrestlers for 12 years.
Joe is a founding member of the Coyote Wrestling Club and has been instrumental in raising over one million dollars for Bakersfield wrestlers.
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Born and raised in North Bakersfield, Mark attended Standard Jr. High and graduated in 1974. While there he set school records in the triple jump and high jump and brought home medals at the Jr. Olympics. Little did anyone know at that time what a competitive and talented athlete the Stars were about to get.
He played football, basketball and baseball all four years while at North.
He started his high school career as a quarterback and punter on the JV team for two years before being elevated to the varsity as a junior. Playing for the legendary coach Turk Eliades, Mark excelled and being left-handed people compared him to the Raiders great Ken Stabler. He was named all-SYL as a junior and a senior and for good reason. He still holds the school one-game passing record, completing 21 of 28 passes for an incredible 377 yards. His punting prowess also set records, one of which traveled 87 yards, 67 of it in the air!! He was also named team MVP in 1977.
But football wasn’t the only place where Mark stood out. He played varsity basketball as a junior and senior under the Hall of Fame coach Lloyd Williams. He was brought up for the playoffs as a pitcher on the 1976 Stars varsity baseball team that won the Valley Championship under another Hall of Fame coach Sam Barton. Also, on that team were NH Athletics Hall of Famers Terry Denesha, Steve Durrett and Jim Thomas. He played 3 years on the varsity but was having some arm issues as a senior.
After graduation the fun began. The Dodgers drafted him in the 15th round of the June draft that year but he turned that down. Long Beach State came calling and offered him a scholarship as a QB/punter which he accepted. Mark lost interest in football after his sophomore season and concentrated on his degree graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Marketing International Business and an Import-Export Certificate. Mark worked on the Central Coast in Aerospace for a number of years in the Night Vision Division in Operations, Program Management and Import/Export. He turned down a tryout with the Rams as a punter but did win a “Model of the Year” contest which landed him a Theatrical agent and got him into acting classes.
Over the next few years he landed a few TV and film projects, one working with the legendary Jon Voight. Fond memories of those days were having coffee with Julie Andrews and being in the offices of Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks.
He recently married Valerie Howard. They met at that “Model of the Year” contest in Hollywood in 1982. He has two daughters, Mandi and Paloma, from a previous marriage.
His greatest memories of North High were competing in all three sports and playing for some great coaches and dedicated teammates. He also enjoyed having his brother Tim around for his freshman year. Tim competed in Cross Country and Golf. He loved being in school with his mother Dorrine, everyone’s favorite teacher and counselor. She retired in 2004.
Mark Mettler could have been just about anything, a major league pitcher, an NFL punter or a Hollywood movie star. But we are honored to welcome Mark Mettler to the North High Athletics Hall of Fame. He’s a Star for life. Congratulations.
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Max Evans was born in the small town of Winner, South Dakota, in 1920, and that would perfectly describe him, a winner. He was a standout in football and basketball in high school and went on to play football at South Dakota University.
Max spent WWII with the Army Air Corps in the South Pacific, attached to a B-17 squadron. After the war he earned his teaching certificate and got a job teaching and coaching football in tiny Lohrville, Iowa.
His school superintendent sent Max to Des Moines to greet their latest hire, Regina Dwight, on the steps of the Iowa State Capital building. Less than a year later, on June 28, 1948, they were married. That lasted some 56 years before his passing in 2004. In the spring of 1949, after earning a master’s degree at Drake University, Max and Regina headed west and he was hired on the teaching staff at Kernville High School. He taught social studies and also coached football. How successful a coach was Max in the short time he was there? Kern Valley High’s athletic field is Evans Field. It was in Kernville where three of Max and Regina’s six boys were born, Michael, Stephen, and Martin. The young family spent summers in LA while Max worked on his doctorate at USC. In 1955 they moved to Oildale when Max was hired at North High.
While at North, Max taught history and social studies, and coached football and basketball. His Class B basketball Comets went 19-1 in the 1958-59 season, winning the SYL championship. Sons Patrick, Christopher, and Timothy were born to complete the family of six boys. Michael, Stephen, Martin, and Patrick all attended North High. Christopher and Timothy attended Garces. They all played multiple sports in high school. Michael was on the 1968 Valley Championship swim team. Stephen played on the 1970 North High football team that were undefeated SYL champs and featured future NFL star Randy Rich.
Max spent 28 years at North, and once he stopped coaching he became a counselor, then the Dean of Boys, and finally Vice Principal. His guidance, warmth, and good humor influenced a couple generations of Oildale youth, and helped them stay on a path for success in life. After retirement Max took on a few part time jobs, played golf, floated the river, and enjoyed life in Oildale with family and friends. Max and Regina were active parishioners at Christ the King Church in Oildale.
Besides raising six boys, Regina was a Cub Scout den mother, did carpentry and masonry projects around the home, earned a Master’s Degree in Reading at Cal State Bakersfield, and developed her own reading program. Regina’s first student was local golf pro Joe Haggerty. Regina passed away in 2013.
Max’s son Mike is a retired teacher, Steve is a retired CPA, Marty is a retired Navy JAG captain, Pat owns World Records store and concert venue in Bakersfield and is married to NHS Hall of Fame member Bonnie Vaughan, Chris is a teacher in LA, and Tim is a business executive in Ohio.
When North High first opened in 1953, the first principal Jack Hill hired an incredible faculty of teachers and coaches, including the likes of Turk Eliades, Dick Heber, Aubrey Allen, and “Boot” Bootman, among others. After the sudden death of Jack Hill, Jack Hilton took over and brought on more amazing people like Sam Barton, Dusty Rhoads, and Max Evans, to name just a few. The school has been blessed with great people over the years.
Thank you, Winner, South Dakota for Max Evans. But North High is now the winner, having had this classy man grace our campus for 28 years. Congrats Max, your family is so proud.
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This 1978 graduate of North High, Terri “Mac” McNamara was one of three children born to Jim and Bobbye McNamara. Terri’s younger sisters Cyndi and Karyn McNamara were also graduates of North High.
As an athlete at North High School, Terri competed in volleyball and softball.
In volleyball she competed all four years, two as a varsity starter. As a Sophomore she was voted the Most Outstanding Player. As a Junior she won second team All South Yosemite League honors. During her Senior Year she won first team All South Yosemite League honors and was voted the Most Outstanding Player on her team. Her discipline as a player was demonstrated by only missing one serve her entire Senior Year.
Terri was one of the first members of the girls’ softball team, established at North High in 1976. She played several positions, however, excelled at playing center field. Terri was a three year varsity starter.
As a Junior she won second team All South Yosemite League honors. As a Senior Terri batted .560 with no errors in the field. She won first team All South Yosemite League honors, was voted the Most Inspirational Player on the team and the team won the SYL Championship.
Terri’s North High accolades culminated with the prestigious, “Coca Cola Athlete of the Year”. Terri also won the California Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation award in recognition of outstanding contributions and performance in Physical Education.
After graduating she attended Bakersfield Junior College where she was a two year starter in volleyball. As a Freshman Terri won the second team All Metropolitan Conference award.
As a Sophomore Terri won the first team All Metropolitan Conference award and defensive player of the year.
After graduating from Bakersfield Junior College Terri attended Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education.
Terri has been teaching Physical Education for 35 years. She was voted teacher of the year in 1997 at Los Osos Middle School and then again in 2014 at Laguna Middle School. She also won the first ever “Dude Be Nice” award dedicated to a faculty member who students feel they can trust, communicate with and are compassionate.
In 1987 Terri married Michael Norlock, a Physical Educator. Together, they have two children Jacob and Brianna.
Both children were three sport athletes at Atascadero High School and voted Athletes of the Year. Jacob played football for Cal Lutheran and Brianna received a scholarship to play volleyball at Adams State in Colorado.
Athletics has always been a part of her life. Her parents were her biggest supporters and were always there for her.
Her best memories of North High were her coaches and teachers Mrs. Wass, Ms. Lund, Ms. McDole, Mr. Bimat, Mr. Att, and Mr. Maier. Through their love of their sport, knowledge, compassion and sense of humor these amazing people inspired her to work hard, stay focused and to pay it forward.
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The 1961 North High Stars varsity baseball team may not have been the best in the history of the school, but they sure could rank up there with the best. A talented group that actually made their mark in the 1960 season after getting called up from the JV’s very early season.
The group was headed by probably the best hitter in the history of North High, George Mendiburu. The 5-10, 240-pound catcher who was also a football star, was the most feared hitter in the county and most likely could have had a pro career if he had wanted to play. The best pitcher on the team was the talented 3-sport athlete Guy Rounsaville. He broke his arm early in the football season and was still named all-Valley. Was also named all-Valley in basketball, all the while not knowing his arm was broken. It was in the early season training for baseball that he discovered his arm was broken. As a result, did not pitch a single inning for the Stars. He was the best pitcher on the team as a junior and no doubt would have been All-Valley as a senior.
The core of this group played JV’s as sophomores and won the league championship, losing just one game all year, a 1-0 defeat to Taft. When the 1960 season started, most were still slated for JV’s again since the varsity had several returning seniors and there simply wasn’t room. As fate would have it, the seniors had a “senior ditch day” and all but two of them were kicked off the team. So, the JV squad was promoted to varsity. In those days the most prestigious tournament around was the Delano Lions Club tournament which attracted scouts from every major league team. Coached by Bob Russell, the Stars won the tournament and put a huge target on their backs for the rest of season and the 1961 season as well.
Going into the last day of the 1960 season, the Stars were tied with BHS for the SYL championship and lost to East Bakersfield and finished 2nd. But it was a different story going into the 1961 season with “The Driller Killer” Larry Congdon and future major leaguer George Culver leading the way on the mound, opening with a 27-0 win over Tulare and kept going from there. North High tied for the SYL Championship with East and had a playoff game at Sam Lynn Ball Park in front of a full house. North won 5-3 behind the pitching of Culver. They then played in the semi-finals of the Valley Championship against Roosevelt High of Fresno, again at Sam Lynn Ball Park, in front of scouts from every major league team. Roosevelt had a pitcher by the name of Wade Blasingame who would later sign with the Milwaukee Braves for $150,000, the highest bonus ever given at that time. Roosevelt won the game 4-2 in 14-innings, with both Blasingame and Culver pitching the entire game! Blasingame ended his high school career with a record of 28-0. Ironically, both him and Culver played MLB together on the Houston Astros from 1970-1972.
The Stars had many talented players, were known for defense, especially the Hall twins, Mike (SS) and Mark (CF). Rounsaville went to Stanford on a football scholarship and made all-Conference as a 175-pound defensive end. Sadly, of the 13 players in the team picture and including coach Russell, 7 have passed away. In memory of George and John Drennan, Mendiburu, Mark Hall, Barry Schulz and Mike Kelly.
Maybe the unsung hero of the whole team was team manager Bill McLean. In addition to being the official scorer, he was also the bullpen catcher, the batting practice pitcher and assistant bench coach, helping coach Bob Russell. He actually later played at BC for legendary coach Gerry Collis.
Congrats to the 1961 SYL Champion Stars, setting the bar high for future North High baseball teams.
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The roots of North High’s first Valley swimming championship can be traced to the formation of the North of the River Recreation and Park District, and the building of its first pool on Galaxy Avenue. With this new pool across the street from North High, the Aqua Aces swim team was formed by many families with deep roots in the Oildale area. The families included the Allens, the McCowns, the Thomases, the Glockners, the Townsends, the Ericssons and many more.
Once these core families’ children reached high school, the North High swimming program really took off. The results of the program greatly strengthened in 1966 when the Pearsons moved to Bakersfield from Ventura. From 1966 to 1971, the Star swim team didn’t lose to another Kern County team except for Bakersfield High in the dual and Valley meets of 1966.
Just 12 years after the Galaxy Avenue pool was built, the team of 1968 became the highlight of Dick Brown’s long tenure as North’s swimming coach. Despite not winning an individual race, the Stars scored in all but one event at Valley and beat the defending champs, Bullard by 12 1⁄2 points in the meet held at Hoover High.
Leading the efforts for the Stars were sophomore Barry Townsend and senior Larry Pearson. Townsend took second in the 50 and 100 free, while Pearson took second in the 200 individual medley and 100 back. North also took second in both relays with the team of Gary Pearson, Barry McCown, John Thomas and Jay Ericsson in the 200-medley relay, and the team of both Pearsons, Tim McCown and Townsend in the 400 freestyle relay.
Other individual scoring efforts came from Thomas in the 100 butterfly and 400 free, Barry McCown in the 100 breaststroke, Tim McCown in the 200-individual medley, Gary Pearson in the 100 back and Reed Adamson in diving.
The most glorious year in the annuals of North swimming were aided by the efforts of several other varsity team members – breaststroker Jon Ackerman, sprinter Eric Berger, butterflier Mike Lockhart, distance freestyler Cliff Ford and divers Chuck Richert and Jim McBride and manager Brock Thoene.
Coach Dick Brown was inducted into the North High Athletics Hall of fame in 2017, and both diving coach Aubrey Allen and Barry Townsend were enshrined in 2014. What an era. What a team. Congratulations to Stars’ 1968 Valley Championship swim team, North’s first and to this date the last.
