2024 Inductees
North High School Athletics Hall of Fame: 2024 Induction Class
1976 Baseball Valley Championship Team
Scroll down ⬇️ for Inductee Biographies
2024 Inductee Biographies
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Alan was born in Sierra Madre, California in 1967. When he was 8 years old, his family moved to Bakersfield. His father Gary worked for United Way in the Los Angeles area then went to work for Ticor Title in Bakersfield. His mother Lynn worked for Rite Aid for many years. Both are retired and living the good life.
He has one younger brother Chad, also a North high athlete, who is now the golf pro at the Buena Vista Golf Course near Taft.
Alan attended school at Roosevelt Elementary and Standard Jr. High before entering North High in 1981. He played basketball on the JV team as a freshman then started on varsity for the next three years. He was a shortstop in baseball on the JV team as a freshman then played the next three years on the varsity for North High Hall of Fame coach Tony Silver. He was named first team all-SYL as a senior.
After graduation, Alan played baseball at Point Loma College for one year but hurt his arm and was unable to play anymore. His father Gary had introduced him to golf at a young age and spent a lot of time with him and his brother Chad playing at North Kern. Once he returned home to Bakersfield, his interest in golf picked up and he started in the business as a cart boy at Rio Bravo Country Club.
By 1990, he was the assistant pro at North Kern. In 2006 he went to work for Jim Foss at the Kern River golf course and then went to work at the Buena Vista golf course in 2016 before becoming the head pro at North Kern in 2017. He’s been there ever since.
Alan got his Class A professional license in 2017. He has spent the past several years playing very successfully in various PGA sanctioned senior events. He once made the finals of the Senior PGA Tour Qualifying school. He won his first event in 2017 at Oak Valley CC in the Southern California Senior PGA Championship. He also won the event in 2020 and again in 2022. This past year, he won the 2023 Southern Cal Senior PGA Open.
He still plays on a regular basis with the “noon game” boys at North Kern and still shoots between 62-69, taking everyone’s money in the process. He hits the ball a mile and is still deadly with his irons and putter. His lowest score ever at North Kern is 56 from the white tees!!! You’d probably like him for your partner. He’s just one of the guys and enjoys giving back to the community and work- ing in the golf business.
Alan has five children from a previous marriage, daughters Brooke (36), Kennedy (28) and Carter (22), plus two sons Harrison (27) and Jackson (24). They all attended Taft High School and were also involved in athletics. He’s been married to his current wife Carrie for 6 years.
Welcome to the North High Hall of Fame. You’re an “ACE” in the 08ers books.
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Amy Elkins’ story starts with her parents’ deep roots with the Kern High School District. Her mother Judy Fisher was a star student and speech and debate champion alum of North High. and her father Orville Elkins was a basketball player at Bakersfield High. Both received scholarships to UC Santa Barbara where they earned their education degrees. Judy became a hall of fame administrator with an esteemed career at South High. Orville was an award-winning math teacher & varsity boys basketball coach at BHS.
As a result, Amy grew up in the gym and spent her nights and weekends watching and attending all of BHS’ games with her pops. Orville took Amy and younger brother Andy, to the park often to play a round of horse and execute dribbling drills. He made them watch tape and squeeze tennis balls to get more hand control. He believed in the power of the mind and had Amy visualize strong performances. He conditioned her on what it took to win from a young age. Most importantly, he really believed in her.
Amy was tall and powerful from a young age and played every sport as soon as possible, earning a silver medal in the Junior Olympics in tennis at UCLA. Her grandmother Elkins was 6’1” and played on a traveling basketball team called The Georgia Redheads — all the family felt she was her mirror image and there were big hopes for Amy’s athletic career. Amy went to Norris and was recruited with her teammate Lorraine Ash by Coach Don Tillman to play eighth-grade basketball in the sixth grade. Because of her size and coordination, there was a lot of focus on what Amy’s sports career may look like. Amy’s other Grandma Reba was a staple at the games and didn’t miss one.
While Amy could choose to go to BHS or South because of her parent’s employment, it was a clear choice joining the girls basketball program that legendary Coach DeRossett led at North. Elkins was known for her physicality, rebounding, inside scoring threat, free throw shooting and as a team player. As a sophomore, Elkins played on the varsity team and earned Kern High School Rookie of the Year, voted by the other schools’ coaches. Elkins grew to be a strong leader on the team and ultimately co-captain. During her varsity career, the Lady Stars won three consecutive SYL Championships, two Valley Titles and had a Final Eight appearance in the State Championship Tournament.
After NHS, Elkins played at Bakersfield College for two years and then transferred to UCLA, but opted not to continue to play basketball. She focused on school and work and graduated with a B.A. in English.
After graduation, Elkins started in the advertising industry and quickly found a position in Hollywood. It would turn out to be a long career, marketing over 200 films including James Bond, Legally Blonde, Paranormal Activity, Rocky Balboa and Bad Moms for various film studios. She has earned industry-wide recognition in Variety’s Marketing Impact Report, Variety’s Women of Entertainment as well as a 2018 recipient for her Visionary Digital Leadership awarded by Hollywood in Pixels. She is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and also serves as a long-time mentor in the Big Brothers and Big Sisters Organization and is committed to giving back to underestimated youth.
Currently, Amy lives in Westwood, CA and her most important role is that as the single mom to her 16-year-old beautiful and talented daughter Liv Elkins who loves art and anime and wants to be a doctor. The two have been through a lot together and have enjoyed camping and traveling since Amy adopted Liv from Ethiopia after her divorce in 2006.
The fundamentals of Amy’s spiritual outlook and physical discipline are a result of the rigor and programming from her father and coaches. Her effectiveness in the boardroom and running global professional teams comes directly from playing team sports. Her ability to get back up when she falls is from Coach DeRossett and Eliades screaming in her face to stop crying and never quit. She is a warrior, a leader, an executive, a student, an athlete and a caring citizen because of her time at NHS.
Amy feels deep gratitude to her parents, who have since passed. She cherishes the love and memories of the sports games and “smack talk Elkins humor,” nostalgic spirit and the jump hook with her very athletic brother Andy Elkins (star point guard at NHS and amazing father to the kind and budding star-athlete Emma, both who are here today, traveling all the way in from Virgina). She is also grateful for all the love from her family, the Leons, who have supported her along the way.
One of the most important things a good team does is that it gives you friends for life and the Ash twins, Lorraine and Alexis. They have been family to Amy along the way and she is forever thankful for their connection through the years. Simply put, they leveled me up and picked me up when I was down. Even at 51, the Sports Community is still the foundation of her being and permeates in all things on and off the court. Always a Lady Star, representing proudly #Together We Can. @Elkins. Wow! What a story, what a great career, what a great life, what a great addition to the North High Athletics Hall of Fame. Congratulations Amy.
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Bud Mitacek was born in Bakersfield on Sept. 27, 1967. He comes from a great bloodline. His father Frank III came here from the Chicago area and his mom Suzi came here from Iowa City, Iowa. His dad was an outstanding football and baseball player at South High in the late 50’s and early 60’s when the school first opened. Bud’s dad encouraged him to get involved in sports at a very young age and it paid off.
Because of the number of men named Frank in his family, he went by the name of Bud to avoid confusion. He went to Norris Jr. High, then entered North High in 1982. He would play football, basketball and baseball all four years under some outstanding coaches. In football he played under North High Hall of Famers Turk Eliades and Rick Harvick. In basketball he played under Lloyd Williams and in baseball under Tony Silver, both in the North High Athletics Hall of Fame.
Bud played middle linebacker in football and was All-SYL as both a junior and a senior. He was also named All-Area as a senior. He was named Defensive Player of the Year as a senior. After graduating from North High, he accepted a scholarship to play football at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He played there only one year then transferred to Porterville JC to play for another North High legend, Jack O’Brien. There he was named second team All-State linebacker.
After Porterville Bud received an offer from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and was moved to tight end where he was a starter. The 1988 UTEP team was one of the best in the school’s history and he played in the Independence Bowl against Southern Miss and Brett Favre. In 2023 the school honored that 1988 team into their Hall of Fame.
After graduation he returned home to join his father in the family business, Franks’s International. Recently he went to work for Central Cal Power out of Shafter.
Bud has four children from a previous marriage. His daughters Sydney and Roxy both work in the health care industry. His youngest son Frank V is now serving in the US Coast Guard. The youngest daughter Taya is a junior in high school. His wife Marisol is a 1999 graduate of North High and he has two bonus daughters, Addison Ward, who’s a freshman cheerleader at Centennial, and Mia Ward who’s at Discovery Elementary.
Bud’s dad attended Bakersfield College after graduation and was an All-American. From there he played at Arizona State for two years. That’s where he met Suzi and she worked as a dental hygienist for several years. His dad is now retired and living in Phoenix. His mom Suzi sadly passed away from cancer recently. He has a younger sister Mikki who also attended North High.
Congrats to Bud Mitacek on an outstanding career. Welcome to the North High Athletics Hall of Fame. You’re a buddy to all of us.
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Duane Williams was a natural born athlete. Although he’s remembered mostly for his outstanding basketball skills, he really could have played almost any sport. Not to mention the fact that he was a very accomplished musician.
Born in Bakersfield on February 11, 1953. His dad Harold worked in the oilfield business and his mom Thelma taught Sunday School in Oildale. He graduated from Standard Jr. High and entered North High in 1967.
Duane played one year of freshman baseball under North High Athletics Hall of Famer Terry Hill. As a sophomore, he elected to go out for track instead of baseball and lettered there. As a junior and senior, he played varsity baseball under North High Athletics Hall of Fame coach Sam Barton. He was named All-League first baseman as a senior.
He played three years of varsity basketball for another North High Athleitcs Hall of Fame coach, Lloyd Williams. He was team captain in both his junior and senior seasons. As a senior, he was the leading scorer in all of Kern County and set a school single game scoring record of 34 points which lasted for several years. He was named All-SYL and All-City both years.
In addition to all his athletic endeavors, Duane also played in the band and was part of the orchestra all four years. He was also President of the Big N club as a junior. Where did he find the time?
After graduation, he played at Bakersfield College for one year, then went to Cal State Bakersfield for his sophomore season and was part of their first-ever basketball team. While playing basketball at CSUB, he worked in the summers in the oil fields and arranged music for the church choir.
After college, he married Katy, and they had two children, Brooke and Trevor. His daughter Brooke also attended North High and was an outstanding athlete. She met her husband Brad Antonioni at the Nazarene church in Bakersfield at a youth group. She graduated from CSUB with a degree in business and went on to complete her MBA at CSUB. His son Trevor attended Centennial High and played football and soccer. He graduated from UCSB with a degree in biology and got a Master of Science degree at USC as a physician assistant. He met his wife Monique in Santa Barbara while attending UCSB.
Duane and his father Harold started Lunn Oil Production, which owned 27 oil rigs when they sold the company. After the company was sold, Duane worked as a consultant for other oil companies. In 2004 Duane bought the failing Trans-West Security Company, with 100 employees.
The company now has over 600 employees. His daughter Brooke and son-in-law Brad and daughter-in-law Monique all now work for the family-owned business.
He has two sisters, Lynn Williams and Gail Wozniak, both of whom attended North. His mother and father are both deceased.
Congratulations Duane on an outstanding career. So proud to induct you into the 08ers’ Hall of Fame. You were music to our ears.
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The blood runs thick in Josh Williams’ family. His father Duane is a North High Hall of Famer, was a three-sport star at North and graduated in 1973. His mom Jennifer was a BHS grad and swam and played a little tennis. Duane was an All-American football player at both BC and Cal Berkeley. His older sister Corrie was also a three-sport star at North and was a four-year starter at Florida State in softball while garnering All-ACC honors. Corrie was a very successful Lady Stars softball coach for 20 years. It’s been the most successful program in the school’s history and she’s also in North High’s Hall of Fame.
Josh Williams probably needs an extra room in his home for all his awards and honors throughout his athletic career. But he needed to keep up with the family. He was born on November 22, 1978, in Bakersfield. It wouldn’t be a surprise if his baby crib was full of footballs, basketballs and baseballs.
After attending Stockdale Christian Jr. High, Josh entered North High in 1993 at only 5‘5,” but would leave a giant mark on the school. He was a three-year Varsity starter in both basketball and baseball, a three-time all-SYL in both sports and All-Area in both sports as a junior and senior. In addition, he was all-CIF in basketball as both a junior and a senior. To top it off he set the CIF Section record for career assists as a senior. He was a two-year starter in football, making all league and All-Area as a senior.
Capping off his prep career, he was awarded the Sam Lynn Award as North High’s Top Male Athlete, the Jim Tyack Award as the County’s top male athlete and the Mayor’s Trophy, the city’s highest honor for a student athlete. All this at a whopping 5’8” tall.
As if he ever had time to study, he was recognized as a three sport Scholar Athlete his senior year, finishing with a 3.95 GPA. He was selected as a member of the distinguished 1996-1997 Ford Dimension Leadership Program which consisted of ten students from various Bakersfield area high schools.
After graduation from North, Josh played basketball for one year at Bakersfield College and led the conference in assists and earned All-Conference honors in the process. The 1997-1998 Renegades had an outstanding season, going 32-4 and finishing as State runner-up, one of the top finishes in school history.
From BC it was on to Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego. He made an impact there right from the start, being named team captain in each of his three seasons. As a junior, he led the team to a 28-7 record and a berth in the National Championship playoffs. One of the highlights of his career was leading Point Loma to a win over Cal State Bakersfield here in Bakersfield. He’s still seventh on the school’s all-time career assist list and third in the career and single season steals list.
He graduated from Point Loma with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration. He returned to Bakersfield earning a teaching credential and a Master of Arts in Education Leadership. In 2002 he was hired by his alma mater, North High, as a teacher and assistant coach in basketball, softball and baseball. He became the head basketball coach in 2004 and during his tenure the Stars won back-to-back league championships. As f he needed more items for his trophy case, he was named the Bakersfield Californian “Coach of the Year” following the 2006 season. He ended his coaching career after the 2007-2008 season to pursue a career within the Kern High School District.
Josh is currently the Assistant Principal of Instruction at Liberty High. He married Kristi and they have two children, Claire and Carson, both students at Liberty High. Both his mom and dad are retired now and do a lot of travelling.
Josh now joins his dad and sister in the North High Athletics Hall of Fame. They may never be a classier and more deserving family of people. Josh’s class and work ethic is something all his students should copy. Welcome Josh, find a place in that trophy case for this one. So proud to enshrine you, well earned.
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Very few have come along from North High and made their mark not only as an athlete but a coach and administrator as well. Kirk, affectionately known as “Sobi,” will not be forgotten for a long time.
A proud graduate of North High School in 1982, Kirk was a dedicated student-athlete who played four years of both football and basketball and played baseball for two years. His time at North was just the beginning of a lifelong connection to this community and this school. Kirk went on to further his education at California State University, Bakersfield, but it wasn’t long before he found his way back to North High, where he began to shape the lives of countless young athletes as a coach.
Kirk was born in Bakersfield on January 24, 1964, Kirk grew up in Oildale, where his love for sports, fishing, and hunting was forged alongside friends and family. From a young age, Kirk’s passion for life and the people around him shone brightly, and it was this passion that he carried with him throughout his journey.
Kirk started his coaching career with the JV boys basketball team and the JV/frosh football team. His dedication, hard work and natural ability to connect with young people were immediately evident. But it was in 1988, when he joined forces with Curt DeRossett as an assistant coach for eight years on the girls varsity basketball team. There Kirk truly found his calling. The Lady Stars were a dominant program during that time, with not only league titles but Valley Championships as well. In 2005 and 2006, Kirk took over as head coach and was the heart and soul of that program. But more importantly, Kirk helped mold strong, confident, and resilient young women both on and off the court.
Not content with just coaching at North, Kirk went on to create the Bakersfield Power girls club basketball team. Athletes from across Kern County flocked to play for him, drawn by his knowledge, his passion, and his unwavering commitment to their development as both players and individuals.
Kirk’s impact on the lives of those he coached and mentored is immeasurable. He wasn’t just a coach—he was a role model, a mentor, and a friend. He believed in his athletes, even when they didn’t believe in themselves, and he pushed them to achieve more than they thought possible. His legacy lives on in the countless lives he touched, the lessons he taught and the example he set.
As we remember Kirk today, let us not only celebrate his many accomplishments but also the profound and lasting influence he had on all who were fortunate enough to know him. Kirk Ansolabehere was a man who lived with purpose, passion, and a deep love for his community. His legacy will continue to inspire and uplift us for generations to come.
Unfortunately, Kirk passed away in March of 2014. But his spirit will live forever as a huge part of the North High Athletics Hall of Fame. RIP “Sobi.”
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If Mark Wyatt ever had to apply for a job, it would take the company at least two days to go through his resume. There had to be more than one Mark Wyatt. Talk about someone that’s been around the world, yet never much further than California, that’s Mark.
He attended both Longfellow and Greenacres Elementary schools before going to Fruitvale Jr. High. His unbelievable journey began when he entered North High in the fall of 1975.
Mark was born on Sept. 10, 1960. His dad Rudy Carthal Wyatt played football at both BHS and Bakersfield College. He worked as a real estate appraiser and trained horses. His mom Vicky Ann Wyatt was an East High grad. She worked at BC, then later in Delano as an Elementary School teacher for 20 years. Both are now retired.
One of his two sisters, Rebecca Ann, was a 1997 North High grad who swam at BC and graduated from UCLA and now lives in Santa Cruz. Whitney Marie was a 1989 grad from BHS and attended Princeton University. She is one of the all-time top track and swimming athletes from the Central Section.
Growing up, he was into every kind of sport and activity there was. He started playing baseball in the Greenacres Little League at six years old and played Cub Scout, JBA and North of the River youth baseball. He also swam, ran track and field, played Jack Frost football, played basketball and boxed for the Bakersfield Saints. Oh, by the way, he also fished, hunted and was an exercise jockey for thoroughbred horses on the family farm. This was all before he even got to North High.
At North he played basketball for three years, including one under the great North High Athletics Hall of Fame coach Lloyd Williams. He also played four years of baseball under a couple of Hall of Famers, Sam Barton and Tony Silver. When he started his senior year, he was still growing at 6-5, 235 pounds. Then tragedy struck. He was diagnosed with stage three metastatic cancer. He spent most of that year at UCLA undergoing multiple surgeries and chemotherapy. By March of 1979, he weighed 155 pounds!
Fortunately, the CIF granted him another year of eligibility and he took advantage of it. He made it back in a big way, playing basketball again and then made All-SYL in baseball. He capped off his senior season by blasting a 490’ home run at Arvin onto the football field bleachers.
He played two years at Bakersfield College then went to Cal State Dominguez Hills for two years where he played for Hall of Fame college coach Andy Lopez. After college, he had a tryout with the San Francisco Giants but was not signed and returned home to further his education.
Mark earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology, got another degree in physical education and a master’s degree from LaVerne in education. Who wouldn’t hire this guy? In 1990, he worked at West High for the Kern High School District, in 1991 he taught special education at Shafter and was the school’s athletic director from 1995 to 1999. When Liberty High opened, he became the first AD and then was promoted to the Dean of Students. In 2010 he became Principal of the Bakersfield Adult School which has 10,000 students, the largest in the nation. He’s been there now for 15 years.
In 1986, Mark met Elizabeth “Libby” Ann Allen. She was originally from Sacramento but graduated from Garces in1984 and attended BC and CSUB. They happened to meet at the Tam O’ Shanter restaurant here in Bakersfield. They eloped to Reno in 1991 and got married. She was the principal at Liberty High for 12 years and now works at the Kern High School District in Human Resources.
They have four children, Franchesca Marie who was born on St. Patrick’s Day, Danton Michael, both of whom graduated from Stockdale High. He also has twins, Stephan Joseph and Alexis Ann, who both graduated from Liberty High School. Danton and Stephan both played high school baseball. Both daughters were swimmers. Franchesca swam at BC and was an All-American. She still holds the record for the 1,500 Meter Free Style. While at Concordia College she qualified for the NAIA National Champi- onships.
Just another incredible story from the history of the North High archives. This story ranks right up there with the best. Mark, you are an amazing example of what determination and picking yourself up off the deck after a bad break means. Congratulations, we are so happy to make you a member of the North High Athletics Hall of Fame.
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Rick Falk entered North High as a 5 ft., 95 lb. freshman. He was elected class president, served on the student body executive board and played “C” class football and baseball. He made the varsity wrestling team in the 103 pound weight class, placed second in the league meet, and earned a varsity letter.
Rick was actually a 4-sport athlete his freshman year. According to Rick, the Big “N” club put on lunch-time boxing matches and his football coach encouraged him to enter. He went 3-0 during his “boxing career”, got a golden glove, and retired. “I think the school had second thoughts about having fights at noon so I may have a rare award that no one knows about.”
His sophomore year, Rick played “C” class football again where his team went undefeated with a 9-0 record and he was named MVP. During pre-league wrestling meets, Rick was undefeated until he suffered a season-ending knee injury at the Madera tournament. As a junior, Rick was elected Commissioner of Athletics, played “B” class football, and again, his team went 9-0 and he was named MVP.
Rick was still considered a “B” level football player as a senior because he was 5’6” and 135 lbs, But coaches Keifer and Eliades felt he could play at the varsity level. That team went 7-2 and was Co-City champions. Again, Rick earned the team MVP award, and he was selected first-team running back on both the All-City and the All-SYL teams.
After graduation, Rick decided not to play football at Bakersfield College his freshman year. When he went out his sophomore year, he made the travel team but saw little playing time. He did, however, attract the attention of the Sacramento State football coaches and they offered him a partial scholarship. At Sac State, Rick was the starting running back and punt and kickoff return man and he led the team in total yardage and yards per carry. During homecoming, he was named offensive player of the game with the most yards gained and a 69-yard punt return.
After one year at Sac State, Rick continued his education at Fresno State Extension where he received his teaching credential. He married his high school sweetheart, Karen, in 1965 and, in 1968, got his first teaching job in the Standard School District. While teaching, he also coached many different sports for Standard and NOR. Rick retired from teaching in 1974 to start his own business, Tri-Star Services, Inc.
All three of Rick and Karen’s children graduated from North High and were involved in sports. Jason ran track, daughter Kelli played basketball and softball, and Brian was a three sport athlete. They also have three grandsons: Jackson who is 15 and lives in Bakersfield, and, Randy (15) and Tyler (13) who live in Texas.
Rick is blessed to have been a kid growing up in Oildale and had coaches who encouraged him and guided him in the right direction. He has great memories from North High and many life-long friends.
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If you looked in the dictionary for the definition of a team player, you’d probably find a picture of Wendy. She could do it all. She was born in Bakersfield and entered North High in 1991 after a very competitive Jr. High athletic career. She would establish herself in several different sports.
Wendy was on the junior varsity volleyball team for two years then varsity for two years. She was an outside hitter and back row defender. As a senior, the Lady Stars won the League Championship and Wendy was named first team All-League and earned Best Defensive Player from her coach.
Her real passion was for basketball. She played guard on the varsity for three years and was known as a defensive specialist under North High Athletics Hall of Fame coach Curt DeRossett. All she did was help the team win two CIF Central Section Championships and was chosen first-team All-League each year, and first-team All-Area as a senior. She loved to steal the ball and ranks high on the North High career list with 246 in addition to contributing 786 career points. As a result, she was honored as the Star Award winner.
She competed for two years on the track team, running the 400m, 800m and 1600m races. Plus, she competed in the high jump and long jump. She even found time to run cross country her sophomore year.
But sports weren’t her whole life as she enjoyed the classroom as well. She graduated fifth in her class with a cumulative GPA of 4.0 and earned the Best Scholar Award on each of the volleyball and basketball teams she played. She was also the first recipient of the William Bimat Scholarship in honor of the treasured Principal who had tragically passed away the previous year.
After graduating from North, she played basketball at Concordia University in Irvine for four years. There she earned her degree and as fate would have it, she met her husband Matt Walker and they’ve been together over 25 years. Matt is a VP of Business Development at Commercial Capital Group. They have three children, Cassie, Jonathan and AJ. Cassie and Jonathan attend LSU together, both studying business. AJ is an eighth-grader, who after playing several sports over the years, has decided to focus on basketball.
Wendy had a support system around her as a youngster that kept her on the right path. Her stepdad Louie spent hours teaching her to play different sports. Her mom Darla sacrificed for her to play club sports. Her father John never missed a game, and her stepmom Dianna joined the family when she was in college and was very supportive. None of them went to North High but all will be attending the induction ceremony.
She has three stepsisters (Leslie, Lori, and Lenny). Leslie passed away just this past year from cancer. She had a stepbrother, Jesse, but he passed away in 2012 at the age of 24. Her older brother Marc was also a big influence on her career, always lifting her up in the down times. Both of her brothers went to school in Mojave.
What an outstanding career for an amazing young woman, as unselfish as they come. That’s why she was on so many championship teams. A great example for young kids. She has nothing but praise for her middle school coaches John O’Brien and Joel Swisher and holds her high school coaches DeRossett, Kirk Ansolabehere and Christy Kessler in the highest esteem.
Wendy is now an eighth grade math teacher at Yorba Middle School in Orange County. She’s hoping to be a positive influence on young kids and help them reach their goals. Wendy, you did it the right way and we are thrilled to induct you into the North High Athletics Hall of Fame. Congratulations. You could be on our team any time.
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When North High opened its doors in the fall of 1953, the school was loaded with outstanding athletes in all sports. As the years passed, these athletes started winning league championships at every level. In 1976, the school won its first Valley Championship in any sport.
The Stars varsity baseball team was led by the great Hall of Fame coach Sam Barton. There were great players at every position, led by pitchers Terry Ward and Mike Sweet and catcher Jimmy Thomas. Sweet and Thomas are both already in the North High Athletics Hall of Fame. Shortstop Terry Denesha, another Hall of Famer, was a big part of the team through the first half of the season. Hall of Famer Steve Durrett played third base. Other key players were shortstop Bobby Swan and second baseman Danny Rhoades. Thomas (.500), Sweet (.429), Swan (.429) and Ward (.323) led the way with the bats.
North High was co-SYL Champs in 1975 and with several key returnees, knew they had a good shot at going all the way in 1976. They breezed through the league, then played Garces in the quarterfinals of the CIF Valley Championship before a full house at Sam Lynn Ball Park. The Stars survived, winning a hard-fought battle, 7-6. One of the team’s unsung heroes, Mike Richert, squeezed home the tying run in the sixth before North scored the winning run on an error in the seventh.
In the semi-finals against Dos Palos, again at Sam Lynn Ball Park, Sweet pitched a complete game with 10 strikeouts as the Stars prevailed, 5-3. Thomas and outfielder Jerry Coles led the way with a couple of RBIs each.
The very next day in the finals against Madera, North was down 3-1 in their last at bat and last out in the top of the seventh. The Stars loaded the bases with two out and that guy Richert came through again, delivering a clutch, game-tying two-run single. Martin Ansolabehere followed with a bloop single to put the Stars ahead, 4-3. Sweet, who had pitched a complete game the day before, came on in relief of Terry Ward in the fourth inning and pitched shutout ball the rest of the way, including the bottom of the seventh to get the win. It had to be one of the most exciting wins in any sport in the history of North High athletics, not just baseball.
Congrats to a great team that will go down in history with an overall record of 23-4. The 1976 CIF Central Section Valley Champion North High Stars.
Alan Sorensen, Amy Elkins, Buddy Mitacek, Duane Williams, Josh Williams, Kirk Ansolabehere, Mark Wyatt, Rick Falk, Wendy White, 1976 Baseball Valley Champs
