Eight individuals and one team will be the 2019 class to be inducted into the 7th annual Salinas Valley Sports Hall of Fame on Aug. 24 at the Storm House.
Here is a brief summary of the inductees:
Al Borges: Was an offensive coordinator for such high profile college football teams at UCLA, Michigan, Auburn, Cal-Berkeley, Oregon, Boise State, Indiana and San Diego State. He was described by Auburn head coach Pat Dye as “one of the best offensive coordinators I’ve ever seen.’’ Borges coached three All-American quarterbacks at Portland State, led Oregon to the No. 1 passing team in the Pac-10, averaged 32 points per game in his five years at UCLA and helped Auburn go 41-9 in his four years there, including 13-0 in 2004. Borges started his coaching career with the Salinas High football team in 1975.
Rudy Guevara: The 1973 Gonzales High graduate began his standout wrestling career with a third-place finish in the state meet his senior year. He won the Pacific Coast Association title at San Jose State and finished with 106 career wins. He went on to become head coach and director of the California Junior Olympic team for 10 years and was on the National coaching staff from 1986-2004. Guevara was inducted into the San Jose State Hall of Fame in 2015 and that same year received a Lifetime Service honor from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Ken Kline: Turned the King City High girls basketball team into a perennial powerhouse. His teams reached the CCS playoffs 26 consecutive years, won two section titles and 14 MTAL crowns. From 1979 to 2008 Kline’s teams had an overall record of 524-221, including one year when the Mustangs went 30-1. At the time of his retirement Kline’s win total ranked No. 4 in the section and No. 10 in the state.
Brewster Thompson: A three-sport star at North Salinas High lettered in football, basketball and track) Thompson’s greatest fame came in jump roping. He was known as the world’s strongest jump roper and could carry three people and more than 400 pounds. Thompson performed on the David Letterman Show and Arsensio Hall. He was in the film Lionheart, was invited to the White House twice and was the oldest man to win a judo award.
Tamisha Allen: Allen was an overall standout wherever she went – from North Salinas High to Hartnell College to Fresno State. She competed in basketball and volleyball – was second team All-American at Hartnell in volleyball – but her specialty was track. She was a two-time state champion for Hartnell in 1978, winning the 100 high and 400 low meter hurdles as a freshman, and won two more state titles as a sophomore in the long jump and 100 high hurdles. She received a full-ride to Fresno State and her 13.90 clocking in the 100 low hurdles ranked third best in the Western Athletic Conference.
Laird Small: The Salinas High graduate is one of the most recognized people ever at Pebble Beach where he has spent nearly 30 years. He was the 2003 National PGA Teacher of the Year, has been honored by Golf Digest as one of the country’s 50 greatest teachers every year since 2007, and was named by Golf Magazine one of the country’s top 100 teachers, about the highest honor a golf pro can achieve.
He’s also been a weekly regular on KSBW-TV, giving a short segment on golf tips.
Dick Leonard (deceased): A long-time coach for youth football Leonard was not only the chief organizer of the Salinas Colts and Broncos program, but during his 30 years involvement also was instrumental in the building of the North County Bulldogs, Alisal Eagles and Alvarez Titans. He also coached high school football at Salinas and Alisal, becoming head coach at Alisal at age 70. He was a key figure in the fund-racing effort that gave Alisal High its all-weather track and football stadium. In 2008 the Monterey Bay Youth Football League honored Leonard for his more than 40 years of service by naming the championship trophies the Dick Leonard Memorial Trophy.
Dick Tuttle (deceased): A legendary fastpitch softball pitcher Tuttle was the founding member of the Board of Directors for the Committee for the Preservation of Fastpitch Softball in Salinas. He organized, financed and coached semi-pro baseball teams for adults in 1961 and 1962 and coached the Salinas High varsity football team for 10 years before being inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame. Tuttle was also tournament director at Salinas Fairways for 10 years.
1990 King City High volleyball team: The Mustangs became the first prep team in the history of the Salinas Valley to reach a state tournament. They went 14-0 in league and continued the team’s lengthy win streak of 91 consecutive league victories. After losing their season-opening match in five sets, King City did not lose another pre-season or league game, sweeping every opponent in three sets. They lost in the D-II title match to defending state champion and unbeaten La Habra.
Ticket information for the Hall of Fame can be found at the website: salinasvalleysportshalloffame.com
