McLucas, Mathews, Smith, Hofmann, Anderson, Houlihan
Headline
Ventura College Athletic Hall of Fame Selections
for 2007
The Ventura College Athletic Association has announced the selection of thirteen (13) new members into the Athletic Hall of Fame. The members selected represent twelve different sports spanning over 60 years of sports history. They will be formally inducted on Friday, October 5, 2007 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Ventura.
The thirteen 2007 inductees into the Ventura College Athletic Hall of Fame include:
Dave McLucas MVP - Basketball and Track, All-Time Leading Rebounder,
State Champion in High Hurdles, VC Athlete of the Year,
All-So. California, All-State Basketball, 1967-1969.
Phil Mathews Coach of 10 WSC Men’s Basketball Championships, 2 State
Championships, 298 wins and 50 losses, Inductee – California
Community College Basketball Hall of Fame, Inductee-Ventura
County Sports Hall of Fame, currently assistant men’s basketball
coach, University of Nebraska, VC coach 1985-95.
Billy J. Smith 1st Team All-WSC Football unanimous selection, playing only a
portion of season due to injuries, 618 yards rushing in 3 games,
team scoring leader, professional baseball player – Chicago Cubs
All-CIF in four sports in high school. Considered one of most
gifted athletes to ever compete in Ventura, 1954-1955.
Carol Mills 1st Team All State, All WSC for State Champion Women’s
Cross Country, WSC Player of the Year - Women’s Basketball,
WSC leader in scoring, assists and steals, Most Valuable
Performer – Women’s WSC Champions Track and Field, Ventura
College Female Athlete of the Year, 1982-1984.
Renae Hofmann 2 time 1st Team All State, 2 time WSC MVP Women’s
Basketball, Women’s State Player of the Year, led Lady Pirates
to two California State Championships and a 70-4 record, 1998-
2000.
Dan Mainzer WSC MVP Men’s Tennis, 2 time 1st Team All WSC, WSC
Champion in singles and doubles, ranked #5 in State, 46-9
in singles over two years, 1986 & 1987.
Ernie Hall All National Junior College Men’s Basketball, All So. California,
2 time 1st Team All WSC, #4 all time VC in scoring – 1518
points, averaged 19.5 points per game, led Pirates to 2 consecutive
California State Men’s Basketball Championships, 1949 & 1951.
George Anderson Track, Cross Country, Football Coach at Ventura College for
33 years, began cross country competition at VC in 1957, assistant
coach on 1965 WSC Football Champions, coached dozens of
conference and state champions in Track and Field
including Dave McLucas and Bruce Smith, 1952-1985.
Max Houlihan Pound for pound, the finest athlete to ever attend Ventura College
at 5’ 4”, 140 pounds, an All WSC football quarterback (the
smallest person to ever earn such an honor), a leader, known
for courage, inspiration and heart, led his high school football
teams to two perfect seasons, Ventura High School and
Ventura College named their respective annual Outstanding
Student Athlete Awards after Houlihan, transferred to USC and
then to San Jose State University, prior to returning to Ventura
College in 1947.
Chrissy Sanford 1st Team NSCAA Junior College All American Women’s Soccer,
CCCSA 1st Team All State, WSC Most Valuable Player, single
season scoring record of 45 goals - 1998, transferred to Azusa
Pacific, 1st Team All WSC, NAIA All American - 2000 & 2001,
NAIA Offensive Player of the Year - 2001
Pookey Wigington All American Men’s Basketball, California State MVP, State
Tournament MVP, 1st Team All WSC, lead Pirates to WSC and
State Championships with a record of 31-4 in 1987, transferred to
Seton Hall University, and led SHU to NCAA Finals versus
Michigan in 1989.
Craig Rond National Community College All American Water Polo player and
National Community College All American Swimmer – 1995/96,
2 time California Community College State Champion – Swim
200 fly & 800 free relay, Conference Swimmer of the Year - 1986
San Jose State University MVP & Team Captain, Master
Swimming All American – 1991 & 1992, National Coach of the
Year 2006 & 2007 at California Lutheran University
John Smithson Deceased, 29 years at Ventura College, Professor Emeritus –
Engineering, Public Address Announcer, Voice of Pirate football
` and basketball for 14 years, worked alongside wife Patsy who
served as spotter, a mentor and supporter of Ventura College
athletics for his entire professional career, 1956-1985.
For additional information, contact the Ventura College Department of Intercollegiate Athletics - Hall of Fame at (805) 654-6348 |
