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Bob Barram
Football - 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957
Track & Field - 1955, 1956, 1957
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Jim Knego
Golf - 1972, 1973, 1974
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Bob Bonner
Football 1956, 1957, 1958
Track & Field 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958
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Pete Matheisen
Basketball Coach (1970-1987)
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Craig Breschi
Baseball - 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967
Football - 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967
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Sally Pearson
Basketball - 1968, 1969, 1970
Field Hockey - 1968, 1968, 1970
Softball - 1969, 1970
Swimming - 1966
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Mark Bryant
Soccer - 1976, 1977, 1978
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Lachi (Morse) Richards
Track and Field - 1980, 1983
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William Wild Bill Courter
Swimming 1961,1962,1963,1964
Water Polo 1962,1963
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Valerie Ritchie
Basketball - 1973-1977
Volleyball - 1973, 1977
Track and Field - 1973-1977
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Kirk Freitas
Football - 1966, 1967
Track & Field - 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971
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James Richard 'Dick' Trimmer
Wrestling Coach - 1968-1974
Assistant Football Coach - 1968-1974
Head Football Coach - 1974-1983
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Sharon Galligan
Basketball - 1979, 1980, 1981
Volleyball - 1977, 1980
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Bob Wallace
Football - 1966
Track & Field - 1966, 1968
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Dian Iversen
Badminton - 1964, 195
Basketball - 1965, 1966
Field Hockey - 1963, 1964
Softball - 1965, 1966
Track & Field - 1964, 1965
Volleyball - 1965, 1966
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BOB BARRAM - Oakland, CA
Football - 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957
Track & Field - 1955, 1956, 1957
Robert Bob Barram, Ph.D. in clinical psychology, attended Chico State from 1954 through 1959 when he received his General Secondary teaching credential. During his time at Chico, he was very active in football and track. He was voted All Conference in 1957. During this period he was also elected to the Chico State Football Team of the Century as defensive end. Bob was not just an average player and his talents were recognized by inquiries from the Los Angeles Rams.
In addition to a distinguished football career, Bob excelled in track and was the anchorman of the Wildcats mile relay team in 1955 and 1956. He participated in sports throughout his entire college years.
In addition to his studies and athletics, Bob found time to serve as president of the Inter-varsity Christian Fellowship and also co-chair of the Religious Emphasis Week.
In 1956, Bob married Joan Roberson and they are approaching 45 years of marriage. Their son Rick is a high school principal and son Scott a general contractor. Bob and Joan have two terrific daughters-in-law and four wonderful grandchildren.
Bob spent three years teaching high school, nineteen years in the Christian ministry, and the last thirteen years in private practice as a psychologist in the Oakland area. Bob is now semi-retired and he and Joan have moved to Paradise where they are building a home.
BOB BONNER - Chico, CA
Football - 1970, 1971
Wrestling - 1970
When you mix an outstanding individual with great size, speed and athletic ability, you come out with a Bob Bonner.
Bob was one of the fastest and most talented linemen ever to play for the Wildcats. He was an exceptional athlete making all conference in high school for two straight years in three sports. In junior college he repeated the feat in both wrestling and football. At Chico State, Bob wrestled and played football during his junior year making All League and Little All Coast as a defensive tackle. During his senior year, because of the needs of the team, he was asked to play offensive tackle where he repeated his honors making the All Far Western Conference Team and first Team Little All Coast.
One of Coach Riehlman's most memorable moments at Chico State was watching Bob block against Hall of Famer Al Davenport in scrimmages with Hall of Famer Chauncey Turnbow carrying the ball. It was a Battle of the Titans.
Following school, Bob went to work for Pacific Gas and Electric where he has remained for nearly 30 years and although his job keeps him on the road building substations, he has found time to participate in many community activities.
CRAIG BRESCHI - Rocklin, CA
Baseball - 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967
Football - 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967
Craig Breschi attended Chico State College from the fall of 1963 through the spring of 1969, when he completed his Master’s Degree in Physical Education.
Craig was truly a Mr. Wildcat , participating in both football and baseball all 4 years of his collegiate eligibility, along with some rugby after his intercollegiate days were completed. In football, Craig earned Far Western all conference second team in both his junior and senior years. He was also honored by the SF Chronicle in being named Little All Coast honorable mention his junior year. His senior year, he was named the MVP on the team, and when the All Century team was announced, he was again honored with honorable mention status.
In baseball, Craig played his final 3 years of eligibility at the varsity level.
Probably Craig’s greatest honor was being selected the Male Senior Athlete of the Year at Chico State, an honor bestowed not just for his abilities in athletics but also for the leadership he displayed while competing for Chico State.
Craig has been a teacher/coach in the San Juan Unified School District, coaching football for 26 years and baseball for 10 years.
Craig Breschi competed in athletics at Chico State with true Wildcat intensity and thus greatly deserves tonight’s honor.
MARK BRYANT - Antioch, CA
Soccer - 1976, 1977, 1978
Mark Bryant was an outstanding player on the 1976-1978 Chico State Varsity Soccer Teams. In fact, Mark's outstanding level of play contributed to Chico State qualifying for the NCAA Regional Championships the three years that Mark competed and a trip to the NCCA National Championship Final IV
Mark was selected All League in 1977 and 1978, and the All Far West All-American Team in 1978. After graduation and over a three-year period he played professional soccer as a starting defender in the American soccer League (ASL). He played for the Sacramento Gold, and the New England Sharks where he was selected as an ASL All-American.
In 1991, and after an extended professional career, Mark completed his Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education. He has also received his National Level Coaching License from the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), and the National Coaching Diploma from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).
In recent years, Mark Bryant has dedicated his time coaching and developing youth soccer programs throughout Northern California. Mark lives in Antioch, California, is married to Sharrna, and has 2 children, Jessie Marie and Jordan Mark.
WILLIAM "WILD BILL" COURTER - Carmichael, CA
Swimming 1961,1962,1963,1964
Water Polo 1962,1963
Bill was a member of Chico State's first swimming and Water Polo Teams. During that time he was a multi-All Conference performer in the 100 and 200 yard breaststroke, as well as individual medley relay team. He gained All-American status in 1965 in two events and really put Chico State on the map in swimming when he became the first National Champion in any sport for Chico State. That year he placed first in the 100 yard breaststroke at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships at Iowa State University with a national record of 1:03:6.
Bill spent his four years at Chico State being coached by Hall of Famer Jack Bachman.
After graduation Bill has been involved in educating and coaching youth in the Sacramento and Roseville areas for thirty-four years. He coached Junior High track, High School swimming and baseball. He also served as a trainer for football teams and coached youth soccer for eight years.
KIRK FREITAS - Chico, CA
Football - 1966, 1967
Track & Field - 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971
Kirk Freitas was hired as the head track and field coach in August of 1979 and up until 1998, he oversaw all the operations of both the men's and women's programs.
Freitas attended Chico State as a freshman and received his bachelor's degree in physical education in 1971 and his master's in 1974.
As an athlete at Chico State, he earned All-Far West Conference honors eight times and was a member of relay teams that competed in the National Championships in 1968. His relay squads also won the Western Regional Champions in 1969, broke the school record, qualified for the National Championships in 1970, and placed seventh at the National Championships in 1971.
The thing Kirk likes most about Chico is the traditional track family environment garnered from the residential character of the university.
At the national level, Chico State has earned 61 All-America certificates since 1990. The greatest achievements most recently went to J.J. Noble for his national championship in the Decathlon in 2001 and Chandra Flinn for her national championship in the discus in 2000. Past athletes Felicia Harris and David Burton won national titles in 1993. Harris was the national champion in the long jump and triple jump and Burton earned his national title for his efforts in the Decathlon.
Kirk has been married to his wife, Connie, since 1975. Together they have four children: Kirk, Katie, Jenny, and Jason.
SHARON GALLIGAN - Santa Cruz, CA
Basketball - 1979, 1980, 1981
Volleyball - 1977, 1980
Sharon was a community college transfer from Yuba College where she excelled in two sports, Volleyball and Track and Field. Arriving at California State University, Chico in the fall of 1977, Sharon focused first on volleyball and later on basketball.
Sharon played two seasons of volleyball 1977 and 1980. At 6', Sharon was well recognized for dominating the net as a middle blocker/middle hitter. Few in the game in those years could dominate the net as did Sharon Galligan. In 1980, she was named to the All-Golden State Conference First Team.
Though Sharon's first love was volleyball, she is best remembered for the contributions she made on the basketball court. Under the leadership and coaching of Fran Coslet, Sharon developed into an outstanding basketball player. She capped her career at CSU, Chico with a remarkable season in 1980-1981. In that year she was named to the All-golden State First Team and selected as the Golden State Player of the Year. The awards did not stop at the state level. Sharon was named an All-American in Basketball by the American Women's Sports Foundation, the only female west of the Mississippi to be honored. That same year Sharon was named CSU, Chico's Outstanding Senior Female Athlete.
This is Sharon's second Hall of Fame induction. She was inducted into the Yuba College Hall of Fame in 1999. Although no longer competing, Sharon has also won several Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in the sport of Volleyball in past Police Olympics. Currently Sharon is a Lieutenant with the State Department of Parks and Recreation and she is the supervising ranger at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park near Santa Cruz.
DIAN IVERSEN - Los Gatos, CA
Badminton - 1964, 1965
Basketball - 1965, 1966
Field Hockey - 1963, 1964
Softball - 1965, 1966
Track & Field - 1964, 1965
Volleyball - 1965, 1966
Dian Iversen attended Chico State from 1963-66; she was an outstanding competitor in field hockey, track and field, badminton, volleyball, basketball and softball. She obtained her master's degree from San Francisco State University in 1972.
Iversen first taught at Soquel High School, where she was the advisor to the Girls Sports program, the PE Leadership Training Class, and was on the Sports committee for the Monterey Bay Region.
For three years Dian was an instructor and head coach in softball, field hockey, tennis, basketball and badminton at San Francisco State University. A highlight during her days at SFSU was serving as the hostess for the international basketball game between China and UC Davis.
While at Mt. Pleasant High School she coached volleyball, soccer, and softball. Iversen was her league's softball representative for 10 years, and FERMAR field hockey and volleyball official, and physical education department chairperson. Near the conclusion of her coaching carrier, Dian served as an assistant golf coach at both Silver Creek and Santa Clara High Schools.
While teaching and coaching, Dian continued to excel in her personal athletic endeavors. She played for many years as a member in the Northern California Field Hockey Association and was selected to two Northern California field hockey teams that competed at Nationals.
During and following her years at Chico State, Dian was a contributing member to the success of the Chico Peppers softball team. As a member of the Santa Clara Laurels AAA softball team she was part of the Regional ASA tournaments annually, and attend Nationals nearly every year. She was drafted by the San Jose Sunbird's professional softball team, and had the honor of playing in the first-ever Women's Professional Softball World Series.
Iversen has been a recreation supervisor and Health Educator in a Peer Education Project sponsored by the United Way, has been involved in hosting softball and field hockey clinics, has been a golf tournament coordinator, and is a member of the Course Rating Committee of the Northern California Golf Association.
The game of golf has long been a passion of Dian's. She was the 1997 champion of the West Valley Women's Golf Club, the club that has won the Santa Clara Valley Championships for the last three years.
JIM KNEGO - Sonoma, CA
Golf - 1972, 1973, 1974
Jim has been as all of his letters of recommendation have indicated, the golf professional everyone would like to be.
At Chico State, Jim received All-Conference honors all three years, and was on the 1974 All-American team. His coach, Fred Reith, stated he was a great team leader and a steady influence in each year he played.
After graduation he went to Bennet Valley Golf Club in Sonoma County and worked his way up to become a Head Golf Professional. His sponsor, Russ Pieterich, says I have yet to meet anyone in the Santa Rosa area that does not have the high respect for Jim as a person and the job he does as a golf professional. He has dedicated years of his life in helping the youth and adult members of his community become better individuals.
Jim has always been a proponent in saving and bringing back the golf team at Chico State with his efforts in fundraising. He has been instrumental in getting golf equipment donated to the golf program. Jim is a class A
member of the Professional Golfers Association.
PETE MATHIESEN - Chico, CA
Basketball Coach - 1970-1987
Pete began his coaching career at Chico State in 1970. This came after five years at College of the Redwoods and six years in Campbell High School District. He earned his BA at Humboldt State, MA at San Jose State and a doctorate at the University of Sarasota.
As head basketball coach for 17 years, he led Chico State to five conference titles and was himself named the NCAC Coach of the Year four times. He twice took his teams to the NCAA Division II regional playoffs and was twice ranked nationally. His teams ranked in the top 30 of all-time coaching victories in Division II, NCAA history.
He sent over 30 players to Australia where they were able to compete in post-collegiate basketball. He took two teams on 20 game tours to Australia and New Zealand. Pete has put on coaching clinics all over the world including one for the Olympic Federation of Cyprus where he was honored as the National Coach of Cyprus and continues to put on clinics for coaches with Reebok.
Other coaching duties include being the head basketball coach for the National Basketball League team in Victoria, Australia and the Sacramento Kings Summer League where he compiled an 11 wins 3 losses record.
He has taught Sports Psychology since 1991, written more than 30 professional articles for coaching journals and has dedicated his time and experience to such programs as Serious Habitual Offenders, Learning Alternatives Resource Network, At-Risk Youth Conference, the School Violence Committee for California, and Commission on Teacher Credentialing. In addition, he has made numerous presentations encompassing the above to service clubs.
Pete takes pride in having seen over 93% of his players graduate from college and continues to work on those
that have not.
SALLY PEARSON - Williams, CA
Basketball - 1968, 1969, 1970
Field Hockey - 1968, 1968, 1970
Softball - 1969, 1970
Swimming - 1966
Sally Pearson attended Chico State from 1966-71 where she participated in swimming, field hockey, basketball and softball. Sally has been described as an outstanding athlete…a natural.
As a teenager and in her early professional years, Sally was an integral part of the Youth Swim program in Williams, first as an outstanding swimmer and later as a coach. Sally also gained the respect of north valley professionals as an outstanding basketball and field hockey official. In fact, she represented North Section as a nationally rated college basketball official in College Play-offs in Fresno during the early '70's.
A teaching professional who actually changed his career from journalism to teaching (in large part due to Sally's influence) states: I always found Sally to be an outstanding communicator, dedicated coach and instructor, caring, passionate while always striving for excellence in herself and from her players/students.
Ms. Pearson is touted by another colleague as the physical educator/coach who established a winning tradition at Williams High School through her success in the coaching of volleyball, basketball and softball. At one point her teams won 12 consecutive volleyball league championships, four of those being undefeated seasons with two consecutive Section titles. Her teams also won two Softball Section titles. A big honor was when she was selected Coach of the Year by two local newspapers. In addition, the Millennium edition of the Tri-Counties newspaper recognized Pearson as one of the top 10 Tri-county coaches, ranking her #6 overall.
Her success has been accomplished through teaching the fundamental and a team approach, giving it her time, attention, and creativity, including the use of technology as part of her teaching/coaching.
Sally's softball playing career has spanned 30 years as a member of the Chico Peppers. She was a member of the Pepper 1993 National Championship Softball team in the 35 and over division and played on the second place Peppers team at Nationals in 1994. She was a member of the Peppers World Masters Silver Medalists in Australia, and a Gold Medal team member in Portland Oregon - 1998 at the Nike World Masters Games. Sally will return to Australia (in 2002) again as a Pepper, this time competing in the 45 and over category.
An avid golfer and member of Arbuckle Golf Club, Pearson was a part of the 1998 and 1999 Tierra Oaks Invitational Golf Tournament team winners. Sally was also among the winning four-some in the Canyon Oaks Invitational and helped the Arbuckle Golf Club team win the County Cup two consecutive years.
Williams High School Principal summed up his support for Sally's induction stating: she is our Superstar !
LACHI "MORSE" RICHARDS - Woodland, CA
Track and Field - 1980, 1983
Lachi is a gifted athlete that used her athletic drive and perseverance to achieve goals not only on the track but also through the hardships of her life and to the benefit of those not as fortunate.
An outstanding sprinter at Sanger High School, Lachi was an exciting recruit for Coach Kirk Freitas. She set records in every event she competed in; 100 meter-11.9 (still stands), 200 meters-24.2 and the 4x100 meter relay-48.2. She was undefeated in the Golden State Conference in the 100 meter during her 1980 season.
Upon her graduation from CSU, Chico as a Civil Engineer in fall 1983, she remained in Chico and trained to compete in the 1984 Olympic Trials. Her best time of 11.74 in the 100 meters, missed the qualifying time by 0.08 seconds. Lachi continued to train and compete through the 1988 Olympic Trials when she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and was unable to compete thereafter.
Lachi currently owns and operates an engineering consulting business. She has always been known for her integrity and her commitment and devotion to making the world a fairer and more compassionate place. Her accomplishments are remarkable and even more remarkable for a person with disabilities.
VALERIE RITCHIE - Seattle, WA
Basketball - 1973-1977
Volleyball - 1973, 1977
Track and Field - 1973-1977
Valerie entered CSU, Chico as a freshman from Santa Clara High School in Oxnard, CA in the Fall of 1973. She was a physical education major and competed in basketball, volleyball, and track and field all four years at Chico.
As a basketball player, Val was highly skilled and very competitive. In her freshman season she set a Chico State record for rebounds in a single game with 17 against UN, Reno. The following season she broke that record with a game high of 22 rebounds on the road against Humboldt State. This single game rebound record still stands today. During her collegiate career, she also set records in season high rebounds, single game/season high points, season high field goals, and game/season high field goal percentage. Chico won the conference championship each of the four years that Valerie played. Unfortunately, there were no conference awards at that time, but she would surely have received recognition had they been available.
Valerie has been teaching and coaching at Seattle Preparatory School for the last 19 years. For 12 years she coached varsity volleyball and for 14 years she coached varsity basketball and the last year her team won the city championship and Val was named coach -of-the-year. In 1990 she did a teacher exchange to Australia.
Val continued her basketball playing in Seattle where she was a member of an AAU team. They won the AAU National Championship in 1981 and Val was named an AAU All American.
Currently, Val competes in triathlons and has earned 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishes in here age group this year. She plans to play basketball next year at this time at the World Masters Games in Melbourne, Australia. She also hopes to compete in a triathlon there.
JAMES RICHARD 'DICK' TRIMMER - Chico, CA
Wrestling Coach - 1968-1974
Assistant Football Coach - 1968-1974
Head Football Coach - 1974-1983
Dr. Dick Trimmer began his coaching career at Boulder High School, in boulder Colorado as an assistant football and wrestling coach. In 1961 he moved to Central High School in Phoenix where he was named Coach of the Year in both football and wrestling. Dick came to Chico State in 1968 when he was hired as Defensive Line and Linebacker Coach, Head Wrestling Coach, and Physical Education Instructor. The 1970 Wildcat Wrestling team won the FWC Championship and placed 12th in the NCAA Div II Tournament. In 1974 Dick was named Head Football Coach and remained in that role until 1983. As Head Football Coach Dick's teams won 48 games which is second only to the legendary Art Acker. Coach Trimmer's teams were known for their prolific offenses and hard-nosed defenses.
Dick trimmer grew up in Pueblo Colorado where he was an outstanding football player, wrestler, and baseball catcher. Dick played college football at University of Northern Colorado where he was All-Rocky Mountain Conference First Team, as well as an Honorable Mention All-American tackle. Dick was also an outstanding four year letterman in wrestling at University of Northern Colorado and was the Rocky Mountain Conference Heavy Weight Champion.
Dr. Trimmer is a Full Professor in the Department of Physical Education and has served as Physical Education Department Chair since 1997. Dick is thought of as one of the outstanding leaders in the filed of Physical Education in California. He is an active member of California Association of Physical Education (CAPHER), and served as President in 1996-1997.
Dick and his wife Barbara have been married for 42 years and are proud parents of their son, Jeff.
BOB WALLACE - Manteca, CA
Football - 1966
Track & Field - 1966, 1968
Bob Wallace was one of the fastest short sprinters in the history of track and field at Chico State. Ben Reams was the first school record holder in the 100 yard dash from 1936 until 1968 when Bob Wallace tied his record. This record stood an additional 20 years before finally being broken. Like most of the newer records, times reflected the improved training and racing facilities, equipment, and training principles.
Bob competed in the 100 yard dash and 440 yard relay at the National Track and Field Championships in 1966 and took the relay team to All-American status. He also qualified in 1968 in the 100 yard dash, 220 yard dash and 400 meter relay. He had the second fastest time in the Nation (100 yard dash) at the Track and Field Championships but strained his hamstring in the trials, ending his collegiate career.
Although Bob was a National caliber sprinter, he was viewed by his teammates as a leader and mentor to those that were younger and less gifted. He was always mature for his age and seemed always have an eye out for the younger student/athletes and take them under his wing .
Bob has continued his care and guidance to other students and the sport of track and field. He is a hands on Superintendent of Schools in Escalon. He has always kept his tie with athletics and the positive attributes it has on young people. He has been on the State CIF Federated Council; the CIF Policies and Procedures Committee; the State Appeals Hearings for the CIF; the Competitive Equity Committee for the CIF; the State CIF Executive Committee; and is presently the Chair of the CIF Statewide Governance Committee.
