Seventeen elite athletes and coaches were inducted into the new Bellingham High School Athletic Hall of Fame Saturday. Master of Ceremonies Dick Stark introduced each inductee and asked a few questions about their successful athletic careers and their favorite Red Raider memories. Here is the first class of the promising Athletic Hall of Fame:
Steve Alvord * 1983 * Football, Basketball, Track and Field
During Steve’s time at Bellingham High, he was 1st-Team All-Conference multiple years in football, and was named State Lineman of the Year by the Washington Sportswriters’ Association. He attended the University of Washington where he started on defense for three years and then went on to play two NFL seasons for the Arizona Cardinals.
Steve joined Mark in The Zone on KPUG to tell old stories and talk about his induction into the Hall of Fame. To hear his interview, click here.
Roger Repoz * 1958 * Baseball
Roger played his baseball career at WWU and then went on to sign with the New York Yankees in 1960. He also played for Kansas City, California and in Japan for five years.
Roger joined Mark in The Zone on KPUG to talk about being inducted into the Hall of Fame. To hear his interview, click here.
Pete Kaligis * 1989 * Football, Track and Field
Pete earned a UW football scholarship and played from ’90 to ’94. He helped the Huskies become Rose Bowl champions in ’91, starting in all 12 games. He also won a gold medal in the shot at the 1995 U.S. Olympic Festival and competed in the ’96 Olympic Trials. He is currently an assistant football coach at the University of Wyoming.
Pete joined Mark in The Zone on KPUG to talk about his induction into the Hall of Fame. To hear his interview, click here.
Sean Linville * 1989 * Football, Basketball, Baseball
Sean earned several awards playing baseball at WSU and later transferring to UW. He has coached the Bellingham Bells, Ferndale and Blaine baseball teams, and is currently the A.D. at Blaine High School.
Becca Friday * 2009 * Track and Field, Cross-Country
Becca won three district titles in her high school career, along with several awards during her time at the University of Oregon. She also ran for Adidas in Texas after she graduated from college.
Cresey Stewart * 1983 * Track and Field, Cross-Country
Cresey was a four-time District Champ in her high school career who help lead the girls’ track team to their first ever state title in 1980. She was also inducted into the Occidental College’s Hall of Fame where she attended college.
Jennifer Schwartz * 1982 * Track and Field
Jennifer was a two-time District Champ and also won district titles during her time at Bellingham High. She also helped lead the Red Raider girl’s track team to their first state title and was a National Champion at Azusa Pacific where she attended college.
Dean DeKoster * 1982 * Swimming
Dean was a five-time district champ in high school and in 1980 used his dual-citizenship to move to Canada to train for the Candanian Olympic team. After earning a scholarship to UW, he lettered all four years, swimming butterfly on the no. 1 relay team in the Pac-10.
Brad Stephan * 1969 * Track and Field, Football, Basketball
Brad won several district titles and set records at Bellingham High that still stand today. He went on to play football for the Navy Academy and after graduation spent two years on the All-Marine track team.
John Wilson * 1965 * Swimming
John won six state titles and set six state records during his time at Bellingham High, which earned him a four year ride to UW. He also won a gold medal in the Canadian National Championships in 1969.
Tom Erlandson * 1958 * Football, Track and Field
Tom set a state record in javelin and helped the Raiders win their third state track title and was All-Conference in football both offensively and defensively in high school. He started as a center and a linebacker at WSU and then went on to play in the NFL for seven years for Denver, Miami and San Diego as a linebacker.
Fred Luke * 1964 * Track and Field
Fred set records throwing javelin during his high school career that still stand today. He went on to throw as a Husky for four years and finished eighth when he represented USA at the Munich Olympics.
Bob Blum * 1964 * Track and Field
During Bob’s senior year of high school, he finished second to world record holder Earl McCulloch of USC in the Pac-10 high hurdles. He won district titles and was a State Champion during his high school career. He went on to run for Oregon University.
Monte Bianchi * Football, Basketball, Baseball, Track and Field
Monte is the only athlete in Bellingham High School history to earn letters in four sports for all three years. He spent his college career at USC on a four-year scholarship, playing only two years for the Trojans before his football career ended with the draft of the Korean War.
Cliff Chambers * 1939 * Baseball
Cliff played two years for WSU before signing a pro baseball contract to play in the Pacific Coast League. He later advanced to the major leagues where he played six years, signing with the Cubs, Pirates and Cardinals during his career.
George Yonlick * 1961-1986 * Wrestling Coach
George started Bellingham High’s wrestling program in 1961 and coached it for the next twenty-five years. He was inducted into the State Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame in 1987.
Bob Dorr * 1946-1977 * Track and Field Coach, Cross Country Coach
After playing Varsity basketball at UW, Bob came to Bellingham High in 1947 where he spent his entire 31-year career as head track coach. His teams won league and district titles, state champion titles and his athletes continued on to compete in the NCAA’s and the Olympics.
The first class of the new Bellingham High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
