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 - CaliforniaCommunity 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: 1 st 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 CubsAll-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 1 st Team All State, 2 time WSC MVP Women's Basketball, Women's State Player of the Year, led Lady Piratesto two California State Championships and a 70-4 record, 1998-2000.
Dan Mainzer: WSC MVP Men's Tennis, 2 time 1 st 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 1 st Team All WSC, #4 all time VC in scoring - 1518 points, averaged 19.5 points per game, led Pirates to 2 consecutiveCalifornia State Men's Basketball Championships, 1949 & 1951.
George Anderson: Deceased,Track, Cross Country, Football Coach at Ventura College for 33 years, began cross country competition at VC in 1957, assistantcoach 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: 1 st Team NSCAA Junior College All American Women's Soccer, CCCSA 1 st Team All State, WSC Most Valuable Player, single season scoring record of 45 goals - 1998, transferred to Azusa Pacific, 1 st 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, 1 st 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 - Swim200 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 theYear 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