2010 Hall of Fame Inductees

Jim Dougherty, the Varsity Head Coach of the 1971 Baseball Team, served Rancho Cotate High School for 26 years. 

During his 26 years he coached hundreds of fine young men through 26 seasons of baseball and 6 seasons of wrestling.  He won 5 team baseball championships in the 1970’s and one wrestling championship.  In 1971 he and his Varsity Baseball team brought home the first Rancho Cotate High School Championship.   Today the Varsity Field is named after Jim, and every player who steps onto the field honors his contribution to the game and the school.

Henry Sarlatte worked for Rancho Cotate High for 36 years.  He served as the Athletic Administrator and taught in the Business, English and Mathematic Departments.  In 1999 he was named the CRPUSD Athletic Director Emeritus.  Henry was proud to have attended every home football game for the Cougars until 2000.   Henry was the pioneer of the Athletics Department at Rancho.  His contributions still continue at the school in programs such as:

   Scholar Athlete Scholarship

   Academic Award Block Letter

   Athletic Code of Conduct

   Extracurricular Academic Eligibility Policies

He oversaw and guided in the construction of a new weight room, football stadium and track facilities, renovation of the gymnasium, construction of baseball and softball diamonds, soccer and football practice fields.  Many of these facilities are still in use today.

Larry “Officer Friendly” Jones loved mentoring and coaching young athletes.  In his 20 years of involvement at RCHS he helped them to learn about commitment and dedication, sacrifice and hard work, winning and losing, being part of a TEAM and finding something inside themselves that sometimes they didn’t even believe was there.  He was always ready with a smile and a hug, his sage advice not only about the game they played, but about life, because that’s what the “game” was really about – preparing for life.  He treasured the deep friendships that he had with each of the head coaches and valued their common commitment.  His special bond with each of these men was greater than just coaching and his time with them both on and off the court or field brought joy and happiness to his life.  – Carolyn Jones

Sharin Geister graduated from Rancho Cotate High School in 1976.  As the NBL had not yet been established Sharin played in the Girls Athletic League of Sonoma County (GALS).  She was named MVP by her team her sophomore, junior and senior year. 

She remembers “beating league champion Analy in the last game of the season and then beating them, El Molino, Sonoma, Casa Grande and Healdsburg for the championship of the GALS tournament held at Sonoma State.”  She received All Tourney along with Lori Variety who passed away shortly after graduation.

Marshall Brandt graduated from Rancho Cotate in 1973.  He played both basketball and baseball for the Cougars.  He is proud to have played on back-to-back championship baseball teams in 1972 and 1973.  He was the leading scorer in the SCL in basketball his senior year.  At one time (and may still) hold the records for most points scored in a game – 33 against Sonoma.  He thanks Coach Francis for his coaching in basketball and Coach Dougherty for baseball. 

He went on the play both basketball and baseball at SRJC.  He was named MVP in both sports, the first time for the school, in 1975.  He was drafted by MLB in 1975 in the 4th round by the New York Mets.  He played for the Mets all the way through Triple A and was traded to the Yankees in 1980.  In 1983 he was traded to the Oakland A’s.  After a brief stay with the A’s his contract was sold to the Nippon Fighters of Japan in 1983.  He played professional baseball in Japan until 1985.

Joe Guinn graduated from Rancho Cotate in 1979.  He played football and wrestled.  In football he was named All League, Lineman of the Year and a Co-Player of the Year, All Nor Cal State Team, Rancho Football Team were the 1979 NBL Champs, High School Blue Chip Honorable Mention for Football.  In wrestling he was 3 x NBL Heavy Weight Champ, Section Champion, California Wrestler of the Year, California State Champion, Rancho Team took 3rd at Sections and 2nd at State, Rancho Team were 3 time NBL Champs,  High School Blue Chip #2 in the Nation for Wrestling, 1980 Inductee in the Bay Area Hall of Fame for football and wrestling.

He remembers:  …Football Player of the Week Dinners   …When Coach Hansen and I were flown to Pittsburg PA to participate in the Pittsburg Press Wrestling Classic  …Being able to participate in the National Sports Festival in Colorado Springs  …  Being Inducted in the Bay Area Hall of Fame and sitting alongside, Willie Mays, and Bill Russell  … the support of the community, back then they supported high school sports 100%.

Ron Kamaka graduated from Rancho Cotate in 1981.  He played basketball and was part of the Track & Field team.  He holds the high jump school record of 6’ 8” which he recorded as the North Coast Section Champion his senior year in 1981.  He considers being named team captain for basketball and the track team two of his many honors.  He was Team MVP in both sports as well.

Ron went on the play basketball and compete in the high jump at SRJC.  In 1983 he was named caption and MVP on the JC track team.  In the same year he was the California Community College State Champion and the Northern California Community College Champion in the high jump.  He holds the school record at 7’ 2”.

From the JC he transferred to Arizona State University where he was the Pac-10 runner up in the high jump in 1985.  His personal best of 7’ 3 ½ “ is the 3rd best in ASU history.

Donna McKenna began teaching coaching at Rancho Cotate in 1973.  She taught Physical Education 22 years and for 27 years she coached Volleyball and in that time led her girls to 8 North Bay League Championships and one North Coast Section Championship.  In 1985 she was named the North Coast Section Honor Coach. 

Her 1983-84 team had an undefeated championship season.  Additionally, Donna coached Rancho girls gymnastics, softball, and badminton in her tenure

at Rancho Cotate High School.

She continues teaching at Creekside Middle School and coached volleyball until 2009. In 2009 she was named RPCEA Teacher of the year.  She stays involved with coaching by spending time each summer teaching a coaching workshop at Cal Poly.

Lisa Uhl graduated from RCHS and tells her story best…  “Senior year was the most amazing year!  We won all 10 games in the NBL, we won the first ever NCS 2A Championshop pennant for Rancho and made it to the 2nd round of the state volleyball championship.  I remember coming back in NCS finals against Piner High School after we lost the first two games and were down 10-4 in the third; however, knowing this was our last shot, our team pulled together and showed everyone what were made of – courage and strength!  I have never seen our coach, Donna, more excited than she was after we beat Piner 12-15, 11-15, 15-10, 15-5 and 15-6!  I remember it being such an emotional game for all of us, but for me it was truly a game of a lifetime and the biggest highlight in my volleyball career at Rancho.”

1971 Varsity Baseball Team

Coaches:

Jim Dougherty, Head Varsity Coach

Otto Goode, Assistant Varsity Coach

Players:

Bill BalfourFred Imoto

Dave Bickel      Dane Jacobsen

Dave Christensen    Bob Murray

Steve Cincera   Dick Ogg

Gary Disharoon       Ron Sproat

Lou Goring      Bill Wambold

Randy Harris   Mike Wlodarczyk

Manager:      Scorekeepers:

Don Morton       Vicki Holm

                                            Gloria Carlson

Heather Hunter graduated from Rancho Cotate in 1992.  She played softball, basketball, and 1 year of football.  She was the first girl in school history to play football.  She was coached by Ed Conroy.  Heather’s achievements are most noted in softball, where she played catcher. 

She was named All Redwood Empire First Team catcher in her sophomore through senior year.  She was first team NBL all four years and in 1992 she was named the Co-Player of the Year for the Redwood Empire.  She was an NCS Scholar Athlete all four years in basketball and softball, as well as her time playing football. 

She remembers in her sophomore year when Rancho won the second ever league title and finished 2nd in NCS.  In her senior year the Cougars were picked to finish last and ending up winning the league title.

Robert O'Conner                          Football, Basketball, Baseball

Gonzales Jones                           Football, Basketball, Baseball

2011 Hall of Fame Inductees

Robert Daggett, the first Principal of Rancho Cotate High School.  Rancho opened its doors on September 5, 1967 and had a student population of 550.  The first class graduated in 1968.  He retired from service after 15 years as the Principal of The Ranch in 1982.  Daggett Field was dedicated to him in that same year.  During his time Rancho brought its first championship team in 1971.  The 1971 Baseball Team was inducted into the Hall of Fame last year.  In the fall of 1971, the RCHS football team brought home the first football championship team.  Mr. Daggett oversaw the building of the baseball field which cost $12,000 to build.  It was ready in time for the 1971 season.  He watched as the student population grew to 1,468.

Dora Gossage, worked as the Sports Editor for the Rohnert Park-Cotati Clarion for 22 years from 1970 -1992.  When asked about her memories of that time, Dora said that it was hard to accept the recognition of this award when she was the one who had the privilege of doing it.  In the early days, it was all male sports: before the advent of Title IX, before the advent of women sports reporters. She likened it to the difference between the era of shorthand and the era of the computer.  She said she felt very fortunate to be accepted by the coaches and athletes and that it was wonderful to watch the evolution of women’s sports.  She was always amazed at the courage and the ability of coaches and athletes to face the challenge of putting themselves out there on display to be judged week after week.  She said it was clear that winning and losing was only a by-product of the lessons they were really learning.

Claude Brock, began his teaching career in 1964.  He became part of the Rancho Cotate High School staff in 1969.  In 1969, he assisted Hal Janney on the Varsity Football Team and in 1970 became the Head Varsity coach, a position he held for 5 years.  In 1975 Claude moved into Administration, holding such positions as Student Activities Director, Athletic Director, Dean of Administration and Vice Principal.  He left Rancho Cotate in1985 to accept the position of Principal at Cotati Middle School.  Those who coached with and played for Claude will tell you that tere were 2 things certain in every football game: 1. that he broke 1 clipboard per game and 2. that when a player messed up, his favorite line was “you’ll never play another down of football for me!”  But just as certain was the fact that the duty of one of his assistant coaches was to talk to that player and in 3 or 4 plays, get him back into the game.  It was very important to Claude to keep the community involved in the program and to be sure that they understood his philosophy of coaching.  Claude was an important part of developing the winning tradition of football at Rancho and the inclusion of the community in Rancho Cotate Athletics.

Norm Hansen, coached football and wrestling at

Rancho Cotate High School from 1973 to 1999. 

Section Honors:

North Coast Section Honor Coach

Highlights of Career:

-numerous league championships wrestling

-3rd Place NCS (team standings) 1979

-2nd Place State (team) 1979

-1 individual state champion (Joe Guinn)

also All-American

-Asst. Coach on 1978 and 87 NBL Champion

football teams

-Head Football coach 1982-1985

His family would like to thank on Norm’s behalf:  Ron Lunsford, Hank Sarlatte, Sam Tharpe, Jim Hunt, Dave Francis, Ken Smith, Larry Jones, Dora Gossage, Larry Ferrand, Linda Williams, Jeanne Hansen, Rick Boyd, John Clark, Ed Conroy, Wayne Thomas, Gayle Sarlatte and every athlete and student that ever  played or wrestled for  Norm, those challenged, excelled and ultimately enriched my Dad’s life in a way that kept him happy throughout his life.

1971 Varsity Football Team, The 1971 Rancho Cotate High School football team compiled a record of 9 wins and no losses on their way to winning the Sonoma County League Championship and being named Number One in the Redwood Empire.  Their impressive season included wins against non-league teams Marin Catholic, San Marin and Petaluma and against all 6 league rivals: El Molino, Sonoma, Piner, Cardinal Newman, Healdsburg, and Analy.  Four (4) of their wins were shutouts. The Cougars averaged 32 offensive points per game and allowed an average of 5.9 points per game.

Bill Garrod, graduated from Rancho Cotate High School in 1968. He earned his Varsity letter in football, basketball and baseball.  He earned League Honors in Football 1967 and in Baseball 1968. He was Co-Captain of the 1967 football team where he was named MVP and Best Back by his teammates.

Special Moments in his High School Career include:

...Playing for great coaches and on teams with guys that played their hearts out.

...Being named Press Democrat Player of the year in 1967. 

...Finally winning a league game in basketball. 

...Winning the Healsburg Baseball Tournament in 1968.

Denny Plyer, graduated from Rancho Cotate High School in 1968.  He transferred from Grants High School in New Mexico. He wrestled and played baseball for Coach Jim Dougherty.  He was co-captain with Lee Nobmann for the wrestling team his Senior year.  He earned Section and League Honors as a wrestler.  Denny remembers practicing everyday with teammates and coaches. In his Senior year he won the NBL I and NBL II 112 lb. championship, and placed 5th in the North Coast Section tournament.  He finished the season with a record of 22 wins and 2 losses. 

Pete Marshall, played three sports at Rancho – football, basketball and baseball.  He was a graduate with the Class of 1970. 

He was the first quarterback for the 1967 team, the year the school opened.  The team went 6-3.  They won their first game against Analy High School in a come from behind victory with a final score of 20-19.  He was named Captain of the team in 1969.  He was coached by Hal Janney.

In baseball he was a Varsity starter as a Freshman.  He received All-League Honors in 1968 when he led the league with a .455 batting average and drove in 26 runs.  He was named MVP of the Healdsburg Baseball Tournament in 1968, where the team won the first trophy awarded to the Ranch.  He was coached by Jim Dougherty.

Steve Wlodarczyk, a 1972 graduate of Rancho Cotate High School Steve played football, basketball and golf. 

His honors in football include:

...1st Team All SCL Quarterback,  1st Team All Redwood Empire Quarterback, and SCL Offensive Back of the Year in 1971

...National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame Scholar Athlete Award in 1972

In basketball:

...Rohnert Park/Cotati Clarion Varsity Player of the Year and Honorable Mention All NBL II in 1970

...1st Team All NBL II in 1971

...1st Team ALL SCL in 1972

In golf:

...Played as the number 2 man on the NBL II Conference Co-Championship Team in 1971

...Played as the number 1 man with an average score of 77 for the season in 1972

Special moments include winning the 1971 football league championship and going undefeated;  Being the first player to be named All League in RCHS basketball history;  Winning the league co-championship in golf in the spring of 1971. 

Wayne Hill, graduated from Rancho Cotate High School in 1973.  He lettered in three sports:  football, baseball and wrestling.  He was most honored in football during his time spent at The Ranch.In 1973 Wayne was named as an All American Who’s Who in National High School Football.  He was part of the 1971 and 1972 league championship teams, and considers those teams as a special time at Rancho.  He was named Captain and MVP by his teammates for football.  He went on to play college football where he was named to the 2nd team All Big Sky in 1974 and 1st team All Big Sky in 1975 and 1976.  He was also and All American player in 1976 when he served as team captain for his college team.

Ray Jones, graduated from Rancho Cotate in 1974.  He lettered in 3 sports:  football, basketball and baseball.  He was honored as the team MVP in both football and baseball.  Additionally he was named All League in Football and Baseball.

Special moments include:

...Playing in first Optimist game: Marin vs Sonoma

...Tournament of Champions in Baseball

...Being on the first two undefeated teams In football at RCHS

...Helping track team achieve League Championship in the 4x100 relay team in '74

...Memories of Hank Sarlatte's J.V. basketball team, whom he affectionately called "The Dirty Dozen." Each game he created a new poem or limerick predicting the outcome of the upcoming game. Priceless!

Gary Soto, graduated from Rancho Cotate in 1980.  He played soccer, swan and wrestled.

He was honored in all 3 sports.  In 1980 he was named the MVP of the North Bay League in soccer. He swam at North Coast Section on the Boy’s Varsity relay teams in 1979 and 1980.  In wrestling he was awarded All State Honors in 1979 and 1980; placed in the top 4 in sectionals in his Sophomore, Junior and Senior year; and was a league champion in his Junior and Senior year.  He remembers Fred Padilla too the time to show him the bump back cradle (move) before the state wrestling tournament his Junior year.  Because he learned this technique he was able to advance into the medal rounds of the tournament. 

Jacqueline Komrij,  graduated from Rancho Cotate in 1982.  She was a Varsity swimmer all four years.  Jacqueline remembers competing in the NBL Championships and NCS meets all four years.  She held the NBL record in the 100 yard breaststroke for 25 years; it was only broken 3 years ago.  She holds many of the school swimming records today.  She was a member of the US National Team from 1980 – 1983.

Angela Williams,  graduated from Rancho Cotate High School in 1985.  While attending RCHS she played volleyball, basketball and track & field.  She received League and Section honors as a Varsity volleyball player.  She was the league MVP.  She was named by her teammates as Captain and team MVP in both basketball and volleyball.  Additionally, in track and field she received Section honors.

Maurice Thompsom, is a 1984 graduate of Rancho Cotate High School.  He played football and basketball all four years earning his Varsity letter in both sports.

He received Section & League Honors in Basketball where he was named 1st Team All League his Sophomore, Junior and Senior years.  He was also named as the MVP of the League and Redwood Empire Player of the Year his Senior year.  He was proud to be named as Team Captain all 3 years on Varsity.

Special moments include:

...Playing on the Varsity Basketball team as a freshman; being on the same team as my older brother, Virgil Thompson. 

...Scoring 1,315 point in my RCHS Basketball career

...Playing football with all my friends in my Senior year, even though I had not played the previous 3 years.

Casey Alderson, graduated from Rancho Cotate High School in 1990.  She lettered in three sports:  volleyball, basketball and softball. 

She received League Honors in all three of her sports, where she was also the Team Caption and MVP for basketball and softball.  She was named to the NCS teams in 1990 in both volleyball and softball teams.  Special moments that Casey remembers are the bus rides and team functions.  She loved the team friendships that were developed during those moments.  In her Senior year the volleyball team went to the NCS tournament and her softball team played in the NCS championship game.  

Amey Mitchell, is a 1991 graduate of Rancho Cotate High School.  She was a four year Varsity track athlete.

Coached by John Anderson, she still hold the RCHS school record of 19” 8” in the long jump.  A record she set in 1990.  In 1990 she competed in the State meet and placed second with a jump of 19’ ¾”.  She was the first girl athlete in the Redwood Empire to finish as high as second at the State meet.  She was named the team MVP.  All meets were special moments for Amey,  especially when they traveled.  She loved being part of the track team!  She remembers the relay races, the bus trips, and matching sweat suits.  As a team they motivated each other and encouraged each other to do their best and to have fun doing it.  Lifetime friendships were made out on the track and those are the memories that stand out the most to Amey, more than her personal achievements.

Corey Nelson, graduated from Rancho Cotate High School in 1995.  He lettered in both football and track.  He received All State, Section and League Honors for his achievements in track & field.  He was coached by John Anderson.  In football he received Section and League Honors.  He was coached by Ed Conroy.  After Rancho Corey went to the SRJC where he set a school record in the 400m and was named an All American.  He then went to Boise State and set the school record in the 400m and 200m.  He was an NCAA two time All American Athlete and Athlete of the Year in 1999.  Corey remains active in track as the Head Track & Field Coach for El Molino High School in Forestville.

Blair Gabler, a 2002 graduate

of Rancho Cotate High School,

Blair Gabler was a 4 sport athlete.  She lettered in soccer, cross county, basketball and track & field.  She was the MVP of her

soccer and track team all four

years she competed, as well as

being named as Captain of both

teams for three years.

Her achievements include:

...School record holder in 100m,

200m, 400m, 4x100 relay,

4x400 relay

...All Empire Athlete of Year –

Junior and Senior year

...NCS record holder in 100m

at 12.37

...1st Team All League Goalie with 30 saves per game average

She remembers starting as the Varsity goalie her Freshman year.  She received a scholarship to Cal State Fullerton in both soccer and track & field.  She was named the Big West Athlete of the Year in track & field.

Dave Francis, coached at Rancho Cotate High School from 1974 to 2003.  In that time he coached:

Football:   

4 years Freshman (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002) 

3 years Junior Varsity (1970, 1984, 1985)

1 year Varsity Head Coach (1976)

15/16 years Varsity Assistant Coach

Championship Teams:  1971, 1972, 1987

Basketball:

9 years Freshman Boys (1968-1976)

1974 Freshman League Champions

6 Years Varsity Girls Coach (1978-1983)

2 Years Junior Varsity Girls Coach

1981    Varsity Girls – NBL

1978 & 1981   NCS Playoff

1981 NBL Girls Basketball Coach of the Year

Baseball:

1 Year Junior Varsity Coach

Softball:

1 Year Varsity  Coach (1979)

Dave best tells his special moments: 

“I have been an assistant football coach under every head coach the Ranch has ever had.   I started my career working with Hal Janney and ended in 2003 with Ed Conroy.    What made my time at the Ranch special was the many wonderful young people I got to know both as a teacher and coach.  I have remained in contact with many of them up to the present.  What I miss most now that I am retired is all of the wonderful people that I met while working at the Ranch.  This includes teaches, coaches, parents and community

members. “