Athletic Hall of Fame February 27, 2014
Dale Chase Dale Chase is still the only Quarterback to lead the Hawks to the State Tournament. The Hawks finished 5th at State his senior year. As Team Captain, Dale lead the state setting a school record 2,506 yards and 25 TD s as a senior. He also ran for 6 more TD s and was named Narrows League Most Valuable Player. He was also honored as The Olympian and Tacoma News Tribune All Area Quarterback. Dale also lettered in Basketball and Golf while attending RRHS. In his junior year as Team Captain he led the Hawks to a 4th place finish at the State Golf Tournament, and was named to the All State Golf Team. Dale was able to accomplish all of this while maintaining a 3.83 GPA. Central Washington University After graduation Dale attended Central Washington University, where he averaged over 300 yards passing per start for the Wildcats. He graduated from Central as the 4th leading passer in school history. He helped lead CWU to their first ever undefeated season, and is a member of the Central Washington University Hall of Fame in Ellensburg.
LaShonda Christopher LaShonda Christopher is the most decorated State Champion in school history. She is a 9 time State Champion in Track and Field, and was a member of both Team State Championships in 1994 and 1995. 20 years later LaShonda still holds the Washington State Record for the triple jump with a mark of 42 9, and has the 2nd highest mark in State History for the Long Jump at 20 8 3/4. She also holds the RRHS school record for the High Jump at 5 5 3/4. LaShonda was a 4 time AAU National Champion for the triple jump. LaShonda won the Track and Field News National Female Athlete of the Year in 1995. She was also the Gatorade and KOMO News Female Athlete of the Year for Washington State. University of North Carolina LaShonda went on to star at University of North Carolina. Jumping for the Tar Heels, LaShonda set a mark of 21 7 1/4 in the long jump, and 44 4 1/2 in the triple jump. Those marks were good enough to earn her All American honors.
Ian Davis Ian Davis is the most decorated male swimmer in history. Ian earned a varsity letter all 4 years at RRHS, and was named Team Captain his senior season. Despite missing the post season his junior year due to emergency surgery, Ian was a 7 time District Champion. He won the 50 meter freestyle all 3 years he competed. He won the 100 meter freestyle twice, and was a part of all 3 relay teams each year, winning 200 and 400 meter freestyle relays in 2003. Ian placed at the State Championships 6 times. finishing 5th his senior year in both the 50 meter and 100 meter freestyle. Today Ian still holds 7 RRHS records, 50 Meter Freestyle, 21.82 seconds, 100 Meter Freestyle, 47.72 seconds, 200 Meter Freestyle 1:52.31 minutes, the 100 Meter Breaststroke, 1:03.27 minutes, the 200 Meter Individual Medley, 2:05.82 minutes, and as a member of the 400 Meter Freestyle Relay, 3:27.09 minutes, the 200 Meter Freestyle Relay, 1:32.89 minutes.
Greg Ford While at River Ridge Greg Ford lettered 8 times in 4 different sports. He earned 2 letters in Golf and Baseball. He lettered his senior year in football, and lettered 3 times in wrestling. Greg was an All Conference Defensive Back as a senior in football, and voted by his teammates as the Special Teams Player of the Year. As a senior Greg was Captain of the Baseball Team, and 5 time player of the game. He lead the Hawks to their first Conference Title in 2004, when he lead the team in Batting Average at.431, Triples (4), Total Bases (52), Assists (55) and Innings Played (143). Greg was voted MVP of the team, and was a 1st Team All Conference Infielder, and nominated All State. He was voted All Area by the Tacoma News Tribune. Greg Ford is synonymous with wrestling, and winning. Greg not only qualified for the Mat Classic all 4 years in high school, but placed each year. Greg compiled 124 career wins in high school and was a 2 time District Champion, Regional Champion and the 140 lb State Champion as a senior at RRHS. He was named the Pac 9 Wrestler of the Year in 2004. Greg was All Area each year in High School, and named The Olympian, The News Tribune and Seattle Times Athlete of the week. Greg was also a 3 Time Washington State All Academic Team Wrestler, and Graduated from RRHS with Honors.
Gabe Garret Gabe Garret is the greatest sprinter in History. He was a 3 time State Champion, winning the 100 Meters, 200 Meters, and 400 Meters his senior season. 20 years later Gabe s River Ridge High School Records still stand. 100 Meters, 10.4 seconds, 200 Meters, 21.3 seconds, and 400 Meters, 47.6 seconds. Gabe still has recorded the second fastest 100 meter time in Washington State History at 10.66s at the WIAA State Meet. Gabe is one of only 20 athletes in State History to win the Triple Crown: 100 m, 200 m, 400 m State Champion in the same year. Gabe was the AAU National Champion Decathlete in 1995 After his Graduation in 1995, Gabe went on to run track on a full athletic scholarship from the University of Tennessee. University of Tennessee Gabe earned a varsity letter as a freshmen competing in the Decathlon. After his breakout freshmen season at Tennessee, Gabe returned home, accepting a scholarship at Washington State University to compete in the Decathlon.
Ricky Gaspar Ricky Gaspar lettered 7 times while at River Ridge, 3 in football and 4 in wrestling. Ricky was a 2 time Regional Champion in wrestling and participated at the Mat Classic 3 times. Ricky placed 6th as a senior. He was the 1st RRHS wrestler to notch100 wins, holding the school record for pins when he graduated. Ricky was All Narrows League in football 2 times. As Team Captain his senior season was named 2nd Team All State. Ricky was involved in all facets of RRHS. His senior year he was ASB President as well as President of the Cultural Awareness Club. Ricky competed in the VICA skills challenges each year, and served as part of the ASB leadership each year. Linfield College Ricky went on to play at Linfield College in Oregon. Ricky was selected 1st Team All Conference 3 times. He was a Pre-Season All American, and selected All West Region Defensive Tackle his senior season. A leader every where he goes, Ricky was selected Team Captain again as a senior. Arena League After college, Ricky played 4 season in the Professional Football s Arena League, where he was a standout Defensive Tackle for the Arizona Rattlers and the Grand Rapids Rampage.
Bryan Hooper While attending River Ridge, Bryan Hooper earned 7 Varsity Letters. In addition to his brilliant football career, Bryan earned 2 Letters for basketball, and 2 Letters for baseball. Bryan played a big role in taking the first River Ridge Basketball Team to the playoffs. In 1998 River Ridge qualified for the 4A district tournament out of the Narrows League. In 1998 Bryan was integral in leading the Hawks to a State 5th place finish in football. He was a two-way starter and a defensive captain, responsible for calling the defense on the field. However his most noticeable contributions were made on the offensive side of the ball. Bryan set a school record 1,164 receiving yards, and 13 touchdowns. The Hawks even had a play call Hooper Special which was translated into a Bryan Hooper touchdown in 7 straight football games. Linfield College After High School Bryan pursued an opportunity to play football at Linfield College. He earned a varsity letter for the Wildcats, before his career was cut short, by a family emergency.
Keisha Hyman-Gifth Keisha Hyman-Gifth was a 4 time Varsity Letter Winner in Volleyball. She was voted 1st Team All Conference 3 times in high school. Keisha was named Team Captain her senior season. She was a Gatorade Will To Win Finalist in 2002. University Texas El Paso Keisha was offered a scholarship to play volleyball at UTEP, where she lettered 4 times. As a freshmen she had a.242 hitting percentage with 77 kills, and 24 blocks. Those number increased every year. As a sophomore she lead the team in kills with 345. Keisha also lead the Miners in hitting percentage at.302, and blocks with 101. As a junior Keisha lead the Miners again in hitting percentage at.323 and was in the top ten in Conference USA. Keisha was Named MVP at Texas Southern Volleyball Tournament in 2007. While at UTEP, Keisha was on the Conference USA Student Athlete Advisory Committee for 4 years, and served as Vice President 2007, and President 2008. Keisha was named to the Conference USA Honor s Roll twice, and graduated in 2009 with a degree in Biological Sciences and American Literature.
Phil Lonborg Phil Lonborg has coached every season since was opened in 1993. Coach Lonborg was a varsity assistant football coach from 1993-1998, coached girls basketball from 1993-2003. In 1998 he took over both the boys and girls Cross Country teams and is currently the head coach of both programs. In 2003, Coach Lonborg started the Girls Bowling program and is still leading it today. All of these seasons working with the athletes at RRHS has earned him the title Pappa Hawk. When you mention the name Phil Lonborg in the Pacific Northwest, everyone knows you are talking about track and field. This skinny little kid from Elma could really jump! He earned a scholarship to Washington State University out of High School, and High Jumped in Pullman his freshmen year. After his freshmen year, he transferred to Western Washington University where he earned 2 Varsity Letters and his Teaching Degree. Phil has been the only Track Coach RRHS has ever known. He has put quite a mark on this building with his teams accomplishments. He coached both Team Titles in 1994 and 1995, along with 17 other State Placing Teams. In addition his teams have won 22 League Titles, and 18 District Titles....and counting. He has been named Conference Coach of the Year 19 times, and Washington State Coach of the Year. Coach Lonborg was also a finalist for the Gatorade National Coach of the Year.
Erin Rinear-Jackowski Erin Rinear was a member of both Track State Championship Teams. She was a member of two 4 x 200 Meter State Championship Teams in 1994 and 1995. Erin also won 2 Individual State Championships; the 100 Meter Hurdles, and the 300 Meter Hurdles her senior year. Erin still holds 4 Records. She holds both hurdle race records, the 100 Meter Hurdles at 14.6 seconds, and the 300 Meter Hurdles, 43.7 seconds. Erin is also a part of 2 relay team records, the 4 x 100 Meter Relay with a time of 48.7 seconds and the 4 x 400 Meter Relay at 1:41.4 minutes. University of Tennessee Erin continued her track career in Knoxville, at the University of Tennessee. She competed in the 400 meter hurdles, 4 x 100 meter relay, and 4 x 400 meter relay teams. In 2000 Erin was selected Team Captain in her senior season, and earned All American Honors.
Richmond Sanders Richmond Sanders was the first Freshmen to earn a letter in football at River Ridge. He earned 10 Varsity Letters, in 4 different sports. In Football he lettered all 4 years and was voted All League 3 times, twice being named to the First Team. He was team captain for the Hawks in both his junior and senior seasons. He was voted The Olympian All Area Team and went on to earn a scholarship to play football at EWU. In Basketball, Richmond was the key to the first River Ridge team to go to State. Richmond hit his patented stop and pop 15 footer at the buzzer to lead the Hawks over Skyview, earning their first state berth. He again was a 2 time First Team All League. Honorable Mention All League as a sophomore. He was Team Captain in both his Junior and Senior Seasons. In 2001 Richmond was named The Olympian Athlete of the Year. Richmond maintained a 3.8 GPA, was a member of Student Government, and National Honor Society, earning him the Dick Nichols Scholarship Award his senior year. Eastern Washington University Richmond went on to play football for Eastern Washington University. He was a kick returner for the teams that built the foundation of 2010 National Champions. Richmond turned his Athletic Scholarship into a Double Major in Business Administration and Accounting with a minor in Economics.
Jessica Scott Chase Jessica Scott was a 4 year lettermen for the Hawks in volleyball from 1996-1999. Jessica was able to play all positions on the floor. She could hit from the outside, and block from the middle. She could play defense from the back setting up her teammates to hit. Her all around talent got Jessica voted All Narrows League 3 times. Jessica was named to the All Narrows League 1st Team in her Junior and Senior seasons. She was also named Team Captain in her senior season. After her outstanding career at RRHS Jessica was given the opportunity to continue her career in college, at the University of Oregon, but after 1 season transferred to Central Washington University to complete her volleyball career and earn her degree. Central Washington University Jessica earned a varsity letter all 3 years at Central, being named Team Captain her senior year in 2003. Jessica made the Great Northwest Athletic Conference All Academic Team all 3 years there, and was named to the GNAC All Conference Team after her senior season.
Jameka Stevens Jameka Stevens was a 9 time varsity letter winner, earning letters in every season she participated at River Ridge. She lettered in Volleyball, Basketball and Track. Jameka was a member of the 1995 State Championship Track Team, finishing 5th at State in the High Jump with a mark of 5 5. Playing Volleyball for her father at RRHS Jameka truly excelled. She was a 4 year starter for the Hawks. Jameka was voted Team MVP in both her Junior and Senior seasons, and was voted the Narrows League Player of the Year. While in High School Jameka was a member of the USA Volleyball Youth National Team, and in 1996 Jameka was nominated to the Junior Olympic Volleyball Team. She was also a member of the National Championship Team that year, and selected as a 3rd Team National All American. University of California at Berkley Jameka earned an athletic scholarship to The University of California at Berkeley to play Volleyball. She graduated in 2001 with a degree in Maternal and Children s Health, and has since traveled to over 23 countries as part of her 12 year career in Pharmaceutical Research & Development.