APTOS, Calif. (April 2, 2026) – The Aptos High School Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026 gets inducted on May 2. The twelve new members are highlighted by coach Randy Blankenship (Football), only the 12th coach in California history to win over 300 games, league MVP volleyball player Jenna Belton, who won three national championships at USC, two-sport star Lindsey Sotomayor, who earned 8 varsity letters, and the 2015 SC County Athlete-of-the-Year Ben Dorfman, one of the very best basketball players to play at Aptos HS.
Randy Blankenship won 319 football games in his head-coaching career. He is only the 12th coach in California history to reach the 300-win threshold, which dates back over 100 years. Coach Blankenship is also the winningest football coach in Aptos history. In 14 years at the helm, his teams won 113 games, 8 league championships, and 4 CCS championships. They set records for most wins in a season, most shutouts, most playoff appearances, longest winning streak, most yards gained and most points scored, and much more. His 2018 team earned the 1st appearance by any SC County school into the Nor-Cal Playoffs.
Jenna Belton (2014) was a two-time 1st-team All-SCCAL selection in volleyball, the SCCAL MVP in 2013, and led the Mariners to two SCCAL team titles. In 2012, she and her partner, Kristen Mead, were U16 state champions in beach volleyball, and she carried that success forward. Jenna matriculated to USC, where she was a member of three NCAA National Championship teams in beach volleyball (and they lost in the semi’s to the eventual champion UCLA the other year).
Lindsey Sotomayor (2011) - A four-year starter in both basketball and softball, Lindsey earned a remarkable 8 varsity letters and 5 1st-team All-SCCAL selections (2 in basketball, 3 in softball). She led the softball team to three SCCAL titles, she is the #4 career scorer in basketball, and she was selected as the 2010-11 Aptos High Athlete-of-the-Year.
Ben Dorfman (2015) was the 2015 Santa Cruz County Athlete-of-the-Year, leading both the volleyball team and the basketball team to league championships, and into the CCS finals and Nor-Cal playoffs.
Earning multiple 1st-team All-SCCAL selections in both sports, Ben particularly shined in basketball. He was the 2015 SCCAL MVP, the Register-Pajaronian Player-of-the-Year, earned All-CCS honors, and led the Mariners to their 3rd best record in school history. As a senior, he was Top 10 in CCS D3 in scoring, rebounds, steals, and assists, and he is Top 5 in every Aptos post-season scoring list, including #2 in single-season scoring and #4 in career scoring
The Class of 2026 also features some of Aptos High’s best competitors in baseball, softball, wrestling, football, gymnastics, and more:
Danny Eller (2001) - Danny was a three-sport star in football, wrestling, and baseball. He led both the football team and baseball team to winning records every year, and into the CCS playoffs too, but it was in wrestling where he really shined. He was a three-time individual SCCAL champion and a two-time CCS medalist.
Chris Doerksen (2003) - Chris was a four-year starter in volleyball. He was selected as the SCCAL Sophomore-of-the-Year, the Junior-of-the-Year, and as the league MVP as a senior. He matriculated to UOP, where he continued to play volleyball.
Amy Lamb (1982) - In addition to a very successful swimming career, Amy is the best gymnast in school history. In 1981, in addition to being the SCCAL All-Around Champion, she took first in the uneven bars, balance beam, and vault. She was a three-time CCS qualifier, and led the Mariners to the 1981 SCCAL team title.
Katie Pleski (2006) - In addition to being selected as the 2006 SCCAL MVP in softball, Katie was a two-time 1st-team All-SCCAL player and led the Mariners to the ‘06 team title, As a senior, she hit .606, had 12 doubles, 4 triples, and scored 38 runs, all Top 10 in AHS history. Matriculating to Cabrillo, she was a two-year starter and a 1st-team All-Coast Conference pick.
Frank Knights (2007) - Frank lettered in four sports, football, wrestling, track & field, and lacrosse. In football, Frank was a two-time 1st-team All-SCCAL offensive lineman, and he was selected as the 2006 SCCAL Lineman-of-the-Year. In track & field, he was a team captain, a league champion in shot-put and discus, and helped the Mariners win four SCCAL team titles. Frank was also the school record-holder in the shot put for 18 years, and his toss is still the 3rd longest AHS history. Frank went on to play football at Cabrillo and Southeast Missouri State, earning 1st-team all-conference honors at both schools. Frank was also selected to the 2011 US Men’s National Team, and played in the 4th International Federation of American Football Senior World Championships in Austria.
Rich Taylor - Rich was the Boys Tennis coach for 12 years, and his teams won 7 SCCAL championships. His 7 league championships place him 2nd in both SCCAL Boys Tennis history and Aptos High Boys Tennis history.
Ward Pitman - Honorary inductee - Ward has been the official starter for the AHS Track & Field team since 2002. He is also the official starter for all SCCAL championship meets. He began when his daughter, Lacy, was running track, and has stuck around for 24 years and counting. In addition, every bronze plaque you see in the gym and in the stadium, Ward has installed. That’s close to 100 plaques!
Nick Hathaway (1970) - Sadly, Nick passed recently, but he was a dominant baseball pitcher. Transferring to Aptos from Watsonville when the AHS first opened in 1969, Nick had already earned All-MBL honors. At Aptos, he again earned All-MBL honors, threw a no-hitter against Soquel, struck-out 21 batters in a game against Harbor, and hit .349. Matriculating to Cabrillo, he led the Seahawks to the 1972 conference championship, had a 10-1 record on the mound with a 1.10 ERA, and was named the MVP of the Coast Conference.
The Hall of Fame event will be held at the Seascape Golf Course, and begins with a Social Hour at 4 p.m., with dinner and the program following at 5 p.m.
Tickets for the Aptos High Sports Hall of Fame celebration are $70 each and may be reserved through Aptos High Athletic Director Travis Fox, at 728-7832, ext. 5201 or travis_fox@pvusd.net, or through Mark Dorfman at mark_dorfman@pvusd.net.
Aptos, Calif. - Last week marked a momentous night for the Aptos Sports Foundation and the future success of student-athletes for generations to come at Aptos High School and its feeder programs.
In a 7-0 vote, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District board unanimously passed the Youth Recreation Agreement between the district and the non-profit organization. Historically, the ASF and PVUSD have partnered on projects at the high school and junior high school under a Declaration of Cooperative Support and Collaboration Agreement. Wednesday’s MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) solidifies the relationship between the two and provides a streamlined process for project review, design, and construction.
Brett McFadden represented the ASF board in the presentation of the Action Item on the agenda. President and Founder Paul Bailey spoke about starting the foundation in 1979 and the projects that have been done over the last 45 years at the school. Aptos High Girls Soccer Coach and alumni, Gina Castaneda, followed; speaking of her time as a young person struggling to find safety and stability in a gang-riddled home. At one point homeless, Mariner coaches and teammates were her only home and family. Castaneda said when she decided to come back and coach at Aptos, she was ridiculed by the Watsonville community for not taking a job in that community. Castaneda said, “At that time I had very few role models who looked like me. Now, there are many Latinas who I can be a role model for at Aptos High. I understand them, their struggles, and I want to be there for them, just like my coaches and mentors were for me.” Castaneda is a shining example of the Aptos Sports Foundation mission to develop community leaders of tomorrow by providing a quality student-athlete experience for the youth of Aptos.”
Athletic Director Travis Fox wrapped up the presentation by pointing to statistics that served as a reminder for why Aptos has put such an emphasis on sports as an opportunity to teach their students valuable life lessons. Forty percent of the Aptos High School student body come from low-income families. Meanwhile, sixty percent of the student population play at least one sport. Currently, Aptos High School has the largest sports program in the county; that includes Cabrillo College and UC Santa Cruz.
Trustee Dr. Jennifer Holm asked about projects at any of the elementary sites so far. McFadden explained that the focus has been at the high school campus improving, upgrading, and in some cases completely renovating the facilities. Recently, the ASF has expanded efforts to the Aptos Jr High with a floor renovation and first ever painting of the school gym. “We certainly are open and exploring any way we can help at the elementary sites as well,” said McFadden.
In its 45 year history, the sports Foundation has raised six million dollars, and that total climbs to over 10 million once in-kind donations are included. One hundred percent of funds raised are put back into the athletic programs.
Years ago, the Sports Foundation started an endowment fund that is housed at Community Foundation Santa Cruz County. Their goal is to have a fund of one million dollars, with a long term stretch goal of five million dollars. These assets will be held in perpetuity to fund an annual operating budget for facility maintenance and needed safety upgrades as well as first aid supplies, team training equipment as well as a new scholarship fund. The Bobby Salazar Scholarship fund was created in 2020. The $1,000 scholarship is awarded annually to a student who exemplifies Bobby’s spirit of community service, hard work, and Mariner values.
The most immediate project in the works for The Aptos Sports Foundation is Holcomb’s Landing. This addition to Trevin Dilfer Stadium, is named after the late Mark Holcomb, and will be built in the north endzone and feature a landscaped gathering area with a large brick “A.”
If you would like to leave a lasting legacy for you or your family by purchasing a brick, donating to the endowment fund or participate in one of the annual fundraisers, and to learn more about the ASF, visit aptossportsfoundation.com or email aptossportsfoundation@gmail.com.
Arguably the Greatest Softball Player in School History, One of the Finest Distance Runners, a Father-Son Coaching Duo, and More, To Be Celebrated at Aptos High Sports Hall of Fame Event April 29
APTOS, Calif. (April 2, 2023) – The Aptos High School Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2023 gets inducted on April 29. The eleven new members are highlighted by Breana Kostreba, a two-time SCCAL MVP and three-time All-State softball player, Rylan Hunt, a distance runner who won three SCCAL cross-country titles and eight SCCAL track & field titles, and Joseph and Jack Smith. Joe, with 272 victories, is the 2nd-winningest boys basketball coach in school history, trailing only the legendary Bill Warmerdam. He is also the 3rd winningest girls basketball coach in school history. His father, Jack, was his right-hand man and assistant coach at every level and every step of the way.
Breana Kostreba (Class of 2011) was a four-time 1st-team All-SCCAL softball player, a two-time SCCAL MVP, a three-time All-State selection, and an ESPN Rise 1st-team All-American. She led the state in homeruns as a senior, and is #4 all-time in CA history. She led the Mariners to three SCCAL team titles, and was selected as the Santa Cruz Sentinel Female Athlete-of-the-Year in 2011. Bree matriculated to UC Berkeley, where she earned multiple All-PAC !2 honors, and, hitting .318 with 12 homeruns as a frosh, she led the Bears to the 2012 PAC 12 Championship and into the College World Series.
Rylan Hunt (Class of 2009) was an extraordinary distance runner. In cross-country, Rylan won three individual SCCAL titles, and he led the Mariner harriers to four SCCAL team championships and two CCS team championships. In track & field, Rylan earned eight individual SCCAL titles, winning the 1600 meters an unprecedented four times and the 800 meters three times, and he led the Mariners to three team titles. He was a multiple CCS medalist, 4th in the state in the 1600 meters in 2008, and left Aptos High with top marks in four events. He was selected as the Aptos High Male Athlete-of-the-Year in 2009.
Joe and Jack Smith coached basketball at Aptos for over twenty years together, Joe as the head coach and his father, Jack, by his side. They started-off with the JV boys, then moved-on to the varsity girls for 4 years before transitioning to the varsity boys in 2003. Together they won over 350 games and 5 SCCAL team championships. They reached the CCS Finals and qualified for the Nor-Cal Playoffs in girls basketball in 2001, and reached the same heights in boys basketball in 2015. Both seasons remain two of the finest in AHS history. Jack’s mantra “All in, all out, all the time” remains a core principle of both programs. Jack sadly passed in 2014.
The Class of 2023 also features some of Aptos High’s best competitors in football, soccer, tennis, volleyball, and water-polo:
Jamie O’Mahony (1984) - Jamie is in an exclusive club. In 50-plus years of Aptos football, he is one of only two AHS football players to ever be selected to the All-SCCAL 1st-team three times! Not Trent Dilfer. Not Sam Kennedy. Not Kevin Walters. Not Carlos Torres. Only Jamie O’Mahony and Rick Downey. Jamie was a ferocious and unrelenting defensive lineman, and he helped the Mariner win the 1982 SCCAL team championship. In 1983, he won the coveted Golden Helmet Award. Jamie was also a member of the 1983 SCCAL championship boys soccer team, one of only two boys soccer championships in AHS history.
Emily Di Franco (1990) - After 50-plus years of Aptos athletics, Emily is one of only 30 student-athletes, out of over 12,000 participants, to earn four 1st-team All-SCCAL selections. She earned three 1st-team selections in soccer and one in softball. In soccer, she was a four-year starter, a tenacious defender, and she helped the Mariners win three SCCAL team championships, including an 11-0-1 record in 1990, the second best season in school history. Emily also participated in track and field, and both of her relay teams qualified for the CCS Finals in 1989.
Alissa Bailey (1990) - Alissa was our #1 singles player all four years. She was a two-time SCCAL finalist, and lost in the semi’s the other two years. She led the Mariners to the 1989 SCCAL team championship, our first in almost 10 years. In 1990, she led all amateurs at the BMW Cal Open at the Seascape Tennis Club. She matriculated to Cal Poly, SLO, where she played both singles and doubles for four years, including in three NCAA National Championships, where the Mustangs finished 2nd in the nation in 1993. Alissa achieved a remarkable overall record of 77-19 in four years at SLO. She was also a two-time 1st team All-CCAC selection.
Amy Larson (2002) - Amy is one of the top two or three pitchers in AHS history. She was a four-year starter in softball, a three-year 1st-team All-SCCAL selection, and a two-time SCCAL Pitcher-of-the-Year. In the AHS record book, she is #1 in ERA, #1 in fewest walks allowed, #2 in strikeouts, #4 in complete game shutouts, and #4 in no-hitters pitched. She also led the Mariners to four consecutive SCCAL team championships. Amy matriculated to Occidental College where she continued to pitch successfully for another four years.
Brice Dahlmeier (2005) - A dominating outside hitter, Brice led the Mariners boys volleyball team to its first SCCAL team championship and to our first appearance in the CCS Finals. In 2005, he was selected as the SCCAL MVP. In four years, Brice led the Mariners to an overall 95-33 record, a four-year span of success not yet duplicated, and to deep runs into the CCS playoffs every year. Brice matriculated into a joint degree program at UCSC and UC Berkeley, and he played volleyball successfully at both schools, including making two Top 10 Lists at UCSC.
Torrey Ornelas (2012) - Torrey is the most-decorated girls water-polo player in AHS history. She earned four 1st-team All-SCCAL selections, including Frosh-of-the-Year in 2008, Sophomore-of-the-Year in 2009, Junior-of-the-Year in 2010, and SCCAL MVP in 2011. Aptos High has only won two SCCAL team championships in girls water-polo, and Torrey was the leading scorer on both of those teams.
Dave Ensminger (assistant coach) - The recently-retired Dave Ensminger is the 2nd-longest tenured football coach in AHS history, trailing only Hall of Fame member Jamie Townsend. Dave started coaching football at Aptos High in the fall of 1985. Yes, 1985. 37 years ago. That’s over 400 football games ago, and almost 4000 practices, and yet he never missed a game or practice since he started. Dave has coached the wide receivers at the frosh, JV, and varsity levels, and for very many years he was also the official varsity football stat keeper, which required double-duty from him at games. Dave’s generous nature, his attention to detail, and his soft-spoken witticisms are treasured by legions of wide-outs.
