One of the Most Successful Football Coaches in California, Three-Time NCAA National Champion Just a Taste of Those to be Celebrated at Aptos High Sports Hall of Fame Dinner May 2

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 4^th 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.