| School: Franklin | Graduation Year: 1989 |
Year Inducted: 2018
Sports Played: Cross Country, Track and Field
High School Honors: 3 Cross Country letters, PIL Cross Country Champion as a Senior.
4 Track & Field letters; 800m Champion in PIL record-setting time and State Champion as a Senior. Team Captain. Set school record of 1:53 held for 28 years. 1989 NW Challenge 800m Champion.
Post High School Career: 2 years at Clackamas Community College, NWAAC champions both years in Track & Field. 2 years at the University of Oregon; Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. KPTV Fox 12 Sales. Volunteer coach for Holy Trinity Catholic School CYO Basketball; Coach of the Year in 2018.
Commentary:
“Who you’re becoming is more important than what you are achieving.” I didn’t hear this quote until I was an adult, but it sums my high school and college career. When I look back on my academic and athletic career character, persistence, a strong work ethic, and the ability to achieve defined goals were the key ingredients to the success I achieved.
I had three role models in high school who inspired me to be the person I am today. They are my Dad Mike, Coach Jim Hennessey, and Coach Jon Abraham.
My Dad, who was a great athlete at Franklin High School, helped me keep life in perspective and always encouraged me to go out and have fun. I still remember looking up and seeing his smile with 1000 meters to go in the 1989 PIL Cross Country Championship and telling me the race was mine to win. I’ll never forget the sense of calm and confidence that gave to leave the lead pack and win by a significant margin.
Coach Jim Hennessey was my first running coach. He was the perfect coach for a young kid who had no idea what he was doing. For instance, in a couple of early races I jumped into a lead the first 1500 meters and then barely survived the final 1500 meters. I learned what strategy was and how to use excitement to win races. Coach Hennessey’s main concern was keeping it fun and would remind us that our best races were in the future.
Coach Jon Abraham inspired me his wisdom and training for four years. As a freshman he told me it was up to me if I wanted to be a champion in cross country and track. A mark of a great coach is does their advice withstand the test of time. Thirty years later I still can hear his words as I’m running hills. The athletes I coach as adult get the same advice I got when I was a young athlete.