PXU Sports Hall of Fame

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PXU Sports Hall of Fame

PXU (Phoenix Union) Sports Hall of Fame! This process will continue in 2017 as we recognize the 70’s and 80’s modern nominees, and so on.

The Phoenix Union High School District Hall of Fame is the result of 12 dedicated committee member’s research and dialogue to select among hundreds of qualified candidates. Beginning in June, the Hall of Fame committee began the rigorous process to review potential inductees that represent the Phoenix Union High School District’s standard of excellence. Each month henceforth, we commit to objectiv

ely review potential inductees for election into the “2016 Hall of Fame Class.” Further, the 2016 induction ceremony will encapsulate new “Historical” nominees, that are merged with the 1950’s and 1960’s “Modern” nominees. Committee Members: Dr. Zachary Munoz (Chair), Kevin Belcher, Ron Scott, Joseph Bustos, David Cruickshank, Erika Parra, Brian Fair, David Smithers, Natasha Foster, Ray Pino, Victor Mena, and Tom Williams (Secretary).

02/13/2023

David Henderson was inducted into the PXU Sports Hall of Fame on December 20th, 2022!

David Henderson was a three year Varsity award winner, in Football. He was a starter on both sides of the ball. His Senior year, (1985) the Lions went to the semi-finals of the state championship. His Senior year David was named 1st Team All-State . One of his teammates was Hall of Famer Jim Hanawalt. David played for legendary, Head Coach Paul Hoffland.

Along with All State honors, David was chosen for the All-Arizona team, 1st Team All-Conference and he was selected to play in the North/South All-Game, played at NAU. David is number 8 on the Top 10 strength athletes in Alhambra History.

David signed and played two years with Phoenix College. He played under Hall of Fame coaches, Ken Stites and Ray Laing. The first year the team played in the Valley of Sun Bowl game and was ranked 5th nationally. His sophomore season David was selected team captain.

David received a full ride scholarship to attend New Mexico Highlands University. While at Highlands he was selected as the Offensive Line MVP both in 1988 and 1989. His senior season he was selected “Captain” by his peers.
Following college David continue his powerlifting and in 1995 he won both a Gold and Silver Medal at the World Powerlifting Championships. The same year he won a Gold medal at the National Championships. He competed in the National Athletic Strength Association (NAS)

David graduated with a Bachelors degree in Human Performance as well as a Master degree in Exercise Physiology. He is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Athletic Strength Association (NASA).

David returned to competition in 2011 in the Masters Division of the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation. He won a Silver medal at the World Championship as well as a Bronze at the Pan Ams in Long Beach, California.

David is currently the Director of Strength Training at the STI Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Center located in Phoenix.
He lives, in Phoenix with his son, Ron Henderson and girlfriend, Colleen McGregor.

*Support PXU Athletic Scholarships!
http://www.foundation4education.org/

11/08/2022

Frank Lautt will be inducted into the PXU Sports Hall of Fame on December 20th, 2022!

Coach Frank Lautt is the longest, tenured Head Football Coach in the history of Alhambra. He took over from Legendary Coach, Paul Hoffland. He was an assistant for 9 years in the program. For 21 years Coach Frank Lautt led the Alhambra Lions with “Pride Loyalty and Courage” as his Motto.

In his first year Coach Lautt led the Lions to the 6A playoffs. Coaching many All-state and All Region players throughout his tenure. He became the School’s winningest coach with 90 wins surpassing his former mentor. During his tenure he was voted Region Coach of the Year 2 times as well as Phoenix Union Football Coach of the year in his final campaign of 8-2 in 2015. He was also the Arizona Cardinals Coach of the Week on three different occasions after leading the Lions to several upsets of ranked teams. Coach Lautt also assisted Hall of Fame Coach, Ron Scott for 20 years as the head Freshman baseball coach.

After retiring in 2016 from Phoenix Union he continued to assist at Alhambra for a few more years as an assistant varsity coach. During that two year period he also coached the Varsity Softball team. Coach Lautt led the lady Lions to the Region Championship in 2018 and to an appearance in the State Tournament. That same year Coach Lautt was selected Region Coach of the Year in the Metro Division.

Coach Lautt travelled to Europe and coached the Chambery Aigles (Eagles) semi-professional football team for one year, 2018-2019. Currently Frank Lautt has returned to his passion of coaching High School football, and is the Head football coach at Barry Goldwater High School, (2019-present)

He is married to his wife Sherry has two sons Matthew (34) Austin (26) and step daughter, Alannah (34) who he enjoys spending time with and traveling.

*Support PXU Athletic Scholarships!
http://www.foundation4education.org/

10/12/2022

Pete Mahoeny will be inducted into the PXU Sports Hall of Fame on December 20th, 2022!

Pete Mahoney was a three-year Varsity award winner in Football. During his career, he played for legendary Coaches, Gail Hake and Jack Kersting. In his junior year, he was selected Team Captain and First Team All-Division at the inside linebacker position. That year he was also selected 2nd Team All-State.

Pete was one of the best linebackers in the history of Alhambra football. His best year on the gridiron was his senior year (1975) where once again he was named Team Captain. He racked up the awards: 1st Team All Phoenix Division, 1st Team All-State (Arizona Republic), 1st Team All-State (Phoenix Gazette) Arizona Football Magazine 1975 Silhouette Award Winner, and he was selected to play in the North/South All-Star game at Phoenix College.

Pete received a full-ride scholarship to University of Arizona (1976-1980) and had a stellar career. He was a four-year Varsity letter winner and played on the offensive line. In his junior year, he played in the Fiesta Bowl vs the University of Pittsburgh. Pete graduated with a degree in American History and a minor in Special Education.

After his playing career, Pete stayed at the U of A and served as an assistant Coach with the offensive line, 1981-1983. In 1984-1986 Pete moved to the United States Military Academy at West Point where he was the Tight Ends Coach. In 1984 Army won the Commander’s in Chief Trophy by beating both the Air Force and the Naval Academies; and won the Cherry Bowl vs Michigan State. In 1985 Army beat the University of Illinois in the Peach Bowl.

From 1986-1993 Pete was the offensive line coach at Kent State University. From 1994-2001 Pete moved into Administration and held the office of Athletic Facilities Director. For the next 11 years (2001-2012) he served as the Associate Athletic Director for External Relations. 2012-2014 he served the university as the Community Relations Director. He retired from Kent State University in 2014 after 28 years of service.

Pete is married to wife, Colleen (33 years), and has a daughter, Bridget, and a son, Peter.

*Support PXU Athletic Scholarships!
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10/03/2022

On Friday, September 23, the Phoenix Union Hall of Fame Committee organized the annual golf tournament at the Grand Canyon University golf course. The golf tournament helps raise funds for the yearly PXU Hall of Fame induction ceremony AND the 25 student/athlete scholarships the Hall gives each year.

The induction ceremony is scheduled for December 20, 2022. More details are coming up soon.

03/28/2020

We are deeply saddened to report the passing of North High School Assistant Principal Mr. Ray Pino, a member of the PXU Hall of Fame Committee.

Mr. Pino was hired in August of 2004 as a Math and CTE teacher at Cesar Chavez High School. He was promoted to Dean of Students at Carl Hayden in 2011, and became the Assistant Principal for Student Opportunities at Cesar Chavez in 2012. He had been the APO at North High School since 2013.

Mr. Ray Pino was 51 years old.

He will be greatly missed by all who worked with and loved him. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and four kids during this unimaginably hard time.

12/12/2019

Nehumi will be inducted into the PUHSD Sports Hall of Fame on December, 17th, 2019!

Nehumi is from the Polynesian country of Tonga and is perhaps one of the strongest players to compete in Arizona athletics. As a Junior and Senior he won State Championships in the Annual Scottsdale Community College Powerlifting tournaments. His max weights were an incredible 390 on the bench and 605 in the squat. When he was 25 years old he set a World Record in the Squat with a remarkable weight of 909 lbs.

Nehumi was a four year letter winner in Wrestling. His Senior season, 1984, he was Metro Region Heavyweight Champion, won the HWT Championship at the Peoria Tournament and placed 4th in the State tournament.

Nehumi was a three year letter winner in Football. In 1985 he was selected 1st. Team All-State as an offensive lineman. He went on and played two years at Phoenix College under two Phoenix Union District Hall of Fame Coaches, Ken Stites and Ray Laing. In his second year Nehumi was selected 1st Team All-Conference for both sides of the ball and helped lead the team to victory in the Sun Bowl.

He received a scholarship from New Mexico Highlands where he played for two years. While at Highlands Nehumi was selected Captain his senior season.

Nehumi is a strength coach and has trained high school, college and professional sports since 2000. He has players who have gone on to college and to professional football and rugby. Nehumi played rugby for the Tempe Rugby Club for many years and won a National Championship as a player/coach. Two of the players from the USA National Rugby that he trained were selected for the Olympics.

Nehumi lives in Phoenix and is a strength and conditioning coach for STI, a physical therapy company. . He has one son, Ulukalala, 6 years old.

*Support PUHSD Athletic Scholarships!
http://www.foundation4education.org/

11/21/2019

Jim Hanawalt will be inducted into the PUHSD Sports Hall of Fame on December, 17th, 2019!

Jim Hanawalt was a two sport athlete at Alhambra in football and basketball. He was a key player in the Lion’s search for a second state basketball title. Jim was the other “big man” along side Hall of Famer Mitch Smith. The Lions won the State Championship in 1985 by beating Tucson Catalina 77-58. Jim played all five positions and was primarily a shooting guard. The 1985 State Championship Team was 27-1 and was the second time the Lions won the title, having previously won it in 1974. As a senior, Jim was selected Honorable Mention All-State and he was also nominated for the McDonald’s All American Team his senior year.

Jim was a three year starter in football and played outside linebacker and tight end. In 1985 he was selected 1st Team All-State at tight end. He was also selected to the All-Arizona team; additionally, Jim participated in the North/South All-Star game up at NAU.

Jim received a full scholarship for football to attend the University of Arizona. He played tight end in every game as a true freshman. A coaching change eliminated the tight end position and Jim transferred to San Diego State University where he was a three year starter from 1988 to 1991.

Jim’s love of the game of football took him to the sidelines as a Coach. He’s coached football at 4 Phoenix Union District schools; first at his alma mater Alhambra, and then at Camelback, North and Chavez.

Currently, Jim is an English teacher at Cesar Chavez and is the Head Boy’s golf coach. He is married to his wife Shauna and has three children; Hunter 19, Samantha 18, and Ryan 13.

*Support PUHSD Athletic Scholarships!
http://www.foundation4education.org/

11/14/2019

Mitch Smith will be inducted into the PUHSD Sports Hall of Fame on December, 17th, 2019!

Alhambra’s first Basketball State Championship featured 6’10, Hall of Famer, Steve Malovic. The Lions won it all again in 1985 with “big man” 6’8 Mitch Smith. Mitch played all four years and had a remarkable prep career. His Sophomore year he averaged 15 points and 9 rebounds a game. Junior year, 23 points a game with 13 rebounds. His Senior year he average 26 points a game, 17 rebounds and eight blocks per game.

Led by Mitch the Lions went 27-1 and won the State Championship for the 2nd time in school history. The Lions were coached by Hall of Famer, Phil Kemp. Bob Rossi was an assistant and played an important role. Mitch was selected Co-Player of the year with eventual NBA player Sean Elliott. He was also selected 1st team All-State both his junior and senior years.

Mitch went on to play at the University of Utah where he finished tenth in career scoring, fourth all time rebounder and fourth all time blocks.

Mitch went over to Europe where he enjoyed a 10 year career in the professional basketball leagues. He played in Spain, Belgium and Turkey.

Mitch lives in Salt Lake, Utah and is married to wife, Cindy and has five children, Alyssa 31, Brittnee 29, Halle 22, Taylor 20 and Kaden 16.

*Support PUHSD Athletic Scholarships!
http://www.foundation4education.org/

10/25/2019

Nathan LaDuke will be inducted into the PUHSD Sports Hall of Fame on December, 2019! Those that know will say that Nathan LaDuke ranks in the top five best athletes to ever walk the halls of Alhambra High School. Some say he might be the best as he was outstanding in three sports. In football Nathan was 1st Team All-State on both sides of the ball his junior and senior years. In Wrestling Nathan lettered all four years for a career record of 95-6. He won the State Championship both his Junior (24-0) and his senior years (25-0) and was runner up State Champion his sophomore year (24-2)

Nathan only played baseball for one year, as a senior but he immediately garnered attention from college and the pros. He was selected 1st Team All-State and was selected in the major league draft by the San Diego Padres.

Nathan won a full scholarship to Arizona State University . At ASU he was a four year starter who earned second team “All- American” honors following his junior and senior seasons and received All-Pac10 recognition following the 88-90 seasons. He was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe award for the 89 - 90 season. Nathan was named ASU’s Most Valuable Defensive Player for the 89-90 season and earned the team’s Tim Landers Iron Man as a Junior. He was a Co-Captain in 1990 and led the squad in total tackles (122) and interceptions (four-two returned for touchdowns)

Nathan is the only player in Sun Devil History to lead the team in interceptions during three seasons. He is the school’s all-time leader in interception return yards. He also ranks tied for first in ASU history with 238 career solo tackles. He was inducted into ASU’s Hall of Fame in 2006.

Nathan was selected in the 11th round of the 1991 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals.

Nathan lives in Gilbert with his wife, Mary Kay and five children. Maya 15, Nate 13, Eden 11, Will 9 and Brady 6. He owns a medical device distributorship.

*Support PUHSD Athletic Scholarships!
http://www.foundation4education.org/

12/08/2018

Alex Hinds will be inducted into the PUHSD Sports Hall of Fame on December 17th, 2018. Alex weighed 88lbs his freshman year, but made varsity in the 95 lb. division. In each of his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons, he won the State Wrestling Championship in three different weight divisions. He won 57-straight matches, and did not miss a match during his four year tenure. In 1965, his senior year, Central won the State Wrestling Championship by a landslide. Coach Trimmer helped Alex receive a scholarship at the University of Colorado in Boulder. He wrestled varsity and competed in AAU freestyle tournaments before transferring to the University of Arizona where he finished his career.

It’s with great honor that I introduce you to Alex Hinds, Class of ‘1965. The following is a brief biography written by Alex.

It’s been a while since graduating from Central High in 1965. Back then it was all about hanging out with friends, cruising Central Avenue, getting good enough grades to not get grounded - and wrestling! We were young, strong, wannabe rebel jocks without a cause.

Although at first I only weighed 88 lbs., freshman year I made varsity in the 95 lbs. weight class. Several of us lifted weights, ran far, practiced hard and became veritable wrestling machines. Starting sophomore year, somehow, I went on to win 3 state wrestling titles in 3 different weight classes. Coach Trimmer once said I won 57 straight matches. I was determined to not miss a single match in 4 years. Senior year, Central won the state championship by a landslide. The lessons we learned wrestling, continued to serve us well.

Backstory Bio: We moved to Phoenix in the 50’s. My mother, Lillian, taught reading at Central High. (She’s now 99.) Some of her students would stop by the house. By the time I made it to Central, I knew some cool, tough juniors and seniors.

What the heck, although I wasn’t much bigger than a postage stamp, I was fast, determined and decided to try out for freshman football. Unfortunately, a few days later, I had a doctor’s appointment and missed practice on the same day they handed out uniforms. Humiliated, standing on the sidelines in my street clothes, I took a hike and went out for cross country and wrestling instead.

After high school, I wrestled some at the University of Colorado in Boulder and later at the U of A. By then, the times and I had changed. So I moved on and began my whole earth gypsy pilgrim phase - ending up with a couple of college degrees, a couple of kids, and a Fulbright scholarship to study and roam around in Ecuador. I became a planning and community development director for 3 counties in California. Now I’m a recycled bureaucrat, working part time at Sonoma State University in a leafy green area north of San Francisco.

Closing the loop, a few years back, Steve Rempe, a retired public defender friend took me to his favorite restaurant in South Phoenix. He was warmly greeted by many. The owner, a big guy with a long ponytail came up to pay his respects. I was introduced as the wrestler. Next thing his friend has me in a headlock taking me from table to table. More friendly introductions with the music blaring and toasts to back to the good old days wrestling in the Phoenix Union School District.
•3-time State Wrestling Champion, in different weight divisions

•Won 57 consecutive matches

•Member of 1965 State Wrestling Championship Team

•Scholarship to University of Colorado in Boulder

•Wrestled Varsity at Colorado and competed in AAU freestyle tournaments

•Transferred to University of Arizona to finish wrestling career.

*Support PUHSD Athletic Scholarships!
http://www.foundation4education.org/

12/03/2018

Rhonda Gorraiz will be inducted into the PUHSD Sports Hall of Fame on December 17th, 2018. Rhonda Gorraiz is one of the better athletes to ever roll through Central High School. By the time she graduated in 1983, she earned 12 Varsity letters at Central High School, achieving all-region honors in basketball and softball. She was a two-year letterman in track and volleyball, and played varsity basketball and softball all four years at Central. Rhonda was named the Varsity Club’s “Most Outstanding Female Athlete” at Central High School and upon graduation, signed on to play softball for hall of fame and USA Olympic coach Mike Candrea at Central Arizona College (CAC). At Central Arizona, she earned second team All-Conference and All-Region honors as a freshman, and first team All-Conference and All-Region as a sophomore. Central Arizona won the NJCAA Region 1 National Championship both her freshman, and sophomore years. Rhonda batted .350 over her two year career! She earned a full ride to Nebraska, and became the starting 3rd baseman during two Big Eight Championship seasons her junior and senior year (1986, 1987), finishing 3rd in the nation in 1986.

The following is a brief autobiography of Rhonda’s life growing-up in Phoenix, near 7th Street and Highland.

While growing up around 7th Street and Highland, we played outdoors sports with siblings, friends, and neighbors. The summers brought hours of competition in the streets and backyards filled with families and kids everywhere. One could find a game of touch football, kick the can, or ditch’em anytime. Only the darkness or dinner brought an end to the games, and even so, we would often run out and play kick-the-can after dark. I was so fortunate to run around with peers who were athletic and older.

My siblings played any sports that involved running, jumping, or hitting something. So I watched and learned and tried to be like them. My cousins brought a rough and tough warfare attitude to family gatherings. Thanksgiving picnics included touch football and everybody played. Our backyards looked like ‘iron-man’ competition with weights, punching bags, and a scattering of sports equipment.

Both my parents received ‘Best Athlete’ at their high schools. They often participated when they felt the desire to fulfill an athletic whim. They set us up a basketball hoop at the edge of the roof, and put up barriers to protect the windows from loose balls. Dad would take me to track meets often. High jump was his specialty, and although I preferred the ‘Fosberry Flop’ to the ‘Eastern Roll’ he still signed me up. He was a proud dad after the State meet at Grandview Elementary, watching me win the high jump competition!

My Uncle ‘Coach Scott’ was the master instructor. He was the ‘yoda’ for any youngster who wanted to play sports. One of the great things about Coach Scott is that he incorporated life skills into every lesson. He was a natural, and Phoenix Union recently inducted him in their Sports Hall of Fame. He was instrumental in my college scholarship application process, writing letters to colleges and encouraging me. I eventually landed a full ride to Central Arizona where we won the NJCAA Softball World Series both years. I could have played basketball for them, but being the child of two fast-pitch pitchers, my first love was softball.

The softball success at Central Arizona propelled me to a great career at Nebraska. Over the next two years my parents often watched me play in big tournaments to root me on. I look back so fondly of those years and feel blessed to be surrounded by such great family and friends. The Corn family were great wrestlers at Central. The Brugmann’s were football players. Curt was my idol. He was a year older than I was and often sent me on hook patters for the receptions. He ended up playing college football as a quarterback. He wasn’t a bad wiffle-ball player either. No matter how skinny the bat was, he would end up hitting it over the apartment wall!

Nowadays you can find me giving back to the rich community that served me so well. After career stops in California and New Mexico, I’m now back close to home helping my parents and serving in the Madison School District for the last seven years—working with Special needs children.

*Support PUHSD Athletic Scholarships!
http://www.foundation4education.org/

Address

4502 N Central Avenue
Phoenix, AZ
85012

Telephone

+16027641334

Website

http://www.phxhs.k12.az.us/Page/18593

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