GONZALES — Four women and seven men have been chosen to enter the Gonzales High School Athletic Hall of Fame, including an Olympian, a Paralympian and a group of multisport athletes.
Along with the individual inductees, three coaches and four teams will be enshrined into the 2023 Hall of Fame on April 29 at the Amaral Ranch in Salinas.
The four women include Kate Almond (Accetta), Class of 2005 track and field; Jennifer Barrett (Wesley), Class of 1994 track and field and Paralympic world champion; Wendy Blomquist (Davis), Class of 1988 volleyball, basketball and track and field; and Iran Serrano (Borgman), Class of 1999 cross country, soccer and track and field.
The men chosen to the Hall of Fame were: Doug Arneson, Class of 1975 football, basketball and baseball; Mike Breschini, Class of 1971 football, basketball and baseball; Sebastian Guillen, Class of 1991 soccer, cross country and track and field; Ben Jimenez Jr., Class of 1978 football, basketball and baseball; Mario Martinez, Class of 1975 wrestling and Olympic weightlifting silver medalist; Kent Wiley, Class of 1979 football, basketball and tennis; and Jesse Palacios, Class of 1978 baseball.
This year’s individual entries include Central Coast Section placers, CIF State qualifiers and world champions, along with athletes that have competed at the junior college and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) level.
Coaches entering the Hall of Fame are: Roger Fernando (wrestling); Simon Jimenez (wrestling); and Homero Cantu (soccer).
The four football teams include the 1971 and 1974 football teams, the 1975 boys basketball team and the 1977 baseball team.
The Hall of Fame event will include a no-host bar and music starting at 4 p.m., followed by dinner from 5:45 to 7 p.m. and then the induction ceremony.
Information regarding tickets for the dinner is available on the Gonzales Hall of Fame Facebook page. Tickets are also available from a Spartan 300 Board member.
For more information, contact Fidencio Cuevas at 831-675-2495 or by email at fc*****@go******.us.
