Lubbock ISD Athletics Hall of Honor regains momentum, adds 15 new members

David Thetford did not want two years to go to waste.

The Lubbock ISD Athletics Hall of Honor Board of Directors Chairman was in the same situation as a majority of the country for the last couple of years — isolated and unable to meet with his members.

This left the LISD Athletics Hall of Honor group unable to figure out new athletes and teams to induct and, more importantly, sidelined from holding a banquet to celebrate and honor the classes.

"It was a difficult process, but we did not want to skip years and just leave them vacant," Thetford said, alluding to the COVID-19 pandemic canceling large gatherings. "We wanted to honor people and I think we found a great way to do it.

"We chose five for each class, which is a lot more work. But we're just so excited to be doing it because it will bring a lot of energy back into the community to recognize these members."

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In 2020, the class includes the Coronado boys golf team which claimed the Class 5A state championship in 2000, Dunbar High School basketball player Tommy Ricks, the 1979 Estacado AAA state champion track team, Lubbock High football player Greg Lott and Monterey's Kriss Ethridge.

The next year, 2021, continued to tout headliners such as Coronado volleyball coach Brandi Cantrell, Estacado football player Larry Miller, Lubbock High football coach Weldon Bailey Chapman and the 1965 Dunbar state champion boys basketball team and 1981 Monterey girls basketball state champion squad.

To round out the trio of years, the Class of 2022 included Coronado track and cross country standout Mindy (Sullivan) Mammen, Dunbar basketball player William Malone, Estacado track, cross country and basketball athlete LaQuinta Manahan, Monterey hoops standout Grady Newton and and the Lubbock High women's gymnastics teams from 1989-1990 and 1990-1991.

"We put it all together, we did it all during a long meeting and picked all three classes in one setting," Thetford said." What really stood out to me was the balance and the quality of the honorees. I'm just amazed at it. There's 15 of them and they're all so deserving."

The banquet, which is expected to have 15 members that included teams and individuals inducted, is slated to take place at 6 p.m. July 30 at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center.

"We didn't work very hard for those two years because we weren't able to meet," Thetford said. "And what we did, because of it, I feel like we lost momentum as an organization. People in all businesses and organizations lost momentum during that team — our country lost momentum during that time.

"We have just had to fight to get it back, and we feel like we've got it going now in the country and the LISD Athletics Hall of Honor now. There's an energy about what we're doing and once we have the banquet. I feel like it will bring all of the energy back."

LISD Hall of Honor

The following teams and individuals are scheduled for induction into the Lubbock ISD Athletics Hall of Honor during ceremonies set for 6 p.m. July 30 at the Memorial Civic Center.

Class of 2020

Coronado boys

Coronado boys, 2000 State Champion Golf Team: First team state championship in program history, only golf team state title in LISD.

Estacado

Estacado, 1970 State Champion Track Team: Coached by Hollis Gainey and assistant Gene Murrell, runner-up to Angleton in 1969 before defeating Gainesville thanks to a stellar mile relay team in 1970.

Tommy Ricks

Tommy Ricks (1962-1965), Dunbar High School boys basketball: Played and was the team captain and leading scorer on the 1965 state championship team, earning all district, all zone and all state accolades in the process.

Greg Lott

Greg Lott (1961-1964), Lubbock High football athlete: QB who helped Westerners claim Silver Spurs for first time since 1957, tabbed to play in Oil Bowl Game and Texas Coaches High School All Star game in 1964 before receiving scholarship to the University of Texas, ran opening kickoff back for TD against Texas Tech in 1966.

Kriss Ethridge

Kriss Ethridge (1978-1981), Monterey girls basketball: Led Lady Plainsmen to two state tournament appearances, including state title as a senior, and was part of the first women's basketball state championship team from LISD in 1981, three time all district nod and was named all state in 1981 en route to a full scholarship at the University of Texas — aiding the Longhorns to an undefeated record in league play during her collegiate career. Currently the girls athletic coordinator and and girls golf coach at Coronado.

Class of 2021

Dunbar High School

Dunbar High School, 1965 State Champion Boys Basketball Team: Coached by Curtis Gipson and won championship after moving up from AA to AAA and secured the district title with a 7-1 record en route to amassing a 27-2 mark at the end of the year, led by all state players: Clarence Hawkins, Tommy Ricks and Quincy White.

Monterey

Monterey, 1981 State Champion Girls Basketball Team: Led by tri-captains -- Kriss Ethridge, Kamie Ethridge and Tracey Muehlbrad, finished season with 31-2 record after defeating Duncanville 72-71 in the state championship game.

Brandi Cantrell

Brandi Cantrell (2001-2004), Coronado volleyball coach: Three-year letter winner at Coronado and was a co-captain as a junior and senior before earning a scholarship to Baylor, four-year letter winner at Baylor before accepting her first head volleyball job at Tascosa and earning District 3-5A coach of the Year after guiding the team to a 3-5A title and state semifinalist finish. Helped Coronado become a state finalist in 2004-2005. 

Larry Miller

Larry Miller (1967-1970), Estacado football athlete: Part of district championship teams in 1968 and 1969 along with the state title winner in 1968, led Matadors in scoring, rushing and field goals/extra points in 1968 and 1969, played in same backfield as LISD Hall of Honor members James Mosley and Kenneth Wallace.

Weldon B. Chapman

Weldon B. Chapman (1931-1939), Lubbock High football coach: first team won 10 games, including eight shutouts, while outscoring opponents 445-12 in 1931, the 1939 team started the season at 1-3-1 before Chapman was hospitalized prior to the sixth game against Pampa and was taken over by assistant coach Goober Keyes, who helped the Westerners win the next three games. Chapman died on Nov. 11, 1939, and the players dedicated the remainder of the season to his memory as they went on to win the State Championship and end the season with a record of 10-3-1. The players were dubbed the “Cinderella Kids.”

Class of 2022

Lubbock High School

Lubbock High (1989-1990, 1990-1991), State Champion Girls Gymnastics Teams: Coached by Laura and Wally Borchardt who guided the squad to district, regional and state championships in both seasons, which included undefeated marks of 55-0 and 66-0 in the 89-90 and 90-91 seasons, respectively, which included team members: Linsay Broome, Kayla Habbinga, Julie Hudson, Cassie Kramer, Tina Snowden, Heidi Weber, Becky Marsh, Rhonda Kenley and student manager Michelle Blanco.

Mindy Sullivan Mammen

Mindy Sullivan Mammen (2000-2002), Coronado track and cross country athlete: In 2001, went undefeated as a junior in the 800 meters en route to the state meet where she won her first state title and set a state record with a time of 2:08.38 and set school records which still stand, ranked No. 2 in the country in the 800 and earned a track scholarship to compete with Tennessee as a cross country runner.

Laquinta Manahan

Laquinta Manahan (1994-1997), Estacado track and field athlete: District champ in the 100, 200 and ran on the 1,600 relay In 1996 and 1997, received full scholarship to UT-Arlington and set four school recordist track and field.

Grady Newton

Grady Newton (1970-1972), Monterey boys basketball athlete: All-state and district MVP in 1971-1972 before becoming a three-year starter at Texas Tech (1973-1976), helped the Red Raiders secure the inaugural Southwest Conference Tournament and an NCAA playoff berth in 1976, also coached at Monterey from 1983-1988 and amassed a 125-42 mark — ended with a 357-196 coaching record.

William Malone

William Malone (1958-1960), Dunbar High School boys basketball athlete: Leading scorer and co-captain on the 1960 squad which won the district title, tallied all-district team and all-state accolades.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: LISD Athletics Hall of Honor regains momentum, adds 15 new members