Class of 2026

Laura Clark’s athletic story is defined by dominance, versatility, and determination. Beginning at Antioch Junior High, she played volleyball as an eighth and ninth grader. In 1975, she entered Antioch High School and immediately made an impact by competing in three varsity sports, which she continued through all three years at AHS.

Her senior season in 1978 brought even more recognition. Laura was named Antioch’s Female Outstanding Senior Athlete of the Year and became the first female athlete from Antioch to ever earn a full-ride athletic scholarship. St. Mary’s College signed Laura to a Letter of Intent, a landmark moment because it was the first year St. Mary’s awarded women’s athletic scholarships. She was one of four women receiving full scholarships through two-sport awards, later shifting fully to volleyball and earning Most Valuable Player honors twice at St. Mary’s (1978–79 and 1980–81).

In volleyball at Antioch, Laura served as Most Valuable Player and team captain as a junior and a senior. Her impact included standout performances such as a 9-for-9 spiking effort against Pittsburg and a near-perfect scoring showing versus Concord (13 points out of 13). She consistently led in points and side-outs by spikes, was a strong and reliable server, earned all-star recognition at the Antioch/Clayton Valley Invitational, and helped guide Antioch to a Diablo Valley Athletic League co-championship with a 14–2 league record.

Laura’s athletic excellence extended to basketball and softball.  In basketball, during her senior campaign, she produced leadership-level stats—leading in points, assists, and free throws, and tying for the most steals. She also set a scoring highlight by dropping 36 points against College Park, placing her among the top scorers in the Diablo Valley League. Coaches and teammates consistently described her as an “impact player,” always driving the game forward with grit, skill, and ambition.

During the 1982 and 83 football seasons, running back Brett Cornelison was an offensive force for the Panthers.  Over those seasons, Brett totaled 1746 yards, (103.4 yards per game) while scoring 24 touchdowns in 17 games.  As a senior, both his 935 yards and 14 touchdowns led the entire east bay area and was instrumental in leading the Panthers to a DVAL co-championship and berth in the North Coast Section playoffs. 

His career rushing totals still rank in the top 10 on the Panther all-time list.  Brett combined power (he was a fullback as a junior) and explosive speed (he averaged over 20 yards per carry on his 14 touchdowns) as he continued a tradition of outstanding Panther running backs.  These exploits on the field were widely recognized as he was named all-league as both a junior (2^nd team) and senior (1^st team), second team all East-Bay, and honorable mention on the San Francisco Examiner’s All-Metro team.  Not surprisingly, Brett’s contributions to his team were recognized by teammates as he was selected as the Panther’s outstanding back receiving the Ron Pritchard Award and team MVP, as well as team captain.

He capped his high school career by playing in the Contra Costa-Alameda All-Star game.  Finally, Brett was selected as one of two outstanding scholar-athletes for Contra Costa County by the prestigious National Football Foundation.

Upon graduation, Brett continued his football career at UC-Davis where he was a starting running back on the Freshman team.  A preseason injury in his sophomore year led to Brett ending his promising Aggie football career.

They called Anthony Cress the “Big Dog” around Antioch High School, but Panthers’ coach Brett McNamar described him as the “Big Show” which might be more appropriate. AHS Coach McNamar, a state wrestling finalist himself, coached Cress to two Bay Valley Athletic league championships with Cress being a North Coast finalist in 2009 and a North Coast championship at weight class 152 lbs. in 2010. His Jr and Sr year, Big Dog  Anthony was one match away from placing in the highly competitive California State Championships. Cress also played Football at AHS as a defensive Linebacker in the fall season before wrestling.

 At the age of 18, Cress enlisted and served deployments in Afghanistan and Kuwait, each for nine months. He also did missions in Iraq during that time. In an interview, Cress described his experience in Afghanistan: “It is what people think it is: it’s war … It’s a combat zone. We were there to help the people out.” Big Show is still connected as being an Engineer Sargent with the Reserve.

In 2017 Anthony enrolled at Chabot Jr. College becoming a State Champion which made him a JC All-American at weight class 174 lbs. He also competed in the national freestyle open tournament in Las Vegas. For Cress’ next challenge he tested himself in an upper weight class the next year. To prepare, he bulked up in the weight room in the off season.

Anthony reached the pinnacle in California community college wrestling by becoming a two-time California community College wrestling champion for Chabot JR. College but this time up to weight class 197lbs. Making him a two-time JC All-American as Chabot’s first two-time state wrestling champ in 37 years. 

Anthony Cress was also an assistant coach for Antioch for three years

Roger Davis grew up in Antioch, where his natural athletic ability made him a standout in every youth sport he touched. In Little League, he set a single-season home run record with 15 and excelled in the Junior Football League.

At AHS, Roger earned varsity letters in four sports. His biggest impact came in football, where he switched from running back to Defensive End, becoming an All DVAL selection and a part of the 1966 league championship team later inducted into the ASLHOF.  He was also named to the Antioch Ledger’s “Cream of the Crop” 20-year team as one of the AHS top defense ends.

Roger stepped into wrestling his senior year to fill the team’s heavyweight spot, quickly excelling under long time coach Gerald Palmer. Coach Palmer later named him the best heavyweight wrestler of his coaching career. He also played baseball that spring, earning a one-day tryout with Los Angeles Dodgers.

Roger continued football at Diablo Valley College, Playing both defensive end and offensive tackle. He earned all-league honors and helped DVC win championships in both his seasons. Longtime DVC coach Chappie Lisle called him “one of the best offensive linemen he had ever coached.”

He then attended Arizona State University, where he played his final two seasons during one of the greatest eras in ASU football history. In 1970, the Sun Devils went 11-0, won the WAC Championship, Defeated North Carolina in the Peach Bowl, and finished as national champion under the Poling System. In 1971, ASU Repeated as WAC champions, finished eighth nationally, and won the Fiesta Bowl, where Roger, playing offensive tackle- threw the key block that sealed the victory.

After ASU and a tryout with the Houston Oilers, Roger became one of the nation’s strongest and most explosive powerlifters, where he won numerous championships.

Antioch High School standout Vicki Gonzales established herself as one of the finest female athletes in school history through her outstanding achievements in both basketball and softball during the early 1980s. Known for her competitive spirit, leadership, and versatility, she excelled at the varsity level in two sports and earned recognition throughout the East Bay area.

Vicki first emerged as a top athlete during her sophomore softball season in 1981. She earned First Team All-DVAL honors after batting .345 in league play and .391 overall, helping lead Antioch’s softball program with her strong offensive performance. Her athletic success continued into her junior year when she became co-MVP of the varsity basketball team while averaging 10.2 points per game. That same year on the softball field, Vicki was the only Antioch player selected to the prestigious All-East Bay First Team. She finished the season with a team-leading .457 batting average and was also recognized as the Kenco Athlete of the Week for her exceptional all-around play.

During her senior season in 1983, Vicki cemented her reputation as one of Antioch High School’s premier two-sport athletes. In basketball, she was the only Antioch player named First Team All-DVAL while leading the team in scoring with an average of 15 points per game. She was also selected as the team’s Most Valuable Player. On the softball field, she earned First Team All-DVAL and First Team All-East Bay honors and was chosen for the Contra Costa All-Star Team. Her accomplishments and leadership were further recognized when she received the Chuck Stapleton Memorial Award.

Vicki continued her athletic career at Los Medanos College, competing in both basketball and softball. Today, she is the Controller for Ecowater Systems where she has been for the last 46 years.

Evan Grimes enjoyed an outstanding athletic career at Antioch High School, excelling in both basketball and track and field. His accomplishments earned him the prestigious Antioch High School Male Athlete of the Year award in 2010.

On the basketball court, Grimes was one of the Panthers’ top performers. He was named Most Valuable Player of the Straw Hat Basketball Tournament and was chosen as the team’s Co-MVP as a senior. While basketball showcased his versatility and leadership, it was in track and field where he achieved his greatest success.

A four-year varsity track and field athlete, Grimes qualified for the North Coast Section Meet of Champions all four years of high school. Competing primarily in the long jump and triple jump, he spent his first three seasons without a dedicated jumps coach and felt he never fully reached his potential. That changed during his senior year when Coach Josh Tezeno joined Antioch’s staff. Tezeno quickly identified Grimes’ strengths and weaknesses, developing a training program that improved his speed and maximized his jumping ability.

The results were immediate. Grimes won the BVAL long jump title with a leap of 22 feet, 2 inches, then placed second at the North Coast Section III-A Championships with a jump of 22 feet, 1 inch. After fouling on all three attempts in the triple jump, he focused entirely on the long jump and responded with another runner-up finish at the North Coast Section Meet of Champions, improving to 22 feet, 10 inches and qualifying for the CIF State Championships.

At the State Meet, Evan advanced from the Friday trials to the Saturday finals. There he produced a lifetime-best jump of 23 feet, 2¼ inches to finish fourth, missing third place by just one-quarter inch. His performance made him only the seventh Antioch male athlete at that time to earn an individual medal at the CIF State Track and Field Championships.

This year’s community leader inductee is a lifelong resident of Antioch graduating from Antioch High School in 1965.  In high school Laura (Enea) Jacques was very involved in the Girls Athletic Association (GAA) and developed her skills in art and design and a lifetime passion for volunteer work.

While working in her family’s business, Laura was very active volunteering at Holy Rosary Church and School. Serving on the school’s Parents Club for 9 years as Treasurer.   She has been a lifetime parishioner of Holy Rosary Church and has volunteered for over 50 years.  Serving on the Liturgy Committee, the Art and Environment committee and the Fall Festival committee.   She led the transformation of the Fall Festival into the Harvest Fair in 1997 and oversaw all the design and decoration changes. 

She has been very active in the Antioch Women’s Club since 2010, having served on its board of directors for five years.  She is known as the “Club Decorator” for the many events that she has led the decorations team including the Christmas House Tour which provides scholarships for students at Antioch High School.   She currently is Chairwoman of the Garden and Event Landscaping Project.

In 1999 when the Antioch Historical Society opened its new home of their museum Laura was there and has been an integral part of the museum.   She served as a member of the board of directors for 26 years, as President from 2013-14.  In April of 2026 she was named a Director Emeritus.   Over that time Laura has been involved in designing and decorating each room in the museum along with all the major projects.

Since the inception of the Antioch Sports Legends Hall of Fame Laura has played an enormous role in the design, development and decoration of the Hall.   For the first 15 years she led the team in designing each inductee display case which numbers over 200 displays.

Erin Jones made a lasting impact both on and off the field. From her early Little League days playing baseball to becoming an Antioch High School varsity softball standout, she showed consistent leadership, academic excellence, and athletic talent. A three-year team captain, she earned all-league honors as a senior and received a distinguished scholarship.

In 2006, Erin earned her varsity letter and was named Star of the Week. In 2007, she again earned her varsity letter, became team captain, and received the NCS-CIF Distinguished Scholarship Team Award. In 2008, as captain, she posted a .465 batting average, hit five home runs, recorded a .428 on-base percentage, and an .878 slugging percentage. She was named Athlete of the Month (May 2008), received NCS-CIF Distinguished Scholastic Team recognition.

As senior captain in 2009, Erin excelled on both sides of the game. She hit .617, was named Antioch Softball Offensive Player of the Year, earned BVAL First Team honors, and was recognized as BVAL Runner-Up Athlete of the Year. She was also among the East Bay Top 130 Athletes and East Bay Prep Athlete of the Year.  Her honors also included the UAMC Distinguished Athlete Award and four memorial scholarships.

Erin went on to Sacramento State on scholarship during her freshman year, she earned First Team All–Pacific Coast honors and was named Freshman of the Year, posting standout numbers and ranking among the top hitters and fielders on the team.

She continued at the University of Nevada, Reno, where she earned WAC Second Team honors and delivered some of the most prolific offensive seasons in program history. Erin graduated with degrees in Educational Leadership and Administration, as well as Communication and Psychology.

For more than two decades, Coach Brian Kofford has built one of the most respected golf programs in the Bay Valley Athletic League at Deer Valley High School. Through dedication, consistency, and a passion for developing student-athletes, Kofford has guided both the boys’ and girls’ golf teams to remarkable success while creating a culture defined by excellence on and off the course.

Kofford became the head coach of the Deer Valley boys’ golf team in 2002, and from the beginning, his teams established themselves as a dominant force in league competition. Between 2007 and 2013, the Wolverines captured an incredible seven consecutive BVAL Championships, a run that reflected years of discipline, teamwork, and competitive spirit. During that historic stretch, Deer Valley also achieved five undefeated BVAL seasons and won 56 consecutive league matches, cementing the program as one of the league’s premier dynasties.

The boys’ program produced a long line of standout players under Kofford’s leadership. Twelve Deer Valley golfers earned BVAL MVP honors, with five players capturing the award twice — a testament to both individual talent and the program’s ability to consistently develop elite competitors year after year.

In 2013, Kofford expanded his impact by taking over the Deer Valley girls’ golf program. It did not take long for the girls’ team to make its mark. In just his second season, the Wolverines won the 2014 BVAL Girls League Championship, showcasing the rapid growth and confidence of the young program.

Under Coach Kofford’s guidance, the girls’ team also produced numerous individual honors. Three Deer Valley players earned BVAL MVP recognition, while 23 golfers received All-League honors, reflecting the depth and competitiveness of the program.

For most athletes, becoming one of the best as a high school sophomore is a rare achievement. Success usually comes with time, experience, and development. For Deer Valley High School’s Chizoba Okodogbe, however, success arrived early. Her toughest competition during her sophomore season came not from rival schools, but from teammate Jasmine Cox, the 2008 CIF State Meet fourth-place finisher in the 400 meters and a future Antioch Sports Legends Hall of Fame Inductee (2024).

That year, Chizoba learned what it meant to finish second, placing runner-up at League, NCS III-A, and the NCS Meet of Champions. She advanced to the CIF State Meet, where she finished seventh in the 400 meters and helped Deer Valley’s 4×400 relay team earn a third-place finish. Coached by Bernard Stephens and assistant Willie Evers, it would be one of the few times she saw competitors cross the finish line ahead of her.

As a junior and senior, Chizoba dominated, winning League, NCS III-A, and the NCS Meet of Champions both years. She placed third in the 400 meters at the CIF State Meet as a junior and improved to second as a senior with a blazing 53.42, becoming the only Antioch track and field athlete to earn a top three individual finish at two separate State Meets. She also helped lead Deer Valley’s 4×400 relay team to a fourth-place State finish.

Her success earned her a scholarship to the University of Oregon, known as “Track Town USA.” Competing for the Ducks, Chizoba lowered her personal best 400 to 52.20 and finished second in the Pac-12 Championships as a senior. Renowned as a relay specialist, she and her teammates earned NCAA All-American honors 13 times in indoor and outdoor competition. In 2025, Chizoba and her 2011-2014 Oregon relay teammates were inducted into the University of Oregon Athletic Hall of Fame.