The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

The Sisters High School Hall of Fame committee inducted 10 individuals and two teams at a banquet ceremony Saturday, October 2, held in the high school commons.

Honorees included seven outstanding athletes, two athletic teams, a musician/athlete, and two special contributors. The inductees represented two “classes” since the event was not able to be held last year due to COVID shutdowns.

Hall of Fame cochair Don Pollard explained that the Hall is intended to honor the contributions and accomplishments of those who are worthy of recognition and who serve as examples for others to emulate. Over the past seven years, the Hall of Fame has honored more than 50 individuals, teams, and organizations.

Tracy Smith, a former Olympian and longtime running coach at Crook County High School, now retired, served as the banquet’s guest speaker and focused on the concept of how great individual accomplishments, such as his own, are not individual at all.

He shared the quote, “I am because we are” to underscore the notion that one’s friends, coaches, teachers, bosses — those people who invest in our lives — allow us to reach our greatest potential.

Like Smith, the majority of the inductees honored as athletes excelled in track and field and some in other sports as well.

Parker Bennett, a star distance runner in cross-country and track during high school and college, sent in an audio message from his home in Germany, where he works as an athletic trainer, and thanked the community for supporting him as a young man and for the honor of being inducted.

Bennett graduated in 2010 and held school records in the 1500, 3000, and 5000 meters. His success continued at Willamette University, culminating in being named the outstanding male senior athlete when he graduated.

Jared Henderson (2009), also an accomplished runner but known even more for his music, was the next inductee. After high school Henderson attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston and is now an acclaimed professional bassist who has performed all over the world. In addition to his performing and production of music, he is following in his father Jody’s footsteps, teaching music to young people.

Taylor Steele (2011), who ran with both Henderson and Bennett in high school, eventually went on to break Bennett’s record in the 3000 meters and became the first Outlaw distance runner to win a state title. He continued his running career at Whitworth University, where he earned a degree in business management.

Shane Wibel, a member of the first class to graduate from the new high school in Sisters in 1993, was a three-sport athlete, competing in football, basketball, and track. He left his mark in track and field with a school record in the discus that still stands. Athletics continue to play a big role in his life as he has spent his career in work related to athletics as a college professor and an athletic trainer for a number of colleges, including Willamette and Western Oregon.

Another three-sport athlete, Minique Yost (2004) starred in soccer, basketball, and track. Her school records for 200 and 400 meters still stand. She was named the female athlete of the year twice, a very rare occurrence at SHS, for her high level of achievement in all three sports. Her accomplishments earned her an athletic scholarship for track and field at Montana State University.

Like Yost, Courteney Satko (2010) competed at the highest level in three different sports. She played on the state-championship volleyball team in 2009, stood on the podium at the state track meet numerous times in track, and ranks in the all-time top-10 in a number of swimming events. She was named the 2010 female athlete of the year as a senior. Her track career at Boise State University ended due to injury. She is currently working as a real estate broker in Central Oregon.

Daniel Holloman (2005) is described as “the epitome of a track athlete” by his high school coaches due to his ability to excel in so many different events. By the time he graduated his name appeared on the all-time top 10 list for track and field in nine different events. He was versatile in the football field as well, playing wide receiver, strong safety and serving as the team’s punter. At Weber State University, Holloman competed in the high, long, and triple jumps. He resides in Utah, where he works as a business professional.

Sarah Dempsey (1994) entered the Hall of Fame for her accomplishments in volleyball, basketball and track and field, in which she held three school records. She was named the SHS female athlete of the year in both 1993 and 1994. At Western Oregon University, Dempsey played on the team’s 1995 national championship basketball team and excelled in the hammer throw in track. She is a member of Western’s athletic Hall of Fame. She has spent much of her adult life working in the field of education.

The 1996 Outlaws boys track-and-field team placed second at the OSAA State Championships behind the efforts of state champions Adam Haynes (400 meters), TK Phelps (high jump), and the 4 x 400-meter relay team of Haynes, Phelps, Josh Keyes, and Nick Fouts. High placing by Phelps (110 hurdles) and Daniel Kemp (3,000), as well as the 4 x 100-relay team of Keyes, Fouts, Haynes, and Jon Justin, secured what remains the highest team finish at the state meet in school history.

The 2007 and 2008 girls’ golf teams, along with coach Mary Flande, were honored for their two consecutive state championships. The 2007 team consisted of Lindsay Reeve, Alexis Wainwright, Shelby Ross, Meghan Crowder, and Claire Mutchler. The 2008 team of Reeve, Wainwright, Crowder, Mutchler, Ross, Emily Rawls, and Ocean Yap-Powell successfully defended the title.

The Outlaw Hall of Fame has five categories for inductees including athletes, coaches/teachers, teams or organizations, alumnus/alumna, and special contributors.

Two individuals were inducted as special contributors Saturday.

Pinky Pagano worked for Sisters School District from 1988 until 2014 and served in a variety of roles in the high school office, including many years spent supporting the athletic director. Her dedication to being an Outlaw was unmatched according to many of her colleagues and she became a vital part of the fabric of what is known still today as the Outlaw spirit.

The second special contributor is well-known in Sisters as “the guy with the camera.” Jerry Baldock moved to Sisters in 2008, and — motivated in large part by the memory of his son Brian — immersed himself into the goings-on at all three schools. Jerry has shot photos, estimated at 200,000, at every imaginable school and community-related event over the years and made copies available to students, families, and the community at large. His enthusiasm for young people is why he became a founding member of the SHS Hall of Fame, and the modern rendition of the Outlaw Booster Club.

Ideas for future inductees can be submitted at http://www.shshalloffame.org/nominate.html.

The eighth Hall of Fame banquet is tentatively scheduled for September 2022.