53 Years of Service to the Pueblo Community

The Greater Pueblo Sports Association (GPSA) is a group of people interested in promoting those prominent athletes, sports teams and recreational activities in Pueblo County to be a part of the Greater Pueblo Sports Association Hall of Fame.

At their monthly meeting in September 2025, the Greater Pueblo Sports Association committee members voted on six candidates for their 53rd Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Wednesday, November 19, 2025.

2025 Hall of Fame Inductees:
Howard Ballage, Jim Brooks, Matt Gersick, Steve Ivan, Dick Schmaltz, and Frank Whalen.

With the addition of the 2025 class, the GPSA now has 389 members enshrined: 348 men and 41 women. This is the 14th class in 53 years with six inductees who went into the GPSA Hall of Fame. Of those 14 classes, half of them had at least one woman inducted (2020, 2011, 2010, 2002, 1995, 1987, and 1986). The other seven classes were all men (2025, 2023, 2013, 2009, 2007, 2006 and 2003).

Below is a brief bio of each of the 2025 inductees: 

HOWARD BALLAGE
Nominated by: Ron Padilla; Nominated as an Athlete
Howard Ballage attended Pueblo South High School in the early 1970s. He was one of the best running backs in Colorado in that era. Ballage earned multiple selections to the All South-Central League team, and All-State Team for the Colts in football, as well as being named the High School Football “Player of the Year”. Competing in track for the Colts, Howard was able to showcase his speed and strength, and today he still holds the school long jump record set in 1974.
Howard played college football at CU under head coach Bill Mallory, and was one of the best kickoff returners in the nation his senior season. He played in two Bowl games (Astro Blue Bonnett and Orange).
Howard was drafted in the 10th round, 252nd overall, of the 1979 NFL draft by the San Francisco. Ballage played for four different professional football teams in four years (the 49ers, Buffalo Bills, Montreal Concordes of the Canadian Football League, and the Denver Gold of the USFL under the legendary Denver Broncos coach Red Miller).

 JIM BROOKS
Nominated by: Joe E. Cervi; Nominated as an Athlete, Contributor
Jim Brooks is widely considered one of the most outstanding golfers in Pueblo and the “Voice of Pueblo Sports” for over 30 years. Jim played on a Pueblo South golf team that was potentially the strongest to ever compete in prep golf in Pueblo. The Colts won 12 of their 13 tournaments during that 1978 season en route to winning the State Golf Championship by 20 strokes.
Brooks played collegiately at the University of Southern Colorado (now CSU Pueblo) from 1980 to 1984, and was a member of the Indians' 1981 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Golf Championship team.
He continued his golf prowess after college, winning nine "Memorial Day" Two-Man championships (once with fellow 2025 GPSA Inductee Steve Ivan), and eight times with Rich Riesner (1993 GPSA Inductee). Brooks also won three Pueblo City Golf Championships (1990, 93, 96), three consecutive Pueblo City Invitational (1991-93), and the Hyland Hills Amateur Championship in 1993.
Jim has worked in various forms of sports media in Pueblo since his college days, producing television, radio, and streaming content for both high school and college sporting events in the area. He served as the “voice” of CSUP football since it was resurrected in 2008 and worked alongside Joe Cervi (GPSA 2024 Inductee) as both called the 2014 Division II National Championship football game.
Brooks was recently inducted into the CSU Pueblo Hall of Fame in September 2025.

MATT GERSICK
Nominated by: Marvin Gersick; Nominated as an Athlete, Coach
Matt Gersick was a multi-talented athlete (football and track & field) at Pueblo West High School (PWHS) and was the school’s first-ever state champion in track and field (shot put) in 2004. He still holds the school record in that event (57’8”). On the gridiron, Gersick earned All-League and All-State honors his senior year as a running back for the Cyclones. He led the league in rushing his senior year and, for his career, rushed for over 4,000 yards and scored 44 touchdowns.
He continued his athletic prowess at Adams State University (ASU) in Alamosa, CO, on the Grizzlies track and field team, earning 16 All-RMAC First-Team honors, nine First-Team All-American honors, and winning the individual National Championship in the shot put. He was named the National Track & Field “Scholar Athlete-of-the-Year” during his senior year of competition.
After his track career at ASU, he remained at Adams State and served for two seasons as an Assistant Track & Field coach, mentoring 30 athletes to All-American honors and two individual national championships. As the Indians head track and field coach, Gersick has helped ASU capture 17 NCAA Division II team championships in the sports of cross country and track & field.

STEVE IVAN
Nominated by: Jim Brooks; Nominated as an Athlete
Steve Ivan is also an alumnus of Pueblo South High School (along with 2025 Inductees Howard Ballage and Jim Brooks). Ivan played on the Colts golf teams from 1976-80 and was a key factor in helping them qualify for the Colorado State Championships all four years of his high school career.
A three-time regional golf champion (1977-79), Steve helped lead Pueblo South to a third-place finish at state his sophomore year (1977) while finishing 21st in individual play. He was a part of the 1978 State Championship golf team that included fellow 2025 GPSA Inductee Jim Brooks, Kevin Chapman, and Paul Boucher, who defeated Smoky Hill High School by 20 strokes. Ivan finished runner-up individually that season and was voted as Colorado’s Junior “Player-of-the-Year” in 1979.
Steve has participated in many Colorado Golf Association (CGA) tournaments both as an amateur and as a senior player. He was crowned champion in many events, as well as placing high in many other events he played in both in Colorado and around the country.
Locally, he is a three-time Pueblo City Champion (1985, 1987, 1997), Pueblo Invitational Champion (1994), and Southern Colorado Amateur Champion (played on Walking Stick Golf Course in 1998). He earned senior CGA "Player-of-the-Year" honors in 2020.
His highest ranking on the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) was 12th for 55 years old and higher in October of 2021. Steve is still very active in playing golf, having won the 2024 Champion CGA Senior Amateur, played at Highland Meadows in Windsor, CO.
Additionally, he was a part of the selection Committee for Junior Americas Cup and Pacific Coast and the USGA National Development Team, Colorado Division in 2024, and a board member for the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame.

DICK SCHMALTZ
Nominated by: Mary Schmaltz; Nominated as an Athlete, Coach
Dick Schmaltz is a 1953 graduate of Pueblo Central. He was a two-star athlete, playing football (fullback and Linebacker) and track (high/low hurdles) for the Wildcats. An All-State honorable mention in football, he played in the first three “Bell Games” against Pueblo Centennial (1950-52).
As a member of the Pueblo Central track team, Schmaltz won the 1953 South-Central League (S-CL) Championship in 120-yard hurdles and 180-yard. low hurdles, setting the S-CL and school record in the low hurdles.
After high school, Dick attended Pueblo Junior College (1954-55) to play football and track. He was named "Outstanding Football Player" and set a school record in high hurdles, which led him to receive "Outstanding Track Award" during his sophomore year (1955). He went on to play football and golf at New Mexico State University (NMSU) and was picked by his peers as the “Outstanding Inspirational Player” Award in his junior season of football. He earned a letter as a member of the first golf team at NMSU in 1957. After college, Dick served for three years (1957-60) in the U.S. Marines, achieving the rank of captain.
Schmaltz was the Head Golf Coach at Pueblo East for 15 years (1973-88), and led the Eagles to several championships in league play. He coached several players and teams that qualified for the Colorado State High School Golf Championships.
His love of golf started as an 11-year-old, and at age 90, he continues to play regularly during the week. He has recorded five “Hole-in-Ones”, was a two-time winner of the Pueblo City Senior Golf Championship (1993, 1994), and has played in the Pueblo City Golf Championship for 64 years (1961-2025). Dick also took up the sport of bowling and won the 1995 City Bowling Singles Title with a score of 697.

FRANK WHALEN
Nominated by: Taylor Voss; Nominated as an Athlete, Contributor
Frank Whalen, a graduate of Pueblo Catholic High School (1961), was a three-sport star, playing four years (1957-61) on the Shamrocks football team (guard/tackle) and three years (1957-59) as a guard on the basketball team. As a member of the Shamrocks baseball team, Frank was a power hitter, but he was adept at stealing bases. He played in the Parochial State Championship Game vs. Denver Mt. Carmel in 1960, and was the Pueblo City Batting Champion, carrying a .469 batting average. The following year, he was the Pueblo Catholic High School MVP (1961), for his baseball career, a three-time First-Team All-Conference, First-Team All-City selection (1959-61). While playing baseball in high school, Whalen was also a catcher for five seasons for American Legion (1957-62), and played in the American Legion State Championship vs. Aurora. He also did a two-year stint of Semi-Pro baseball for the Pueblo Rockwool Indians (1960-62).
Whalen was just as ferocious on the gridiron. He had the speed of a running back (10.1 seconds in the 100-yard dash), but the temperament of a lineman and linebacker. Frank was a three-time First-Team All-Conference, First-Team All-City, First-Team All-State Selection (1959-61), and played in two state championship games (vs. Denver Mullen in 1959, and against Regis in 1960). Named Co-Captain of the football team in 1961, Whalen was selected to play for the South squad in the 1961 All-State game and defeated the North squad. While also in high school, He played in four State Softball Championship Finals. In his first state championship softball final, Frank played in a thirteen-year-old division as a 9-year-old boy. After high school, Frank enrolled at the University of Colorado. He was given a baseball scholarship and played one season as the Buffaloes catcher (1961-62).
Later on in life, Whalen worked with youth programs as a donor and content contributor for the Baseball Mill Online Training Platform - an online website for parents and coaches to access hitting drills and training programs (2024). Whalen is an avid golfer and has served as President of the Colorado City Men's Golf Association. He continues to take an interest in Pueblo County sports.

Below are short bios of the Brian Macartney Award recipients for the best male and female high school athletes during the 2024-25 school year.

Gavin Lockett —Pueblo West
* Three-sport athlete early in his high school career at Pueblo West (football, basketball, track).
* Eventually focused his talents on football and track and field.
* Two-year captain and record-breaking quarterback for the Cyclones who led football team to the state semi-finals.
* Holds the Cyclones football school records for total offense, career passing yards, and touchdowns.
* Named League Offensive MVP, First Team All-State, and a National Football Foundation All-Colorado selection his senior year.
* On the track, Gavin was a state champion and school record holder in multiple sprint events and relays, including the 200m, 400m, 4x200m, and 4x400m.
* Carried a 3.91 GPA in the classroom.
* Continued his football career at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, CO, after graduating. from Pueblo West.

 Bradie Menegatti —Pueblo West
Track
* In her freshman year, Mengatti set the school record in the 4x100m and 4x200m.
* Placed second at state in the long jump and third in the high jump her first season in track at Pueblo West.
* Set Cyclone school record in the long jump during her sophomore season.
* Placed third at state in high jump and fifth in the 100m hurdles (sophomore year).
* Long Jump and Triple jump (record holder) Champion and runner-up in the high jump (record holder) at Colorado State High School Track and Field Championships her junior season.
* Voted "Track Athlete-of-the-Year" as a junior.
* Qualified for state track championships in the high jump (new record), long jump, and 100m Hurdles (senior year).

Volleyball
* Freshman "Rookie-of-the-Year" in volleyball.
* Four-time All-league selection
* Top hitter as a freshman in the State of Colorado.
* Earned Volleyball Coaches Award as a sophomore.
* Named MVP of the South-Central League as a junior.
* Achieved 1,000 assists.
* 5A All-State selection.