GPSA - News

Joe Bonaquista Inducted into 2023 Joe Rossi Hall of Fame

The Joe Bonaqusita family at the annual Joe Rossi Hall of Fame Banquet, Feb. 2023, in Lakewood, CO

Joe Bonaquista was enshrined into the Colorado High School Baseball Umpire's Association (CHSBUA) at their annual Joe Rossi Hall of Fame Banquet Feb. 4, 2023, in Lakewood, CO.

Bonaquista, is a long-time Puebloan and a 1977 Inductee of the Greater Pueblo Sports Association (GPSA) and current committee member. Joe was honored for his achievements over a 10-year period, both high school and summer ball, winning 17 championships.

He was named the South-Central League (S-CL) high school "Coach-of-the-Year" three times and amassed 175 wins in that period. Bonaquista also added another 60 wins coaching youth baseball.

Congratulations Joe! All of us at the GPSA are proud of you!

Pat Laughlin Named Finalist for NHSACA “Coach-of-the-Year”

Pat LaughlinPat Laughlin, a 2019 Greater Pueblo Sports Association (GPSA) Inductee, and retired head wrestling coach at Pueblo East High School was recently nominated as one of the eight finalists for the 2024 National High School Coaches Association (NHSACA) "Coach-of-the Year" in the sport of wrestling.

nhsaca Coach Laughlin was nominated for this national honor by the Colorado State High School Coaches Association (CSHSCA). This selection is based on longevity, service to high school athletics, honors, championship years and winning percentage. The nominees and finalists are evaluated by experts in the field of coaching using a sports-specific rubrics to assign points in each category.

The last nominated finalist from Pueblo for this prestigious award was Jerry Sisneros, the current GPSA president. Sisneros was a finalist for the award in 2006 as a wrestling coach at Pueblo South.

Eight finalist from across the United States will be honored during the NHSACA national convention which will take place at the Bismarck Hotel and Convention Center in Bismarck, ND on Wed., June 26, 2024.

The NHSACA is the oldest coaching association in the nation formed by coaches, for coaches, and has been recognizing national coaches of the year since 1978.

Six local athletes and coaches welcomed into the GPSA Hall of Fame

chieftain pic23

Ben Cason By Chris Abdelmalek
Pueblo Chieftain USA TODAY NETWORK
Nov. 16, 2023

Athletes and coaches, along with other distinguished members of the Pueblo sporting world gathered together Wednesday night at CSU-Pueblo’s Occhiato Center Ballroom to welcome the newest members to the Pueblos Sports Hall of Fame.

The Greater Pueblo Sports Association hosted its annual Hall of Fame night inducting six new members into its organization — John Loia, Dale Cresswell, Casey King, Dan Sanchez, Todd Kelly and Kory Sperry.

Along with the new inductees, the GPSA also awarded its annual Brian Macartney Award which is given to the top male and female high school athletes in Pueblo. This year’s recipients were Weston Dalton and Grace Helzer, both of whom graduated this past year from Pueblo East High School.

Dalton is currently attending the University of Nebraska for wrestling while Helzer, who was in attendance to receive her award, is attending Western Colorado and is playing volleyball and basketball.

“I’m very proud of myself for this one. It means a lot that they would choose me out of everyone in the city,” Helzer said. “I just wanted to be the best. I wanted to be better than all my teammates, better than all the city schools, and at East, we aren’t always the best, so I wanted to be the one that would push us, so that’s kind of what drove me.”

Helzer spoke about how she is not only proud that she won but also proud that Dalton won, saying that East was able to really represent this past year and show that they have a lot of talent at the school. She also touched on what it means to win this award and what future generations can do to try and achieve the same accolades.

“It’s kind of basic, but always just keep working no matter what,” Helzer said. “I know it’s hard, but you got to practice you got to do all that and just try to get better every day and always be competitive, always want to win.”

To round up the individual awards, CSU Pueblo Outstanding Athletes awards went to JaNaiya Davis and Jazzy Espinoza on the women’s side, and Reggie Williams on the men’s side.

The GPSA also honored two high schools this year for the Sollie Raso Award which honors the top area high school whose athletic teams excelled the best in their season. This year’s award winners were Pueblo Central for their unified bowling team and Pueblo West.

After the high school and team awards were handed out, the newest inductees were called up to give their speeches; many recipients recalled stories of their past lives that led them to get into the Hall of Fame.

Each year, the GPSA puts on the Hall of Fame dinner to honor those people who have made a significant contribution and impact in the world of sports either in Pueblo or outside but still representing the city as a whole.

The association will be accepting applications for 2024, which can be found on the GPSA website. The deadline for applications is Aug. 1, 2024. There is also information on the website about becoming a sponsored donor. For more information about the GPSA or how you can be involved in helping the association, please visit their website at pueblogshof.com.

GPSA inducts 6 local legends into hall of fame

bell game

Greater Pueblo Sports Association inducts 6 local legends into hall of fame

By Ben Cason
The Pueblo Star Journal
Nov. 3, 2023

The Greater Pueblo Sports Association has announced their six inductees into their Hall of Fame who will be enshrined at their 51st annual banquet Nov. 15.

The new six inductees are Dale Cresswell, Todd Kelly, Casey King, John Loia, Dan Sanchez and Kory Sperry. With the addition of the 2023 class, the GPSA now has 376 members enshrined, with 336 of them men and 40 women.

The GPSA is a non-profit organization that promotes prominent athletes, sports teams and recreational activities in Pueblo County. 2022 was the 50th year of inductees, when seven were inducted.

This year’s Hall of Famers are:

Dale Cresswell

Dale Cresswell. Photo courtesy of the GPSA Dale Cresswell
(Photo courtesy of the GPSA)Dale Cresswell is a longtime football coach and player in Pueblo. He played college football at the University of Southern Colorado (now CSU Pueblo). He started for three years as linebacker. He was a starter on the first team in USC history to make the playoffs. He earned an honorable mention for All-American in 1984. He played on the Pueblo Crusaders from 1986-1989 and was a key player on their 1989 championship team.

Cresswell became a coach at East High School in 1990. He put together a 41-33 career record and three state playoff appearances. In 2008 when CSU Pueblo relaunched their football program, Cresswell became an assistant LB coach. He coached at CSU Pueblo until 2019 and coached five All-American linebackers in his time. He was a key coach on the 2014 championship team.

Longtime CSU Pueblo head football coach John Wristen said, “He helped establish a standard of playing championship defense. He would also come in early on Sundays and help grade the film. I don’t know if you can find people like that anymore.”

Todd Kelly

Todd Kelly. Photo courtesy of the GPSA Todd Kelly
(Photo courtesy of the GPSA)Todd Kelly is a Pueblo native who played basketball, baseball and football at Centennial High School and has worked at CSU Pueblo as a Sports Information Director, Assistant Athletic Director and now as the President of the CSU Pueblo Foundation. Kelly was a key player on the 1983 basketball and football teams who won South Central League titles at Centennial. He was inducted to the Centennial HS Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015.

Kelly also played on the Pueblo Crusaders football team as a defensive back and on special teams. He recovered a key onside kick in the 1989 national championship game to secure the win for the Crusaders. At CSU Pueblo, Kelly raised over $24 million for CSU Pueblo Athletics and was a founding member of the CSU Pueblo Athletic Hall of Fame committee.

Kelly also negotiated with the Colorado High School Activities Association to bring the 6-man, 8-man, 1A and 2A football national championship games to Pueblo until 2028.

Dan DeRose, former CSU Pueblo Athletic Director, said, “His leadership enabled the construction of the $2,500,000 Art and Loraine Gonzales soccer and rugby stadium on campus. Most importantly Friends of Football upon their disbandment entrusted Todd with ownership and management of the Thunderbowl.

Casey King

Casey King. Photo courtesy of the GPSA Casey King
(Photo courtesy of the GPSA)King is a longtime Pueblo coach who now is the winningest volleyball coach in Pueblo West High School’s history. His record is 403-117. He started coaching volleyball in 1997 and coached until 2008. In 2013 he was brought back and still is coaching today. He has also served as the head baseball coach from 1997-2000 and head girls basketball coach in 2000 at Pueblo West.

King is now in the top 10 volleyball coaches in Colorado’s history in terms of wins. King has coached 18 South Central League championship volleyball teams and has now coached 30 All State athletes. Aside from coaching, King was a teacher at Pueblo West from 1997 to 2008.

Anna Martinez, Pueblo West’s lead ESS teacher and assistant volleyball coach, said, “The positive culture he creates everyday is what sets him apart from the others. For example, everyday, Coach King starts with a motivational quote for his players. The quotes are usually from professional athletes, but they go beyond any sport. It’s more about how to be a better teammate, a better leader, a better person, a better example etc.”

John Loia

John Loia. Photo courtesy of the GPSA John Loia
(Photo courtesy of the GPSA)John Loia, a longtime Pueblo coach and administrator, coached the Central Bulldog football team to three Bell Game victories among other accomplishments. Loia was a running back and a sprinter for Southern Colorado State College, now CSU Pueblo. In 1973 Loia was a part of the conference championship team for the 4x100 relay. Loia coached track at Central in 1984 with the team winning the city and regional championship.

He was the head coach for Central football from 1985 to 1988 and again in 1990. His teams made the state playoffs in 1987 and 1988 with 7-3 records. He has served as an administrator at Risley Middle School and East High School since.

Rick Macias, Director of Athletics for Pueblo CIty Schools, said, “Mr. Loia’s best quality is his passion to help not only student athletes in any way he can, but he has a huge heart for every student he comes across in everyday life.”

Dan Sanchez

Dan Sanchez. Photo courtesy of the GPSA Dan Sanchez
(Photo courtesy of the GPSA)Dan Sanchez has been Pueblo West High School’s head baseball coach since 2003. In his 19 years of coaching he has led the Cyclones to 10 league championships, six regional championships, four state championship appearances and the 2019 state championship for 4A baseball. He’s sent approximately 60 student athletes to college baseball.

Aside from baseball, Sanchez has jumped into other sports at Pueblo West. He served as the Offensive Coordinator for the football team for 10 years and the head coach of the boys golf team since 2015. He also was an assistant coach on the girls basketball team in 2020 and 2021.

Longtime Pueblo West High School Athletic Director Jerry Ribaudo said, “While his coaching achievements speak for themselves, the most important thing is the character, integrity and dedication he has displayed toward his players, coaches and his school.”

Kory Sperry

Kory Sperry. Photo courtesy of the GPSA Kory Sperry
(Photo courtesy of the GPSA)Sperry played basketball and football at County high school from 2003 to 2007. He played QB, DE and TE with the Hornets and was named first-team All State in basketball and football. He was named Athlete of the Year in 2004 by the GPSA.

He played football at CSU Fort Collins for the Rams and lettered all four years. He finished his career at Colorado State with the fourth most touchdown catches in school history. He played in the NFL as a TE from 2009-2013 between the Dolphins, Chargers and Cardinals. He totaled nine catches for 152 yards and a touchdown in his NFL career.

Since retiring from the NFL, Sperry works in the Broomfield Police Academy and is an instructor for a women’s defense class. He also coaches youth basketball and football.

Jarrod Lang, who worked with Sperry in Broomfield said, “His belief was always if you aren’t out there on the court or field giving your all, then you shouldn’t be there. I can see that drive and fire he has when he’s coaching his son’s football or basketball games.”

For more information on the hall of fame event on Nov. 15, visit the Greater Pueblo Sports Association website at pueblogshof.com.

'Heart of a champion'

Pueblo remembers legendary long distance runner Dennis Trujillo

Josue Perez By Josué Perez
The Pueblo Chieftain
March 5, 2023

Leonard Trujillo has four words that come to mind when he thinks about the legacy his brother, Dennis, left behind: heart of a champion.

Dennis, considered by some to be one of, if not the most, decorated cross-country runner in Pueblo’s history, died Nov. 28, 2022, at his home in North Carolina. He was 68 years old.

“He had the heart of a champion,” Trujillo said. “The endurance he had, the kind of person he was — he had all those qualities of being humble and considerate. He was just good with people and a good, wonderful person. I think that’s why he brought so much attention (to himself) in Pueblo.”

knafelc

Dennis was in his own league as a runner during the latter portion of his high school career in the 1970s at Centennial on Pueblo’s north side. He won two state titles as a cross-country runner and captured back-to-back state track titles in the mile in his junior and senior seasons, according to a 2007 Chieftain article, which also stated that during those final two track and field seasons, he lost just one race.

The Greater Pueblo Sports Association Hall of Fame in 2007 labeled Trujillo’s back-to-back state track titles as one of the greatest moments in Pueblo sports history, according to the article. He was inducted into the GSPA Hall that same year.

Leonard, who was also a two-time cross-country champion, witnessed Dennis’ ascent as a runner as the pair sometimes trained together in the evenings during their teenage years on a dike by their house in Pueblo that stretched across the Arkansas River. They would run at least five miles and at times stretched that distance to 10.

Leonard, 71, said that type of training — independent of scheduled practices and done in their free time — made a “big difference” in their careers. Dennis trained “very hard,” he said.

“He was a real warrior,” Leonard said. “His endurance was tough. He would go so quick that he would break (other runners mentally). He was just mentally tough.”

Dennis later replicated his high school success at U.S. Military Academy, or West Point, where he earned 10 varsity letters between cross-country and track. He was a two-time NCAA Division I All-American, and his cross-country teammates at West Point named him team captain in 1975, according to his obituary.

Dennis won an Ivy League outdoor track title that year in the men’s 5,000-meter event and followed that with another title the year after, in the 10,000 meter.

"When you watched Denny run competitively at West Point, against world class runners, everyone knew they were watching someone special," wrote Keith Sims under Dennis' obituary online. "His running style was fast, smooth, relaxed, fluid and without any wasted motion. His work ethic was off the scale. He was a great teammate."

Dennis left West Point with several other accolades and accomplishments on his resume. He capped his competitive career as a runner in 1980 with one last significant feat as his finish at the Dallas White Rock Marathon qualified him for the Olympic Marathon trials. But he couldn’t compete in them because of his deployment to Korea during his stint with the U.S. Army, according to the Chieftain article.

After a pair of extensive stints as an infantry line officer and area expert and numerous awards while serving with the Army, Dennis became a math teacher and took his first job in that field in Puyallup, Washington. He later taught at an international school, Indianhead School, in South Korea.

Around that time, Dennis continued to participate in long-distance competitions, including 5K and 3K races. When he would visit Leonard and other family members, Dennis continued to wake up early in the morning and run.

“There was never a day he didn’t run,” Leonard said. “His whole life, he never stopped running.”

Dennis’ passion for running continued until doctors, eager to protect his health, advised him to stop, Leonard said. But even then, Dennis felt he could still run.

Leonard said he wants others to remember Dennis for his “humble” nature and the respect he showed other people. He said the family wants to invite people who ran alongside Dennis to a ceremony they plan to hold this summer that will celebrate Dennis’ life and his accomplishments as a runner and military member.

“He wasn’t just my brother, “Leonard said. “He was everybody’s brother.”

Chieftain reporter Josué Perez can be reached at JHPerez@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @josuepwrites.

He was just a great person

Pueblo sports legend and NFL player remembered for storied career

Josue Perez By Josué Perez
The Pueblo Chieftain
Jan. 1, 2023

Gary Knafelc, a Pueblo sports legend who went on to star for the Green Bay Packers in the National Football League, died Dec. 19 at his home in Florida. He was 90, and according to the Packers’ team historian, Cliff Christl, was one of two surviving starting players from Vince Lombardi’s first game as an NFL head coach. h “I think (people should remember) what a wonderful person he was,” said Mike Leonard, Gary’s nephew who resides in Pueblo. “He had that infectious laugh, and he was just a great person.”

Leonard, 66, was close with Knafelc, who in 1950 graduated from Pueblo Central High School, where he was a four-sport athlete and football standout under head coach Sollie Raso.

knafelc Knafelc in 1973 was inducted into the Greater Pueblo Sports Association Hall of Fame as part of the inaugural class. He was the fifth member to be announced as an initial inductee, according to a Chieftain article at the time.

After graduating from Central, Knafelc attended the University of Colorado on a football scholarship. He was a star at the university for four years and was an All-American defensive end in 1953, adding 22 catches for 451 yards and eight touchdowns that season.

The Chicago Cardinals, now Arizona, chose Knafelc with the 14th pick in the 1954 NFL draft. He played one game for them before being cut and was later picked up by the Packers, where he became a fan favorite and had his most signature moments.

“He was tough,” Leonard said of Gary’s playing style on the field. “Not only did (the Packers players) become good football players, but they were excellent in life. They all remembered what Lombardi taught them.”

Before playing under Lombardi, Knafelc had what’s considered one of the most memorable moments in Packers history. With 20 seconds remaining in the 1955 season opener against the Detroit Lions, Knafelc caught a game-winning touchdown pass. The moment motivated hundreds of fans to storm the field, and some of those fans carried him off of it and to the Packers’ bench.

“He’s the only Packer that’s ever been carried off the field,” Leonard said.

Knafelc caught another game-winning touchdown two years later at Green Bay City Stadium, now known as Lambeau Field, and in 1959 caught his third during Lombardi’s first season as Green Bay’s head coach.

Knafelc was the starting tight end for the Packers before serving as their backup during their NFL Championship winning seasons in 1961 and 1962 under Lombardi, who went on to win three more titles in 1965, 1966 and 1967 before the start of the Super Bowl era. The Super Bowl trophy was named in Lombardi’s honor following his death in 1970.

Knafelc in 1964 retired from the NFL after 10 seasons. Between 1964 and 2004, he was the public address announcer at Packers games. He also owned an interior design company, Leonard said.

When he would discuss his playing career, Knafelc usually brought up Lombardi.

“He always talked about how much Lombardi did for all of them,” Leonard said.

In 1976, Knafelc was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, according to Christl.

Knafelc in 2013 told The Denver Post that he was in support of former players of his era asking the NFL to increase its financial and medical assistance.

“You couldn’t ask for a nicer guy,” Leonard said.

Greater Pueblo Sports Association celebrates 50 years with the newest Hall of Fame class

BY Chris Abdelmalek | The Pueblo Chieftain | NOV. 17 , 2022

Chris Abdelmalek

The 2022 Greater Pueblo Sports Association hosted its 50th Hall of Fame induction ceremony Wednesday night at the Occhiato Ball Room on the campus of CSU-Pueblo. This year's inductees included some great names in Pueblo history.

Also included in the night's festivities were the awarding of the Outstanding High School Athletes (Brian Macartney Awards), the Sollie Raso Award, and the CSU-Pueblo Outstanding Athletes. The ceremony also recognized three of the greatest moments in the past 50 years of Pueblo sports history.

The inductees for this 2022 Hall of Fame Class include an all-world wrestling coach and a former big leaguer for the Cincinnati Reds.

Here are this year’s inductees, in no particular order:

gpsa 2022inductees The 2022 Greater Pueblo Sports Association Hall of Fame inductees were introduced during the annual banquet at the Colorado State University Pueblo on Wednesday. [Zachary Allen/The Pueblo Chieftain]Bobby Bonner
Richard “Dick” Hime (posthumous)
Cliff Laughlin
Mike “Veech” Marcoveechio
Marie Mass (posthumous)
Mike Salardino
LeRoy Snook

The Sollie Raso Award winner for the Pueblo school whose athletic teams excelled in three sports seasons was Pueblo South High School.

The Outstanding High School Athletes award winners were Xavier Freeman and Leyah Martinez, both of Pueblo East High School.

The CSU-Pueblo Outstanding Athletes award winners were Kansas Watts on the girls basketball team and Ty Lewis on the baseball team.

The two winners of the high school awards were thrilled to be a part of this historic night and spoke on what it means to win this award.

“It shows me that all my hard work paid off,” Freeman said. “Hearing my accomplishments, I never really looked back and saw all the things I did. But hearing someone else tell me all the stuff is pretty amazing. It just makes me kind of feel like it wasn't for nothing.”

Martinez was especially happy to win this award and spoke about what it means to her.

macartney winners2022 Xavier Freeman, left, and Leyah Martinez pose with their Brian Macartney Outstanding High School Athlete Awards at the Greater Pueblo Sports Association Hall of Fame banquet on Wednesday. [Zachary Allen/The Pueblo Chieftain]“It really is special,” Martinez said. “I’m representing more than just myself as a person, I am representing a community of people who want to keep this sports association going, and so just bringing the youth into it is an honor, and I'm very grateful.”

jerry speaking Greater Pueblo Sports Association President Jerry Sisneros delivers a welcome address to start the 50th anniversary Hall of Fame induciton banquet on Wednesday. [Zachary Allen/The Pueblo Chieftain]Finally, the great moments in Pueblo sports history over the last 50 years were honored at this event. These events include Jerry Kersey winning the Steinmark Award in 1980, Mike Zaremba winning the 1980 Colorado Open with a birdie on the final hole, and the Pueblo County High School wrestling team winning back-to-back Colorado State wrestling championships in 2016 and 2017.

Greater Pueblo Sports Association President Jerry Sisneros delivers a welcome address to start the 50th anniversary Hall of Fame induction banquet on Wednesday.
Jerry Sisneros, the president of the GPSA, who was a big player in putting this event together, was pleased with the turnout and the outcome of the evening’s events.

“It was a great evening overall, Sisneros said. “All of the inductees were great, and it was a great night for the 50th anniversary of the Greater Pueblo Sports Association.”

Remembering Ranson

Pueblo coaching legend passes away at age 89

Joe Cervi By Jeff Letofsky
The Pueblo Chieftain
May 9, 2018

The basketball court at Central High School is named in his honor. And for good reason.

Jimmie Earl "Jim" Ranson, 89, one of Pueblo's sports legends, passed away Monday night, leaving a long legacy of strength, commitment and dedication.

A teacher and coach at Central for 30 years, Ranson was inducted into the Greater Pueblo Sports Hall of Fame in 1978 and into the Central Hall of Honor in 2010.

ranson talking Central coach Jim Ranson talks with team in 1974. (File, The Pueblo Chieftain)

Ranson's son Brad, the current Central boys basketball and baseball coach, explained his father rather eloquently: "A very sweet man who cared about kids, was in it for all the right reasons. He just loved doing what he did. He loved kids, loved to make them better. He treated them the same, no matter their color or talent level and wanted to develop a shallow man into a good person. Wins and losses came and went. He was all about making kids better, whether it was in the physical education class and in the classroom, to the baseball, basketball and football field. That's what he did and what he was. At the end of the day, he had one thing on his mind: Be fair and treat everyone with respect."

A teacher and coach at Central for 30 years, Ranson was inducted into the Greater Pueblo Sports Hall of Fame in 1978 and into the Central Hall of Honor in 2010.

Ranson ws born in Florence and went to high school in Canon City, where he was a four-sport, 11-letter standout, playing basketball, baseball, track and football.

He went on to Colorado A&M (now CSU-Fort Collins), graduating in 1950 after playing four sports (football, basketball, baseball and track) for the Rams. As a first baseman, Ranson played on the only team in CSU history to play in the College World Series (1950). As a member of the track team, he set the Marine Corps record in the high jump (6-3 5/8).

Ranson finished runner-up to Thurman "Fum" McGraw for the Nye Award presented to the school's most outstanding male athletes his senior year. He was inducted into the CSU Hall of Fame in 2003.

Ranson was a player/manager in the summers of 1956-57 for a semipro baseball team in South Dakota.

He perhaps is best remembered for his boys basketball coaching stint at Pueblo Central that spanned 30 seasons. His teams posted a 238-133 record during his tenure and he was selected to coach the South all-state basketball team in 1964.

He also coached baseball at Central during his career.

ranson70 71 team Central High School basketball team 1970-71 pictured from left: Dave Lockett, Carl Turner, Arnie Butler, Randy Baker, Andy OWens, Paul Zobeck, Dean Rougas, Dave Dudley, Alan Perryman, Doug Cook and Coach Jim Ranson, The team was 20-1 for the regular season. Chieftain file photo.

Ranson is remembered fondly by many who knew him well:

Jim Ranson watches his son Brad coach a Central High School boys basketball game in 2004. Chieftain photo/fileCentral
Joe Folda, former Colorado State University-Pueblo men's basketball coach and outgoing athletic director: "I think he was possibly the most outstanding coach we had in Pueblo. I remember his teams when I was coaching at Holy Family High School. I just heard about his teams. He was a great one. He was a great guy that had time for everybody. He had a really good, full life. He was one of the top-notch coaches not in just Pueblo, but the state."

Dave Craddock, former Central student, football coach and athletic director: "When I was a student there, he was bigger than life. He was one of those legends of many who passed through Central. He and his family were incredible people. I played basketball for a year as a freshman and being exposed to him was an honor. Of all the great things we expect from coaches, he coached fundamentals, made his teams better and made you better as a person. He affected generations of kids."

Chuck Kochenberger, former Central assistant boys basketball coach under Ranson for 14 years: "He was awesome, larger than life. He was a role model, family man and it was a privilege to say he was my friend. What a motivator. There were times I wanted to suit up after he talked."

Urenda still making huge impact in wrestling

South state champion is now the head coach for the Colts

By Craig Sesker
The Pueblo Chieftain
Nov. 6, 2017

South High School junior Tim Urenda learned a valuable lesson in his first state wrestling tournament.

Don't look at the clock.

Urenda took his eyes off his opponent in the closing seconds and was taken down in a one-point loss that cost him a spot on the medal podium.

A year later, Urenda was locked in another close match at state. Tied 5-5 against returning state champion Travis Pride of Grand Junction, Urenda kept his focus squarely on his opponent.

Pride shot in on a double-leg attack and Urenda countered by launching Pride to his back with a lateral drop maneuver. His dramatic five-point move resulted in a 10-5 win.

r tim urenda Robert T. Urenda

"I made a bad mistake the year before, so I knew it was all or nothing," Urenda said. "I learned I couldn't hold anything back. I was really excited to knock off the state champion. I was overcome with emotion."

Urenda went on to win the 1986 state title at 138 pounds.

Now Urenda is being honored as a member of the Greater Pueblo Sports Association's 2017 Hall of Fame class.

Urenda, 49, has remained in the sport as a highly successful coach. He was a long-time assistant coach at South under Jerry Sisneros. Urenda was an assistant to Sisneros on three Colts teams that won state titles.

He was named Colorado assistant coach of the year in 2012 and national assistant coach of the year in 2014.

"I really appreciate Sis for hiring me and helping me for the past 27 years," Urenda said. "We had a great coaching relationship and a great friendship."

Urenda succeeded the retiring Sisneros this past summer as the head coach at South. The Colts start practice under their new head coach later this week.

The South program remains strong in a city with a rich wrestling history.

"South has a long and storied tradition, going back to when Bobby Martinez was my coach," Urenda said. "South has won state three times and we've been second three times. I'm very excited about the team we have this season. These kids are going to compete and they're going to have a strong mindset."

Urenda also excelled in football and was a member of the first South team to make the state playoffs in 1985.

He played linebacker alongside Chris Haering, who went on to play collegiately at the Division I level for West Virginia. Haering is a member of the GPSA Hall of Fame.

Urenda and his wife, Regina, have three children who also became state champion athletes.

Their son, Adam, was a state finalist for South and a key contributor on two state championship wrestling teams. Their son, Timothy, was a state champion and two-time finalist. Their daughter, Angelique, was a state champion high jumper at South.

"I tried not to push my own kids too hard," Urenda said. "I tried to guide them and direct them, and share what I knew to help them excel. They all worked hard to be successful. I'm really proud of what they all accomplished."

Urenda said the support of his parents, Robert and Sally Urenda, along with his wife's parents, Rudy and Chris Manzanares, was instrumental in a family that was constantly on the go with the hectic schedules of sports practices and competitions.

"My wife has been so amazing and supportive over the years," Urenda said. "Plus my parents and my in-laws were great with all of the help they provided. I can't thank my family enough for everything."

Urenda also called and thanked his first boss, Jack Quinn, at the Pueblo Housing Authority for allowing him to leave work early so he could make it in time for practice when he started as an assistant coach at South.

Urenda now works as a supervisor for the Colorado Department of Corrections.

Urenda initially tried out for basketball as a freshman at South, but was cut from the team. A buddy invited him to try out for wrestling and he gave it a shot.

"I just fell in love with wrestling," Urenda said. "You can't disguise hard work, especially in this sport. You reap the benefits of what you put into it."

Urenda delivers that same message to the athletes he coaches.

"Wrestling is a very tough sport, but I try to keep it interesting and fun and exciting," he said. "If kids are in the wrestling room, they are doing something positive with their lives.

"Not every kid is going to be a state champion, but they can still gain so much by competing in wrestling. It teaches them life lessons about discipline and hard work. It isn't just about winning. It's about learning a sport and being part of a team. To help kids in this sport reach their goals, no matter what it is, is very gratifying."

Urenda is grateful for being named to the GPSA Hall of Fame.

"It's really nice to be recognized," he said. "I've been very blessed and fortunate to be around a lot of great people in my life. I'm really thankful to be honored this year."

Legendary coach Larry Pickering dies

His Centennial cross country teams won six state titles

a white By Mike Spence
The Pueblo Chieftain
June 15, 2018

Larry Pickering, who led the Centennial High School boys cross-country team to a decade-long run of success unparalleled in Pueblo's sports history, has died after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 74.

Pickering died at home Thursday, surrounded by his family.

Centennial officials had honored Pickering this past spring by renaming school's traditional spring track meet the Larry Pickering Centennial Invitational.

Pickering was a two-time state 220-yard dash champion while competing for Trego County High School in WaKeeney, Kan. He went on to earn All-America honors in 1965 while competing for Fort Hays State College in Kansas. That same year, Pickering was the Missouri Valley AAU 100 and 220 champion and won conference titles in the indoor and outdoor 440.

Former Centennial Coach Larry Pickering (CHIEFTAIN PHOTO/FILE)

Despite that impressive resume, Pickering originally was hired by Pueblo School District 60 to be an elementary school physical education teacher in 1967. When a late opening for PE teacher and cross-country coach opened at Centennial, he jumped at the opportunity. The move turned out to be a fortuitous one for Pickering -- and Centennial.

During the next decade, Pickering's cross-country teams made history, winning six state championships and finishing second three times. The Bulldogs won five consecutive titles from 1969 to 1973 -- the greatest title run in Pueblo high school sports history.

Centennial's streak was snapped in 1974 when Arvada West won the title and Centennial and Central tied for second.

The Bulldogs failed to qualify for state in 1975, but came roaring back in 1976 to upset top-ranked East at the state meet and give Pickering a sixth state title.

Pickering-coached runners won six individual state cross-country championships. Leonard Trujillo won in 1967 and 1968 (setting a state record of 9 minutes, 47 seconds over two miles). His brother Dennis Trujillo also won back-to-back state titles in 1970 and 1971. J.J. Griffin won a title in 1972 (setting another state record of 9:41). Jenna Bimbi won a girls title in 2001.

In addition, Pickering-coached runners won five individual state titles in track. Dennis Trujillo (mile, 1971 and '72), Griffin (2-mile, 1972) and Kathleen Hancock (400, 1986 and '87).

Pickering's coaching style was quiet and reserved, but he got his message across.

"You didn't want to disappoint the coach," said Charles Robles, who ran for Centennial from 1970-73.

Pickering said he learned the approach from Alex Francis, his coach at Fort Hays State.

"Lots of kids tune you out when you raise your voice to them," Pickering told The Pueblo Chieftain in a 1973 story. "Maybe they get yelled at too much at home and elsewhere unnecessarily. There are a lot of good kids around today."

pickering stats Pickering's leadership had a profound impact on the numerous athletes he coached. Yet it was a quiet moment with one of his cross-country teams that had an equally meaningful impact on his life.

"I had this experience at the 1972 state meet in Boulder," Pickering told The Chieftain. "Before we run, I have a huddle with the team -- try to psych the boys up. This day, I couldn't say a single thing. The kids gripped hands with me and you could feel the electricity, or emotionalism, if you want to call it that.

"That day they ran out of their minds. We took first, second and third and the kids beat opponents they hadn't beaten before. So the old tight-lipped experience started me on church work."

That discovery of faith stayed with Pickering the rest of his life and carried him and his family through his courageous battle against lung cancer.

Dennis Trujillo, one of Centennial's greatest runners who went on to a storied career at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., said Pickering had an enormous impact on his life.

"Coach taught us goals are important, but so are values -- kindness, humility, integrity, joy," Trujillo wrote from his home in South Korea. "Those values are more important than medals or shiny trophies. None of us would be who we are without his benevolent mentoring."

Former Central High School coach Pete Falletta said Pickering was supportive of him from the start. The two remained fast friends.

"Larry was one of the first to call me when I got to Central," Falletta said. "He told me that if there was anything I needed, to call him."

Tim Mondragon, who worked with and later succeeded Pickering at Centennial, praised Pickering as a coach and as a person.

"You couldn't ask for a better man to work for," Mondragon said. "Everything he did was awesome. He was a great person. Great with the kids."

Mondragon said Pickering treated every athlete the same, whether they were a state champ or someone just trying out the sport for fun.

"He treated them all with respect. He was concerned about them," Mondragon said. "He realized life goes on after cross-country."

Pickering earned numerous honors during his career. He was inducted into the Greater Pueblo Sports Association Hall of Fame in 1976 and the Colorado Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2003. He was named National Boys Cross-country Coach of the year by the National High School Coaches Association for the 1982-83 year. Pickering also was named Colorado State Cross-country Coach of the Year in 1972-73, 1974-75, 1982-83 and 2001-02. He was named Cross-Country Coach of the Year for District 6 of the U.S. for the 1974-75 school year, and nominated for national coach of the year that same school year.

"Lots of kids tune you out when you raise your voice to them. Maybe they get yelled at too much at home or elsewhere unnecessarily. There are lots of good kids around today."
-- Larry Pickering on his coaching style:

Pickering is survived by Karen, his wife of 51 years; daughters Kelly and Kim; and grandchildren.

Hoy Frakes remembered as one of Pueblo's great sports leaders

a white By Jeff Letofsky
The Pueblo Chieftain
April 7, 2020

Hoy Frakes was considered Pueblo’s sports almanac. To steal a phrase from a former Chieftain sports writer: If you were an athlete in Pueblo, he knew you. And if you excelled, he knew ALL about you.

Frakes passed away Monday. He was 88.

In a story in the Pueblo Chieftain in 2014, sports writer Larry Lopez wrote this about Frakes: A meticulous record keeper, Frakes has reams of statistics and bio information on practically every Pueblo athlete who ever has made a name for themselves on the sports field. And, he can talk endlessly about their history. Give him a name, any name of a past Pueblo athlete. If he doesn’t have the details of accomplishment in his memory bank, he certainly will have it logged into those books that Frakes keeps on all potentially future GPSA hall of famers. State champions. Record holders. Conference titlists. They’re all there.

h frakes article Hoy Frakes, considered a human sports Almanac, passed away Monday at the age of 88. [Chieftain file photo]

A Greeley High School graduate in 1950, Frakes was a five-time letter winner, twice in football and wrestling and once in baseball.

He went on to attend Colorado State College in Greeley where he was a two-sport standout in football and wrestling. He was a guard/linebacker on the football team, lettering three times and was the only freshman to play on both offense and defense.

Frakes became the first four-time Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference wrestling champion, twice at heavyweight and one each at 177 pounds and 191 pounds.

He went on to get a Master’s degree from Adams State College in Alamosa.

Lopez went on to write about Frakes’ career: Following a two-year stint in the U.S. Army, Frakes immediately embarked on his illustrious coaching career. Actually, he still was serving duty overseas in Italy when Frakes was offered the wrestling job at then-Adams State College. Upon his arrival in Alamosa, though, he found that he needed to breathe life into the program, which the previous year had only two dual matches.

He is considered the father of the Adams State wrestling program. “I had to start it with no scholarships and, I couldn’t talk wrestling until the football season was over,” Frakes remembered. “I lined up my PE (physical education) classes and told them I’d give them an “A” in PE if they’d go out for wrestling and they wouldn’t have to go to class ... But, they had to attend (wrestling) practice.”

Building from the ground up, Frakes compiled a 12-27-1 record and had two wrestlers compete in the NCAA Division I national tournament in the three years he was at Adams State. A coaching changeover in the Adams State football program, where he also was the line coach, left Frakes without a job in 1960. He wasn’t unemployed long.

Frakes was hired to coach wrestling at Centennial. It would begin a 14-year run that saw Frakes become the first coach to win 100 dual meets. He racked up a 110-74-2 record and produced three state champions during his tenure with the Bulldogs: Richard Redd (42-3) won back-to-back championships at heavyweight in 1961 and 1962, Jerry Pike (21-0) swept to the 154-pound crown in 1964 and John Gutierrez (20-2-2) captured the 127-pound title in 1968.

Along the way, Frakes helped stage the first college match held in Pueblo (Western State vs. Colorado University in 1964) and an exhibition match against a Japanese all-star team (1968).

He also was the Bulldogs’ football offensive line coach for 10 years. While he stepped down as a coach in 1974, his involvement in Pueblo athletics didn’t stop there. He was inducted into the GPSA Hall of Fame in 1981 and in 1996 was elected president of the group.

Besides being named to the GPSA Hall of Fame in 1981, Frakes also has been inducted into three other halls of fame. He was enshrined into the Centennial High School Hall of Fame in 1985, the Centennial Service Hall of Fame in 1992 and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2010.

Frakes was an award-winning insurance agent for 32 years with Franklin Life.

Frakes and his high school sweetheart, Norma, were married 70 years. They have three grown children, Hoy Jr., Jody (Frakes) Ottersberg and Allison (Frakes) Budd.

Former Chieftain sports writer Larry Lopez contributed.

Rick Macias set to join GPSA Hall of Fame on Nov. 14

a white By Austin White
The Pueblo Chieftain
Nov. 12, 2018

One of Pueblo’s most dedicated sports representatives will have his name enshrined into the Greater Pueblo Sports Association’s Hall of Fame on Wednesday. Current Pueblo City Schools (D60) athletic director Rick Macias is one of eight honorees for the 2018 class.

“What a great honor to be inducted into that group of people,” Macias said. “It’s come with a lot of people helping me out, a lot of support. Since elementary school until now, people just helping me along and supporting me.”

A career in sports really all began for Macias in Pueblo. He was a cross-country star from East High School where he finished as the state runner-up twice and qualified for state in track as well.

Those achievements helped him earn a scholarship to the University of Southern Colorado where he became a four-time letter winner. Macias earned all-Conference honors twice in the 1,500m and is still a record holder today in the men’s 4x800m relay.

Rick Macias

After college, he coached cross-country/track at Central High School where the Wildcats won a couple city titles and even saw a state champion in the girls 400m dash when Ronaleen Hancock won it in 2000.

For the past seven years, Macias has been at the helm for improving athletics for all of D60.

“When I first started into education I didn’t think I would be here,” Macias said. “I thought I was just going to be a teacher for 30 years and then retire. But as it went on, people encouraged me to go into administration.”

Macias was an integral part of bringing about renovations to Dutch Clark Stadium. Up first was his efforts in getting new turf for the field. He led the way in receiving a grant from the Denver Broncos Grassroots Community and received a matching grant in 2011.

The new turf was laid in 2012 and it was on the next big project at Dutch: the scoreboard. Macias used leftover grant money and sealed numerous sponsorships to help fund Colorado’s biggest high school scoreboard in 2015.

The system allowed for all kinds of new productions to be done like live broadcasts and instant replays. Those pieces are why South now has a media production program at the school where students get hands-on experience working with these types of systems.

“I’ve always been a team person and I don’t really like to take all of the honor for that, it was just a whole group of people working together to get things done,” Macias said. “When we first got the turf working with Dan DeRose and getting that grant with the NFL and then working with the Broncos to get that, it was all a team thing.”

Renovations for the wrestling programs in the city, scoreboards in gyms and countless other tasks have all been achieved under Macias. But one of his biggest tasks had an immediate impact on the field.

He helped implement a new concussion protocol at South in 2010 and expanded that to the rest of D60 in 2011. A year later, Colorado mandated an improved concussion protocol, putting Pueblo ahead of the game in the safety of its players.

“What a joy to be a district athletic director who’s been so fortunate to see so many state championships during my tenure,” Macias said. “That’s the goal of athletics is to be a state champion and it’s just been great to be a part of that.”

Pueblo has been well represented because of Macias’ work with CHSAA in numerous committees. Currently, he sits on the Handbook Committee, Classification and League Organization Committee and is on his second term as chairman of the Cross-Country Committee.

And of course, Macias thanked every single person who has been part of helping over the past seven years and now in 2018, including former D60 AD Robert Gonzales.

“Every day I go to work, I feel good about it, I don’t want to retire,” Macias said with a smile. “Now to be the guy in charge of this, I have to pinch myself every once in a while.

“It’s great to grow up in Pueblo and see all this change every year and try to make it better every year and that’s what I’m going to continue to do.”

Busia Twins: Lords of Bessemer

By Larry Lopez
The Pueblo Chieftain
Oct. 31, 2017

Richard BusiaJohn Salas was 9 years old when he first came upon the Busia boys.

He's never forgotten their athleticism.

Neither has the Greater Pueblo Sports Association. Five decades later, the sports group will honor Rich and Bob Busia together as part of the GPSA's 2017 hall of fame class.

The Busia twins are among 13 people to be feted during the GPSA's annual induction ceremony scheduled Nov. 15 at the Pueblo Community College Fortino Ballroom. The other inductees this year are Carol Barker-Cosby, Greg Critchett, John Gallina, Art Gonzales, Paula Henson, Rich Lane, Timmi Jo Miller-Lisac, Ron Oreskovich, Eileen Krasovec-Perez, Dave Perkins and Tim Urenda.

Richard Busia is a retired coach and educator in Torrance, Calif., where coached football and wrestling for 20 years. He retired in 2003.

The late Bob Busia died at age 22 in an airplane crash while on a scouting trip for Western State College, where he was an graduate assistant football coach. Two other coaches and the pilot also died in the accident.

Salas' memories of the Busias remain vivid after all these years.

"I spent a lot of my childhood at Grandma's house in Bessemer, and the Busias represented the toughness of the neighborhood. They were the Lords of Bessemer. When I saw them play for the first time, I was impressed by their ferocity and their speed," Salas said.

"I watched Nos. 64 and 74 play at South and then followed Bob as a football and baseball star at SCSC (Southern Colorado State College, which now is Colorado State University-Pueblo). Bob would have been the ideal NFL safety by today's standards, and Rich will tell you that he was bigger and a tick faster.

"They were iconic and inseparable. They were part of South's first graduating class, with Rich the school's president and Bob its treasurer. That's why their inclusion in the hall together is so appropriate," said Salas, himself a 2008 inductee into the GPSA hall of fame.

The Busias split their prep careers playing first for Central High School and then moved to South High School when it opened its doors in 1959. Both were All-State football selection in their senior year. Rich was a state silver medalist in the discus, while Bob would sign a professional baseball contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates following his graduation for SCSC.

Bob Busia

Both began their college careers at the University of Wyoming, but Bob returned home after a year to attend SCSC where he was a two-way standout (offensive guard/linebacker) in football and first baseball in baseball. He would become the first SCSC player to sign a professional baseball contract and last month was inducted into the CSU-Pueblo sports hall of fame.

Rich, meanwhile, was a linebacker for the Cowboys all four of his years at Wyoming.

"He was homesick and didn't want to stay there," Rich said of his brother's departure, which split the twins for a first time. "My experience was different than his. I wanted to stay and see what I could do there, so I didn't give it a lot of thought."

Upon his graduation from Wyoming, Rich began his coaching career at Pocatello, Idaho. After five years, he moved to Torrance where he spent 20 years coaching the South Torrance Spartans and then Torrance Tartars before his retirement.

"It's an honor to be inducted with all those great athletes and coaches Pueblo has had," Rich said from his home in Torrance. "Looking back, there have been some fine people go through Pueblo as far as athletes."

Cosby found drive(way) to success

The love of basketball paid off for newest hall member

By Jeff Bersch
The Pueblo Chieftain
Nov. 7, 2017

Carol Cosby's fondest memories of playing sports weren't necessarily in a gym or on a high school court.

Sure, she was part of a state basketball championship as a sophomore and went on to play in college. But her favorite memories of playing basketball were as a kid, in her driveway, with her brother and the boys and girls from the neighborhood.

"That's all we'd do, from when we got home from school until went to bed, was play basketball," Cosby said. "It drove our parents crazy."

It also drove Cosby, the former Carol Barker, to become the basketball player she was. She was a sophomore on Pueblo County's 1981 state championship team and her senior year was named the Class 3A player of the year when the Hornets were state runners-up.

Carol Cosby

She went on to play at Adams State University in Alamosa where she was an all-conference performer on a team that won an NAIA district championship.

Cosby will be one of 13 individuals inducted Nov. 15 into the Greater Pueblo Sports Association Hall of Fame.

That, she said, can be traced back to the driveway.

"We didn't go to gym or have club teams," Cosby said. "We didn't have all this they have today. We had the drive to do it ourselves.

"This is such an honor. There are lot of people in there who are well-known. It's an honor to me because it shows that hard work gets you far in life, whether it's now or later."

Cosby, 52, spoke of a time when boys and girls didn't have the pressures growing up to specialize and play one sport at such a young age. She spoke from experience, too.

At County, Cosby played basketball, volleyball, tennis and also was a member of the swimming team.

In college, in addition to being a standout on the basketball court, Cosby joined the softball team for one season. She even pitched a game.

"I think it made me a better athlete and a better person," Cosby said. "Now these kids don't have that opportunity. I hear it all the time, but I tell them to (play more than one sport) and have fun doing it. After high school, that's it."

For Cosby, it's always been about fun, always been about the love of the game. It's that way now, long after her playing days.

Cosby has been the Director of Parks and Recreation in Pueblo West since 1995, a job that keeps her close to sports. She also coaches basketball, volleyball and track and field at Skyview Middle School.

"I wanted to give back to the kids and give them what I enjoyed when I was a kid," Cosby said. "I see it all in my job. I see 4-year-old kids playing tee-ball and parents yelling at them because they're not paying attention and playing in the dirt. They're 4 years old. Let them have fun.

"I don't want to see the negative part of sports. I want them to know you can go out and play the game and have fun. I want them to continue to play."

Cosby even has adopted fun into the motto for Pueblo West's Parks and Recreation department.

"Fun with a U in the middle," she said.

She remembers how hard County's state championship team worked under coach Warren Chambers. She also remembers Chambers making it fun.

"Every time we went out on that floor, it was teamwork, it was having fun, it was working hard," she said. "There were a lot of good girls on that teams. We all got along. We did things as a team. We worked hard to get where we got every game, but we had fun. That's what made it special."

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