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2007 Chandler Sports Hall of Fame Inductees |
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Tyrone Byrd Tyrone won 8 letters in three years at Chandler High School. He was named to the first team Arizona Republic All State football team in 1987, and was also named the Defensive Player of the Year. He played quarterback and linebacker. His 95-yard interception return against Mesa still ranks as one of the best in Chandler High School’s history. In basketball his quickness was a catalyst for the team that lost 91-90 to Sahuaro in the state semi finals. In track he scored at the state meet in the sprints as a junior and as a senior. He attended Nebraska on a football scholarship. While on the way back from a Miami Dolphin Combine, Tyrone was in a car accident that ended his athletic career. |
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Ashley Chandler Ashley was a top swimmer in Arizona. She won five individual State Championships in the large school category. Her time in the 500-freestyle is still a state record. She won gold medals in the Junior Olympics and a silver medal at the Goodwill Games. After high school she attended Cal Berkley where she was a NCAA national finalist three times. She has been a two time Olympic trial qualifier and should make the trials again in 2008. |
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Jimmy Gressley Jim was a 1984 graduate of chandler High School and one of the best wrestlers in the history of Arizona. He was a three time state champ and capped off a senior year by going 27-0. He had the fastest pin time of 16 seconds. His senior year he was ranked third in the world in his weight class (167lbs), won the Gatorade Athlete of the Year Award, was a high school All-American, and ranked as one of the top ten prep seniors in the country. In football he led the team with 196 tackles, earning All State accolades. Jim attended Arizona State on a wrestling scholarship. He placed third in the NCAA Championships and was captain of the ASU team that won the NCAA Championships in 1988. |
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Frank Hatfield Frank was an outstanding long distance runner who overcame physical handicaps including Polio and of having been born with only one hand. During middle school years, Frank participated on the school’s football, basketball, baseball and track teams. He set the school record in the mile with a time of 4:27.2. This was the school record for 12 years. He attended ASU and was on their cross-country team till a career ending injury took place. After graduation Frank was the coach and athletic director at White River-Alchesay High School until 1997. Frank passed away in 2004. |
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Pete Hernandez Pete was a three-sport star at Chandler High School. In baseball he hit .466 and led the team in most other offensive categories. In football he was the kicker and a wide receiver. He once had 199 yards in receiving in one game, still is the second most in the schools’ 85-year history. He went to Phoenix College after high school playing both football and baseball. In 1969 the New York Mets and the US Army drafted him, with the Army winning out. During a tour in Viet Nam, Pete was wounded which ended any chance of an athletic career. Pete has been an AIA official, officiating for close to 30 years. |
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Emmett “Buddy” Jobe Buddy Jobe was a 1962 graduate of Chandler High School. In 1985 Buddy purchased the twenty-one year old Phoenix International Raceway. At the time it had 10,000 seats. Under his directorship PIR became one of the top race tracks in the country. Seating was increased to 65,000, and attendance would often top 100,000 spectators. NASCAR and Indy racing was the norm for the track. In 1997, Buddy sold the track to International Speedway Corporation. |
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Bryan Lambke Bryan is a fixture at the AMF bowling alley in Chandler. Born with Down syndrome, Bryan has never let the disease bring him down. He developed the same love of sports as his father. A long time participant in the local, state and national Special Olympics, Bryan competed in and won a gold medal in the 2003 International Games held in Dublin, Ireland. Bryan continues to display spirit, courage and resolve every day. |
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Robert “Bert” Martinez, Jr. Bert was a talented athlete who starred in three sports at Chandler High School from 1975-1979. He was the quarterback in football, earning All Central Region Honors; played on the basketball team and garnered additional honors in baseball. He attended ASU on a baseball scholarship and was a member of the 1981 NCAA National Championship team. He played five years in the Texas Rangers farm system. |
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Joe Meade Joe played on the 1972 Chandler High School State Championship Baseball team. He set a school record with eight consecutive hits. That season, batted .494, had 16 steals, and six triples and was named to the Arizona Republic All State team. Joe was drafted by the San Francisco Giants after high school. He played in the Giants minor league system as well as the Cincinnati Reds organization. |
| Colleen Reinstra-Sommer Colleen was the top prep high jumper while growing up in Nevada, and a top high jumper in college (ASU). She also had many accomplishments while living in Chandler. Colleen was the number one ranked American high jumper for several years. She won gold medals in the 1987 Pan Am Games, U.S. Olympic Festival, USA National Track Championships and was a member of the 1988 US Olympic Team that participated in Seoul, Korea. Her best jump in 1987 of 6’ 6” ranks her as the sixth best in American history. She was a track coach for Chandler High School for six years. |
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Ric Wilson Rick played at Chandler High School from 1974 to 1977, where he was a solid performer in baseball and basketball. After graduating he went to Mesa Community College where he became a JUCO All American. From there he went to ASU and was a member of the 1981 NCAA Champions. He was drafted by the Seattle Mariners and was a player and coach for the organization for ten years. He is currently a scout for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. |
| 2003 Chandler National Little League Team This team of little leaguers caught the attention of the city in the later stages of the summer of 2003. They finished as Semi-Finalists in the United States bracket, just two games shy of playing for the Little League World Series title. The team that went to Williamsport consisted of: Michael Benjamin, Trevor Benjamin, Cory Bernard, Tim Fowler, Aaron Hardenburg, Trent Hardenburg, Markus Kalber, Tyler Kem, Eddie Malone, Jaren McLaughlin, Matt Potter and Justin Rosales. Coaches: Eddie Malone Sr., Mike Benjamin & Mark Kem |
