1952 Football Team – Sequoia Valley Champions

The 1952 Wasco High football team, headed by Coach George Terry and Coach Jack Burtner, both previous Wasco High Athletic Hall of Fame inductees, captured the school’s first Valley Championship in an undefeated season.  The Tigers started the season with high expectations, returning eleven lettermen, and they didn’t disappoint as they defeated Taft, Arvin, and Delano in pre-league games.  The Tigers then rolled through league play undefeated, beating Corcoran, Exeter, Lemoore, Shafter,and Coalinga.. To win the Sequoia Valley Championship, the Tigers met Sanger, who went into the game with a seventeen game winning streak, and at halftime the Tigers trailed 13-0.  However, a touchdown pass from quarterback Pat Mills to Cleo Brannon on the first play from scrimmage to begin the 3rd quarter, and the extra point by Gerald Penner, trimmed their lead to 13-7.  Both teams’ defenses then dominated the rest of the game, and it was only with two minutes to play that a Mills’ pass to Henry Webb took the ball to the 2 yard line. Halfback Jim Niles carried it in from there to tie the game and the extra point converted by Penner gave the Tigers their first Valley Championship. There were many outstanding players on the 1952 Valley Championship team, but it was team play and team spirit that made it a success. Halfback Walt Napier was chosen the Tigers’ Most Valuable Player by his 1952 teammates and fullback Gerald Penner was awarded All-Valley honors. Standouts included Mills at quarterback; halfbacks Don Dunlap and Niles; fullback Napier, Co-Captians James Hall and Penner at offensive tackle; guards Jack Smith, Tom Brown, and W.B. Baggs; centers Charlie Marks and Raymond Wilcox, and Cleo Brannon and Hank Webb as receivers.  The defensive standouts included Sheldon Sullivan, Elmer Brooks, and Chuck Emerson. Congratulations to the first Tiger Valley Championship team!   

1989 Girls’ Basketball – Division IV State Runner-up

The 1989 Lady Tigers’ Basketball team, led by All-Area and All-Valley players Marsheela Harriston and Angie Davidson, made a great run in an attempt to capture the Division IV State Championship, only to lose 53-50 to Anderson High School.  The Lady Tigers easily captured the South Sequoia League title and went on to defeat Fowler, San Joaquin Memorial, Dos Palos, and then Chowchilla in the Valley Championship game, 58-54.  State playoff wins followed against Morro Bay 58-44, Chowchilla again 62-26, and then the Southern California Championship game against #1 State ranked Santa Clara, a game that saw both teams tied at halftime and the end of the third quarter, with the Lady Tigers pulling out a close 40-38 win to put them in the State Final game.  In the State Championship game, Anderson jumped out to a 14-12 first quarter lead, but David Lucas’ Lady Tigers came back in the 2nd quarter with Harriston and Davidson both scoring 14 points in the half to put them in the lead 32-30 at halftime. The end of the third saw the Lady Tigers keep a narrow 46-43 lead, and the final quarter turned into a tough defensive battle with both teams scoring two field goals and free throws being the key to Anderson’s win, making all six they attempted with the Lady Tigers missing all seven.  With 30 seconds to play, Anderson missed the first of a one-and-one foul situation, but a Lady Tigers’ lane violation gave them another opportunity, and they made both to take their first lead of the game since the end of the first quarter, 51-50.  Two more Anderson free throws ended the Lady Tigers’ for a State title.  Along with Harriston and Davidson, starters Kayla Wilburn, Christina Munoz, and Sherry Vergara were very much a part of the outstanding season, as well as Candi Roberson, Carrie Parks, Tracey Jones off the bench, and Candee Hearron and Yolanda Scott up from the JV team for the State playoffs.           

Gary Cheatwood – Coach  (1971-2006)

Gary Cheatwood began teaching at Wasco High in 1971, and soon after started a long coaching career, becoming an assistant junior varsity football coach from 1975 through 1977 and the JV boys’ basketball coach from 1975 through 1980, with his teams winning two league championships.  In 1980, Cheatwood took over as head coach of the varsity girls’ basketball program, winning one South Sequoia League championship, before becoming the varsity boys’ basketball coach in 1985, with the highlight of his coaching career coming in 1991, guiding the Tiger basketball team to a Division IV Central Section Valley Championship, Wasco High’s first boys’ basketball Valley title since 1956.  For leading the Tigers to the 1991 Valley title, Gary was selected as the 1991 Kern County Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year.  1994 also saw him coach the Tigers to a runner-up finish Valley title.  Golf was also a passion, and in 1978 Gary took over the boys’ golf team, leading the Tigers for 18 years, winning one SSL title.  In 1993 Cheatwood became Wasco High’s Athletic/Activities Director, a position he held for thirteen years, helping to add many lower level sports, such as boys’ and girls’ freshmen basketball, JV girls’ basketball, JV boys’ and girls’ soccer, and freshmen baseball.  As Athletic Director, Cheatwood was proud of the long hours he put in to help Wasco High students get the most out of their high school days, with after game dances, noon activities, car show, community service projects, and spirit weeks all top priorities, and in 2006, for his commitment to athletics, Cheatwood was recognized as the Central Section Athletic Director of the Year

Heather Skeels – Athlete  (Class of 1999)

    1999 Wasco High graduate Heather Skeels excelled four years on the varsity softball field as a starting pitcher for the Lady Tigers.  Her performance on the mound earned her All South Sequoia League honors all four years and an All Area selection during her senior year, with All Area Honorable Mention selections in 1996 and 1997.  Heather’s pitching also saw her chosen as the Most Valuable Player three of her four years on the Lady Tigers’ softball field, as well as being voted Captain during her last season in 1999.  That season also saw Heather’s pitching lead the Lady Tigers to capture the George Terry Softball Tournament championship.  Heather also found time to participate as a Varsity Cheerleader, serving as Co-Captain in her senior year, as well as excel in the classroom, becoming a California Scholastic Federation Life Member.  Upon graduation, Heather was recruited by Division IAA Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee, where she was awarded a scholarship to play softball. At Austin Peay she played pitcher, first base, and was a designated hitter.  In her final season, Heather was awarded the 2003 Lady Gov’s Softball award, with other collegiate highlights being named to the Dean’s List and the Athletic Directors Dean’s List all four years at Austin Peay.       

Jerry Scott – Coach  (1981-1997)

Jerry Scott graduated from Wasco High in 1970, and after continuing his education at Porterville Community College, competing on the football and track teams, and earning a degree from California State University Bakersfield while also lettering in track and field, he returned to Wasco High in 1981 as Resource Specialist for Special Education, as well as an assistant track coach.  From 1983 through 1988, Scott also served as an assistant varsity football coach.  In 1983, Jerry became the Head Boys’ and Girls’ Track Coach, a position held for ten years, as well as another stint in 1997, seeing his boys’ teams capture five South Sequoia League Championships, in 1985, 1986, 1988, 1999, and 1990, while his girls’ squads won three, from 1991 to 1993.  From 1988 through 1993, Scott served as the Tigers’ Athletic Director, with added duties of Director of Activities and Testing during the last four years.  After earning his Administrative Credential in 1992, Jerry took over as Principal of Independence High School in 1993, leading the Continuation, Adult Education, and Independent Study programs until 2001, when he then became Superintendent of the Lost Hills Union School District until 2012.  Besides teaching, coaching, and serving as an administrator, another passion was officiating basketball, beginning at the high school level, serving as the Instructional Chairman of the Kern County Basketball Officials Association from 1983 through 1988.  Jerry eventually moved up to Men’s’ Division I, officiating for 30 years in many leagues, including the Pacific 10, Big West, West Coast, and Western Athletic conferences.  In 1992, Jerry helped begin and continues to serve as the Director of the Central California Officiating Basketball Camp, helping basketball officials develop and improve their skills.              

Joe Hively – Athlete (1971)  Coach (1986-2016)

Joe Hively graduated from Wasco High in 1971, playing four years of Varsity Tennis, winning the 1969 South Sequoia League Mixed Doubles Championship and the 1970 and 1971 singles championship, and finishing his high school singles career with a 53-4 record.  Awards included being selected Most Valuable Player in both his junior and senior years.  Joe went on to compete on the Bakersfield College tennis team, being voted Most Inspirational in his freshman year, and then on to play for Fresno State University during his final two years, earning the Scholar Athlete Award in his senior season.  In 1986 Hively returned to teach at Wasco High and coach girls’ tennis, winning two SSL titles, three Divisional runner-ups, coaching numerous individual singles’ and doubles’ league champions, and in 2015 his squad won Wasco High’s first Central Section title, winning the Division IV championship.  From 2002 until 2016, Joe coached boys’ tennis, capturing one SSL title and two Divisional runner-ups. Other sports Hively coached were JV girls’ basketball, winning league titles five of the six years he coached and varsity and JV softball for four years.  Joe has also taken an active role in the community, starting the Wasco Festival of Roses Tennis Tournament in 1996 and running it for 25 years, serving on the Wasco Recreation Board for six years, as well as beginning in 2006 a member of the Wasco City Council, serving as Wasco’s Mayor in 2011.  Hively was also instrumental in seeing the Wasco High Athletic Hall of Fame become a reality, becoming the committee’s first president.   

Kathy Proffitt – Athlete  (Class of 1995)

Kathy Proffitt, a 1995 Wasco High graduate, competed in volleyball, basketball, and softball.  Kathy played three varsity seasons on both the volleyball and basketball teams, but it was on the softball field where she excelled. During her two years as a starting pitcher in 1994 and 1995 for the Lady Tigers, Kathy earned both All South Sequoia League and All Area honors.  Her pitching stats during the 1995 season were outstanding, throwing 166 innings, striking out 138, an earned run average per game of less than one run at .92, and a 19-4 won-loss record.  Kathy also provided a great bat for the softball squad as she ended her career with a .430 batting average and had career highs during her senior year at the plate with 30 hits, 6 doubles, 27 runs batted in, and 23 runs scored. For her athletic and academic accomplishments during her senior year, Kathy was selected as the Tiger of the Year.  After graduating, Kathy continued her education and athletic career, pitching four years for California Lutheran University where she threw 63 complete games with an earned run average of 2.14, and three no-hitters.  Her success on the mound for Cal Lutheran earned her All Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference team honors during the 1998 and 1999 seasons.

Virginia Barrows Bergthold – Athlete  (Class of 1932)

Virginia Barrow Bergthold, a 1932 graduate of Wasco High, was an excellent athlete in tennis, basketball, softball, and track and field.  Better known as Ginger, she was the 1932 Kern County discus champion with a throw of 128 feet, a distance that would have placed third in the 1932 Olympics held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. In 1932 Ginger also captured the Kern County tennis championship, as well as the CCJC California singles tournament in 1934.  Paul Wise, a long time Wasco High football and basketball coach during the time Ginger was in school and a member of the first induction ceremony in 2009, said that Ginger was “The best athlete he ever coached.” After graduating and raising a family, Ginger began to take up golf in her early 40’s, and during a ten year period from 1954-1964, she won or was runner-up in every golf tournament she competed in from Bakersfield to Santa Cruz.  Notable golf championships include winning the 1962 Kern County Women’s Championship, the 1963 PWGA 1st Flight, the 1963 PWGA Team Championship, and the 1963 Huffman Tournament, as well as playing with professional Mickey Wright in the PGA Golf Day in 1959.  Ginger also dedicated herself to her son Gordon and daughter Sally in their sporting endeavors and was well known for her shrill voice that could be heard above all others at various sporting events throughout Kern County, shouting instructions to players pertaining to their respective sports.