Tamas inducted into Laguna Blanca Athletic Hall-of-Fame

Chris Tamas with his award in front of the new Athletic Hall of Fame

Chris Tamas with his award in front of the new Athletic Hall of Fame

Chris Tamas has won plenty of battles as a professional athlete, but he could not battle back the tears on Thursday night, May 16, during his induction as the first member of Laguna Blanca School?s Athletic Hall of Fame.

?When my older sister was in sixth grade, my parents made the decision to bring us here to Laguna. They worked hard and sacrificed to make sure we could enjoy the experience of being here,? he said before a long pause to gather his emotions. ?As you can tell, I owe a lot to my family both in sports and in life.?

Tamas was a two-time All-CIF first team selection in basketball and volleyball while at Laguna, leading the Owls hoops team to the CIF basketball title game in 1998. He went on to become a first-team All-American as a setter for the University of the Pacific men?s volleyball team, starting all four years en route to the school?s all-time assists record.

After college, Tamas, spent time with the U.S. National team, leading it to the Gold Medal at the NORCECA Championships in 2006. He was on the training squad for the 2008 Olympic team that won a gold medal in Beijing.

As a professional, Tamas played all over Europe, setting for teams in Holland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, Cyprus and Finland.

?I?ve been blessed to do what I?ve done,? he said.

Tamas is now an assistant coach for the Cal Poly women?s volleyball team, after previous coaching stints at UC Riverside and the University of Minnesota. His wife, Jen, won a silver medal with the U.S. women?s volleyball team in Beijing.

Introducing him at the ceremony were former teacher Trish McHale, who runs the journalism program at Laguna Blanca, and former coaches Ray Robitaille and Jason Donnelly.

The school also recognized its student athletes at the event. Senior Justin Palmer was named Scholar-Athlete of the Year while Senior J.T. Aubery and Junior Clara Madsen were named Athletes of the Year. Certificates were awarded to scholar athletes who have maintained an un-weighted GPA of 3.75 while playing a sport. Triple Crown Awards were also awarded to scholar athletes who maintained a 3.75 unweighted GPA and played three Varsity Sports.

Chris Tamas and his family celebrate his induction into the Laguna Blanca Hall of Fame

Chris Tamas and his family celebrate his induction into the Laguna Blanca Hall of Fame

SCHOLAR ATHLETE AWARDS

Freshmen

Danielle Abrams ? volleyball

Jackie Berci ? tennis

Louisa Cameron Coats ? volleyball

Travis Fristoe ? golf

Armon Ghodoussi ? soccer

Michael Hawker ? cross country, soccer, JV volleyball

Philip Hicks ? tennis

Phoebe Madsen ? volleyball, soccer, sand volleyball

Cameron Morello ? lacrosse, sailing

Pierce O?Donnell ? football, basketball, volleyball

Alexis Yabsley ? soccer

Sophomores

Rebecca Brooks ? JV volleyball

Katie Carrillo-Castro ? JV volleyball

Connor Curran ? cross country, soccer, volleyball

Morgan Gainey ? JV volleyball, lacrosse

Libby Hasse ? tennis

Bryn Jewett ? JV volleyball, soccer

Scott Johnston ? cross country, JV basketball, JV volleyball

Ethan Katnic ? JV basketball, volleyball

Stephen McCaffery ? football, basketball, volleyball

Juniors

Ian Bankhead ? cross country

Nadia Belton ? cross country, soccer

Chloe Brown ? volleyball

Kimberly Crickette ? JV volleyball

Margaret Lazarovits ? lacrosse

Clara Madsen ? volleyball, soccer, sand volleyball

Olivia Pickett ? volleyball

Tristan Prinz ? cross country, soccer, tennis

Seniors

Anastasia Antonova ? tennis

Eddie Conk ? basketball, tennis

Helena Davila ? tennis

Alex Hawker ? cross country

Justin Palmer ? football, tennis

Benji Sorensen ? basketball, tennis

Bella Taron ? volleyball

TRIPLE CROWN AWARDS

Freshmen

Pheobe Madsen

Pierce O?Donnell

Sophomores

Connor Curran

Stephen McCaffery

Juniors

Clara Madsen

Tristan Prinz