By Zach Thummel
Columbia Gorge News
HOOD RIVER — The Hood River Valley Athletic Hall of Fame will welcome a new class of athletes, coaches and teams during its 2026 Hall of Fame Weekend Sept. 11-12.
The weekend will begin Friday, Sept. 11, with the Hall of Fame Golf Tournament at Indian Creek Golf Course at 8 a.m. Later that day, the inductees will be introduced during halftime of the Hood River Valley High School football game against Barlow.
The weekend will conclude Saturday with an awards banquet at the Divots Pavilion at Indian Creek Golf Course. A social hour will begin at 4 p.m., followed by dinner and the awards presentation at 5 p.m. Tickets are $35 per person.
The 2026 class includes eight individual inductees and the 2015 Hood River Valley 5A state championship baseball team.
Bill Burger, a 1970 Hood River High School graduate being honored posthumously, earned first-team all-state and Cowapa League honors as an offensive and defensive lineman in 1969.
Lauren Lloyd, a 2010 HRV graduate, won the 6A state 800-meter title in 2010 in 2:10.95 before competing in cross country and track and field at Cornell University.
Jestena Mattson, a 2015 graduate, went from a three-sport athlete at HRV to a professional heptathlete and Team USA bobsledder. She won five Oregon state track titles, four Mountain West Conference championships at Fresno State and earned multiple All-American honors.
Matt Dallman, a 2003 graduate, earned all-state and all-league soccer honors before playing collegiately at the University of Portland and professionally.
Jarad Swyers, a 1992 graduate, was a first-team all-state kicker in football in 1991 and an honorable mention all-state catcher in baseball in 1992.
Monte Hull, a 1994 graduate being honored posthumously, earned first-team all-state honors in baseball and honorable mention all-state recognition in basketball.
Sean Baker, a 2009 graduate, won the 4A state wrestling title at 136 pounds in 2008 and was a three-time state placer. He also won two Greco-Roman state championships and the prestigious Triple Crown.
Tom Wishart, a 1976 graduate, was a three-time all-Wilco League football selection at running back and defensive back. He also lettered in football at Portland State.
The 2015 HRV baseball team, coached by Erich Harjo, will also be inducted after winning the 5A state championship. Team members were Skyler Hunter, Chase Lariza, Riley Wilson, Austin Van Riper, Morgan Williams, Riley Van Hoose, Willie Isazaka, Dallas Buckley, Kam Walker, Patrick Harvey, Adam Cameron, Kellan Duffy, Ryan Ward, Montana Kurahara, Andrew Roberts, Conner Coerper and Isaiah Enriques.
Those attending the Saturday, Sept. 12 banquet are asked to RSVP with the number of guests for table reservations through the Hood River Valley athletic office or Phil Hukari at philhuk@embarqmail.com.
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