The addition of four new members to the Medical Lake High School Athletic Hall of Fame brings the number in the group to 53. They will be honored at halftime of the Oct. 12 Cardinal football game against Riverside, and officially inducted during a dinner on Saturday, Oct. 13.
This is the 11th induction into the hall and a tradition that started in 2008 with a group of three graduates — Dana Jensen, Dannie Turnbough and John Jensen — all posthumously inducted after being killed in the Vietnam War.
The idea came from the former high school Cardinal football coach John Giannandrea attended, Mckeesport High School in Pennsylvania in metropolitan Pittsburgh.
“The biggest thing is not what they did in high school, it’s what they did after,” Giannandrea said.
The most important part is what you have achieved after high school and what have you contributed to society. It’s not what a real great athlete you are.”
Giannandrea is one of 10 people on the selection committee, all members of the community, plus the high school athletic director, currently Justin Blayne.
The special thing about the Medical Lake Hall is that it brings people back into the community who may have moved away and haven’t been back for a while, Blayne said.
“It’s real cool to have them bring their stories back and see how Medical Lake shaped them and led them to what they are doing now,” Blayne said.
2018 Inductees
Alison Stitt (Biggs) – Class of 1999
After four years of high school and being an outstanding three sport student athlete at MLHS, Alison Biggs has accumulated a long list of honors and accolades.
These included being named to the Great Northern League First-Team in track for the 100, 400 and 800-meter runs.
Biggs was a two time First-Team All-Conference GNL forward on the Cardinal soccer team and All State squad. In track, she received both a WIAA and Mayor’s Certificate of Recognition. She’s held the MLHS school record in the 100-meters and 4x100 relay team. Her play in soccer saw Stitt set school records for goals, assists and overall points.
Following graduation in 1999, Biggs attended Spokane Falls Community College on a soccer and track scholarship. Receiving a degree in business and education, Biggs returned to MLHS to coach girls soccer.
During this time she also managed several area businesses. In 2005 she married her high school sweetheart, Tyler Stitt.
The Stitts have been serving the West Plains community through Young Life Ministry volunteering. Ali also is involved with such groups as Cancer Can’t and Women’s ministries. She and her husband also managed rental properties in Cheney, primarily for EWU students. The couple became the proud parents of a son, Canaan David Stitt.
Paul Butorac – Class of 2002
Without doubt, Paul Butorac must be seen as one of the finest and most accomplished Cardinal basketball players MLHS has ever produced.
Butorac attended MLHS from 1999 to 2002, playing four years of basketball. In both 2001 and 2002, he was voted the Great Northern League MVP and in 2018 he remained the school’s all time shot block leader. Butorac ended his high school career with 1,061 points, 638 rebounds and 247 blocked shots.
Following graduation, Butorac began his college education at Eastern Washington University, and of course, playing basketball for the Eagles. As a junior and senior at EWU, Butorac was a Big Sky Honorable Mention All-League selection and led the conference in field goal percentage at 64 percent his senior year.
Butorac was the all-time leading shot blocker in EWU history in 2007 with 99 and also held the distinction of being the all-time leader in dunks with 101.
In 2007, Butorac began his professional basketball career playing for 15 different teams in countries such as France, Latvia, Poland, Estonia, Japan, Bulgaria, Thailand and Mexico. He also was involved with the NBA Developmental League Colorado 14ers.
Butorac has volunteered as a coach for the school’s basketball team and performed substitute teaching duties for the school district. Japan is his temporary home when Butorac was inducted into the 2018 MLHS Athletic Hall of Fame.
Roger Hoell – Class of 1976
As a student at MLHS, Roger was a multi-sport athlete, competing in football and baseball. During his sophomore year, Hoell competed in track and field and was a member of the 4x400 relay team.
Upon graduating in 1976, Hoell enrolled at Spokane Falls Community College where he played in football.
In 1977, Hoell enlisted in the U.S. Army and served four years on active duty as an Airborne Ranger and squad leader. From 1981–1989 he served in the reserves as a drill instructor.
Hoell enrolled at Eastern Washington University in 1982 and his journey to a degree culminated in 1987 earning a bachelor’s degree in education.
Hoell has served as head football coach at Othello High School for 24 years. During that time, he has compiled a record of 184-86. His teams played for the state 2A championship three times, winning in 1998 and 2004. His program holds the 2A record for consecutive playoff appearances at 17.
Hoell has been an assistant baseball coach at OHS for 24 years, winning a state title in 2003.
In 2016, Hoell was inducted into the Washington State Football Coaches Hall of Fame. He is the proud father of Derek, Lauren and Brittany Hoell.
Chuck Van Matre – Class of 1974
During his four years at Medical Lake High School, Van Matre was a multi-sport athlete, participating in football, basketball and track during the transition of MLHS athletics from the Northeast A League to the 2A Frontier League.
Van Matre repeatedly placed at the AA state track meet in both the shot put and javelin.
As a senior, Van Matre was the Cardinal football, basketball and track teams captain. Van Matre set school track and field records in the shot put and javelin, marks that have held for 44 years.
Van Matre attended Eastern Washington University where he continued to throw the javelin. During his senior year he won the NAIA District Championship and was fourth at the national meet, earning “Little All-American” honors.
Following graduation, Van Matre had had a successful career working with and coaching Special Olympics teams and managed skill development programs. In addition, Van Matre worked for the state of Washington where he oversaw programs for youth in foster care.
Van Matre had been married to his high school sweetheart, Brenda, who was a 1975 graduate of MLHS. Together they raised two daughters, Tiffany and Brittney, who have given the Van Matre’s four grandsons.
Paul Delaney can be reached at pdelaney@cheneyfreepress.com.
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