NOTES: Football coaches hall of fame class spans decades
Ron Smeltzer’s goal as president of the Clark County High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame has been to honor people whose contributions date back several years.
The latest class to enter the hall of fame is a prime example.
Coaches James Massey and David Snyder Sr., and historical figure Duke Durden (posthumously) were selected for induction by a vote of the current members. The trio will be honored during a gathering in February at a date and place to be determined, according to Smeltzer.
“It’s an outstanding class. We’re happy to have them,” Smeltzer said. “We try to go back and get some people from before (1996), rather than the present day. Our goal is to give people some recognition and try to promote the sport in Clark County and hopefully the state as well.”
Massey, a Valley graduate, was a four-year letterwinner as a defensive back at UNLV under Ron Meyer. He coached in Southern Nevada for 33 years, including 14 as head coach at Indian Springs, Clark and Valley. Massey led Clark to the Southwest Region title in 2001 and was selected Southern Nevada Coach of the Year two times.
Snyder coached for 25 years at Canyon Springs, Cheyenne, Cimarron-Memorial, Clark and Legacy. An avid power lifter, he is credited with implementing strength programs at five Clark County schools.
Durden was an official for baseball, basketball and football with the Southern Nevada Officials Association. The first black football official in the Western Athletic Conference, Durden also was appointed to the Nevada Athletic Commission in 1978. He died in 2000.
■ AGGIES RANKED — The Arbor View girls soccer team, which won its third straight Division I state title Saturday with a 6-0 victory over Coronado, is No. 24 in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America top 25 rankings.
The Aggies (20-2-1) were No. 4 in the Region VI rankings.
Palo Verde, the boys Division I state champion, was ranked ninth in Region VIII. The Panthers (17-5-2) were joined in the poll by No. 15 Foothill, while Sunset Region champion and Division I state runner-up Valley also received votes.
■ SANCHEZ TO COACH NATIONAL TEAM — Bishop Gorman football coach Tony Sanchez was named the running backs/wide receivers coach for the U.S. Under-19 National Team, USA Football announced.
The Under-19 National Team will compete against Team Canada in the 2015 International Bowl on Feb. 7 at the University of Texas-Arlington. The full roster for the U.S. team has not been released and thus far does not include any local players.
■ PAVLOV WINS STATE HEISMAN — Faith Lutheran senior Hannah Pavlov won the girls state Wendy’s High School Heisman Award. The standout for the Crusaders’ cross country and track and field teams was chosen from a group of 10 finalists.
Pavlov was eligible to be named one of 12 national finalists but was not selected. Sebastian Lopez of Damonte Ranch was the boys state winner.
■ RECENT COMMITMENTS — Centennial senior Zach Dixon to Arizona State for baseball. … Arbor View senior Jessica Longhurst to MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) and Spring Valley senior Alexa Hunt to Utah State for women’s soccer. … Desert Oasis seniors Shonda Badayos and Raina Ladislao, Shadow Ridge senior Justin Garganese and Palo Verde senior Jordan Menke to College of Southern Nevada, Mountain View senior Savannah Allie to Eastern Florida State College, Centennial senior Maddie Jones to Northwest Christian (Ore.) and Silverado senior Korinna Pindel to Salt Lake College for softball. … Boulder City senior Alex Hubel to UCLA for women’s swimming. … Faith Lutheran senior Clarissa Maxey to Northern Arizona for women’s track and field.
Contact reporter David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidSchoenLVRJ.