2024 Hall of Fame
Bill Kropog
Bill Kropog first showed his athletic ability early, at age 5, when he placed first in the long jump in a city wide Track and Field meet in Great Falls, Montana, and second in the 25 yard dash. He continued his competitive endeavors in elementary school, often placing 1st or 2nd in intramural running and jumping events.
Kropog was a three sport athlete at Bartlett Junior High School, participating in Football, Basketball, and Track. At Monache, Bill was a two sport athlete, concentrating his skills in Football and Wrestling. He was a member of one JV East Yosemite League (EYL) Championship team, and three Varsity EYL Championship teams in Wrestling. Starting at 121 lbs. as a Freshman, Bill grew to 191 lbs. as a Senior. In 1978 he had the honor of winning the match that secured Monache High School’s first ever team Valley Championship for any sport. That Wrestling team was inducted into the Monache Athletic Hall of Fame (HOF) with the first HOF class in 2017. During the summer of 1978, Kropog was a starter in the Tulare-Kings Allstar Football Game, playing for the East Team, which won 40-8. Bill was Co-Captain for both Football and Wrestling his Senior year at Monache.
Kropog continued to Wrestle and play Football for four years in College: Two years at College of the Seqouias (COS) in Visalia, CA, and two years at California State University, Chico (CSUC), in Chico, California (Coach Drew Williams old alma mater). Bill earned first team Defensive All Conference honors in football his second year at both institutions, and player of the week a total of eight times, Football and Wrestling combined, during the four years. In football he also averaged 13.5 sacks per year as a Defensive End. Kropog was All-Conference in the Unlimited weight division at only 222 lbs., and would culminate his wrestling career in that division by placing 6th at the NCAA Division II National Championships in 1982. Kropog was regularly outweighed by his opponents by 50 lbs. to 70 lbs.
Kropog began his coaching career in 1983 at Durham High School, near Chico, CA. He lead Durham to the Small School Section Championship his first year there. He has coached on numerous Championship Football and Wrestling teams, and as a head coach has had a number of state place winners in Wrestling. As an assistant coach in charge of the 175 lb. weight class thru heavyweight class at Inglemoor High School in Washington, he coached the state’s very first 220 lb. state champion.
Currently, Bill is coaching middle school football, and teaching Physical Education at a continuation school in Corpus Christi, Texas. He has been teaching for 34 years, and coaching Football, Wrestling, Track and Field, Baseball, and Golf at various schools in California, Washington, and Texas over the past 40 years.
Brian Hull
Brian was raised in Porterville by his parents Danny and Tessy Hull. At the age of 6 , he was introduced to the sports of wrestling, T-ball, and flag football. Brian attended Vandalia Elementary School and Pioneer Junior High School. He was named male athlete of the year during his 8th grade year at Pioneer Junior High; all while maintaining an impressive 3.8 GPA. Brian was a two-time podium finisher at the California Freestyle Wrestling Age Group State Championship.
Brian began attending Monache High School in 1989, and continued his athletic endeavors , earning 12 letters as a three-sport athlete in wrestling, football, and golf.
During his high school wrestling career, Brian was a three-time league champion, a three-time divisional placer including one divisional champion title, and a three-time valley placer including one valley championship title. He was a two-time state championship qualifier. Brian was a part of an impressive six EYL league team championships in wrestling and golf. He had the honor of traveling to Germany on the USA Exchange team in 1990. Brian was also voted captain of the wrestling team in 1992. In 1992,he had the honor of receiving a lifetime membership pass to all sporting events at Monache High School for participating in three sports for all four years at Monache High.
After high school Brian followed in his father’s footsteps and answered the call to serve his nation in the United States Marine Corps. He served from 1992 to 1996. While in the Marine Corps, Brian competed in his last wrestling tournament in Okinawa Japan in 1995, where he took home the gold. After his military service, he moved to the town of Quincy in Northern California. He served as an assistant wrestling coach for Quincy high school for six years.
In 2005 Brian moved to Bakersfield California where he continued coaching high school wrestling at Foothill High School. He assisted his brother Brad until 2017. Multiple athletes under his guidance became league champions, divisional, valley, and state placers.
In addition to coaching high school wrestling, Brian has served the community of Kern County since 2006 as an employee of the Kern County Sheriff’s Office.
Brian would like to thank, his family, and his coaches for all their support in his athletic endeavors. This support and encouragement has allowed him to achieve his goals as a high school athlete. In addition, he would like to thank his wife of 30 years, Channell for her support as he strived to give back to young athletes through coaching.
Dennis Townsend
Dennis Townsend was born and raised in Porterville as was his wife, Cece. The couple met at Monache High School, dated, and were married 5 years later. Dennis got into wrestling following big brother, Duane, and went out for football as well. He enjoyed both sports in which MHS had a strong and winning culture. He had early success and moved up to the varsity teams quickly. An offensive lineman for the most part on the football team, Dennis enjoyed the team camaraderie and achieving success with a great group of athletes.
Dennis also loved wrestling for the challenge and the individual, one-on-one aspect of the sport. MHS was a powerhouse for wrestling in the San Joaquin Valley and the team, as well as Dennis, excelled. In 1978 the team won the Valley Championship. In 1979 Dennis won several major tournaments, the EYL championship, placed 2nd in the Yosemite Division and 4th in Valley along with being Team Captain and winning the Coaches Award.
Dennis wrestled over the summers in open Freestyle tournaments, winning and placing in numerous events over the years. In 1978 he captured a spot on the international AAU-USA team which toured New Zealand and in 1979 won a spot on the AAU-USA team that wrestled across West Germany.
While studying for his Associate of Arts degree in Architecture from the College of the Sequoias from 1979 to 1981, he started both years at 177 pounds. He was Team Captain, 2-time conference champion, MVP of the conference and placed 4th in the CA State championships.
Accepted by Cal Poly SLO as an Architecture major, Dennis started for two years at the heavyweight position for their division 1 wrestling team. He completed his final year in Florence, Italy and graduated Cum Laude, Tau Sigma Delta and Phi Beta Kappa with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Architecture.
Dennis founded Townsend Architectural Group in 2001. In 2023 he brought on a partner and changed the name to Centerline Design and Engineering. He is past president of the Sierra Sunrise Rotary Club and a multiple Paul Harris fellow, a graduate of Leadership Porterville, an advisory board member for Harmony Magnet Academy, a Board member for Habitat for Humanity “Building Hope in Porterville,” an Elder at Lighthouse Chapel, a Board member for the Sierra View Hospital Foundation, a past Porterville Chamber of Commerce Board member and current Governmental Affairs Committee member. The Chamber awarded Townsend Architectural Group the “Small Business of the Year” in 2017. Also a member of the Springville Chamber of Commerce, he was honored by that organization as “Man of the Year,” in 2009.
In 2018 Dennis was elected and began serving as Tulare County’s 5th District Supervisor, where he is past Chairman. In 2024 he is serving his second term and looking forward to many more years of service to the County and Community.
Pam Kessler
Pam Kessler was born in Pierre, South Dakota and raised by her parents C.A. and Marvelyn Kessler. Moving to Fargo, North Dakota Pam attended parochial schools and graduated at Shanley High School in 1965. Competition for girls was very limited in the 1960’s yet Pam was awarded “Girl Athlete of the Year” at Shanley. Pam was an active bowler, tennis player, and Fargo City Championship Golfer.
Pam chose to attend South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota and major in Physical Education and minor in science. Pam competed in tennis, track & field, Basketball, Field Hockey, and was an all-state shortstop on a South Dakota State Championship team.
Pam was chosen as a graduate assistant in the Physical Education Department while working on her master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling. Not only did Pam complete her degrees but her entire immediate family of seven graduated from the university and in 1993 they were named “SDSU Family of the Year”.
During her assistantship, the late Don Howard, from the Porterville School District, drove in snowy conditions to and from the Sioux Falls airport to Brookings to interview Pam. It was seven months later in August of 1969 Pam was on the road to Porterville on Highway 65 in 105-degree heat to begin teaching Physical Education and coach tennis at Monache High School.
Finding out that Monache and area schools had only two competitive sports teams for girls which were tennis and swimming was a big surprise.
Tennis was a combined varsity sport with boys and girls competing as one team with a mixed doubles event. A couple years later tennis separated into two teams and Pam coached both girls’ varsity and boys’ varsity.
The girls won EYL Championships in 1975,1978, and 1980. The boys won EYL in 1974,1975,1986 and 1987.
Determined to bring more competition for girls Pam pioneered to develop Volleyball into the EYL in 1983
Monache won EYL in Volleyball in 1985, 1989 and 1990.
Although retired from coaching Volleyball Pam stayed connected to the sport by officiating and became trainer and scheduler of all officials in the area. During this time Pam also coached Junior Varsity girls’ softball.
In 1998 Pam developed a role modeling program. Pam chose 6 female student/athletes (3 from MHS and three from PHS) to become role models by visiting elementary and middle schools. These role models gave a presentation with a message about “becoming involved and trying your best no matter what school you attend”. They discussed respect, appropriate language, responsibility, getting good grades and setting goals. They spoke at 14 local schools and response from participating school staff and administration was way beyond positive.
In 1999 it became time to pioneer another sport for females and Pam chose to initiate golf as any girls wanting to play golf had to try out for the Monache Boys team.
In 1993, due to help from the Porterville community and media help from the Fresno Bee golf took a giant leap. Monache won EYL in 2000 and is now a thriving girls sport in the entire valley.
Pam retired in 2002 after teaching under the leadership of seven different principals. Thanks to Don Howard for the interview, he made it possible for Pam to teach and coach at Monache with fond memories of awesome students and staff and an administration with zero tolerance which made teaching and coaching not only a job but totally enjoyable.
Pam presently lives in Brandon, South Dakota where she enjoys golf, traveling, camping, and doing volunteer work as a “CASA Advocate of the year in 2019”.
Rusty Loflin
Rusty was born in Odgen, Utah in 1973 to Dan and Sheila Loflin. The family traveled throughout the United States pursuing work opportunities in construction early in his life. They also lived for short periods of time in Augusta, Georgia; New Orleans, Louisiana; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Reno, Nevada prior to moving back to Porterville around 1981.
Rusty attended Olive St. School early on upon returning to Porterville, and then attended grade school and junior high school in the Burton School District and moved to Monache High School in the fall of 1987.
Rusty was fortunate to be part of the following championship teams at MHS: Freshman EYL baseball and basketball 1987-88 (Freshman), Junior Varsity EYL basketball 1988-89 (Sophomore), Varsity EYL baseball 1989-90 (Junior), Varsity EYL baseball 1990-91 (Senior), 1991 CIF Central Section Yosemite Division Valley Baseball Championship (Senior). Rusty earned the honor of team captain for Junior Varsity basketball in 1987 and several all-EYL 1st Team selections in baseball while at Monache in addition to being named 2nd Team All Valley catcher by the Fresno Bee in 1991. Rusty played water polo, football, basketball, and baseball at MHS.
After high school, Rusty attended Fresno City and Porterville College trying to find the right fit in a junior college baseball program. He returned to Porterville College and played for coaches Tim Painton and Mike Hill from 1992-1994. Rusty was part of a renaissance for PC baseball at the time as he was on teams that won a total of 37 games in two seasons. Most of those wins came during the 1993-1994 season. The Pirates won a total of 28 games, finished 2nd in conference and hosted the first round of the state junior college baseball playoffs that season. After the 1994 season, Rusty was chosen 1st Team all CVC, 1st Team All Northern California, 1st Team All-American, and drafted in the 33rd round of the Major League Baseball draft as a catcher by the Colorado Rockies and local baseball legend Burt Holt. Rusty earned a scholarship from the University of Alabama Crimson Tide based upon the successes of the 1994 season and was able to ride the momentum to additional championship experiences with BAMA. Rusty played on teams at BAMA that won the following championships: 1994-95 Southeastern Conference Western Division Tournament, 1995-96 SEC Championship, 1995-96 SEC Tournament, and 1995-96 South 2 Regional. Rusty was named MVP of the 1995 Western Division Tournament and was also a member of the 1996 College World Series team.
Rusty graduated from the University of Alabama with a double B.A. in Criminal Justice and History in August 1997. He works for the California Department of Developmental Services as a Community Program Specialist II at PDC going on 20 years. Rusty and his wife, Julienne Faure Loflin, reside in Porterville raising two children, Bryton 17 and Justice 20, and have been happily married for almost 23 years. Love and passion for the traditions involved in the game of baseball, Porterville City athletics and everything BAMA continue to be the foundation for the Loflin family’s daily pursuits. Go MHS, & ROLL TIDE!
Tammy Peltzer
Tammy Peltzer was born in 1962 in Porterville. She is the first-born child of Doug and Bille Peltzer. Tammy developed a love of sports at a young age and began playing organized sports at Pioneer Middle School. There she participated in volleyball, basketball, tennis, and also Bobby-Sox softball.
Tammy attended Monache from 1977 – 1981. She played varsity volleyball for three years, however, she quickly realized that tennis would be her first priority due to her love and natural aptitude for the sport. While attending Monache she played four years on the varsity tennis team, during which her team was named EYL champions back-to-back in 1979 and 1980.
During her high school tennis career Tammy was also the EYL Women’s Singles Champion three times. She was named Most Improved Player her freshman year and then MVP as a sophomore, Junior and senior. Tammy was also a CIF semi-finalist and earned the Porterville Top Female Tennis Award three times.
After graduating from Monache Tammy went on to play tennis for Cal State Bakersfield and then completed her college education at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education.
Tammy then moved to Southern California to teach P.E. in the Yucaipa-Calimesa School District where she taught elementary and middle school for 31 years. During her career as a teacher, she strived to instill a love of sports and physical activity in her students. She started an elementary school intermediate sports program and also coached tennis.
In her personal life Tammy has remined highly active and engaged with sports, particularly those involving a racket. In 2008 her tennis team was named the Southern California USTA 4.5 Champions. In 2018 she was the Nationals Silver Medalists in 4.5 singles pickleball and in 2023 she took home 4th place at Nationals in the women’s doubles.
When she’s not playing tennis or pickleball Tammy enjoys running, mountain biking, playing golf, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.
Tonya Baker-Childree
Tonya was born in 1974 to parents, Tom & Gerry Baker. At four years old, she was enrolled in baton and dance lessons. These lessons continued over several years and expanded into other performing arts such as music, singing and acting. When Tonya was in fourth grade, her little sister, Amanda, only 5 years old, began playing basketball for the City of Porterville. It was only then that she decided to try basketball herself. Tonya only played two seasons of City league basketball and had no formal training or coaching. But games of H-O-R-S-E and Around the World between the two sisters were a constant in the driveway at the family home where a backboard and hoop were affixed to the roof. In 7th grade, while sitting in the splits at dance class, Tonya broke her pelvis. It was a freak accident where 2 inches snapped off the pelvic bone and brought dancing, baton and any sports to a halt until recovered. The summer before entering high school, Tonya learned how to play volleyball while trying out for the freshman team. In her four-year volleyball career at MHS, every team she played on won the EYL Championship; one ended in a Valley Championship game, two others were undefeated at 10-0. Tonya tried out for the basketball team her freshman year, and by the second day of practice, was moved up to the Varsity team. That is where she met her largest basketball influence and coach, Mr. Monte Moore. Although he was not the team’s head coach, he was pivotal in teaching her proper shooting techniques and general basketball fundamentals. It was that second day of practice when she noticed the Girls Basketball Hall of Fame banner hanging on the wall of the gym and asked Mr. Moore how to get your name on it. From that day, it was her personal goal to get on that banner.
Her athletic career at Monache earned her several awards, championships and honors. Freshman and sophomore years brought four “Most Improved Player” awards from coaches. And by her Junior and Senior year, all of those “improvements” had led to Outstanding Player recognition, All League Teams, team MVP’s, an EYL MVP, scoring over 1,000 points in basketball and the ultimate goal of being named on the Girls Basketball Hall of Fame. Tonya was offered a scholarship to play basketball at Fresno Pacific University after averaging 20 points and 13 rebounds per game her senior year. While at FPU, Tonya earned another Most Improved Player award, won two GSAC Championships and had two NAIA National Tournament appearances in Jackson, Tennessee. In 1996, after having her first child, Tonya returned to athletics by enrolling in Porterville College where she still had eligibility to play volleyball. She played at PC for two years under Coach Valerie Cowan, earned an AA Degree and graduated Phi Theta Kappa. Many years and five kids later, Tonya and Amanda joined forced on the football field, playing tackle and flag football for the TC Villainz, the first all-women’s football team in Tulare County, who went 34-1 in 3 years of league and tournament play. Over the years, Tonya has coached volleyball and basketball at Strathmore and Porterville High Schools, was the Assistant Director of the Tule River Recreation Department and has coached and supported her children in all of their endeavors. Today, she has over 15 years with the City of Porterville in the Parks & Leisure Services Department, where she enjoys a career working with the community coordinating youth and adult sports leagues and special events. She is especially proud to have been selected as the 2019 Wagon Master for the Jackass Mail Run, and for her annual fundraising efforts for the Zalud House Museum by coordinating the Pioneer Days & Rib Cook-Off event in Porterville. Tonya is married to Robert Childree and has 6 children; Alexis (28), Seneca (24), Madison (22), Savannah (19), Dillon (15) and Gracie (11).