2026 Hall of Fame
Phil Bransom
Class of 1974
Born in 1956, Phil Bransom moved to Porterville in sixth grade when his father’s logging company took on work in the area. He found a home at Pioneer Junior High, Bartlett, and Monache High School, graduating with the Class of 1974 as one of the Marauders’ multi sport standouts.
Phil’s involvement at Monache extended beyond athletics. Along with football and track, he was a member of the Monache Marauder Band for three years.
On the track, Phil became a leading Central Section hurdler and sprinter. As a sophomore, he was CIF Central Section runner up in the 180 yard low hurdles and won the same event at the Lindsay Invitational. As a junior, he won Central Section titles in the 180 yard low hurdles and the 120 yard high hurdles and helped the 440 yard relay place second.
Phil’s senior season in 1974 was a defining year. He received the Monache High School Outstanding Achievement Award Medal, competed in the Junior Olympics in the 120 yard high hurdles, and won the CIF Valley Finals in the 180 yard low hurdles while placing second in the 120 yard high hurdles. He also won Central Section titles in both hurdles events. He held the Monache record in the straight 180 yard low hurdles and was credited in era coverage with a 9.9 second 100 yard dash, a school record that stood for decades. He advanced to the 56th CIF State Track Meet, reaching the finals in the 180 yard low hurdles and competing in the 120 yard high hurdles.
Phil played football all four years at Monache. As a senior, he recorded seven interceptions and was named Defensive Player of the Year.
After Monache, Phil attended Porterville Junior College, where he won conference and state titles, set a state record in the 110 meter high hurdles, earned State Meet MVP honors, and placed as a Portland Indoor finalist. He qualified for and competed in the 1976 United States Olympic Trials in the 110 meter high hurdles and was inducted into the Porterville Junior College Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.
Phil later transferred on a full scholarship to the University of Oregon. He earned multiple dual meet victories, PAC-10 championship performances, a PAC-10 Championship in the 400 meter hurdles, and NCAA Division One All American honors in the 110 meter hurdles. In his senior year, he was honored as the team’s Most Inspirational Athlete.
Beyond competition, Phil built a career as a producer and director. He worked with Nike from 1979 to 1984 and led production companies serving clients including Nike, Bowflex, Nickelodeon, and PBS. He produced two feature films and spent his professional life telling stories rooted in sport and the human spirit.
Inspired by his late son, Phil authored Douglasaurus and the New Student, a children’s book promoting kindness, inclusion, and empathy, sharing his belief that belonging can change a child’s life.
Phil is happily married to his wife Cheryl and is the proud grandfather of five grandchildren. They live on a floating home on the Columbia River in Portland, Oregon.
From the classrooms, cinder tracks, and football fields of Porterville to the national stage, Phil Bransom’s journey reflects what it means to be a Marauder.
Please welcome Phil Bransom, Class of 1974, into the Monache High School Hall of Fame.
Allen Goodson
Class of 1977
My earliest memory of my athletic ability occurred on South Atkins Street in Porterville. I would play football with my older brother Darryl and his friends, whom would go on to form much of the famed Monache 1971/72 championship football team. Further, my best friends the Townsend brother’s lived across the street, adding to the depth of future athletic excellence. That little street produced 7 valley champions in either track and field or wrestling.
The year 1967 marked the beginning of my love for track, Encouraging words from Don Kavadas, MHS coach and a senior AAU track and field official, following multiple blue ribbons at Tulare County championships. But it was beating my older brother Darryl (himself a valley champion in track) in a 50 yard dash on the grounds of West Putnam Elementary that sealed the deal.
I was very fortunate to have great track & field mentors throughout my Porterville school years. Jasper Land at West Putnam Elementary, Don Kavadas during my middle school years and Jim Crichlow at Monache. Jasper introduced the triple jump to me in the 4th grade. Don taught me how to sprint. But it was Jim Crichlow who fine tuned my speed and jumping abilities, and introduced me to the decathlon.
After my freshman and sophomore years yielded 5 individual EYL championships in 5 different track and field events, Jim introduced me to Olympic Gold Medalist Sim Iness, as a means to improve my shot put, javelin and discus mechanics. The performance improvement was immediate, but longer lasting was the mentoring on training and preparation.
Following a disappointing 4th place finish in the valley decathlon championships my Junior year Sim introduced me to his fellow Olympic gold medalist Bob Mathias. That hour long discussion introduced me to the psychological side of athletic competition. It forever changed how I approached athletics, and continued throughout my professional career.
My senior year was full of success that I, to this day, attribute to these mentors. Valley championships in the Triple Jump & Decathlon, & 5th in the Long Jump. I placed 6th at the State championships in the triple jump, and 5th at the national AAU championships. I’m most honored that I won 11 EYL individual championships in 7 different events, holding school and meet records nearly 50 years later.
Present day finds me and my wife Julie living in Hawaii. Though I retired many years ago I am currently the President of the Outrigger Canoe Society (OCS) and it’s Hawaiian Paddler’s Hall of Honor. While a Achilles tendon injury ended my track and field career shortly after high school, the mentoring I received during that athletic journey continued on throughout my life. My journey into the Monache Athletic Hall of Fame is indeed a proud moment, with lessons learned being applied to my outrigger canoe paddling ohana and its Hall of Honor.
Jon Farmer
Jon Farmer was born on September 12, 1973, in Porterville, California, to parents Tim and Vivian Farmer. He grew up with an older sister, Kelly, and a younger brother, Shane. His father, Tim, an avid softball player and youth baseball coach, instilled a deep love for the game in his children, ensuring Jon spent much of his childhood on a baseball diamond.
A fierce competitor from an early age, Jon sharpened his skills through endless games of ping-pong, basketball, and wiffle ball with Shane. His hand-eye coordination and size emerged prominently in Little League, playing for the Porterville East Marshal’s Sandwiches team under coaches Danny Marberry and Daivid Mann. In his 12-year-old season, cut short by an injury, Jon hit an impressive 20 home runs in just eight games. Jon’s final season game was highlighted by throwing a no-hitter while hitting four home runs.
Jon attended Bartlett Jr. High School competing under coaches Glenn Davis and Paul Sewell. He entered Monache High School in 1987 and graduated in 1991. During his high school years, Jon contributed to several championship teams, including freshman EYL baseball (Coach Boyer), the junior varsity EYL basketball team (Coach Miller), and varsity baseball titles in 1988-89 and 1990-91 (Coach Begin). His senior year culminated in Monache winning the 1991 CIF Central Section Valley Baseball Championship.
Throughout high school, Jon earned numerous coaches’ awards and all-league selections. He was named the most-valuable pitcher at the 1989 Bakersfield Spring Classic and in 1991 was selected as the 1st Team All-Valley first baseman along with teammates Curtis Zimmerman and Dennis Watson.
Jon continued baseball in college, going to University of Hawaii in 1991-92 on scholarship, but eventually returned home after his freshman year due to an injury.
Jon returned to Porterville and attended Porterville College playing for Coach Tim Painton and Coach Mike Hill. In 1992-93, he won 1st Team All-Conference and was drafted in the 34th round by the Oakland Athletics as a first baseman. The following year (1993-94) he was named 1st Team All-League, 1st Team All-Northern California, and 1st Team All-American. This led to him being drafted in the 11th round by the Florida Marlins as a pitcher.
After his playing days, Jon built a successful professional career working for AT&T, currently working as a Design Engineer.
Above all, Jon considers his family his greatest accomplishment. He is married to Rhondi, and together they have two daughters, Mikaela and Stormi. Mikaela and her husband, Cody, have given Jon and Rhondi their lone grand-daughter, June.
You can still find Jon occasionally on a diamond helping youth pitchers, but most likely you will find him in the mountains with his family relaxing or looking for a new fishing hole.
Steve Cox
Steve Cox, from Porterville, California, was born October 31, 1974, to Ray and Dona Cox. He grew up playing backyard baseball with his dad and brother David, which sparked a lifelong love for the game.
At Monache High School, Steve was a solid but average player his first three years. Everything changed the summer before senior year when he worked with A's scout Craig Wallenbrock, who helped him fix his swing. In 1992, he became one of the state's top players, earned High School All-American honors, and got drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 5th round.
The minors were tough, but Steve stuck with it. He had a breakout 1995 season with 30 home runs and was named the Oakland A's **Minor League Player of the Year**. In 1997, the expansion Tampa Bay Devil Rays picked him up. He crushed it in 1999 at AAA Durham, hitting .341 with 25 homers, earning **International League MVP** (AAA Player of the Year honors), and got called up to the majors that September.
Steve made his MLB debut in 1999 and became a key part of the Devil Rays from 1999–2002. His full rookie year in 2000 was solid, and he got named the team's Rookie of the Year.
In 2003 he played in Japan with the Yokohama BayStars, adding an international twist to his career.
Off the field, Steve's biggest joy is his family. He married Sara Stephen in 2000, and they raised three great kids—Gabby, Laney, and AJ—who all grew up loving sports. Watching them play sports has been one of the best parts of his life.
From backyard games to the big leagues, Steve's story is about hard work, great coaches, family support, and never losing that love for baseball.
Sara (Stephen) Cox
Class of 1995
Sara (Stephen) Cox was born in April 1977 to Buzz and Julie Stephen. She began athletics at the age of five to channel her boundless energy, starting with AYSO soccer and continuing through her junior year of high school. She played AYSO until age nine, then competed in club soccer until age fourteen.
At the same age, Sara swam for the Neptunites, qualifying for the Valley Championships in the 25-yard butterfly and earning a second-place finish. She competed in swimming for one year.
At eight years old, Sara joined the city track club coached by Marsha Cartwright, competing in shot put, discus, and high jump under coach Steve Brown. Early in her track career, she became a national champion in the triathlon.
She briefly tried softball around age ten before discovering volleyball as her true athletic calling. Seeking a fall sport, Sara joined Sierra Pacific Volleyball Club in Reedley, where her natural talent quickly emerged. She trained multiple times per week and played club volleyball through graduation, alongside many athletes who went on to compete at the Division I level.
In high school, Sara was a three-sport varsity athlete in volleyball, soccer, and track. She made varsity volleyball as a freshman and had the rare opportunity to play alongside her older sister, Jennifer, a senior. That team advanced to the Valley Championships against Highland, facing Janice Mounts—later Sara’s USC teammate and roommate. Sara became the team’s setter, running a 5–1 offense, and played varsity volleyball all four years.
She also competed on the varsity soccer team until her senior year, when she chose to focus exclusively on volleyball, and participated in track during her freshman year.
Highly recruited by numerous Division I programs, Sara ultimately chose to attend the University of Southern California to join her sister. She began her collegiate career as a recruited walk-on, earned financial support early on, and midway through her sophomore year received a full scholarship with a fifth year of eligibility. She played in most matches, primarily as a defensive specialist, and later found success as an outside hitter during the spring of her junior year. Her transition to the left side was cut short by a significant abdominal strain.
Sara attended one semester of her fifth year, graduating in December, and married Steven Cox the following January.
Sara and Steven have three children: Gabby (23), who is pursuing her Ph.D. at UCSF, and twins Laney and AJ (20). Laney studies interior design at Cal State Northridge, and AJ will attend Northridge in the fall to play baseball.
Sara earned her degree in psychology from USC and later completed her registered nursing degree after starting her family.
Tom Fiormonti
Tom Fiormonti grew up in Stockton, California, in the Northern San Joaquin Valley. He attended Madison Elementary School, Daniel Webster Junior High, and graduated from Amos Alonzo Stagg High School. After high school, he continued his education at San Joaquin Delta Junior College while working at GEMCO Department Store. In January 1973, he transferred to Fresno State University, earning a degree in Business in 1975. He completed his teaching credential in the spring of 1976.
Teaching and Early Coaching Career
Coach Fiormonti began his professional career at Delano High School as a business teacher, where he also volunteered as the boys’ freshman basketball coach. He later moved to McFarland High School in 1980, serving as the boys’ junior varsity football coach and boys’ junior varsity basketball coach. In 1985, he accepted a position at Porterville High School as a business teacher and coached freshman football and freshman boys’ basketball before advancing to JV boys’ basketball.
Coach Fiormonti transferred to Monache High School as a business teacher in 1991, balancing classroom instruction with the demands of building one of the most successful girls’ basketball programs in the region.
Monache High School: A Championship Era
In the summer of 1989, Tom Fiormonti accepted the position of Girls’ Varsity Basketball Head Coach at Monache High School. During his 13 year tenure, the program achieved remarkable success:
- 8 East Yosemite League (E.Y.L.) Championships (1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001 and 2002)
- Valley Runner Up finishes in 1995 and 1996
- Valley Championship in 1997
- State Playoff appearance in 1997
His teams compiled an outstanding overall record of 244–99, including 100–26 in E.Y.L. play. During the eight championship seasons, Monache posted a dominant 71–7 league record. The program’s best seasons came in 1995–96 (26–1) and 1996–97 (27–2), the latter culminating in a Valley Championship.
Coach Fiormonti’s impact at Monache High School extends far beyond wins and championships. His leadership helped establish a culture of accountability, discipline, and competitive excellence that continues to influence the program today. His induction into the Monache High School Athletic Hall of Fame honors a career defined by dedication to students, athletes, and the school community.
Coach Tom Fiormonti dedicated more than three decades to public education and high school athletics, leaving a lasting legacy at Monache High School through excellence, consistency, and championship success. His career reflects a lifelong commitment to students, athletes, and the values of teamwork and perseverance.
Coach Fiormonti retired from coaching in 2002 and from teaching in 2013. Now, completely retired, he enjoys time with his sons, their families, and his grandsons. He remains active socially and participates in local bowling leagues.