Each year, the Liberty Union High School District honors outstanding members of its athletic programs from past years by inducting them into the LUHSD Athletic Hall of Fame, and the Press is proud to present a three-part profile of these special athletes provided by Jack Ferrill of the Hall of Fame board. This week we offer part three of the series.
The Hall of Fame induction program will be held Saturday, April 26 starting at 5:30 p.m. at Heritage High School in the multi-use room. The price per person is $30, and you can obtain tickets at Independence High School, 929 Second St. in Brentwood. Tickets may also be obtained from any Hall of Fame board member. For more information, contact the Adult Education Office at 925-634-2565, ext. 1022 or Jack Ferrill at 925-634-2589 ext. 1054 Monday or Wednesday only, or call 209-462-5259.
Fred Gibson Athlete and Coach
(Football and Track)
Fred Gibson attended Liberty High School from 1962 to '65. He was an outstanding two-sport athlete as well as an outstanding scholar.
In 1962, '63 and '64, Gibson earned his varsity letters in football and developed into an outstanding center. In 1964, he was named All-League Center. He was a standout offensive player and a defensive leader on a unit that gave up only 48 points in nine games.
As a track man, Gibson competed on the varsity team for four years. He was named captain of the track team as a senior and set school records in both the shot put and the discus throw.
Gibson was also an outstanding student leader while at Liberty. He served as sophomore class representative, junior class president, commissioner of athletics, Spanish Club president and California Scholarship Federation president.
Gibson continued his education at Sacramento State University. As the football team's center, he started every game for three years and was named the All-Far Western Conference First Team Center for two years. In 1968, he started as center in the Junior Rose Bowl. He was elected to the California State University of Sacramento Football Hall of Fame in 2002.
In 1969, Gibson served as a graduate assistant football coach at CSU Sacramento and from 1970 until 2002, coached at El Camino High School in Sacramento, serving as head varsity coach, assistant wrestling coach and assistant track coach.
Gibson has been named a Top 10 Teacher at El Camino for the last 26 years and has earned the Golden Apple Award on two occasions as Outstanding Teacher. He was honored by being selected as torch bearer for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.
Gibson graduated from California State University Sacramento with a bachelor of science degree in history and physical education and has also earned a master's degree in administration. He is currently teaching at El Camino Fundamental High School in Sacramento. He and his wife, Nancy, have two grown children, John Gibson and Heather Crosley.
The Liberty Union High School District Athletic Hall of Fame is proud and honored to induct Fred Gibson into the Athletic Hall of Fame for his outstanding athletic careers at Liberty High School and CSU Sacramento, and his distinguished coaching and teaching careers.
Sarah Burgess Athlete
(Soccer, Track and Volleyball)
Sarah Burgess attended Liberty High School from 1997 to 2001. In those four years, she left an indelible imprint on the school's athletic history, especially in soccer, and track and field. She was an outstanding young athlete when she arrived at Liberty and she continued to grow and improve with each passing year.
In her first year, she played freshman volleyball and was named a North Coast Section Scholar Athlete. On the varsity soccer team, she lettered and earned All-BVAL Honorable Mention, leading the Lions with 14 goals, 7 assists and 35 points. She was ninth in BVAL scoring with 26 points and was chosen by the Contra Costa Times as a Fabulous Freshman.
In her sophomore year, Burgess played and lettered in JV volleyball, winning the MVP award. Again she was named NCS Scholar Athlete. She lettered again in varsity soccer and was the leading scorer on Liberty's team with 10 goals and 9 assists for a total of 29 points. She was selected to the All-BVAL First Team.
As a junior, Burgess led the Lion soccer team to its first NCS appearance. As Co-captain and Most Valuable Player, she led the team in scoring and was fourth in scoring in the BVAL. The Contra Costa Times named her to the All-BVAL First-Team and the All-County Second Team.
In track, Burgess took the BVAL meet in the pole vault with a vault of 9'6 , tying the meet record. She qualified for the C.I.F. Track and Field Meet and vaulted to the new school record of 10'2 . For her efforts, she was named to the All-BVAL First-Team in the pole vault and Honorable Mention in the long jump and the 300-meter hurdles.
In her senior year, Burgess was the leading scorer on the Liberty soccer team and in the BVAL. She was the team MVP and Co-captain, and won the Tonja Smith Coaches Award. The San Francisco Chronicle named her to the High School All Power Bar Team. Her individual scoring at Liberty was 24 goals, 12 assists and 60 points in a season, a school record.
In her senior track season, she took first in the BVAL Championships and in the NCS Tri-Valley Meet in the long jump and pole vault. She finished her high school career by being named Brentwood Lions Club Scholar Athlete and Female Yearbook Athlete of the Year. Her awards were eight varsity letters, four BVAL All-League Awards for soccer, and eight All-League awards for track and field.
Burgess went on to Saint Mary's College in Moraga, where she played in 72 collegiate games and started in 60.
Sarah graduated from Saint Mary's College in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in health and medicine with honors. She now lives in Colorado, is attending the Regis University Graduate School of Nursing and playing semi-pro soccer for the Denver Diamonds.
The Liberty Union High School District Athletic Hall of Fame is proud and honored to induct Sarah Burgess into the Athletic Hall of Fame for her outstanding athletic careers at Liberty High School and Saint Mary's College.
Post a Comment