Antioch honors another group of sports legends
- October 13, 2010
ANTIOCH -- It's one thing to be honored for your life's work and passion. It's quite another to watch your own flesh and blood be saluted the very same night.
Bill Snelson will get to experience that Saturday when he and his son Eric are among the 14 individuals inducted into the Antioch Sports Legends Class of 2010.
They are the first father-and-son duo inducted.
"I feel overwhelmed with my own award," said Bill Snelson, the lone inductee for his coaching expertise. "But to know Eric will be honored the very same night is beyond words."
Eric Snelson, a Parade All-American football player at Antioch High in 1983, will be one of four honored for their accomplishments on the gridiron.
The younger Snelson later starred at tight end for Stanford, and played a couple of exhibition seasons for the Los Angeles Raiders before hooking up with a pair of World Football League teams. He's now the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Black Hills High School in Tumwater, Wash.
Eric is emulating what made his father famous around Antioch High School. Bill helped produce 26 all-league players and won one football title before taking over the baseball team from 1966 to 1975, when he won three league crowns.
Eric was always around the practice field during his dad's coaching tenure.
"I can recall him running up and down the bleachers," Bill Snelson said. "He loved being around the game, and he loves it now. I'm so happy for him."
Brief bios on the rest of the inductees:
Jim Coalter (baseball): Considered the "King of Antioch High" in the 1940s, Coalter earned eight varsity letters in four sports and was also the student body president. He led the baseball team to a 1949 league title and later starred at San Jose State.
Mack Enz (track and field): The 1959 Antioch High graduate still owns the school track and field record for the 220-yard dash (now the 200), finishing in 21.1 seconds, which was the eighth-fastest time in the country that year. Later, running for the U.S. Army, he cracked the magic 10-second barrier in the 100-yard dash at 9.9.
Shane Felix (track and cross country): Felix was the first Antioch female to qualify for the state track meet, and she did so twice. She won every dual meet cross country race but one over her junior and senior seasons in the late 1970s. Her one- and two-mile track times were school records for more than 20 years. She led Cal State Hayward to a Division III national cross country title.
Fred Hunziker (wrestling): He was Antioch's first state wrestling champion, capturing the 132-pound title in 1985, the same year he was named to the USA High School All-American team. He later starred at Fresno State and became the first freshman to qualify for the NCAA championships. He piled up a 32-7 record in his college career. Hunziker was also an All-East Bay receiver in football.
Kelly Martin (community leader): Martin will be honored posthumously for his five-decade devotion to youth and community baseball. "When you think of Antioch Little League, you think of Kelly Martin," said longtime baseball coach LeRoy Murray. "He (was) the most respected man in the program." Of his many awards, one of the most treasured was being recognized in 1985 by Little League Baseball's world headquarters for 30 years of service.
"Kelly is proof that one man can make a difference," longtime Antioch teacher Joe Olenchalk said.
Carl Maxwell (football): He starred at Oregon State and played in the 1957 Rose Bowl after a stellar prep career at Antioch, where he scored 13 touchdowns his senior year and was named first team All-Contra Costa. In one game against Acalanes, he rushed 18 times for 304 yards, including touchdown runs of 46, 63 and 88 yards.
Larry Merlini (football): Considered the top Antioch player in the 1950s and '60s, Merlini scored 16 touchdowns his senior year and rushed for 1,176 yards. He led the 1966 team to an 8-0-1 record and Diablo Valley Athletic League title.
He earned a scholarship to the University of Oregon, left for DVC, where he rushed for 766 yards and 15 scores one season, before landing another scholarship to San Jose State.
Ron Morelli (football): Named Antioch's co-Athlete of the Year and football MVP in 1963-64, Morelli went on to DVC and Chico State. At 5 feet 7, Morelli earned the nickname "The Flea" as a talented wide receiver. He caught 73 passes for Chico State in his final season there, fourth best in the country while setting a conference record.
Jeff Pico (baseball): A standout pitcher, Pico was the East Bay Player of the Year and All-Northern California during his stint at Antioch. He led the Panthers to a 23-5 season in 1984, when they won the North Coast Section title. Pico was 10-1 that season with a 1.03 ERA. He had his No. 22 retired. He went on to play 13 professional seasons after being a 13th-round pick of the Chicago Cubs. He pitched a four-hitter in his major league debut, a 4-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds.
Mia Rexroth (softball): After breaking the gender barrier in Antioch Little League, Rexroth transferred her skills to the softball diamond, where she led the Panthers to a NCS title in 1986. Her solo home run in the ninth inning gave Antioch the title. Also a superb soccer and basketball player, Rexroth earned a softball scholarship to Fresno State and played internationally for USA Softball.
Alex Sanchez (baseball): The three-time All-East Bay pitcher teamed with Pico to form one of the top one-two tandems in East Bay baseball history. He helped the Panthers to a NCS title in 1984 and posted a 10-2 record with a 1.54 ERA. He had 80 strikeouts in 61 innings. Like Pico, Sanchez was also drafted by the Cubs, in the 20th round. He instead opted for a full scholarship to UCLA and was the 1986 co-Player of the Year in the Pac-10 while posting a remarkable 16-3 record. In 1987, he was the No. 17 pick of the draft and No. 1 choice of the Toronto Blue Jays. He had a nine-year major league career with stints at Kansas City, Seattle, San Diego and Oakland. He earned 59 wins.
Larry Silveira (golf): A baseball star along with Pico and Sanchez in youth leagues, Silveira opted for golf, and it turned out to be a wise decision. He was a two-time All-American at the University of Arizona after transferring from San Jose State, where he won the PCAA conference crown. He eventually made the PGA Tour and qualified for 157 events, placing in the top 25 16 times and in the top 10 four times. He won his first PGA event in 1991, taking the Deposit Guaranty Golf Classic with a 14-under-par total, including a 63 on the final day.
Wrestling team: The 1988 Antioch wrestling team is the only wrestling squad to ever win a state crown. Coached by Steve Sanchez, an Antioch Sports Legend for his wrestling career, the Panthers had three NCS champions that year: Anthony Camacho (138 pounds), Jason Verduzco (165) and Sean Ponce (heavyweight).
IF YOU GO
What: Antioch Sports Legends Class of 2010
When: Saturday. 8 a.m., inductee reunion (tour of the new Hall of Fame display); 9:15 a.m., Class of 2010 introduction/meet and greet session; 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., open house.
Where: Antioch Historical Society Museum, 1500 W. 4th St.
Inductees: All-around, Jim Coalter; football, Carl Maxwell, Larry Merlini, Ron Morelli, Eric Snelson; baseball, Jeff Pico, Alex Sanchez; track and field/cross country, Shane Felix, Mack Enz; wrestling, Fred Hunziker; golf, Larry Silveira; softball, Mia Rexroth; coach, Bill Snelson; community leader, Kelly Martin; team, 1988 Antioch High School wrestling.
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