The Rio Americano Athletic Boosters program honored a group of former top Rio athletes and coaches at a sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony on April 5. You can read about the inductees below along with photos from the Mirada and yearbook archives from their time at Rio.
Leonard Bridges (Basketball, ’86)
Bridges was a key player in the 1985 Raider team that won the NorCal championships. A three-year Varsity basketball player for coach Al Manfredi, Bridges holds the Raider record for steals. He also excelled in track.
Coach Larry Kelley (Softball)
Kelley coached at Rio from 1978 to 1984, recording five CVC titles and two section championships. In 1980 and 1982, he was honored as the Sacramento Metro Softball Coach of the Year.
Carrey Quackenbush Smith (Waterskiing, ’99)
Quackenbush Smith is a world-class water skier who was the top-ranked U.S. slalom skier for three years. She reached a world ranking of H3 in slalom skiing.
Coach John Hawck (Football)
Part of the original staff at Rio in 1963, Hawck taught and coached at Rio for 37 years. The subjects he taught included public speaking, Latin, Spanish, history and drama, a program he started which went on to produce 30 plays and musicals. He coached freshman and JV football for 30 years while announcing all home varsity football games.
Jim Fairbank (Swimming, ’74)
Fairbank was a section champion and high school All-American. He garnered conference, regional and All-American recognition while swimming for Arizona State and American River College. He also won water polo All-American honors while at ARC.
Jared Mikacich (Basketball, ’87)
Jared Mikacich was a two-year varsity starter on consecutive CVC champion teams. He was selected for All-League, All-City and to the Optimist All-Star game. He holds the Rio freshman scoring and sophomore game rebounding record.
Cobe Mikacich (Wakeboarding, ’92)
Cobe Mikacich is an IWWF Wakeboard World Champion. He holds numerous coach and camp of the year awards. He founded and operates a wakeboarding park and is the inventor and holder of four patents. Mikacich received the Water Sport Industry Association Innovator Award and was inducted into the Wakeboard Hall of Fame.
Megan Mikacich (Basketball/Soccer/Tennis/Volleyball, ’93)
Megan Mikacich played varsity basketball as a freshman. She was the soccer varsity captain for three years and a two-time CVC champion. She ranked first overall in tennis for three years and is a three-time CVC singles champion and league MVP; she was runner up twice. Mikacich is also a volleyball two-time CVC MVP and was on the 1992 section champion team.
1994-95 Football Team
Besting Jesuit 17 to 12 to open the season, this resilient and well-rounded team found ways to win through a competitive CVC campaign and tough non-league schedule that included Division I heavyweights Roseville and Elk Grove. Reaching a 12-0 mark, the Raiders lost in the section D2 championships to end a remarkable season.
Al Frescas (Wrestling, ’79)
One of the top-rated wrestlers in Rio history, Frescas compiled a 26-6-1 record his senior year, winning a pair of regional tournaments and ranking in the top 10 in the area. He returned to Rio to coach wrestling before pursuing other opportunities in youth sports.
Amy Dawson (Basketball ’86)
Dawson was a three-year varsity starter and a CVC champion her senior year. She was named to the Sacramento Bee’s All-Metro Team and All-CVC volleyball selection. Dawson played for the Team U.S.A. Development Team in Hong Kong and Macau and was part of the collegiate cycling team at Stanford University.
Ken Simas (Contributor)
Simas was a substantial contributor to Rio athletics. He built new dugouts on the baseball fields, furnished and installed new carpet in the weight room, and organized numerous school and regional football banquets.
All inductee information sourced from the Hall of Fame ceremony program. Kenny Cox, Cash Santiago, Shah Jahan Wafa and Gwen Lindsey contributed reporting for this story.
