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CUSD Athletic Hall of Fame (fifth class)
Induction Ceremony Oct. 30, 2021
Tailgate Festivities Oct. 29, 2021
Photos by Kenny Gilman for CUSD
The inductees are:
More:
Mark Gardner - Baseball
Representing: 1980s
(Clovis High) Baseball sensation. Had a 24-5 record at Fresno State over two years as a starting pitcher. Drafted in the 8th round by the Montreal Expos. Played 13 seasons in the MLB. Won 11 or more games for the Giants four times and won the World Series with the Giants three times.
Terry Giffen - Water Polo
Representing: 1970s/80s/90s/2000s
(Clovis High) Water Polo coach extraordinaire. Played water polo at Clovis High. Coached 36 years at the high school level, including two at Clovis West High and 20 at Clovis High. Nine CIF Central Section Championships. 18 Conference Championships. Overall coaching record of 746-266-1.
Latrese Johnson-Moffitt - Track and Field
Representing: 1980s
(Clovis High) Track standout. At Clovis High, was the 1985 National and State high jump champion, setting the National record (6-2 ¾). 1984 and 1985 All-American. Six-time NAIA National Champion at Azusa Pacific University. Her NAIA National record for outdoor high jump still stands (6-2 ¾).
Daniel Klatt - Water Polo
Representing: 1990s
(Clovis West High) Water Polo player and coach. Was a two-time All-American at Clovis West. 1995 CIF MVP. An All-American at UC Irvine. Olympic gold medalist coach in 2012, 2016 and 2020. As coach of UC Irvine’s women’s water polo team, has won 7 Big West regular season titles, made 6 NCAA appearances, and has been named Big West Coach of the Year 6 times.
Rick Merlo - Water Polo
Representing: 2000s
(Buchanan High) Water Polo Olympian. CIF Champion at Buchanan in 1997 and 2000. All League, All Section and All-American in high school. Earned All-Conference and All-American honors at UC Irvine. Member of the 2008 Olympic Team that won the silver medal. Played professionally in Europe for 3 seasons.
Courtney (Scott) Deifel - Softball
Representing: 1990s
(Clovis High) Softball catcher. In high school, earned All-League, All Valley and All State honors. Was a 2-time All-Pac 10 player and 2003 All-American at UC Berkeley. Member of the 2002 UC Berkeley National Championship team. Played professionally in Japan League from 2004-2006. 2021 SEC Coach of the Year at University of Arkansas.
1979 Clovis High School Boys Golf Team
Clovis Unified School District’s first and only State Championship Team in golf.
1999 -2014 Clovis West High School’s Boys Swim and Dive Teams
16 consecutive CIF Central Section Championships. Produced 78 All-Americans.
Daniel E. Kaiser, Ed.D.
Doc Buchanan Award
During his 38-year career in Clovis Unified, Dan Kaiser was instrumental in establishing and perpetuating a legacy of athletic and academic excellence. In addition to coach, his roles included English teacher, Learning Director, Deputy Principal, Principal, Area Administrator, Assistant Superintendent, Associate Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent. In high school, Dan was a standout athlete earning recognition as an NYL All League basketball player, third in the state for 120-yard high hurdles, and a B’nai B’rith honoree. At UCLA, he set a school record in the 120-yard high hurdles. In 1969, Dan held the world’s sixth fastest time in the 110-high hurdles.
Induction Ceremony Oct. 30, 2021
Tailgate Festivities Oct. 29, 2021
Photos by Kenny Gilman for CUSD
The inductees are:
- Mark Gardner
- Terry Giffen
- Latrese Johnson-Moffitt
- Daniel Klatt
- Rick Merlo
- Courtney (Scott) Deifel
- 1979 Clovis High Boys Golf Team
- 1999-2014 Clovis West High Boys Swim and Dive Teams
- Dan Kaiser, Ed.D. - Doc Buchanan Award
More:
Mark Gardner - Baseball
Representing: 1980s
(Clovis High) Baseball sensation. Had a 24-5 record at Fresno State over two years as a starting pitcher. Drafted in the 8th round by the Montreal Expos. Played 13 seasons in the MLB. Won 11 or more games for the Giants four times and won the World Series with the Giants three times.
Terry Giffen - Water Polo
Representing: 1970s/80s/90s/2000s
(Clovis High) Water Polo coach extraordinaire. Played water polo at Clovis High. Coached 36 years at the high school level, including two at Clovis West High and 20 at Clovis High. Nine CIF Central Section Championships. 18 Conference Championships. Overall coaching record of 746-266-1.
Latrese Johnson-Moffitt - Track and Field
Representing: 1980s
(Clovis High) Track standout. At Clovis High, was the 1985 National and State high jump champion, setting the National record (6-2 ¾). 1984 and 1985 All-American. Six-time NAIA National Champion at Azusa Pacific University. Her NAIA National record for outdoor high jump still stands (6-2 ¾).
Daniel Klatt - Water Polo
Representing: 1990s
(Clovis West High) Water Polo player and coach. Was a two-time All-American at Clovis West. 1995 CIF MVP. An All-American at UC Irvine. Olympic gold medalist coach in 2012, 2016 and 2020. As coach of UC Irvine’s women’s water polo team, has won 7 Big West regular season titles, made 6 NCAA appearances, and has been named Big West Coach of the Year 6 times.
Rick Merlo - Water Polo
Representing: 2000s
(Buchanan High) Water Polo Olympian. CIF Champion at Buchanan in 1997 and 2000. All League, All Section and All-American in high school. Earned All-Conference and All-American honors at UC Irvine. Member of the 2008 Olympic Team that won the silver medal. Played professionally in Europe for 3 seasons.
Courtney (Scott) Deifel - Softball
Representing: 1990s
(Clovis High) Softball catcher. In high school, earned All-League, All Valley and All State honors. Was a 2-time All-Pac 10 player and 2003 All-American at UC Berkeley. Member of the 2002 UC Berkeley National Championship team. Played professionally in Japan League from 2004-2006. 2021 SEC Coach of the Year at University of Arkansas.
1979 Clovis High School Boys Golf Team
Clovis Unified School District’s first and only State Championship Team in golf.
1999 -2014 Clovis West High School’s Boys Swim and Dive Teams
16 consecutive CIF Central Section Championships. Produced 78 All-Americans.
Daniel E. Kaiser, Ed.D.
Doc Buchanan Award
During his 38-year career in Clovis Unified, Dan Kaiser was instrumental in establishing and perpetuating a legacy of athletic and academic excellence. In addition to coach, his roles included English teacher, Learning Director, Deputy Principal, Principal, Area Administrator, Assistant Superintendent, Associate Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent. In high school, Dan was a standout athlete earning recognition as an NYL All League basketball player, third in the state for 120-yard high hurdles, and a B’nai B’rith honoree. At UCLA, he set a school record in the 120-yard high hurdles. In 1969, Dan held the world’s sixth fastest time in the 110-high hurdles.
© Clovis Unified Photography