1960 and 1961 league championship teams recognized 66 years after back-to-back victories
ATASCADERO — A group of Atascadero High School alumni gathered Sept. 15 at Atascadero Lake Park for a barbecue celebrating their 65th class reunion. But the highlight of the two-day gathering was a special recognition of two championship tennis teams whose accomplishments had gone unrecognized at the school for more than six decades.
The 1960 and 1961 Atascadero High School boys tennis league championship banners were presented during the reunion and will soon be displayed in the school gymnasium.
Approximately 50 graduates and spouses, many traveling from across California, Nevada, Oregon, and Arizona, attended the reunion. The group had gathered the previous evening for a buffet dinner at the Elks Lodge, reminiscing about growing up in Atascadero and sharing stories of careers, travels, and accomplishments.
The banner presentation honored teams that made school history.
In 1960, the AHS boys tennis team completed an undefeated season, defeating larger high school programs from Santa Maria, San Luis Obispo, Lompoc and, Arroyo Grande. At the time, Atascadero High School had approximately 500 students.
The team finished the season with 60½ match points, while its four opponents combined for nine points.
The accomplishment was celebrated with a special dinner hosted by a teammate’s parents at the Carlton Hotel. The Atascadero News published a front-page photograph and caption of the team on May 12, 1960.
The following year, the team captured its second consecutive league championship.
Teammates Joe Baro and Rod Miller, who played first doubles, went undefeated in league matches over the course of two seasons — a record the team believes may still stand.
Several members of the championship teams went on to compete at the college level, including Tim Healy at Cal Poly and John Marek at UC Riverside. Many continued playing tennis well into adulthood.
The effort to secure championship banners began when Healy, now a South Pasadena resident, attended an Atascadero High School class reunion and toured the updated campus with Becca Pollard, campus supervisor and girls wrestling coach.
As the tour concluded in the school gymnasium, Healy noticed championship banners representing various sports dating back to 1925. However, there were no banners honoring the accomplishments of the 1960 and 1961 boys tennis teams.
Healy decided to change that.
After contacting school officials, he was introduced to current and longtime boys tennis coach Christian Cooper. Cooper’s father, Wayne, had been a member of both championship teams.
Healy then contacted Olivia Bivert, a graphic designer at The Sign Place in San Luis Obispo, to create banners matching those displayed for other sports from the same era.
The completed banners were unveiled during the September reunion, with reunion co-chairs Deanna Tomasini and Susan Gates Denison helping coordinate the presentation.
“Although these reunions become bittersweet with the growing loss in attendance of many of our fellow students and friends, the memories we shared of these special days at Atascadero High School will always remain in our hearts,” Healy said. “It is a pleasure to play a very small part in allowing others to share in the accomplishments of past graduates for many years to come.”
Accepting the honors during the presentation were Cooper and Athletic Director Samm Spears.
The banners are scheduled to be hung in the school gymnasium this fall, finally giving the championship teams a permanent place among Atascadero High School’s athletic accomplishments.
The 1960-1961 tennis team players include John Marek, Bob Jennings, Tim Healy, Ron Pierce, George Van Gordon, Roger Andriola, Wayne Cooper, Joe Baro, Rod Miller, Leon Baker, and Steve Sabol, along with Coach Doug Stewart.