The First Annual Flagstaff Sports Foundation Gold Tournament to benefit the Excellence Award was held on Friday, August 15, the day before the Hall of Fame Banquet. Many local athletic legends took part in the event. Congratulations to RYAN BROWN and CAM QUERTA for taking home the trophy.

There was a post-tournament dinner held at La Fonda Mexican Restaurant, celebrating Flagstaff High School's 1955 state basketball championship team. Among those attending from that team were MICHAEL FLOURNOY, VOIE COY, DON BUTTRAM, and ALBERT MONTOYA.

Enjoy the pictures!

2025 Excellence Award Recipients

STEPHEN DICK

Stephen Barclay Dick is an amazing example of resilience, selflessness, and team spirit. During a summer weightlifting session, he unexpectedly collapsed -- a moment that led to the shocking discovery of a brain tumor.

Undergoing surgery and a long recovery process, Stephen showed incredible strength and determination, eventually returning to the team, not that he ever left, as he was our greatest supporter and teammate.

Through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Stephen selflessly chose not something for himself, but new helmets for his entire football team, demonstrating his deep love for his teammates and the game. After graduating from high school, he is pursuing a career as a paramedic, determined to help others just as so many have helped him.

~Jeannine Brandel, Athletic Director, Flagstaff High School

CIARA GARCIA

Ciara as a teammate was a joy to see because she seemed happy to be recognized by her peers as a teammate and a classmate in school I would see other teammates and greet each other with good energy and she would always talk well of her other teammates weather it would be about the games or just their character in general and seem to enjoy their company especially on the away games.

As a classmate I am honestly unsure because she had a lot on her plate with trying to stay focused on keeping her grades up and to be at practice every day and having a part time job at Dunkin Donuts. But not wanting to let her team down and herself down she showed up to execute every task from school to soccer and work. So I feel she was a leader as a classmate in that sense and though she struggled to make it to class on time every time she showed up with intention and made it count.

Ciara is a warrior in my eyes, not to be bias as she is my daughter, because she dealt with a lot in high school from the passing of her mother a few years ago and trying to find herself as all teenagers do in high school with so much pressure on them to do good in school in sports and in life but she did it gracefully and with a smile though there was a mixture of from pain, happiness, and struggle she kept going strong and I think soccer, her team mates and the support she received from school, family and friends made her into a warrior with a big heart not only for herself but for others. So I am grateful for love for soccer and the character it gave her.

~Nate Garcia, Father

FERNANDO RAMIREZ

Fernando Ramirez was born and raised in Flagstaff Arizona, playing football since the age of 6 where his love for the sport began. During his Senior season at Coconino High School, Fernando Ramirez faced one of the toughest challenges of his life — the loss of his beloved great-aunt, "Nina". The loss hit him and his family extremely hard and in the midst of grief, he struggled to see a path forward. But over time, Fernando found strength in the memory of her unwavering belief in him. He realized she wouldn’t have wanted him to give up on his dreams.

Motivated by her spirit, Fernando recommitted himself — pushing harder than ever both mentally and physically. That dedication paid off. Fernando went on to rush for over 1,110 yards and 17 TDs his senior season leading Coconino to the 4A state playoffs. Fernando won the Outstanding Panther Award at the city championship game vs Flagstaff High School, rushing for 138 yards and 2 TDs. Fernando also went on to win the prestigious 2024 Ed Doherty medallion award.

Fernando has been recruited to play college football for the Salt River Scorpions, where he will study Sports Medicine while continuing to chase his goals on the field and in the classroom.

Fernando’s story is one of perseverance, love, and resilience — a true example of Panther Pride and what it means to rise above.

~Kyle Hofmann, Athletic Director, Coconino High School

KAIYA TATE

Kaiya Tate's journey is one of extraordinary courage, resilience, and heart. Diagnosed with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic, she faced not only the emotional weight of her illness, but the isolation that came with it. What began as abdominal pain was ultimately diagnosed as a germ cell tumor, leading to months of chemotherapy and surgery.

Once a standout on the basketball court, Kaiya was forced to step back from playing and take on a new role. Though sidelined, she didn't walk away -- instead, she stepped up as the team manager, becoming a steady, positive force for her teammates.

Through effort and determination, Kaiya earned her spot on the varsity teamand played a meaningful role in the team's journey to a 4A state championship. Though the battle with cancer changed her, it also revealed her deeper strength -- the kind of leadership that inspires through presence, perseverance, and heart.

Kaiya's bright smile, unwavering spirit, and iconic pink beanie became symbols of hope and unity for everyone around her. Her journey is far from over -- she continues to face lasting challenges, including the possibility of not having children -- but she meets each new obstacle with the same resilience that carried her through her toughest battles.

Kaiya leaves behind a legacy -- not just as a basketball player, but as a teammate, a friend, and an inspiration. Her story reminds us all that strength is more than physical -- it's about showing up, lifting others, and never giving up.

~Jeannine Brandel, Athletic Director, Flagstaff High School

The 2025 Hall of Fame Banquet was held at the NAU High Country Conference Center on August 16, 2025. Being honored were...

Richard Estrella

Coach Estrella grew up in the Sunnyside neighborhood, and as a student at Coconino High School, he became interested in wrestling. After graduation he joined the US Air Force he coached the All-Air Force Wrestling program in 1987. He continued coaching after his discharge and went on to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing as head coach. He continues to train young wrestlers in Colorado who travel and participate in international competitions.

Matt Kendall

Matt played both sides of the ball for Eagles Football and earned First Team Arizona All-Conference status in 1979 and 1980 as a defensive back. He also excelled at track and field and was crowned the 1981 Conference and Arizona state pole vault champion. In addition to his athletic talents, he was fourth in academics in his 1981 graduating class. These accomplishments brought him for multiple scholarship offers, both athletic and scholastic, but he chose NAU, and while he was there, he was president of two national academic honor societies while continuing in track and field. He was the Big Sky Conference pole vault champion in 1985 and 1986 and was also received the 1986 Golden Eagle Award as one of NAU’s top student athletes. He continued to compete post-graduation, and in 1997 he was the USA Track and Field Masters pole vault national champion.

Shauna Kifer (Isbell)

Shauna was a Taekwondo enthusiast, earning her Black Belt at age 12. When her family moved to Flagstaff, she explored other sports, including wrestling, wrestling with the boys in middle school. At Coconino, she participated in track and field, cross-country, volleyball, and wrestling, but she made her mark in wrestling, making history as the first girl qualifying in the 112-pound weight class to place in state competition. Shauna graduated with nine varsity letters, seven AIA state appearances, and nine state placements, one in boys wrestling and eight in track and field events and two high school wrestling National Championships. She earned an academic and wrestling scholarship to Linwood University and became a four-time WCWA All-American and National Champion and earned a place in the 2012 US Olympic trials.

Terry Mahan

Hometown product Terry Mahan competed in baseball, basketball, and football in his time at Coconino High School. He finished the 1982 football season as the Panthers’ all-time leading receiver, and in baseball he had a slugging average of over .300. He earned a full scholarship to NAU, where he backed up future Detroit Lions receiver Pete Mandley. One of the joys he took as a Lumberjack was travel, playing at venues like Fresno State, Boise State, and Montana. In his junior year, he was named MVP of the receiving corps his junior season. Terry is being inducted into the FSF Hall of Fame for his outstanding career and for the inspiration he provided to his beloved teammates.

Janet Martin (Natt)

Janet graduated from Flagstaff High Schook in 1958 and was the first black female athlete to win sports letters in basketball, volleyball, and softball, sixteen years before Title IX became the law of the land. Janet once said that “whenever the school opened a sport for women to participate in, she immediately became a player” In her freshmen year, Janet was captain of the intermural Thunderbirds, earned 500 points to letter in volleyball that year, her first of four. As a sophomore she became a member of the Letterwoman’s Club and competed in interscholastic basketball, softball, and volleyball and was on the pom-pom squad in her junior and senior years. The Green and Brown yearbook named her as “Best in Athletes” her graduating year.

Mike Moran

Mike fell in love with basketball as a Boston youth watching the Celtics and legendary guard Bob Cousy. He played point guard himself as a senior in high school and developed his skills through play and informal coaching, eventually interning with the legendary Coach Royce Youree at Phoenix East High School. In 1979 he became the Head Coach for both boys and girls at St. Mary’s Parochial and that eventually convinced him Flagstaff was his home. He coached at both Flagstaff High School and Coconino High School, JV and varsity, boys and girls teams. He led Panther Basketball to two 4A semifinal berths as their head coach. That same year, Coach Moran was named Coach of the Year by the AZ Daily Sun, and overall, in his career he was honored for his 331 wins while with Flagstaff schools. He also coached baseball and football at Coconino.

Greg Stroud

Growing up in Bakersfield, Greg participated in little league baseball, basketball, and track. His lack of size prevented him from playing youth football, but by the time his family moved to Flagstaff and he was enrolled at East Flagstaff Junior High, he was in pads and competing in multiple sports. He played cornerback and receiver for Coconino and was part of their state championship teams in 1973 and 1974. After high school, Greg played for Mesa Community College and was named their defensive player of the year, which helped him earn a full NCAA division one scholarship to Duke University, where he played defensive free safety. He joined the US Navy and received his commission from the Navy’s Aviation Officer’s Candidate School in Pensacola, earning his flight wings in 1983, and graduating from the Navy Fighter Weapons School as a Top Gun flyer in 1986. He retired as Brigadier General and Commander of the 162nd Fighter Wing of the Arizona National Guard in January 2024.

Paul Sweitzer

Paul Sweitzer was born in Flagstaff and returned to keep its history and stories going through the years. The original publisher and owner of the Arizona Daily Sun, historian Platt Cline, after whom the NAU Cline Library is named, hired Paul Sweitzer after he had graduated from the University of New Mexico in 1958. Many of his stories are still held in the Arizona Daily Sun archives. Paul himself has his own photographic collection in the Cline library as well with over 700 images from the 1960s and 1970s – The Paul Sweitzer Collection. Generations of hometown coaches and athletes owe him a debt of gratitude.

1977 Coconino High School Cross Country Class AA State Champions

Coached by Jack Boehle, five seniors led the Panthers – Frankie Nez, Arthur Long, Fabian Marinez, John Thompson, and Glenn Tsingine – to the 1977state championship. Nate Thompson and Mark Lozano filled out the seven-runner team. Their season ended that year with a 7-0 mark in dual meets. Coach Boehle passed away in 2020 and will be fondly remembered at the banquet.

The Foundation will also be celebrating the 70th anniversary of Flagstaff High School's 1955 Class A Boys' Basketball state champions.

Coached by Fred Anderson, the 1955 Eagles had a record of 22-3 and defeated Miami for the title, 77-68. Charles Potee was the team captain and earned First Team All-State honors. Don Buttram also made First Team, while Albert Montoya was named Second Team.

Standing from left to right in the team portrait above:

#6 Charles Potee, Guard

#8 Voie "Bo" Coy, Guard

#12 Charles Williams, Center

#11 Lynn Gonzalez, Forward

#9 Robert "Bo" Dickerson, Forward

#13 Bill Hunter, Forward

#17 Don Buttram, Center

#15 Albert Montoya, Forward

#7 Mike Flournoy, Forward

#10 Arvin Randall, Guard

#14 Jack Jordan, Guard

#16 Bob Blair, Guard

#5 Eddie Vargara, Forward

#3 Clinton McNeal, Guard

Coach Fred Anderson (kneeling)

Various pictures of the honorees...

Along with the inductions, the Foundation also honored MICHAEL and SARAH CROMER with a Lifetime Achievement Award for their decades of service to the community. Special guest KEVIN McCABE took the stage to talk about the Flagstaff he fell in love with as a student-athlete at NAU and the recipients of the newly-created Excellence Award.

Images from the Banquet, donated to the Foundation by, among others, MIKE PAVON, SIERRA LEE, ABEL ESTRELLA, and RUSSELL WOODS.