Katie Clarin – Athlete/Coach

Before graduating from Rockford High School in 2002 as the Ted Carlson Award winner and the OK Red Athlete of the year, Katie excelled in two sports. She was a two year starter in girls’ basketball, and was the team captain and Most Valuable Player in 2001. She was also an All Conference Honorable Mention performer. In girl’s water polo, she won four varsity letters and her career was filled with All conference, All Region, All State (first team 2001-2002) and All American (4th team – 2001, 2nd team – 2002) honors. She was the team M.V.P. in  2001 and 2002. She continued her water polo success at M.S.U. from 2003-06. She was All Beg Ten four years, as well as four years on the All National First Team. Katie was the M.V.P. of the All National Tournament in 2006. She scored the winning goal with 9 seconds left in the game to beat Florida 5-4 for the championship. Presently, Katie is teaching 7th and 8th grade math at North Rockford Middle School, and has continued to share her athletic knowledge. She coached middle school volleyball (2011-2016) and was the men’s water polo assistant coach (2006-2008). This coming year will be her eleventh as a middle school swim coach. She has also been the head Women’s Water Polo coach since 2014, after serving as an assistant from 2008-13. In 2016 her team was state runner-up, and she was the Women’s Water Polo Coach of the Year.

Wes Cummings – Athlete

In high school Wes played basketball for three seasons and wrestled as a junior. Baseball was where he excelled, playing shortstop for the Rams. After one year on the J.V. squad, he became a three-year varsity starter. He was All Conference Honorable Mention as a sophomore and First Team All Conference his junior and senior years. He was the team M.V.P. his senior year in 1970 when the team went 24-2 for the season and won the Tri-River Championship. He joined a summer team after graduation that made it to the final game of the Connie Mack World Series in New Mexico before losing in extra innings to a team from Dallas. Wes played collegiately at C.M.U. and graduated Cum Laude with a 3.87 G.P.A. He continued to play baseball after college spending 20 years competing in the Grand Rapids/Wyoming Super League. He spent 32 years in education as a teacher, coach (24 seasons as a high school baseball coach), assistant principal and athletic director. Wes started the baseball program at Davenport University where during his three years his teams had a record of 81-69, including the first eleven wins in program history.

Mike Emery – Coach

After two seasons at the middle school level and one year in charge of the J.V. program, Coach Emery became the head coach of Rockford’s girl’s lacrosse program in 2008. Since that time the girls have won six state championships while compiling an overall record of 181-41-6. The girls have won the last five state titles and are the winningest program in the state since the sport was sanctioned by the MHSAA. The program has produced numerous All State Players and nine All Americans, and has seen over 40 players continue to perform at NCAA and NAIA levels. Mike credits his former assistant coach Jeff Neerken (2008-11) and his present coaches Brent Deuel (defensive coordinator) and Mark Neumen (J.V. coach) for their dedication, while also thanking many former players for coming back to help the team prepare. “Our objective each year is to build lifetime relationships and memories for the kids while teaching lessons that cannot be learned in the classroom.” Coach Emery has coached his daughters Megan and Zina as the sport has been a family affair. Megan still works with the team on strength and conditioning. Mike considers his election to the Hall of Fame an opportunity to represent the program and all who have been a part of its history.

Kyle Fujimoto – Athlete

A 2001 Rockford High School graduate, Kyle posted a 4.2 G.P.A. while participating in three sports.  He was an All-State cross country performer on a team that won the state championship in 1999.  In track he was the individual two mile indoor champion and ran a leg of the 4X1600 relay which was second in the national tournament.  He also was on the boy’s soccer team which had him participating in two sports at the same time for two years in a row.  In all, he won nine varsity letters and was All Conference and All Region several times.  Kyle attended Hillsdale College on a full scholarship and was a three time conference champion while participating in track and cross country.  He was also All Conference in both sports.  He finished 13^th in the N.C.A.A. Division 2 10,000 meters and was on a team that placed 8^th in the tournament.  This was the best Hillsdale had ever done.  In college Kyle double majored in economics and mathematics and carried a 3.52 G.P.A.  He went on to get a master’s degree in economics.

Jeff Shutich – Athlete

Joining his brothers Craig and Jimmy, Jeff is the third wrestler from the
Shutich family to be honored as a Rockford High School Athletic Hall of Fame member.  He graduated from R.H.S. in 2007 with a career record 195-4 including an undefeated senior year where he won the 130 pound M.H.S.A.A. state championship.  He was ranked 26^th in the nation that season.  During his wrestling career he was a four time conference and district champion, a three time regional champion (injured one year), a four time First Team All-Conference performer and a member of the All Area Dream Team four times.  Besides winning his weight class in 2007 and helping the Rams win the team title that year, he also had two third place finishes at the state level.  Jeff wrestled two seasons at C.M.U. and was a 2009 University Nationals All American before graduating with a degree in economics.  Currently, he and his wife Krysten reside in Chicago, Illinois where he works as a sales representative for C.H. Robinson Worldwide.

Dr. Michael Shibler – Community Member

Mike Shibler has been the superintendent of Rockford Public Schools since July of 1989.  As part of his leadership role, he has been involved with the growth and success of many areas including athletics.  For several years he was a member of the M.H.S.A.A representative council, a group that makes many important decisions involving the sports sanctioned by the state of Michigan.  He understands the hard work and dedication put forth by Rockford principals, athletic directors, coaches and athletes and has watched with pride the accomplishments of the athletic area.  Rockford has won 56 state championships during his reign as superintendent.  Dr. Shibler has been a spectator at many Rockford athletic events and spoken at several team banquets.  Over the years he has attended and supported many of the Rockford High School Athletic Hall of Fame dinners and congratulated the inductees.  His many other accomplishments, not including those associated with running the school system, range from being active as a board member in the Rockford Area Chamber of Commerce, being a founding member of the Wolverine World Wide Family Y.M.C.A. and helping establish an education foundation.  He often is a spokesperson explaining bond, millage and other issues so that the public is informed.

Hall of Fame Archives

Brian Busen – Athlete

Brian won nine varsity letters participating in football, basketball, baseball and track at Rockford High School before graduating in 1994. He was all conference and all area in football as a receiver, track and baseball and all state in football and track. He won many team awards and set a school record in the 400 meter run (49.71). At Ferris State Brian lettered four years in football playing on teams that won 42 regular season games. He was an all-conference performer in the GLIAC and upon graduation was listed in the all-time top ten in several receiver categories. He went to Cedar Springs High School as a Physical Education teacher and assistant football coach under Jim Gallery, then took over as the head varsity football coach for nine years. In 2000 Cedar had only their second winning season in twenty years and made the playoffs for the first time. He also coached girl’s J.V. golf at Cedar and was an assistant track coach at Rockford High School for one year. On his fortieth birthday, he competed in and finished an Ironman Race in Muskota, Canada. Brian presently teaches business and Physical Education classes at Cedar springs High School. He and his wife, Kara (Lamoreaux – 1992 RHS graduate), who is a teacher at Greenville, have three children, Britten (13), Gunnar (11) and Graden (9) who all attend schools in the Rockford system.

Andrew Martin – Athlete/Coach

Andrew Martin was a four-year varsity letter athlete on the Rockford Cross Country and Track and Field teams. He was a six-time All-Conference athlete in the OK Red. He helped his team to State Finals Runner-up finishes in 1997, 1998, and 1999 in Cross Country as he placed in the top 20 both his junior and senior year to earn All-State honors. In addition, he helped the Ram Track and Field team to State Finals Runner-up finishes in 1998, 1999, and a 3^rd place finish in 2000. His 3200m relay team placed 2^nd in 2000, in addition to his individual 7^th place finish in the 1600m run. Both races helped him earn All-State honors. Martin competed in the 400m, 800m, 1600m, and 3200m runs. He and fellow teammates set school records in the 3200m relay, Distance Medley relay, and 4xMile relay, the latter two being Michigan state records at the time. The DMR and 4xMile teams and members won both events at Nationals two years in a row and earned four All-American honors. Martin came back to his alma mater in 2004 to coach the sports he loved after competing for and graduating from the University of Michigan. In his 12 years coaching Men’s Cross Country, Martin has guided his teams to 12 OK Red Conference titles (3 as an assistant), 6 Regional titles, and 12 State Finals appearances. Three of those appearances have been top 15 performances, five top 10 finishes, two 3^rd place finishes, and two State Championships (2014, 2015). As either an assistant or head coach of the Men’s Track and Field team, Martin has helped cultivate 3 OK Red titles, 6 Regional Championships, a 3^rd place State Finals finish in 2011, and a Runner-up finish in 2016. While under his watch, twelve student athletes have broken school records and five have earned All-American honors.

Joel Visser – Athlete

Joel was an outstanding three sport athlete at Rockford High School competing in football, basketball and baseball. He was the recipient of the Paula Banfield Memorial Scholarship in 2003 and was also the high school Male Athlete of the Year. He was on the 2003 MHSAA Division 1 state championship basketball team and all area and all conference performer in football and baseball. He was a member of the Honor Society. He went on to play baseball at the University of Toledo captaining the team during two seasons. After college graduation he went into the educational/coaching field. He is presently teaching physical education and is the very successful head basketball coach at Tippecanoe High School which is located in a suburb of Dayton, Ohio. In 2016 he was the Division 2 – District 9 basketball coach of the year and coached in the Ohio North/South All Star game. He and his wife, Jessica, live in Troy, Ohio with their two-year old daughter Sydney. They are expecting another daughter in late September.

Douglas Ward – Athlete/Community Member

Doug Ward was a 1967 graduate of Rockford High School where he participated in football and golf. He practically grew up on Silver Lake Golf Course where his father Howard was a member. Often he would caddie for Jim DeRyke who played often with Doug’s dad. When golf became a conference sport unofficially in 1964 Coach DeRyke became the coach and knew that Doug could play. In 1965 the sport became recognized by the conference, and the team won the Tri-River Conference the next three years and never lost a conference match. Doug was a varsity performer all three years. In 1967 the team finished the year with 18 wins and 1 loss. Doug was consistently one of the low scorers and was a steady influence on John Heible who won the state championship one year. After graduation, he was invited to join the Michigan State golf team, but instead he enlisted in the Marine Corps. He was wounded and spent four months in the hospital where doctors were able to save his leg, but he still suffers shrapnel pain. For over forty years, Doug has been a barber in Rockford and has been very supportive of Rockford athletics as a community member. He has helped the Sports Boosters and has supported the “Rockford Athlete of the Week” section at times in the local paper. He is active in local government and has supported projects like the new museum.

Bob Christensen – Coach

During his 29 years of coaching at Rockford High School Bob was a positive influence in the sports of track, basketball and boy’s golf. From 1966-69 he was an assistant track coach when the Rams were in the Tri-River Conference. After second place finishes in the league his first two years, the team won the title in 1968 and 1969. In 1969 he began a five year stint (69-73) as the ninth grade basketball coach. Then from 1985-1996 he returned to the program as the junior varsity coach. For eleven years (1974-83) Bob was the boys’ varsity golf coach winning the conference crown in 1980. He won the MHSAA regional title in 1975 and 1980 and his teams competed in the state meet five times during his eleven years. Bob and his wife Kathy both taught in the Rockford School system. Their children Mike and Tracy were Rockford athletes and graduates. Bob and Kathy are retired and still live in Rockford where both are active members of the Rockford Area Historical Society.

Chris Whitten – Athlete

Chris Whitten, who graduated from Rockford High School in 1998, grew up with golf being part of his life. His father, Buddy Whitten, was the head golf professional at Blythefield Country Club and Director of Instruction at Pensacola Country Club in Florida. Chris served as a part time caddy for his father on the PGA Senior tour in 1997. Chris was a four year varsity golfer in high school. He was voted most improved golfer as a ninth grader and was the team MVP as a sophomore. He was all conference as a junior and senior. His senior year the golf team won the Kent County Invitational, finished first at the regional and placed third at the state meet. After graduation Chris lettered in golf at Notre Dame all four years and then was an assistant golf there for two years. Starting in 2006 he became an assistant at the University of Michigan for five years before becoming the head coach, a position he still holds today, in 2011. He and his wife, Doctor Amy Whitten, who works at Beaumont Hospital, reside in Novi, Michigan along with their children, Graham and Lucas.

Jimmy Shutich – Athlete

When Jimmy Shutich finished his four year wrestling career at Rockford High School in 2003 he had 166 victories and 6 losses. He was undefeated in his junior and senior seasons (75-0) winning two Division 1 state championships. He was a three time conference champion and a four time district and regional winner. Four times he made the all-area wrestling Dream Team; was team captain and MVP and was academic all state. He continued wrestling at the University of Michigan where he started for two seasons and lettered in three. He finished with a degree in Kinesiology with a major in Movement Science. Currently he lives in Encinitas, California working in the medical sales industry. He also coaches wrestling technique to aspiring JIU-Jitsu and MMA fighter athletes at Studio 540 in Salano Beach, California.

Michael Redell – Athlete

Michael Redell played three years of varsity basketball for the Rams. In 2003 he was a major force in Rockford not only winning the conference title, but in going undefeated for the entire season. He helped spark the team to a state MHSAA Class A state championship. He was a three time OK Red all conference performer and an all-state performer for two years. He played four years of college basketball beginning at Cleveland State (Freshman year) and finishing at Western Michigan for three years. As a sophomore, he led the MAC Conference in assists. He started almost every game in his college career. WMU was crowned either MAC champs or Co West Mac Champs each year that Michael was on the team. Michael spent two years (2011-13) volunteering in Bolivia where he started and administered a program called “Beyond The Game” that taught a variety of sports with emphasis on teaching how athletics can positively effect a persons’ life. He said “My time in Bolivia was one of the most impacting times on my life.” Last season he took over the position of varsity basketball coach at Belding High School where he also works in an alternative education program giving kids a second chance to learn.

Mike Westgate – Athlete, Coach

Swimming and Boys Water Polo were the sports that Mike Westgate excelled in when at Rockford High School before graduating in 1988. He was an all-state performer in swimming and held Varsity records in the 100 yard backstroke, butterfly and medley relays. In water polo he scored 125 goals during the first four years of the program. Mike went on to swim at Grand Valley State University where he became team MVP and held their Varsity records in the 50 yard free and 200 and 400 free relays. He became the Rockford boy’s assistant water polo coach in 1998 and helped them to their first two state titles. Mike then took over the Rockford girl’s polo program in 2001 after coaching in Grandville. He compiled over 270 varsity wins, 6 conference championships, 4 district championships, 4 regional championships and 2 state titles before he retired in 2006. Mike is still active in the Michigan Water Polo Association where he has served as President and Director of Officials. He is currently the principal of Cannonsburg Elementary School in Rockford.

Nicole Bohnsack-McLagan – Athlete

(Inducted in 2014 – but was unable to attend the ceremonies)
Nicole was outstanding in cross country and track from the time she entered Rockford High School in the fall of 2000 until her graduation in 2004. She placed first in the 2001 and 2002 Class A Cross Country MHSAA state championship meet and was a member of Rockford’s Class A State Championship teams in 2000, 2001 and 2002. In track Nicole won the Class A state championship in the 1600 and 3200M races in 2002 and 2003. She was a member of Rockford’s national record setting 4×1600 and 4xmile relay teams. In 2003 she was the Michigan “Runner of the year” and was the Farm Bureau Scholar Female Athlete in 2004. She was an all-conference and all state performer every year of high school. After graduation, she continued running successfully at Penn State. She is now living in Austin Texas where she is a lecturer at the University of Texas.