By Mark Dorfman
The Aptos High School Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2025 gets inducted on May 3 at the Seascape Golf Club in Aptos.
The ten new members are highlighted by coaches Mark Hull (girls volleyball) and Linda Hitchcock (girls tennis), Michelle Park, a four-time 1st-team All-SCCAL golfer who won two league championships and earned two league MVP awards, Cody Gilbert, a four-time 1st-team All-SCCAL water-polo player who earned 1st-team All-CCS honors, and All-SCCAL tight end John Baker, who, after 40 years, remains the all-time AHS leading receiver for a single season and for a career.
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Mark Hull coached girls volleyball, as both an assistant and as the head coach, at Aptos for 27 years, and he was part of 13 SCCAL championships, a CCS and NorCal championship, and 5 undefeated SCCAL seasons.
His Mariners achieved 17 seasons of 20 or more wins, 4 seasons of 30-plus wins, and 27 consecutive CCS playoff appearances.
Linda Hitchcock coached girls tennis at Aptos for over 20 years, 10 as the head coach.
As head coach, her Mariners won 7 SCCAL Championships, and Linda was awarded the CCS Honor Coach in girls tennis in 2021.
Michelle Park (Class of 2010) was selected as the SCCAL MVP in girls golf as both a junior and a senior, and was a two-time SCCAL individual champion.
As a junior in 2008, Michelle won the SCCAL title shooting a 93 at Seascape Golf Course, and she repeated as champion in 2009, shooting a 79 at DeLaveaga. She finished 2nd as a sophomore in 2007.
Cody Gilbert (Class of 2010) was selected to the 1st-team All-SCCAL boys water polo team four consecutive years, and he was 1st-team All-CCS as a senior.
As a sophomore, he led the Mariners to their first CCS playoff game in 12 years, and as a senior he was selected to play in the CCS vs. NCS All-Star Game. Cody was an outstanding swimmer, winning the 100m backstroke at both the high school SCCAL championships and at the junior college Coast Conference championships, swimming for Cabrillo. Cody was also an outstanding water-polo player, the leading scorer, at Cabrillo. Subsequently, as the head girls water polo coach at Aptos, Cody’s team won the CCS and NorCal Championships this past fall, both firsts for Aptos water-polo.
John Baker (Class of 1983) still holds the AHS school records for receptions in a season (40) and career receptions (69). John was a two-time All-SCCAL tight end, and he led the ‘82 Mariners to the SCCAL title and to their best overall record in 20 years.
John was also an outstanding basketball player, helping the Mariner hoopsters to win two SCCAL team titles, plus a CCS Finals appearance in ‘83. John matriculated to Cabrillo where he was a two-time 1st-team All-Coast Conference selection in basketball.
The Class of 2025 also features some of Aptos High’s best competitors in football, soccer, softball, and volleyball:
Joe Garbini (1979) — A running back, Joe led the ‘78 Mariners to their 1st SCCAL Championship in school history.
Joe was the SCCAL Offensive Player-of-the-Year in 1978, and his record as the leading rusher in Aptos history stood for 13 years.
Shelley Rains-Chavez (1988) — After earning 1st-team All-SCCAL honors as a sophomore in both soccer and softball, Shelley was in a terrible car wreck to begin her junior year.
She broke her pelvis in two places and fractured her left thigh bone, requiring a permanent plate to be installed in her hip to pull the bone back together. She missed her entire junior sports seasons, and her doctors told her “no more soccer or softball” because they were too physical, but Shelley had other ideas. She returned to both sports as a senior.
She helped the soccer team to win the ‘88 SCCAL championship, and she established herself as one of the finest pitchers in AHS history, winning SCCAL Pitcher-of-the-Year honors.
Shelley matriculated to Cabrillo where she continued her successful softball career, and, as a sophomore, the Sentinel identified Shelley as one of the Top 10 female collegiate athletes in the county.
Kim Fennell (1990) — Kim, a 3-sport athlete earning multiple varsity letters, shined as a 4-year starter in girls soccer and a 3-time 1st-team All-SCCAL selection.
She helped the Mariners win three SCCAL team championships.
Audra Dent (2003) — Audra was a 3-year starter in girls volleyball, a 2-time 1st-team All-SCCAL selection, and the SCCAL MVP in 2002.
Her teams qualified for the CCS playoffs every year, reaching two semifinals. Audra matriculated to San Diego State, where she was a 3-year starter and a team captain for the Aztecs.
Andrew Ortega (2004) — The A-Train was a three-sport athlete at AHS, shining in football, basketball, and baseball. He earned 1st-team All-SCCAL honors in both football and baseball.
In football, Andrew was a 2-time 1st-team selection and the 2003 SCCAL Defensive Player-of-the-Year. In ‘03, he led the Mariners to their 1st SCCAL team championship in 12 years, and to their 1st CCS team championship in program history.
Andrew still holds the record for longest kickoff return in school history, 99 yards.
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The Hall of Fame event at the Seascape Golf Course begins with a social hour at 4 p.m., with dinner and the program at 5 p.m.
Tickets are $70 each and may be reserved through Aptos High Athletic Director Travis Fox, at 728-7832, ext. 5201 or [email protected], or through Mark Dorfman at [email protected].