WISCA Hall of Fame Coaches

John Pat Bourassa, originally from Amarillo, Texas, became the boys' and girls' swimming coach at Sammamish High School. There he coached for twenty-eight years. His coaching tenure spanned from 1970 to 1998.

While coaching at Sammamish High School, Coach Bourassa's girls' teams had a string of five years of undefeated dual meets. His girls' teams won the Washington State Girls' High School Swimming Championship in 1975 and 1977. During his tenure, thirteen girls were individual state champions and eight of his girls' relay teams won state champion titles. Coach Bourassa's boys' teams had a four-year span of undefeated dual meets. In addition, fifteen of his boy swimmers won state champion titles and one relay team won a state title. Coach Bourassa coached twenty-nine All-American swimmers. In all, these swimmers earned seventy-two All-American honors.

John Pat has served as a Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) diving clinician and has been a 3A state meet diving referee. He has served as the president of the Washington High School Girls' Swimming Coaches Association. He was a Washington State representative at the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (NISCA) national convention for twenty-six years. John Pat served on the NISCA All-American Certificate Committee and served as one of NISCA's vice-presidents for three terms.

John Pat Bourassa earned his undergraduate degree from Eastern New Mexico University and received his masters degree in sports administration at Seattle Pacific University.

Paul Von Destinon, an Illinois native, began his highly successful fourteen-year swim-coaching career in Washington. He started by coaching girls' swimming at Interlake High School in 1991. Two years later he began his long-term tenure as the Bellevue High School swimming coach. He retired in 2005.

Paul's Bellevue High School girls' teams won five Washington State High School Girls' Swimming Championships, holding the state title from 1999 to 2004. In addition, his girls' teams earned top-five placements in four of the five previous years. In all, Coach Von Destinon's girl swimmers won six individual champion titles and six relay champion titles.

The Bellevue High School boys' swimming teams did very well under Paul's coaching, as well. His boys' teams won the Washington State High School Boys' Swimming Championship in 1996, 1997, and 1999. In addition, his 1998, 2000, 2001, and 2002 boys' teams earned second-place honors at these state championship meets. Seven individual boys' champion titles were won by his swimmers, along with five relay champion titles.

Paul Von Destinon coached eighteen All-American girl swimmers and fifteen All-American boy swimmers. In all, these swimmers earned seventy-three All-American honors.

Coach Paul Von Destinon was honored as a WISCA Coach of the Year. He was a collegiate swimmer at the University of Idaho and the University of Illinois.

Although Rick Wertman is best known as the swimming coach at Mt. Rainier High School in Des Moines, he began his coaching career at Bellevue High School in 1974, and later coached at Enumclaw High School and Tahoma High School in Maple Valley. Coach Wertman became the head boys' swimming coach at Mt. Rainier High School in 1989 and the head girls' swimming coach in 2003. Rick retired from coaching in 2005.

Coach Wertman's boys' teams won six Washington State High School Boys' Swimming Championships, taking the state title in 1991, 1993, 2001, 2003, 2004, and 2005. In nine additional years, his boys' teams placed in the top-four. Rick's boys' teams earned fifteen champion relay titles and six individual titles. He coached thirteen All-American swimmers. In all, these swimmers earned forty-three All-American honors.

Rick's boys' teams in 2001 and 2004 were the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (NISCA) Power-Point National Dual Meet Champions.

Besides being awarded the South County Journal All-Sports Prep Coach of the Year in 2001, Coach Wertman was the recipient of the NISCA David Robertson Excellence in Coaching Award in 2006.

Rick Wertman swam competitively for Virginia Technical University and Western Washington University.

In East Wenatchee, Craig Martin had an outstanding career as the Eastmont High School boys' and girls' swimming coach from 1988 to 1997 and 1985 to 1996 respectively.

During Craig's tenure at Eastmont High School, his teams won six Washington State High School Boys' Championship titles between 1988 and 1997 and two Washington State High School Girls' Championship titles in 1989 and 1990. His boys' and girls' teams consistently finished as one of the top-five teams in the state championships between 1986 and 1996. Craig coached six boys' state champions and three girls' state champions. His swimmers received more than 30 All-American honors.

Craig was honored three times as the Washington State Swim Coaches' Association Coach of the Year. He was also honored as the North Central Washington Coach of the Year for three years.

Craig Martin swam competitively at Chief Sealth High School (Seattle) and Sweet Home High School (Sweet Home, Oregon). In his collegiate career, Craig swam competitively at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon.

Frank Ceteznik was the girls' and boy's swimming coach at Mercer Island High School from 1973-1998. His teams dominated girls' swimming during the 1990's winning seven straight state championships from 1992-1998 He coached a total of nine state championship teams. In 1995, his girls' team was listed as the National Champions. Frank also was the head boys' coach at Bellevue High school for five years. During his coaching career, Frank had a record of 464 wins, 57 losses, and 3 ties. Frank coached twenty-eight individual state champions and thirteen relay champions. Frank coached 167 All-American swimmers throughout his career. In 1989, Coach Ceteznik was recognized as the National Coach of The Year. The National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (NISCA) honored Coach Ceteznik with the David H Robertson Excellence in Coaching Award.

Jack Ridley was the girls' swimming coach at Newport High School in Bellevue for ten years. His coaching accomplishments were highlighted by six Washington State Girls' Championship titles from 1976 through 1982. During Coach Ridley's tenure at Newport High School, he coached fourteen individual state champions and seven relay champions. In addition, Coach Ridley was the boys' swimming coach at Mercer Island High School from 1988 to 1995. Jack has coached 53 All-American swimmers throughout his career. Recognizing his accomplishments, the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (NISCA) honored Coach Ridley with the David H Robertson Excellence in Coaching Award.

Jack Ridley began his own swimming career at Hudson's Bay High School with Coach Lowel Neil. At Central Washington University, Jack was a four-year NAIA finalist. His collegiate coaches were Tom Anderson and Bob Gregson.

Dan Wolfrom began his high school swim coaching career when Tacoma's Henry Foss High School opened in 1973. During Coach Wolfrom's tenure at Henry Foss High School, the Foss Falcons won five Washington State High School Girls' Swimming Championship titles and one Washington State High School Boys' Swimming Championship title. During the 1985-1986 school year, Dan coached both his boys' and girls' teams to state championships -a feat that had never before been accomplished in Washington State swimming history. Dan coached 23 individual state champions, 10 relay state champions, and 104 All-American swimmers. In 2005, after thirty-two years of high school swim coaching, Dan retired.

Dan served as the president of the Washington Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (WISCA) for over a decade. Under his leadership, WISCA initiated a scholarship program and established a state meet program that has been a model for other Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) sports. Envisioning a permanent hall of fame for Washington high school swimmers and coaches, Dan worked diligently to accomplish this goal, which has now come to fruition.

Coach Wolfrom represented the Pacific Northwest on the National Federation Rules Committee during the 1980s. He has been presented with the Coach of the Year award by both the WISCA and the National High School Coaches Association. The National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (NISCA) honored Dan with the Outstanding Service Award and the David H Robertson Excellence in Coaching Award.

Wally Streeter began his high school coaching career at Stadium High School (Tacoma) in 1946. He ended his successful career at Mt. Tahoma High School (Tacoma) in 1964. He coached many individual swimming champions and record holders. His teams won seven state championships. Wally Streeter coached 24 All-American ranked swimmers.

Coach Streeter was the first representative to the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association from Washington. He was a representative on the swimming committee of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA). Wally Streeter served as president and secretary of the Washington Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association.

Wally Streeter saw the need to offer swimming coaches continued training in technical skills and other important coaching techniques. Coach Streeter was one of the visionaries responsible for establishing the yearly Washington State High School Swimming Coaches' Clinic.

Dick Mealy began the swimming program at Mark Morris High School (Longview) in 1960 and coached swimming and diving through 1996, closing a career that spanned nearly four decades.

Dick Mealy's coaching forte was twofold. He had the ability to understand the technical aspects of swimming and convey this information to his swimmers. Also, Coach Mealy possessed the humanistic qualities that make a coach extraordinary. His support, care, integrity, and positive example are part of the coaching legend that surrounds him in Cowlitz County.

Dick Hannula had a stellar high school coaching career at Wilson High School (Tacoma) where his boys' teams won 24 consecutive state championships (1960-1983). Previously, he coached seven years at Lincoln High School (Tacoma) with state championships being won in 1953 and 1955. Dick Hannula coached numerous national high school champions and record holders.

In 1980 Dick Hannula was honored as Coach of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Associations and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association. The National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (NISCA) presented him with the National Collegiate and Scholastic Award in 1980 and inducted him in the NISCA Hall of Fame in 1982. Coach Hannula was inducted into the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) Hall of Fame in 2004.

A legendary figure in international swimming, Dick Hannula is renowned for his coaching successes and for his contributions as a mentor, author, writer, inventor, and lecturer in the swimming world.

John "Bus" Fairbairn was the highly successful swimming coach at Aberdeen High School from 1944 to 1956. He coached 16 individual state swimming champions. His teams won state championships in 1948 and 1949.

Coach Fairbairn instilled in his swimmers the ideals of hard work, goal setting, and perseverance. Many of his high school swimmers, including Dick Hannula and Don Duncan, went on to become outstanding swimming coaches.

John Fairbairn served as president of the Washington Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (WISCA) in 1952

Don Fairbairn began the boys' swimming program at Port Angeles High School in 1966 and the girls' swimming program in 1972. He was the head coach until 1985. Following his retirement, Coach Fairbairn became an assistant swimming and diving coach at Port Angeles High School. He coached a number of individual state swimming champions throughout his career.

In 1972 Don Fairbairn was the president of the Washington Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (WISCA). He was honored as the WISCA Swim Coach of the Year in 1982.

Jack Torney is considered the father of Washington State high school swimming. He envisioned a statewide swimming competition between high schools. In 1934 he realized his goal, hosting the first boys' invitational swimming and diving championship. Coach Torney was the meet manager, starter, referee, and overall coordinator. This statewide premier event continued for 21 years with Jack Torney as its host. In 1958 the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) began sponsoring this statewide swimming meet.

Jack Torney's excellent organizational skills led him to develop many meet management techniques that are still used today. Coach Torney was the author of two books and a frequent contributor to swimming journals.

As a coach and educator, Coach Torney has been honored by the Washington Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association for his tremendous influence on swimming, education, and the development of young people. In addition to his impact on high school swimming, Jack Torney had a stellar coaching career in collegiate swimming at the University of Washington.

As a young child in Minnesota, Ilo Sande began swimming lessons on the shores of Lake Superior. As his swimming passion grew, Ilo became one of the top open water swimmers in the Great Lakes region, swimming between two and ten miles in competitions. His feats were particularly extraordinary because Ilo had become severely afflicted with polio as a toddler and was unable to walk.

Moving to Washington's Skagit Valley in the 1940s, Ilo helped organize and build the Mt. Vernon YMCA swimming pool. There he taught hundreds of youngsters how to swim. After organizing a successful age-group program, Ilo became Mt. Vernon High School's first swimming coach. Ilo's dedication, strong character, and personal perseverance inspired his swimmers to set goals and make great personal strides. His coaching expertise and motivational skills were instrumental in his swimmers' successes. During his short, stellar high-school coaching career, the Mt. Vernon High School swim team won its first Washington State High School Boys' Swimming Championship in 1951 and swam to four top-three team finishes. His swimmers won fifteen state swimming championship titles.

Ilo Sande is one of a handful of coaching pioneers in Washington State high school swimming history. He shared his passion — and dedicated his life to swimming and swimmers. As a result, he inspired and changed the lives of many swimmers in Washington