It’s highly unlikely that while they were performing their deeds on the gridiron, track and field or coaching, were thinking about someday being inducted into the Burroughs Athletic Hall of Fame.
But for the select few, that became a reality when the class of 2015 was recently announced by Athletic Director Marty Garrison.
Chosen for that honor was the 1987 Burroughs High football team that advanced to the CIF Southern Section title game, the 1988 Indians’ 400 meter relay team that captured the Division I championship and was composed of Bruce Luizzi, Steven Hubbell, Doug Dragomer and Otto Varela, along with Mike Klose, the longtime track and field and golf coach, will all be inducted on Oct. 23.
The event will be held in the main gym and followed by a Pacific League football game against Glendale at Memorial Field.
Robert “Butch” McElwee was the head coach, and his staff included Bob Dunivant, John Pentecost, Garrison, Brian James, Todd Dellutri and Andy Andriolli.
Some of the key members on that football juggernaut include Jeff Barrett, Dragomer, Luizzi, who played at USC, Wes Bender, linebacker John Butler, who had 25 sacks in his career, center Joe Howe, Jason Teitel and Tommy Phillips.
Barrett was a highly-decorated quarterback during his three-year stint at Burroughs, earning All-CIF first team honors his senior season, and All-Foothill League first team as a junior and senior.
Barrett, who played at Brown University, threw for 6,083 yards, completed 386 of 687 pass attempts and tossed 47 touchdowns.
The hard-running Bender, a fullback who played at USC, was selected to the Burroughs all-time first team.
Dragomer, who toiled at Northern Arizona, was also named to the Burroughs all-time second team, as was receiver Teitel, who played at Northern Arizona.
Dragomer accounted for 1,325 rushing yards on 212 carries for a 6.3 average over two varsity seasons, and had a 90-yard scamper versus Alhambra in 1987. Dragomer scored 174 points in his career, including 108 points in ’87.
Other highlights during that historic season in which the Indians placed No. 2 in the CIF polls, include Luizzi’s 87-yard punt return against St. Francis, and Phillips’ 46-yard field goal against Alhambra. Phillips was selected to the Burroughs all-time squad as a special team member.
The 1987 Indians’ offense tallied 438 points, compiled 4,698 total net yards and rushed for 2,430 yards. In their regular-season finale, Burroughs stung city rival Burbank with a 41-0 loss.
Garrison, who has been at his position since 1985, said being part of the Hall of Fame festivities is something that he looks forward to.
“That’s the reason I’ve stuck around John Burroughs High School,” he said. “It’s amazing how much it means to the people that are being inducted. I know it means so much to them.”
Garrison went on: “The reason I do this is because it’s so important for the school and the athletic department. It’s worth it when they come back and you see tears in their eyes.”
Congrats my fellow Indians
The Burbank Police Officers’ Association salutes these fine men, many of which have made significant contributions to our city since leaving Burroughs as student-athletes. Congratulations!
Comments are closed.