CHSAA Announces 2022 Hall of Fame Class

The Colorado High School Activities Association Hall of Fame has announced its 34th Hall of Fame class. This seven-member group embodies the core values of the Association along with its vision of seeking excellence in academics, activities, and athletics. Each of these individuals upholds the very essence of education-based activity participation.

The CHSAA Hall of Fame’s Class of 2022 includes five legendary coaches in Sally Moos (Cherry Creek), Tim Ottmann (Ponderosa), Rene Aafedt (Valley), George Rykovich (Manitou Springs), and James Hartman, Jr. (Mitchell). We are also looking forward to inducting student leadership adviser Dale Garland (Durango), and rounding out this year’s class is Ann Strother Abromaitis (Highlands Ranch), one of the most decorated high school basketball players in the history of our state.

Biographies of the newest additions to the CHSAA Hall of Fame include:

Sally Moos (Cherry Creek) – For 35 years, Sally Moos coached girls volleyball at Cherry Creek High School. During that time, Sally amassed 734 wins, including a 42-consecutive game win streak, 13 Centennial League championships, and five Class 5A CHSAA girls volleyball state championships. While Moos is credited with creating a winning culture, she is mostly  remembered by her players as someone who put relationship-building ahead of winning.

Tim Ottmann (Ponderosa) – Ottmann served for 18 years as the school’s wrestling coach. His overall record at the school stands at 147-19 (200-26 overall), having won sixteen consecutive Continental League wrestling championships, coached twelve 5A regional wrestling champions, and eight 5A state champions. Ottmann was named NFHS National Wrestling Coach of the Year (2009), the National Wrestling Association Region 6 Coach of the Year (1997 and 2005), and was recognized as the Continental League Coach of the Year 13 times.

Rene Aafedt (Valley) – Aafedt, who coached the girls volleyball program at Valley High School for 20 years, has a career record of 393-96. Her teams appeared in nine CHSAA Class 3A state championship games, including 13 straight state tournament appearances, winning it all in 2010 and 2012. As a competitive Valley High School volleyball player herself, Aafedt brought that same energy and drive as a coach. As one of her former players put it, “To play under Rene Aafedt, I think was the greatest honor I could have as an athlete. I admire her and wouldn’t be the person I am today without her.”

George Rykovich (Manitou Springs) – As a coach, George Rykovich was driven to mold his athletes into being the very best person they could be. He believed in the correlation of energy output equaling desired results. There were no shortcuts to success in his program. During his 36 years as head coach, he guided the Mustangs to two CHSAA Class 2A football state championships. His single-wing offense was well known but rarely beaten, and even in retirement, he is called on by coaches across the country to share this results-proven style of play. George has been inducted into the CHSCA Hall of Fame, the Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame, and the Single Wing Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

James Hartman, Jr. (Mitchell) – James Hartman, Jr., is a name synonymous with football at Mitchell High School. Hartman won 211 games during his 18-year stint as head coach. During that time, he won 10 conference titles and three CHSAA Class AAA state championships. Hartman Jr., was a four-time recipient of the CHSCA Football Coach of the Year Award, a five-time recipient of the Gazette Telegraph Football Coach of the Year, and he has since been inducted into the CHSCA Hall of Fame and the Colorado Springs Sports Corp Hall of Fame. 

Dale Garland (Durango) – As a student leadership adviser, Garland set the standard for how to grow young leaders. For over a decade, Dale’s program was recognized as a National Council of Excellence by the National Student Council office. This recognition is reserved for student leadership programs that meet specific criteria related to leadership excellence, service and commitment to their school community. Over his 25 years as an adviser, Dale was recognized as the CHSAA Adviser of the Year, he served multiple terms as a Student Leadership Advisory Committee member, and led workshops at many CHSAA student leadership camps and conferences.

Ann Strother Abromaitis (Highlands Ranch) – Ann is a 2002 graduate of Highlands Ranch High School, where she was a two-time CHSAA 5A girls basketball state champion. During her time at Highlands Ranch, Ann was named the Naismith National Player of the Year and the Gatorade National Player of the Year. She played in the inaugural McDonald’s All-American Game, where she was named Co-MVP. Ann was the second high school player in USA Basketball history to play for the Junior World Championship Team. Ann earned a scholarship to the University of Connecticut, where she guided the program to two NCAA National Championships. During her time at UConn, Ann played in 143 games, starting in 142 of them. Ann was drafted into the WNBA by the Houston Comets.

“I applaud the efforts of the selection committee as this is an exceptional list of deserving honorees,” said CHSAA Commissioner Michael Krueger. “Each and every member of the CHSAA Hall of Fame exceedingly represents the intrinsic values and ideals that create the foundation for educationally based athletics and activities; the 2022 Hall of Fame Class reflect this same standard of exceptional accomplishment.”    

The Hall of Fame selection committee includes Robert Marken (CHSCA), Stephanie Leasure (Doherty), Kevin McWain (Severance), Robert Framel (Kit Carson), Dr. Tracy Hill (CHSAA Hall of Fame Inductee), Adria Herscher (Overland), Dick Katte (Advisor), and Dan Mohrmann (Colorado Preps/Mile High Sports). The committee also includes four student leadership representatives- Brakelle Westphal (Springfield), Sydney Crouthers (Eaglecrest), Anna Winn (Fort Collins), and Kat Tomin (Highlands Ranch).

“The selection process is something that I look forward to every year,” said CHSAA assistant commissioner Rashaan Davis, who oversees the Hall of Fame. “To talk about how each nominee achieved at the highest level, how they worked hand-in-hand with other students and/or adults for the betterment of a school community, and to see how their vision of success became is a testament to what education-based activities can produce.”

The Class of 2022 will be inducted during a ceremony on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023.