Class of 2009 from left to right: Al Adelini, Susan Latch and Jesse Boyd (Larry Reisbig, not pictured).

The 1981 College of the Canyons baseball teams poses for pictures after the 2009 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

Al Adelini
Some people are just made to be Cougars and you could say that about retired COC academic counselor Al Adelini. But, the counselor did more than most would expect from a college administrator.

Adelini joined the college staff in 1970 as a counselor and dean. During his 30 years of service at College of the Canyons he held a variety of faculty and administrative positions, including serving as the game manager at Cougar home events when the athletic department was  first started.

Adelini also played a large role in helping to bring football back to Canyons in 1998. He retired from College of the Canyons in 2000.

The former football player from L.A. Valley College, who later went on to play at Cal State Los Angeles, was inducted into the L.A. Valley College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007 as a member of the first Metro Conference Champions and Orange Show Bowl Champions.

Susan Latch
The College of the Canyons women’s golf team has seen many successful players move through the program, but none as dominating as Susan Latch.

The golfer joined the team in 2000, a year after moving to Santa Clarita, and deciding to return to school after being a stay-at-home mom.

Latch had already had success on the golf course, including going to the quarterfinals in match play of the California Amateur Championship in 1991.

She took that experience and led the team to its first Western State Conference Championship during the 2000 season and was named the Western State Conference MVP. 

The following year she topped her performance from her first season by winning the conference MVP award for the second consecutive year and helping the team win a Western State Conference Championship, its first Southern California Championship and its first ever California Community College State Women’s Golf Championship.

Latch couldn’t stay too far away from the women’s golf program as she came back as an assistant coach from 2003-06.

The mother of three is now in her second semester of the registered nursing program at College of the Canyons. She has been happily married for almost 16 years to her husband Bill, and they have three children - Chad, Madi and Billy.

Jesse Boyd
Men’s basketball player Jesse Boyd says he always has thoughts of College of the Canyons. The Pacoima native may now be 1,500 miles away in Overland Park, Kan., but Boyd recalls the lessons about being on a team he learned from head coach Lee Smelser.

Boyd was a member of the Cougar basketball team from 1973-1975. He was two-time First-Team All-Western State Conference pick and the college’s first ever All-State and All-America basketball player during his sophomore campaign.

Boyd was such an impactful player that he still is tied for second in most points scored in a game (42), and most points in a season (681), and has the best scoring average (25.2 ppg) in a season, the most points in a career (1266) and the best scoring average in a career (23.9 ppg). 

Boyd transferred to Portland State after an illustrious career at COC. After a year in Oregon, he went overseas to play in the Philippine Basketball Association where he led his team in scoring for a year and a half.

The 28-year truck driver is the father of five, Tarhonne, Russell, Antoine, Aaron and Janessa, and has been married to wife, Greta, for 18 years. Still an avid Lakers fan despite living in Kansas, he enjoys riding his custom built motorcycle in his spare time.

Reisbig continued coaching at Pasadena City, Long Beach State, Orange Coast and Long Beach City College before he retired from coaching on Dec. 9, 2002, after 19 years as a football leader.

He didn’t stay away too long, as he returned to Long Beach City in the capacity of men’s athletic director, a position he has held since August of 2003.

In 2006 he was inducted into the California Community College Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame for his work at College of the Canyons and Long Beach City.

Reisbig has been married to wife Patty for almost 50 years. They have five children – Mike, who is the current head football coach at Long Beach City, Richard, Robert, Stephanie and Matthew.

1981 Baseball Team
No one expected the Cougars to win the state championship. After being pushed into the loser’s bracket in the double-elimination state tournament, most thought they wouldn’t make it out. But the Mike Gillespie- led Cougars weren’t quick to go away as they defeated L.A. Harbor in consecutive games to upset the undefeated Seahawks and win the 1981 State Title.

#3 Outfielder Craig Holmes - A backup outfielder who stayed at COC despite the fact that he could have been a starter at another program.

#4 Outfielder Richard Walsh - A backup outfielder who had great athletic ability.

#5 Catcher Leland Franco - Franco was known to put on defensive clinics when behind the plate. He transferred to Azusa Pacific where his team was the 1984 College World Series Runner-Up. He is married to wife Shelley and has one son, Seth.

#7 Pitcher Steve Sisson - Sisson was the only left-handed pitcher on the team and was crucial when facing left-handed batters. He went to UC Santa Barbara after COC and is married with three children.

#8 Catcher Greg Bowlin - A backup catcher who coached for the Cougars, Mission College and the Erie Cardinals. He now works for Canyons as a groundskeeper. He is married to his wife Sylvia and they have two children, Ryan and Caitlin.

#9 Shortstop Flavio Alfaro - Alfaro was a highly decorated player who transferred to San Diego State on a scholarship. He was the starting second baseman for the 1984 Olympic baseball team.
#10 Catcher/Designated Hitter Eric Lush - Lush was a quick-witted player who was one of the enforcers on the team.

#11 Pitcher Gary Johnson - Johnson came up big against Taft College in the conference playoffs. He owns his own business in Glendale and is married to wife, Rhonda, and they have two children.

#12 Outfielder Todd Goodman - A right fielder with a strong arm. Goodman attended UC Santa Barbara on a baseball scholarship and earned his bachelor’s of arts in liberal studies with a minor in coaching.

#13 Infielder Bob Arispe - Arispe was a utility player who saw action at second base, third base and shortstop.

#14 Pitcher Mark Davis - A relief pitcher who played in the minor leagues.

#15 Second baseman Bob Brontsema - Brontsema was an All-State second baseman who led the state in steals. He transferred to UC Santa Barbara to play baseball. Brontsema is currently the head coach at USCSB and leads the Big West Conference in conference wins and overall wins among active coaches.

#16 Third baseman and pitcher Keith Ritchea - His only start of the year as a pitcher was a 3-2 win against L.A. Harbor in the state playoffs, which set up the third game against Harbor for the state championship.

#17 Pitcher Fred Schrott - Schrott was a closer for COC. He went to Sonoma State where he was the MVP in 1983. His son Justin, is a freshman baseball player at Simi Valley High School and daughter Ashley, plays soccer.

#18 Outfielder Mike Mazzocco - A centerfielder known for making hard catches. He went to San Diego State after COC. Following SDSU he went to trade school and earned his contractor’s license in landscaping and has continued working in that business for the past 24 years.

#19 First baseman Joe Canale - Canale was the only left handed hitter on the team with a very quick wit. He earned a scholarship to Chapman College and has worked in the lumber business for the past 23 years. Canale has been married for 17 years and has two children.

#20 Catcher Jim Green - A utility player who filled in when needed.

#21 Pitcher Steve French - French was the Cougars No. 1 pitcher. He pitched a complete game in the final match-up with L.A. Harbor to win the state title, 4-1. He transferred to UC Santa Barbara.

#22 Infielder and pitcher Matt Washell - A utility infielder who had a big bat. He had significant defensive plays against L.A. Harbor to force a final game for the state championship.

#23 Pitcher Todd Beal - A starting pitcher for COC. Beal is remembered for his great game against Fresno to take the Cougars out of the loser’s bracket. 

#24 Outfielder Jason Felice - Felice was a first round pick, secondary phase, by the New York Mets in 1981. He also played in the Texas League and at the AAA level. Felice managed in the minor leagues for four seasons where he won two championships.

#28 Catcher Bill Fitzpatrick -  Fitzpatrick was the toughest player on the team and a clutch hitter.

#29 Pitcher Mike Sofley - He threw a complete game, 5-4 win against Sacramento City in the opening game of the playoffs, his first game back after being injured. Sofley continued playing baseball at Azusa Pacific. He has two children, Elisabeth and Michael.

#31 First baseman and designated hitter Doug Rostykus - Rostykus was a player who the coaches wanted in the game when it was a close one. He has been a fire captain for the past 10 years and a real estate broker for 20 years. Rostykus is married and has one daughter.

Head Coach Mike Gillespie - Gillespie was a 2007 inductee into the College of the Canyons Athletic Hall of Fame for his 16 seasons as the Cougars head coach. He went on to coach at the University of Southern California before retiring in 2006. He returned to college coaching in 2007 as the head coach at the University of California, Irvine.

Assistant Coach Len Mohney - Mohney took over the COC baseball program in 1987, after Gillespie left for USC. He was the head coach for 14 years and is currently the dean of physical education and athletics at College of the Canyons.