1960's
Dennis Blackburn '64 / Class of 2018
Dennis Blackburn ’64 was an outstanding athlete and a respected leader at Bishop Montgomery, starring in three sports during his four years as a Knight. On the football field, he was a 2-year varsity letterman. As a senior, he was a team captain and was an all-league selection. On the basketball court, Blackburn was a 2-year letterwinner and helped Bishop Montgomery to the program’s first playoff appearance in 1962-63. On the baseball field, Dennis spent two years on the varsity and where as a senior he was a team captain and an all-league pick. In addition to his athletic accomplishments, Dennis served as the Black “M” Club Vice President and was a member of the Pep Club. Following graduation, Blackburn played baseball on Cal Poly Pomona teams that were ranked nationally in 1965 (17th) and 1966 (13th). After receiving his degree in business, Dennis became somewhat of a renaissance man. He served as a Newport Beach police officer and founded the department’s explorer program with the Boys Scouts of America. He also served as the President & General Manager of KOCM radio and of Karl Home Video, where he helped create and produce exercise videos for Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons. In 1988, he purchased the in-house printing division of Walter Foster Printing. Over the years, Dennis has also been a generous benefactor of Bishop Montgomery athletics.
Dennis Blackburn ’64 was an outstanding athlete and a respected leader at Bishop Montgomery, starring in three sports during his four years as a Knight. On the football field, he was a 2-year varsity letterman. As a senior, he was a team captain and was an all-league selection. On the basketball court, Blackburn was a 2-year letterwinner and helped Bishop Montgomery to the program’s first playoff appearance in 1962-63. On the baseball field, Dennis spent two years on the varsity and where as a senior he was a team captain and an all-league pick. In addition to his athletic accomplishments, Dennis served as the Black “M” Club Vice President and was a member of the Pep Club. Following graduation, Blackburn played baseball on Cal Poly Pomona teams that were ranked nationally in 1965 (17th) and 1966 (13th). After receiving his degree in business, Dennis became somewhat of a renaissance man. He served as a Newport Beach police officer and founded the department’s explorer program with the Boys Scouts of America. He also served as the President & General Manager of KOCM radio and of Karl Home Video, where he helped create and produce exercise videos for Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons. In 1988, he purchased the in-house printing division of Walter Foster Printing. Over the years, Dennis has also been a generous benefactor of Bishop Montgomery athletics.
Sharkie Boehnert-Zartman '68 / Class of 2016
During a time when girls’ athletics were just really beginning to grow at many levels, Sharkie Boehnert-Zartman ‘68 stood out as one of the best athletes in the school. She competed for three years in both volleyball and basketball for the Lady Knights. In her senior year, she helped lead the volleyball team to the program’s 1st ever league championship, although it would not be the last volleyball title at BMHS in which she would play a part, at least indirectly. From 1993-2001, Sharkie’s daughters, Teri ’97 and Chrissie ’01, would play instrumental roles in the Lady Knights volleyball history. Combined, Teri and Chrissie won 5 league titles, 4 CIF titles, and 2 state titles. Following her days at BMHS, Sharkie went on to have a decorated playing and coaching career of her own. As a player, she was an All-American and a member of UCLA’s first national championship volleyball team in 1972. She was also named one of the 25 greatest volleyball players in UCLA history and her #23 is retired. She also was a member of the United States National Volleyball team where she was a 5-time USA All-American. She then moved on to have an outstanding career as a professional on the WPVA Beach Volleyball circuit and in 1993, she was inducted into the California Beach Volleyball Association Hall of Fame. Sharkie taught health, fitness and yoga for many years at El Camino College. From 1976-1985, she served as the women’s volleyball coach at El Camino and led her squads to 9 conference titles and 2 state titles. She also has coached her junior volleyball team to 1 national title. In 2007, Sharkie was named by the California Association for Health, Physical Education, Dance, and Recreation as the Health Educator of the Year. She is a member of the El Camino College Athletic Hall of Fame and the California Community College Coaches Hall of Fame.
During a time when girls’ athletics were just really beginning to grow at many levels, Sharkie Boehnert-Zartman ‘68 stood out as one of the best athletes in the school. She competed for three years in both volleyball and basketball for the Lady Knights. In her senior year, she helped lead the volleyball team to the program’s 1st ever league championship, although it would not be the last volleyball title at BMHS in which she would play a part, at least indirectly. From 1993-2001, Sharkie’s daughters, Teri ’97 and Chrissie ’01, would play instrumental roles in the Lady Knights volleyball history. Combined, Teri and Chrissie won 5 league titles, 4 CIF titles, and 2 state titles. Following her days at BMHS, Sharkie went on to have a decorated playing and coaching career of her own. As a player, she was an All-American and a member of UCLA’s first national championship volleyball team in 1972. She was also named one of the 25 greatest volleyball players in UCLA history and her #23 is retired. She also was a member of the United States National Volleyball team where she was a 5-time USA All-American. She then moved on to have an outstanding career as a professional on the WPVA Beach Volleyball circuit and in 1993, she was inducted into the California Beach Volleyball Association Hall of Fame. Sharkie taught health, fitness and yoga for many years at El Camino College. From 1976-1985, she served as the women’s volleyball coach at El Camino and led her squads to 9 conference titles and 2 state titles. She also has coached her junior volleyball team to 1 national title. In 2007, Sharkie was named by the California Association for Health, Physical Education, Dance, and Recreation as the Health Educator of the Year. She is a member of the El Camino College Athletic Hall of Fame and the California Community College Coaches Hall of Fame.
Chuck Bongard ‘67 / Class of 2014
From the moment Chuck Bongard stepped foot on the BMHS campus, he was a leader. Off the field, Chuck served as Freshman Class President and ASB President as a senior. He was also a 3-year member of the Black M Club and a four-year member of the California Scholarship Federation (CSF). Chuck translated his leadership abilities and academic prowess to the athletic fields. He was a captain on virtually every team on which he played and in 1967, Torrance Press-Herald Sports Editor Henry Burke wrote that “[Bongard] is absolutely the smartest [baseball] player in the CIF.” As a two-year varsity letterman in football, Chuck was instrumental in helping the Knights to an 11-1 record his senior year as the team won the Camino Real League title and reached the CIF semifinals. Equally adept at both running and catching the football, Chuck scored 13 touchdowns in 1966. That year, he led the league in receptions and touchdowns and he was named to the All-City team by the Press-Herald. On the baseball field, Chuck was a three-year varsity letterman and was the starting third baseman on the 1967 CIF Championship team that was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame in the 2011 inaugural class. During the Knights’ run to the CIF title, Chuck hit an impressive .500 in the playoffs. For his efforts, Chuck was named to the All-City team by the Press-Herald after hitting .378 with six doubles, 18 runs scored and 13 RBI’s on the season. He was named 1967 BMHS Sportsman of the Year. Following graduation, Chuck received and accepted an appointment to the United States Naval Academy where he received a degree in math and played baseball for the Midshipmen.
Greg Collins '69 / Class of 2017
Greg Collins ’69 was a three-sport standout at Bishop Montgomery during his four years and is one of a few athletes in school history named All-CIF in multiple sports. On the football field, Collins was a 3-year letter winner and a 2-year starter at quarterback. As the starter, he led the Knights to a 14-5 record and the 1968 league title. As a senior, Collins was named Camino Real League Most Valuable Back, Daily Breeze Player of the Year, 2nd Team All-CIF and a National Football Foundation Los Angeles Chapter Scholar-Athlete. On the basketball court, Collins was a 3-year letter winner who helped lead the program to its first CIF title in 1967-68 as a junior. That year, he helped the Knights to a 29-4 record, the Camino Real League title and the CIF Division 2A title. He was named 2nd Team All-Camino Real League and 2nd Team All-CIF. As a senior in 1968-69, Collins averaged 20 points per game for the Knights. On the baseball diamond, Collins lettered as both a junior and senior for the Knights. As a senior, he was named the team’s Most Valuable Player and he was named 1969 BMHS Male Athlete-of-the-Year. Following graduation, Collins attended the University of Washington on a football scholarship. A 3-year letter winner for the Huskies at quarterback, Collins is 2nd in Washington history for career passing yards per attempt (7.61) and was named the team’s top scholar-athlete in 1972.
Irl Davis '66 / Class of 2013
Irl Davis earned one varsity letter in football and three in basketball, but he has the distinction of being the first baseball player in school history to earn a varsity letter all four years. Following his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons, he was named All-Camino Real League and was named the league’s MVP as a senior. A great two-way player as both a pitcher and an outfielder, Irl was named 2nd Team All-CIF as a senior after batting .349 and was named BMHS Sportsman of the Year in 1966. He holds two BMHS pitching records that will be difficult to duplicate. In 1964, Irl, only a sophomore, struck out 20 batters in a 9-inning 4-3 win over St. Bernard’s. It still stands as the BMHS single game record for strikeouts. Irl also threw an impressive 4 no-hitters at BMHS, one in 1963, one in 1964, and back-to-back no-hitters in 1965. He helped lead the Knights to consecutive league titles in 1965 and 1966. Following his senior year, Irl became the first player in school history to be selected in the major league baseball draft, going to the California Angels in the 21st round. He turned down the Angels, instead opting to attend Cal Poly Pomona and playing before suffering an arm injury.
Ed Gilles ‘67 / Class of 2014
It is safe to say that every successful football team at Bishop Montgomery over the years has had a player who would be considered a “workhorse,” a player who does whatever it takes to get the job done. Perhaps no player in the program’s history embodies that more than Ed Gilles. A physical fullback for the Knights, Ed was a three-year letterman in football during an outstanding career at Bishop Montgomery that saw him battle chronic back problems. In 1965 and 1966, he formed a prolific backfield with classmate and fellow-inductee Chuck Bongard. In his three years on the varsity, Ed helped the Knights to a 24-6 record, including the 1966 league championship and a trip to the CIF semifinals. As a senior, Ed rushed for 1,255 yards (4th all-time at the school) and 12 touchdowns (6th all-time) and was named 1st Team All-South Bay, All-City by the Torrance Press-Herald, and played in the prestigious Lions All-Star Game. Amazingly, he, along with Chuck Bongard, was left off the All-Camino Real League Team that year, but it did not go undetected by the local media. A 1967 Op-Ed article by the Press-Herald’s sports editor said: “…A lot of preps make the All-CIF first string backfield whose yardage is not that good. He scored 12 touchdowns, but the ‘unconscious’ Camino Real League coaches refused to name him to the all-league team…the coaches did such a bad job picking their all-league players that some newspapers haven’t bothered to print it.” Ed was also a 3-year member of the varsity track team where he helped the Knights to the 1967 league title. As a senior, Ed broke the school record in the long jump with a mark of 21’ 8”, all while still dealing with a bad back. Following graduation, Ed had a successful football career at El Camino College.
Dan Graham ’67 / Class of 2011
Graham is one of the most decorated athletes in BMHS history. He competed in football, basketball, baseball and excelled in all three. On the football field, he played three years as the varsity quarterback. In 1965, he was named All-Camino Real League, City Player of the Year, and All-CIF 2nd Team Offense. In 1966, he was named All-Camino Real League, City Player of the Year, South Bay Player of the Year, and CIF Player of the Year. He was named an All American in 1966. For his career, he went 233-412 with 3,751 passing yards and 47 TD’s. The football team award presented annually to the MVP is named after him. On the baseball field, he played all four years on the varsity team. In 1967, he was the South Bay Player of the Year and the CIF Player of the Year, and led the Knights to the CIF AA title. Following graduation, he was drafted in the 2nd round by the Boston Red Sox. He played both football and baseball at UCLA.
Tony Guggiana '64 / Class of 2016
During the early years of Bishop Montgomery, there was no shortage of outstanding athletes produced by the school. At a time when most athletes competed in several sports, Tony Guggiana ‘64 certainly stood out for his excellence on both the basketball court and the baseball field. As a 3-year letter winner in basketball, Tony played an integral part of the 1962-63 that secured the basketball program’s first CIF playoff appearance. It is on the baseball field where Tony made his biggest mark. He was a 3-time all-league selection and was the Knights’ starting third baseman for three seasons. He was named Bishop Montgomery’s 1964 Male Athlete-of-the-Year following his senior year. After high school, Tony went on to have a decorated playing and coaching career. He earned three letters in baseball at Long Beach State from 1966-1968. While at Long Beach, Tony was the starting third baseman for the 49ers and he was named 1st Team All-Big West Conference in both 1966 and 1967. After college, Tony went on to serve as a high school teacher for an incredible 42 years. For 41 of those years, he coached a sport, most notably, baseball. In all, Tony served as a varsity baseball coach for 33 years, including 5 years at Serra High School, 17 at Artesia High School, and 11 at Cerritos High School. In 1986, Tony led his Artesia team to a CIF title and he was named the CIF Coaches Association Coach of the Year.
During the early years of Bishop Montgomery, there was no shortage of outstanding athletes produced by the school. At a time when most athletes competed in several sports, Tony Guggiana ‘64 certainly stood out for his excellence on both the basketball court and the baseball field. As a 3-year letter winner in basketball, Tony played an integral part of the 1962-63 that secured the basketball program’s first CIF playoff appearance. It is on the baseball field where Tony made his biggest mark. He was a 3-time all-league selection and was the Knights’ starting third baseman for three seasons. He was named Bishop Montgomery’s 1964 Male Athlete-of-the-Year following his senior year. After high school, Tony went on to have a decorated playing and coaching career. He earned three letters in baseball at Long Beach State from 1966-1968. While at Long Beach, Tony was the starting third baseman for the 49ers and he was named 1st Team All-Big West Conference in both 1966 and 1967. After college, Tony went on to serve as a high school teacher for an incredible 42 years. For 41 of those years, he coached a sport, most notably, baseball. In all, Tony served as a varsity baseball coach for 33 years, including 5 years at Serra High School, 17 at Artesia High School, and 11 at Cerritos High School. In 1986, Tony led his Artesia team to a CIF title and he was named the CIF Coaches Association Coach of the Year.
Forrest Hunt '61 / Class of 2013
Forrest Hunt can truly be called the first “star” student-athlete in Bishop Montgomery’s history. He earned 9 varsity letters in five different sports: football (3), basketball (1), baseball (3), tennis (1), and track (1). He was twice named BMHS Athlete of the Year (1959 and 1961) and was the Sportsman of the Year in 1961. He was also named BMHS Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 1959 and 1961 and was a voted captain of the football and baseball teams three times each. A standout in every sport he played, Forrest is perhaps best known for his accomplishments on the baseball field. As a shortstop, he was a 3-time first team All-Camino Real League selection and was named league MVP in 1961. As a senior, Forrest had a batting average of .512, the BMHS single-season record for 43 years before it was broken in 2004. He led the Knights to consecutive league titles in 1960 and 1961. Following graduation, Forrest was offered a contract to sign with the Chicago Cubs, but he chose to attend the seminary instead. After almost two years, Forrest left the seminary to go back to school. He attended Loyola University in Los Angeles where he played baseball for two years. Following graduation from Loyola, Forrest married Jo Ann Roberts (BMHS class of 1962) and went to work for the Torrance Unified School District where he taught and coached for 38 years at Torrance and South Torrance High Schools.
John Joseph ‘63 / Class of 2011
Joseph played football, basketball, and baseball at BMHS and was an accomplished surfer. On the football field, he was named 1962 All-Camino Real League. He went on to play football at El Camino College (1963-1964) and Long Beach State (1968-1969). At BMHS, he played four years of baseball and spent three years on the basketball team. While a student at BMHS, Joseph placed 3rd at the 1962 US Surfing Championships. He is one of the first BMHS graduates to serve in Vietnam. He has been inducted into several surfing Halls of Fame, including induction in 2004 to the Hermosa Beach Surfers Walk of Fame. He served as director of the South Bay Surf League for many years. In 1970, he established the first surfing class for PE credit at El Segundo High School and, in 1972, established the first city-run surf camp in Manhattan Beach. In 2005, he was inducted into the El Camino College Athletic Hall of Fame.
Patrick Kealey ’68 / Class of 2012
Pat Kealey had a decorated athletic career while at BMHS, both on the football field and the track. On the football field, he was a 3-year letterman, excelling on the offensive line and at linebacker. In 1966, he was a 2nd Team All-CIF pick and led the Knights to an 11-1 record and an appearance in the CIF semi-finals. In 1966 and 1967, Kealey was an All-Camino Real League selection as well as an All-City of Torrance and All-South Bay selection. Following his senior season, Pat was selected to play in the Catholic Big Brother’s and South Bay Lions’ All-Star games. The football team award presented annually to the top linebacker is named after him. In track, Kealey was a 2-year letter winner (1967 and 1968) and led the Knights to the 1967 league championship. He was a member of the 1967 4x100 relay team that posted the fastest time in the league and he qualified for the CIF prelims in the 100 yard dash. He was named the 1968 Bishop Montgomery Sportsman of the Year. He is a graduate of UCLA where he was a 2-year letter winner in football in 1971 and 1972.
Steve Patterson ‘68 / Class of 2011
A three sport athlete, Patterson played football, basketball, and baseball at BMHS. On the football field, he was named All-Camino Real League in 1966. In 1967, he was named to the All-Camino Real League on both offense and defense, and was named All-South Bay. His eight interceptions in 1967 were a school record until 2022. The football team award presented annually to the top defensive back is named for him. In basketball, Patterson was a member of the 1967-68 team that won the first CIF title in program history. During that season, he was named 1st Team All-Camino Real League and 2nd Team All-CIF for a team that went 29-4. He was also a member of the 1967 CIF Championship baseball team.
Pattie Schnell ‘66 / Class of 2012
Pattie Schnell played varsity volleyball, basketball, and softball all four years at BMHS. She was the only female athlete at the time to play varsity in all sports all four years. She was named the 1966 Female Athlete of the Year and was the 1966 president of the Girls’ Athletic Association. At BMHS, she was a member of four softball league champions and was named to the 1966 Alemany basketball tournament all-star team. Schnell attended Los Angeles Harbor College and Long Beach State, where she played volleyball, basketball, softball and track. She graduated from Long Beach State in 1971 with a degree in physical education and also received her teaching credential. In 1970, Schnell was a member of the U.S.A. softball team that won a silver medal at the Women’s World Championships in Osaka, Japan. She has traveled all over the world representing U.S.A. softball. After college, she played professional softball for the Orange Lionettes of the Pacific Coast Women’s Softball League, and for the Southern California Gems of the Women’s Professional Softball League. She was a teacher, coach, department chairperson, and athletic director for 37 years at the secondary level in Orange County schools before retiring.
Larry Wiggins '68 / Class of 2023
All great athletic programs can trace the origins of their success to a player or two or a team or era that started it all. Bishop’s boys’ basketball program has had a sustained run of success for the last 30-plus years; but perhaps the player who is responsible for putting BMHS basketball on the map shortly after the school opened, and whose statistics and accomplishments have stood the test of time, is Larry Wiggins. Wiggins was a 2-year varsity letterwinner for the Knights from 1966-1968 and helped lead BMHS to back-to-back Camino Real League titles. In his two years on the varsity, BMHS had a combined record of 49-8. When talking about BMHS boys’ basketball history, Wiggins has some “firsts' ' attached to his name. He is the first player in program history to be named 1st Team All-CIF, the first to be named Torrance Press-Herald Player of the Year (today’s equivalent to the Daily Breeze Player of the Year), and the first All-American when he was named 2nd Team Catholic All-American in 1967-68. In that season, Wiggins was the leading scorer for the team that went 29-4 and captured the boys’ basketball program’s first CIF-SS Championship. On his way to winning the 1967-68 Camino Real League MVP, Wiggins scored 729 points and averaged 22.1 points per game. His point total for that season still ranks him tied for 5th in school history and his points per game ranks him 7th. On January 19, 1968, Wiggins scored 36 points against Fermin Lasuen. Only six other players in program history have scored more points in a game than Wiggins. When his BMHS career was over, Wiggins amassed 1,265 points, which currently ranks 14th on the BMHS all-time scoring list and places him in the prestigious 1,000-point club. Following BMHS, Wiggins played basketball at the University of San Diego.