HALL OF FAME
Athletes, Coaches and Community Heroes
Rich Kitchens
Rich Kitchens
Basketball Coach
Kitchens contributed to Highlander Athletics in multiple ways over his 34-year career at PHS. First as a basketball coach, then as Athletic Director and finally as Principal.
He coached 20 years of basketball at various levels including 14 seasons as a head coach. He was the JV boys head coach from 1979-1982 and the Varsity head coach for 10 years (1982-1992). From 1982-1986 PHS won five straight Alameda County Athletic League (ACAL) Championships under the direction of Coach Kitchens. During his tenure, Kitchens coached four Hall of Fame members: Chris Roberts, Jim Stehr, Michael Stehr and Rich Watts.
He served as Athletic Director for three years while still fulfilling his full-time teaching duties. As Principal he supported all PHS sports teams at both home and away games and was always easy to recognize with his trademark hat. He also served on the Piedmont Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors and multiple Nomination Committees.
He currently is the director of the “Constitutional Law Education Project” and author of Constitutional Law, a high school textbook used in 10 states. He retired from PHS in 2013.
Neil Rothenberg
Neil Rothenberg
Tennis Coach 2001-2015
Rothenberg coached PHS tennis for 15 years (2001-2015) becoming the winningest coach in PHS sports history. His overall varsity match record stands at an impressive 501-103-4. He began as the JV girls coach in 2001 and 2002. In 2003 he moved to the Varsity girls head coach and stayed through the 2015 season. When the boys Varsity program needed a coach in 2004, he accepted that position as well. From 2004 through 2014 he was the head coach for both programs.
Under his guidance both Piedmont Tennis programs became dominant teams in the very competitive North Coast Section (NCS) of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF). The boys program was League Champions every year from 2004-2014. They went undefeated from 2004-2012 and 2014 and lost just one match in 2013.
The girls program was undefeated League Champions 13 consecutive years from 2003-2015. In addition, he coached the boys and girls programs in 11 NCS Championship finals. Under Rothenberg’s direction, the PHS boys were 6-time NCS finalists and won 3 NCS titles. PHS girls tennis won three NCS titles (2013, 2014 and 2015) and were finalists in 2011 and 2012. He coached several NCS singles and doubles champions including Kaelli Thiel (2014-15), Jon and Matt Wang (2011-12), Matt Wang and Daniel Cooper (2013), Ashley Shuster and Aubrey Douglass (2011-12).
Rothenberg was selected as NCS Honor Coach for Women’s Tennis in 2007 and for Men’s Tennis in 2011.
Linda Siegel Splivalo
Linda Siegel Splivalo
PHS Class of 1979
When Siegel Splivalo was not traveling the world as a Junior National Tennis Champion, she competed on the PHS boys tennis team. Her teammates included Hall of Fame members Dana Gilbert Heinemann and Richard Carlson.
In 1973 she won her first Junior National Championship – US 12 Hard Court. In 1977, her sophomore year, she was a two-time US Junior National Champion – US 16 National Championships and US 18 Clay Court Championships. She beat Tracy Austin in the semis and Pam Shriver in the finals of that tournament to achieve the #1 National ranking in the 16 division that year. In the 18 tournament she defeated Peanut Louie in the finals. In 1978, her junior year, Linda defeated Ivanna Madruga 6-4, 6-4 to win the US Open Girls Championship. She also made it to the final of the South African Open Women’s Singles Championships.
In 1979, her senior year, she achieved a WTA (World Tennis Association) pro ranking of 36. That year she played in several Grand Slam tournaments: US Open, Wimbledon and the French Open. Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King, Virginia Wade and Evonne Crawley are some of the opponents she faced during her professional career.
Links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_Siegel_(tennis)
Mina Duffy
Mina Duffy
PHS Class of 2008
Ms. Duffy played Varsity Softball for four years. As a Freshman, she was the #1 pitcher in strikeouts in the Bay Shore Athletic League (BSAL) with 162 in 120.2 innings pitched. She had an ERA of 2.15. During her Sophomore year she tied a national record for most strikeouts in a single game (16 innings) with 30. She was named to the All East Bay First Team as well as the BSAL Most Valuable Player. In addition, Duffy was voted to the All-State Small School Team, as well as, the AU-State Undergraduate team.
Duffy received San Francisco Chronicle and Oakland Tribune Athlete of the Week' honors. As a Junior she posted a win/loss record of 13-4 with an ERA of 1.38 with 240 strikeouts in 116.1 innings pitched. In both her Junior and Senior seasons Duffy received an All-State Softball nomination. Following graduation, Duffy played for 4 years at Quinnipiac University earning Scholar-Athlete honors (2009-2012). In April 2012, she tied a national record for four consecutive home runs. She finished that season with 30 RBI (2nd on the team) and 7 home runs (tied for 1st) and was named to the NEC All-League Second Team. Duffy finished graduate school at Cal State East Bay University.
Aileen Finney
Aileen Finney
PHS Class of 1980
Ms. Finney's tenure as the Piedmont Water Polo coach spans 18 seasons over a 20-year period. Prior to coaching, she played on the Cal Womens water polo team (2 times Nadonal Champions) as well as on the USA Women's National Team. In 1995, she launched the PHS Girls Water Polo program and alone managed both the Varsity and JV programs until 2008. In 1991 and 1999, she single-handedly coached all water polo teams (Girls Varsity, Girls JV, Boys Varsity and Boys JV). After a two-year break, she returned to coach the Varsity Team from 2010 - 2014.
In total, Finney coached over 500 games (378 varsity girls' games). Her teams were 5 time ACCAL/WACC Girls' League Champions with 12 appearances in the North Coast Section Championship Tournament. In 2002, Finney was selected as the North Coast Section Honor Coach of the Year/Water Polo. She was the first Piedmont coach honored and the first female water polo coach selected. In 2012, she was the WACC Coach of the Year. Finney served on the North Coast Section Sports Advisory Committee from 2001-2006.
Beginning in 1996, after noticing a need for a girls water polo program in the East Bay, Finney organized the competitive Oakland Water Polo Club. The ongoing legacy of Finney's coaching is exemplified by 28 of her former players who have played or, are playing, in college. Finney taught her teams the importance of winning with dignity, playing with passion and respect for the game. Finney currently teaches 4th grade at Havens Elementary School.
Dana Gilbert Heinemann
Dana Gilbert Heinemann
PHS Class of 1977
Ms. Heinemann is one of the top tennis players in PHS history. In 1974, the California Interscholastic Federation ruled that girls must be allowed to compete on high school boys teams. As a result, Heinemann starred on the Varsity Boys Tennis Team for 4 years (1974-1977). In 1974 and 1975 Heinemann was the #2 ranked PHS player and the #1 player in 1976 and 1977. Piedmont's 1977 tennis team was ranked #7 nationally. Heinemann also competed successfully on the US Tennis Association's Junior National circuit earning top 10 rankings five times in singles. Heinemann was a four time California State Junior Singles Champion and a four time California State Junior Doubles Champion (with Linda Siegel).
In 1977, she was selected to compete in the Maccabiah Games where she becaine the Singles Champion, and in 1978, she became the US Clay Court Singles Champion. Heinemann attended UCLA where she competed for the Bruins 1978-1979 earning All-America Honors both years. She played on the WTA Professional Tour for 6 years (1978-1984) with her highest singles ranking at #40. Heinemann became the first woman Tennis Teaching Professional at Hillcrest Country Club in Los Angeles in 1985. In 1994, Heinemann was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and in 2011, was honored as part of the first group of Legends of the Maccabiah from the Bay Area. She currently works as the property manager for family real estate investments.
Whit Griffinger
Whit Griffinger
PHS Class of 1996
Mr. Griffinger lettered in both Football and Baseball. He played three years on the Varsity Football Team earning All-League First Team Honors at Strong Safety (1993), Linebacker (1994) and Tight End (1995). The PHS 1995 Team won the ACCAL Championship and earned a Top 10 ranking in Northern California. Griffinger was a two-time team captain (1995 and 1996). In 1995, he was honored with the PHS Freedman Award for Outstanding Athletic, Leadership and Academic Achievements. Griffinger played 4 years of Varsity Baseball and led the team as captain in 1996.
Griffinger also excelled in the classroom earning North Coast Section Scholar Athlete Awards every season for both Baseball and Football. He was elected Student Body President his senior year (1995-96) and received the PHS Circle Award as the Outstanding Male Student. Griffinger attended Amherst College where he played baseball (1996-2000). His senior year he was selected captain. Griffinger earned New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) All-Academic honors in 1998 and received the Friends of Amherst College Award in 2000. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude with Distinction, in 2000.
Whit is currendy a staff attorney at Bay Area Legal Aid - Youth Justice Project and serves on the Board of Directors of Building Futures with Women and Children.
Don Perkins
Don Perkins
PHS Class of 1966
Don Perkins was a three sport star at Piedmont High School. His leadership skills were as notable and as important to his teammates as were his athletic abilities. Perkins was a three year Varsity Football Player and was the starting quarterback for the 1965 undefeated team that was ranked #1 in Northern California.
Perkins was a dual threat quarterback who completed 46 passes for 930 yards (an average of 20 yards per completion) with 12 touchdowns. He also rushed 37 times for 240 yards (an average of 6.49 per carry) with 2 touchdowns. Perkins played in the first Alameda-Contra Costa All Star game and was selected as an alternate for the California Shrine game. Perkins played three years of Varsity Basketball averaging 13.5 points per game his senior year. As team captain, he helped the basketball team finish second in the FAL with a 16-8 record. In 1966, as a four year starter in baseball, Perkins was selected first team All-FAL.
During his high school years, Perkins was as active in student government as he was in athletics. He served as a representative on the Student Advisory Council and was a Secretary and Vice President of the Block P Society.
Sally Wood
Sally Thayer Wood
PHS Class of 1985
Sally Wood was an outstanding athlete in both Cross Country and Track. As a Junior she finished first in the ACCAL League Meet with a time of 18:45; placed second at the North Coast Sectionals (18:40); fifth at the Meet of Champions (18:20); and eleventh at the Nor Cal Meet (18:13).
In her senior year, Piedmont finished first in ACCAL and Wood won every race in league, setting a course record at the Championships. She received the team award for Most Valuable Runner. Wood lettered in Track three years competing in the 3000 meters, 1 mile and 2 mile events. She earned All-Western honors at the Footlocker Championship in the 3000 meters. She placed second at the All-League Trials; third in the North Coast Section Trials and eighth at the Meet of Champions in the 2-mile. Wood even broke her own school record in the mile (5:18) and still holds PHS school records in the 1600 and 3200 events.
Wood competed for UC Berkeley four years on both Cross Country and Track. She earned All-American honors in both the NCAA 5000 meters (9th place in 1986) and Cross Country events. Wood was the Northern Pacific Conference Champion in both the 5000 and the 10,000 meter events (1986). She remains one of Cal's All-Time Top Performers earning 6th place in the 3000 meters and 7th place in the 5000 meters (both set in 1986).
Rosie Aguilera
Rosie Aguilera
PHS Class of 2005
Ms. Aguilera was the PHS Women's Varsity Soccer starting goalkeeper from 2001 through 2005. She was a 2-year team captain and 4-year letter winner. She was named the most improved player after her freshman year. She led her team to a win at the NCS Championships during her sophomore year. Her team only lost one league game while securing four championships. She was named Co-MVP of the Bay Shore Athletic League as a junior, MVP as a senior, and was a three time 1st Team All Bay Shore Athletic League selection. She was also a two-time team MVP.
In 2005 Rosie earned the first ever Bay Oaks Distinguished Player Award for lifetime achievement with the club. She earned a Soccer scholarship at UC Irvine and was named a Big West Scholar Athlete. She transferred to UC Berkeley and played an additional 3 years as a Division I goalkeeper. She was named Cal’s most improved player after her sophomore season.
Jeff Haile
Jeff Haile
PHS Class of 1977
Mr. Haile lettered in Football and Track and Field during his tenure at PHS. As a junior, he was named All-FAL in football. During his senior year, his football team went undefeated, winning the ACAL and North Coast Section titles. He was named Player of the Year in the ACAL and the Oakland/Berkeley Co-Player of the Year. He was also named to the All-Northern Californian Team. His Track and Field Team were the FAL Champions in consecutive years. He was the FAL. ACAL, and North Coast Section shot-put champion. He holds the PHS school record for shot-put. He went on to letter in Football and Rugby at Stanford University.