Join the Menlo College Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Livestream! Celebrate the outstanding athletes, coaches, and contributors who have shaped Menlo Athletics. Don't miss this special night of inspiring stories and unforgettable moments – streaming live on October 18^th at 5:00PM!
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Atherton, CA- As the Menlo College Oaks wrap up their final year as a member of the NAIA and the Golden State Athletic Conference, the coming 2024-2025 athletic year can be expected to be one that will be filled with excitement and anticipation! At the start of the season, Menlo will launch its first year competing under the NCAA banner as a new member of the PacWest Conference. Later that fall, Menlo Athletics will induct the newest members of the Menlo College Athletics Hall of Fame. 

This year's Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on Friday, October 18, 2024. The group of athletes who will be recognized have stamped their names in record books and found success both on and off the field or court. Thanks to their hard work and success, they will have their names memorialized as some of the greatest to don the Menlo blue and white! Slated for induction in October are:

Nicole Johnson, 2002 - 2006 – Women's Basketball & Volleyball

Nicole Johnson was a Menlo Women's Basketball staple during the early 2000s. A two-sport athlete who also saw action as a Women's Volleyball team member, Johnson was a dominant figure on the court during her playing career. Under hall-of-fame coach Caitlin Collier, Johnson put together a dominant four-year run in which she earned numerous accolades, including being named to the following:

• 2006 – All-Cal Pac Team

• 2005 – Peninsula Hoops Classic All-Tournament Team

• 2003 – All-Freshman Team 

• 2003 – Honorable Mention All-Conference Team 

• 2002 – Lady Oaks Thanksgiving Classic All-Tournament Team

To cap off her final year as an Oak, Johnson was instrumental in leading the team to a 25-4 record during the 2005-2006 season, when the team set a new record for most wins in a single season. Not only would they stack up plenty of wins, but they would also cap the year off with a Cal Pac Conference title! As Johnson prepares for her induction into the Menlo Hall of Fame, her name remains a mainstay in the Oaks' record books, as she holds the following rankings for career statistics:

• 7th All-Time in Field Goals Made

• 2nd All-Time in Field Goal Percentage

• 5th All-Time in Rebounds 

• 2nd All-Time in Games Started

• 8th All-Time in Total Points 

Johnson also holds the fourth- and sixth-best marks for single-season field goal percentage, capping off an impressive playing career. Coach Collier offered up a fitting summary of Johnson's time as a player that encapsulates her Hall of Fame resume, saying: "I remember her coachability, her great attitude, how much her teammates liked her, and her energy and joy and enthusiasm; all hall of fame qualities. I could always count on her and that's a great feeling for a coach."

When asked what this honor meant to her, Johnson spoke of her teammates and family who have been alongside her since her playing days: "Being inducted into the Menlo Hall of Fame is an incredible honor. My time as an athlete at Menlo profoundly impacted my life. The friendships I formed with my teammates are still cherished, and we frequently reminisce about our remarkable achievements and memories. I am deeply grateful to my mom for being my biggest supporter and to my husband and son for always listening to my stories from the glory days!" It is fitting that one of Menlo Women's Basketball's best will join her coach in the Menlo Hall of Fame!

Juan Rocha, 2000 - 2004 – Men's Soccer

When speaking about the best to have ever stepped onto the Menlo Men's Soccer pitch, it would be difficult not to mention the Oaks' top midfielder from 2000 to 2004, Juan Rocha. His coach at the time Len Renery could not agree more: "Juan came to Menlo in 2000 and played a major role in revitalizing the soccer program. Unquestionably, he took Menlo soccer to a much higher level. As a player, Juan brought skill, speed, attitude and pride to the program, traits which his teammates inherited and which earned him team captaincy for three straight years."

In his four years with the Oaks, Rocha won every possible accolade an individual could, embodying the life of a student-athlete. Rocha quickly established himself as a leader for the Oaks, being named a team captain for three years and famously never missing a practice or game in his career. Rocha was the definition of an "iron man" who anchored Menlo at the midfield position. He was also an excellent member of the Menlo community, including from an academic standpoint, being named an Academic All-American. 

When it came to his ability on the field, Rocha was twice named to the Cal Pac's All-Conference Second Team and earned 15 goals and 22 assists as a primary facilitator of Menlo's offense. To cap off his already impressive resume, Rocha concluded his time with the Oaks named to the First Team All-Conference squad, as well as Cal Pac's Player-of-the-Year due to his domination at Menlo's point of attack. 

On top of his success during his collegiate playing days, Rocha remains engaged with the Menlo Soccer community, having most recently attended the 2024 Señor Carlos López Alumni Day (when he even got back on the pitch)! This should come as no surprise, as Rocha was incredibly active in the community during his time at Menlo, including graduating Magna Cum Laude, serving as a resident assistant, and being named to the Dean's List four times over. When asked what coming back to Menlo meant to him, Rocha offered up how important his time as an Oak was, saying: "The team gave me so much. It gave me a lot of friends that I continue to stay in touch with even today. It gave me the knowledge that I carry from Coach Len. He was a big support when I came to Menlo. The team and the Carlos Lopez Alumni Day means camaraderie, family, community, and hanging out."

Danny Castillo 2001 - 2004 – Men's Wrestling

Menlo Athletics has been synonymous with dominant wrestling for years, and Danny Castillo had a massive part in laying the foundation for two decades of success. Castillo joined the Oaks in 2001 as a founding team member under then-head coach and current Vice President & Director of Athletics Keith Spataro. Right away, Castillo made his presence known on the team, being named both a team captain and the most-improved wrestler in his first year with the Oaks. It would only be the start for Castillo, who would become one of the Oaks' earliest multi-time All-American, with second and fourth-place finishes in the NAIA. Spataro acknowledged Castillo's importance to the young program at the time and his work ethic that set the standard for the program that exists today saying: "Danny was as competitive of an athlete as I have ever coached. When it came to work, he wasn't afraid to give everything he had all the time and was always up for a challenge. Certainly one of the all time greats in Menlo history."

Castillo's impact on wrestling and other combat sports would only continue to grow as his professional career took off after his time at Menlo. A black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Castillo competed in the World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) in eight matches during his first bout as a professional fighter. He then joined the UFC, competing for about four years. Castillo participated in 22 professional matches, including seven first-round finishes!

Castillo transitioned into a coaching and entrepreneurship role in the world of combat sports and fitness. As an MMA coach, Castillo has helped train a World Champion and a UFC Hall of Famer. Currently, he is coaching 14 UFC Fighters, five of whom are currently ranked among the top-10 in the world. Castillo also owns P2O Hot Pilates & Fitness in Sacramento, which has been voted the top pilates studio in Sacramento for six straight years. Castillo was one of the inaugural members of Menlo Wrestling, and spent hours perfecting his craft, most notably the infamous "Valparaiso Runs" (the Valparaiso Runs were a test of will!). He said: "That team was so competitive, and we had a lot of All-Star guys - all junior college legends and big names from California high schools. The culture was mono-e-mono. Wrestling is an individual sport, but at that time, the run was humbling, bringing out many mental tests for the entire team. It brought many good things out of me - competitiveness, determination, and life lessons."

Armando San Vicente, 2002 - 2006 – Men's Soccer

Menlo Men's Soccer team will feature not just one but two inductees into the Oaks Hall of Fame, with Armando San Vicente joining his teammate Juan Rocha. Appropriately enough, as the two spent a pair of seasons together on the pitch! 

San Vicente carved out his legacy with the Oaks, filled with numerous accomplishments and accolades. A natural leader, San Vicente was a three-time team captain, earning the honor three consecutive times as a sophomore, junior, and senior! He was also named to the Dean's List. Longtime head coach Len Renery echoed the impact San Vicente had on the team's culture on and off the field: "Armando came to Menlo in 2002, and made an immediate impact on the soccer team. He scored an outstanding 11 goals and five assists as a freshman.  He was selected as team captain as a sophomore, junior and senior. In his four years at Menlo, Armando started every game, missing none."

As he transitioned into an upperclassman, San Vicente elevated his performance on the field and submitted two of the strongest individual seasons in program history. He would first be named to the Cal Pac's All-Conference Second Team as a junior before a massive breakout performance in his final year of play. During his senior year, San Vicente led the Oaks to an 11-win season, including a 5-1-1 record in conference play. It was the Oak's first double-digit win season during a 12-year span. For his performance on the field, he was named a member of the Cal Pac's All-Conference First Team and was a Cal Pac Player-of-the-Week and the Cal Pac Player-of-the-Year!

When asked about his time with head coach Len Renery and Menlo Men's Soccer, San Vicente couldn't help but reflect on his younger self, saying: "As I look back on my four years at Menlo, I see a nineteen-year-old kid with a dream of someday being great, making a difference in my family and community, and most of all, making my mother, Yrma San Vicente, the proudest mom on the planet. I'm here today blessed and honored to be welcomed to the 2024 Menlo College Athletics Hall of Fame. A special thanks to my Coach, Len Renery, and the 2002-2006 soccer players class. GO OAKS!!" 

Justin Weaver 1997 - 2001 –  Football & Baseball

While Menlo Athletics may no longer have a football team, during the program's peak, Justin Weaver was one of the premier players to strap on shoulder pads and a helmet for the Oaks. Weaver was a two-sport athlete at Menlo and a member of the baseball team. On the gridiron, the multisport star was a force on the defensive side of the ball and was named the team's defensive captain for three consecutive seasons. Weaver was also named to the NCAA DIII All-West Region Defense Football Team, as he led the Oaks in tackles twice during his playing career. Once his time on the football field ended, Weaver would go on to be the program's all-time leader in tackles. While Weaver made his name as a football player, he was no slouch on the baseball diamond, where he was a two-time team captain. Wally Funk, Weaver's position coach during his playing career had nothing but praise for the multisport star: "Justin was my first-ever recruit. He was a very smart player and put the work in each day. He made the day-to-day grind fun, and allowed me to learn as a coach alongside him. He is as true an Oak as anyone. This is certainly an earned distinction." 

When his time as a player came to an end, Weaver remained involved in athletics as a coach, including serving as Sonoma Valley High School's Defensive Coordinator from 2004 to 2018, the Sonoma Valley High Baseball Coach from 2001 to 2008, and the Archbishop Hanna High School Baseball Coach from 2009 to 2015.

1989 Women's Volleyball NCAA Final Four Team

• Head Coach Malcolm Taylor**

• Assistant Coach Russ Nitta

• Delna Lancaster*

• Kim (Lee) Moore**

• Ann (Demijohn) Murray

• Gretta (Curlett) Kosanovich

• Heather (Foss) Hill

• Jen (Colby) Humphreys

• Keala (Kauwe) lli

• Kelli (Johnston) Newnan

• Samantha (Lagerloef) Steinwinder

• Sue (MacLeod) Dishion

*Inducted into the Menlo College Hall of Fame in 2000

**Inducted into the Menlo College Hall of Fame in 2007

From the start of their season, it was clear that the Menlo Women's Volleyball team of 1989 was on the cusp of something special. With Hall of Fame coach Malcolm Taylor at the helm, the Oaks would start the year winning the 1989 Pomona Invitational Tournament and the 1989 Mills College Tournament. Many of the athletes on the team were founding members of the program, as 1986 marked the start of Menlo Volleyball. The team finished the year with an impressive 27-7 record that would see them qualify for the NCAA Division III National Tournament. The Oaks won the Western Region and earned the right to compete for a national title at the 1989 NCAA Division III Final Four in St. Louis, Missouri. With a duo of future Menlo College Hall of Famers in Delna Lancaster and Kim (Lee) Moore leading the way, the 1989 Final Four team remains one of the most impressive in the long history of Menlo Women's Volleyball. 

Kim (Lee) Moore spoke about the intense rivalry that the Oaks maintained with UC San Diego at the time and the difficulty of making such a deep run, saying: "One of our first tournaments was at Pomona-Pitzer when I was a freshman. We won the tournament by beating UC San Diego, and when we won, I saw Delna and Gretta crying and wondered why. It was such a deep rivalry filled with losses, so it was great to come out early in the season and win. I rarely appreciated what our '89 team did until my later years at Menlo. As a freshman going to the final four, you think it is so cool and 'let's do it again,' but it was never that easy." 

Meanwhile, fellow teammate and Menlo College Hall of Famer Delna Lancaster reflected on her late head coach Malcolm Taylor, speaking in reverence about the Hall of Fame: "Gretta and I were fortunate to play for him all four years at Menlo. He had a very unique style of coaching, something I did not expect at the college level.  He was a coach who stressed basic fundamentals, and looking back, that was all we needed. I give him credit, because we were so successful all those years." With members of this great team already residing in the annals of Menlo Athletics history, it is only fitting that the rest of the team takes their place among the Menlo greats as members of the Menlo College Hall of Fame!