“We now have five classes in the Hall of Fame, and it’s been a great journey, digging through UOG’s athletics history. I’ve been proud to do it,” said Athletics Director Douglas Palmer, who initially established the Hall of Fame in 2017. “We hope this tradition will continue for many years to come.” 

These two classes bring the Hall of Fame membership to 37 members. 

Among the new inductees was the person who first brought athletics to the University of Guam: the late Antonio C. Yamashita, the first president of the University of Guam when it was the Territorial College of Guam. He was represented at the ceremony by several family members, including his grandson, Ryan Arriola, who delivered remarks. 

“My granddad believed that a huge component of any successful endeavor is community engagement,” Arriola said. “He knew that an athletics program would motivate players, students, family, and the community to identify with UOG. He knew that a sense of pride would emanate from competitive sports. He knew that athletics adds a vibrant energy to academia.” 

Yamashita, an athlete himself, initiated the varsity sports program at the college in 1962 that grew to include football, baseball, basketball, and volleyball throughout the 1960s and 1970s. 

The complete list of 2020 and 2021 Hall of Fame inductees is as follows: 

Class of 2020

• Rob Call – Head football coach who led the team to its first championships in 1975 and 1977
• Swingly Dismas – Recreation supervisor for the past 18 years who kept the athletics spirit alive with club and intramural sports when there were no varsity sports
• Rick Manibusan – Baseball pitcher from 1973–1978 selected for the Guam Major League All-Star Team and football player from 1973–1974
• Richard Martinez – Baseball catcher in the early 1980s, known as the “Son of Slam” and considered the best power hitter of his time
• Art Merlan – Football quarterback of the 1975 championship team
• Cecile C. Olandez – Current coach and former player of the women’s basketball team who led the team to the championship game in her first year coaching
• Antonio C. Yamashita, Ed.D. – First president of the Territorial College of Guam who also started the athletics programs in 1962 

 Class of 2021

• Vic April – Baseball center fielder and leadoff hitter who played in two championships
• Robert Borden – Team captain of the first men’s volleyball team to play with a sponsor in the early 2000s
• Vicente “Ben” Diaz – Football defensive back on the championship 1975 team and a two-time All-League Defensive Back 
• Bruce A. Haines – The first athletics director and basketball coach for the Territorial College of Guam in 1963
• Gage Johnson – Basketball player in 1968 who was the first Triton to score 40 points in a game
• Noriekka Lekka – A star recreational and intramural student-athlete through 2018
• Uchel Sechewas – Right-handed baseball pitcher and first baseman for two championship teams
• Terry L. Stotts – Basketball player for the Tritons as a 16-year-old who was named MVP of the Guam Basketball League 

The induction ceremonies, which took place in three separate parts to comply with attendance restrictions, are viewable below.

The Hall of Fame members and Triton Athletics history can be viewed on the Wall of Fame entering the Calvo Field House and on the Athletics Hall of Fame Conference Room in the Triton Fitness Center at the Field House. 

If anyone in the community has memories of exceptional athletes or coaches in Triton Athletics history, contact Doug Palmer at (671) 735-2862 or palmerd@triton.uog.edu.