The Tenino Athletics Hall of Fame is set to induct three new members at halftime of the football game against Rochester on Oct. 9.
The three new inductees are Bob Hurley (Class of ‘59), John Vanderhoof (‘76) and Louise Rota (‘67).
“The Tenino Athletics Hall of Fame was established to honor the legacy our athletes, coaches and members of the community left behind as they’ve contributed to Tenino Athletics,” a statement from the school’s athletic department said. “We invite friends, family and community members to join us in celebrating their great achievements.”
In addition to the halftime celebration, Tenino Eagles is also hosting a social hour prior to the game from 5-6:30 p.m. A shuttle to the game from there will be provided courtesy of Tenino Athletics.
If anyone has photos, memories, stories, or any information that could help honor the 2026 class, they are encouraged to visit this google form created by the school.
Bob Hurley
Hurley lettered in basketball and baseball all four years of his high school career, and he lettered football in three years, only missing a fourth due to an injury.
In both 1958 and 1959, he was selected to the First Team “West Lewis County” Basketball All-Stars. He also played in Tenino’s first game on the then new lighted football field, scoring touchdowns on both ends in a Tenino win.
Hurley helped lead the basketball team to league titles in both 1958 and 1959, and the team finished a perfect 14-0 in 1958.
He later served on the school board and the Civil Service Commission, and he was a volunteer firefighter for 25 years, including time as the Assistant Chief.
John Vanderhoof
Vanderhoof was a volunteer assistant coach and “equipment expert” for 25 years, with many claiming he never missed a practice and “always carried a smile.”
He was also a volunteer slow pitch coach, volunteer Fastpitch coach, volunteer baseball coach and volunteer wrestling coach.
Vanderhoof was also a Starter at Track and Field meets, helped construct the batting cages that are in use to this day, kept stats at girls basketball games, and served on the emergency crew for football for 13 years.
He also officiated wrestling for 20 years, and he was a volunteer firefighter for 30 years, including 17 years with the Fire Commission.
Louise Rota
Rota attended Tenino during a time where girls’ athletics were not offered, but she still found a way to compete.
She competed with the Bucoda fastpitch softball team, which played at Volunteer Park as well as in Centralia and Chehalis.
At Tenino, she also participated in the school’s tennis club. Although tennis was not recognized officially by the WIAA, she “pursued it with determination” and was able to travel to Elma with the club to compete in her senior season.
Rota later attended Centralia College, where she continued to play tennis. She placed second in state her freshman year before capturing a state title her sophomore year.
She also played basketball, earning team captain honors in her sophomore year, and she was able to compete against the University of Washington in one game.
She also competed in club fencing, and she was later inducted into the Centralia College Athletics Hall of Fame.
She later transferred to Eastern Washington, where she played junior varsity volleyball, varsity basketball, and fastpitch softball, a club sport at the time, where she earned multiple MVP honors.
After her playing career, she coached slowpitch softball in Olympia and later competed on a Tacoma slowpitch team that won regionals and competed in a national tournament four times. She is a member of Tacoma’s softball Hall of Fame.
She also went on to coach basketball, tennis, track and field, and volleyball for more than 30 years at Montesano, where she is also a member of the schools’ Hall of Fame.
In addition, she officiated basketball and volleyball, served with the WIAA rules committee, founded an officiating organization for volleyball and girls basketball in Grays Harbor, and served with the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport as the high school representative for schools across the country.
Now, she volunteers with Give Kids The World, a nonprofit associated with Disney World, and with Special Olympics.
