Throughout all the years of existence and high-intensity of school spirit and tradition, AHS has never had an athletic hall of fame until now.

This past school year Director of Student Activities John Ellenberger made an effort for an installment of the first Atoms athletic hall of fame.

“With the tradition in this school and with all the great athletes and coaches that have come through here, I thought that an athletic hall of fame is something we needed to have,” Ellenberger said.

The first class of hall of fame inductees features former Atoms athletes including some of whom were also professional athletes, All-Americans, as well as an Olympian.

Inductees into the 2018 Atoms athletic hall of fame class will include current UCLA women’s soccer head coach Amanda Cromwell who led the Bruins to a NCAA Championship in 2013.

Other individual former AHS athletes being inducted include the class of 1960 football player Sonny Utz and former MLB player Robin Jennings who played for a number of professional teams including the Chicago Cubs and Colorado Rockies.

Also being inducted in the first class of the hall of fame are state championship teams, coaches and administrators.

Teams to win first state championships for the Atoms including the 1965 football team; 1986 girl’s soccer team and the first undefeated Atoms football team from 1959.

Coaches Katherine Buck, Ed Henry, and Katherine Russell and former athletic directors Bob Hardage and Rachel Peters are among staff inductees.

Former principal Jim Finch will also be inducted.

These AHS alums will all be attending the ceremony, however, for those being inducted that are deceased, a family member will be attending in their honor.

The official induction ceremony will take place at the Arlington Moose Lodge on Sept. 8 where inductees into the first class will meet. There will be anywhere from 60 to 80 attendees at the ceremony.  

“We are looking forward to having our first induction ceremony,” Ellenberger said. “The alumni are also excited that it is finally happening.”

This new Atoms tradition will create excitement for future years to come.