Brooke Vessey, ‘Braga Boys’ among latest to be inducted into Redlands High School Hall of Fame

By Ed Castro, Redlands Daily Facts

POSTED: 05/22/14, 7:26 PM PDT |

Redlands High School 12th annual Athletic Hall of Fame Induction

When: Thursday, Oct. 2

Where: Orton Center, University of Redlands

Inductees: Brook Vessey, class of 2007; Sami Grisafe, class of 2003; Red (Richard) Simmons, class of 1956; Dan Finfrock, class of 1964; Wayne Braga, class of 1951; Dennis Braga, class of 1973; Matt Braga, class of 1976

REDLANDS — Two female athletes and a father and son are among the latest inductees into the Redlands High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

The 12th annual induction ceremony is set for Oct. 2 in the Orton Center on the campus of the University of Redlands.

The field of inductees is as impressive as there has been in any of the 11 previous classes.

“The accomplishments is just amazing,” Hall of Famer Hank Mercado said. “I’m working on the plaques and I am having such a difficult time because of all the accomplishments. There are so many. I can’t believe it.”

Mercado said the Hall of Fame committee went through the usual selection process.

“It took us several months,” Mercado said. “We had to have the bios and people had to make recommendations. We had to do the research. It took us about three months for us to make a decision and to take a vote.”

It will be the first for the Hall of Fame to feature a father and son induction. Father Wayne Braga (class of 1951) was a three-sport athlete in football, baseball and track. Son Matt Braga (class of 1976) played football and track.

Sami Grisafe, a 2003 graduate, played football for the Terriers and then gained international acclaim as a women’s professional football player. She guided her team to the IFAF Women’s World Championship victory. Grisafe has rewritten the record book during near-decadelong career in women’s professional football.

Dan Finfrock (Class of 1964) played football and baseball at RHS and went on to coach Arrowhead Christian Academy to five CIF championship finals.

Brooke Vessey (Class of 2007) is the second in her family to be inducted into the RHS Hall of Fame. Her sister Jamie is already in the Hall. Brooke Vessey was a standout in water polo and swimming, she was named the 2007 CIF Division 5 Player of the Year in water polo.

Red (Richard) Simmons (Class of 1956), stood out in football and baseball. But he went on to excel as a professional softball player and is a member of the National Softball Hall of Fame.

Reservations for the dinner and ceremony at the Orton Center at the University of Redlands can be purchased by sending a check for $45 per person to: RHS Hall of Fame, 453 Cajon St., Redlands 92373.

Link to article:

http://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/sports/20140522/brooke-vessey-braga-boys-among-latest-to-be-inducted-into-redlands-high-school-hall-of-fame