The Los Gatos High School Hall of Fame Committee has announced its 2026 inductee class. They include Dan Dolen (Class of 1970), Bill Berk (1990), Ben Winkelman (2000), Brian Brogan (2005), Danny Sullivan (2006), Sarah Safir Smith 2008), Cady Chessin (2013) and Greta Wagner (2014).
The Induction Ceremony will be on May 2 at La Rinconada Country Club. Tickets can be purchased at GoFan.co. The list of accomplishments of the athletes sparks a trip down memory lane. Here is a snapshot of achievements from the latest HOF inductees—as usual, a who’s-who in the storied LGHS sports tradition.
Dan Dolen starred in three sports: baseball, basketball and football. He was a first-team all-leaguer in baseball in his junior and senior seasons, compiling a 6-1 record in both years while helping lead the Wildcats to a pair of league championships. Dolen also was the school’s best basketball player in his junior and senior year, leading the team in scoring and rebounding. He went on to enjoy a three-year career with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Bill Berk was a key cog in the football team, winning De Anza Division and Central Coast Section championships in the 1989 season. He caught a team-high 34 passes for 821 yards, and six touchdowns that year, while also serving as the team’s placekicker, converting 23 PATs and a field goal. In baseball, Berk was a three-year starter at shortstop, leading the Wildcats to a 57-21 record during that span. In addition to being outstanding defensively, Berk hit .398 during his junior season, leading the Wildcats to a CCS title game.
Ben Winkelman was a two-way star in football, playing defensive end and tight end. He tied for first on the team in TD receptions and fumble recoveries, while also being among the leaders in tackles and sacks. He played on the opposite side of the line from future NFL Hall of Famer Jared Allen, when the team allowed an average of just 7.4 points per game in the regular-season. Winkelman was also a strong basketball player who dominated in the paint.
Brian Brogan is one of the greatest tennis players in LGHS history. He was the No. 1 singles player on three CCS championship-winning teams, earning All-America honors from 2003-2005. Brogan went on to play Division I tennis at Pepperdine and Santa Clara universities.
Danny Sullivan quarterbacked the football team to De Anza Division and CCS titles in the 2005 season. He completed 60% of his passes while throwing for 24 touchdowns to just six interceptions in his senior year. Sullivan, who went on to play at Arizona State, graduated from LGHS holding the second best all-time mark for passing yards and TDs in a single season.
Sarah Safir Smith had an illustrious swim career, winning four individual league championships while also being a part of seven league championship-winning relay squads. She broke the school record in the 50 free, and was a key cog in the record-breaking 200 free relay and 200 medley relay squads. In water polo, Smith earned all-league honors three times, including an all-CCS selection in her senior season. She went on to play water polo at Santa Clara University.
Cady Chessin was the first girl to wrestle on the boys varsity team and the first to win a varsity match. She was a three-time CCS girls champion, won state titles in her junior and senior seasons and captured a national championship in 2013. Chessin went on to wrestle at Menlo College, earning four-time All-America honors while competing in the Pan American Games and the Olympic Trials.
Greta Wagner won the pole vault in the CIF State Championships during her senior season, a year after finishing as the runner-up. She still holds the school’s girls pole vault record of 13 feet, 2 inches, and has the 13th-best vault in state history. Wagner qualified for the State Championships in four different events her senior year—the 100, 200, 4×100 relay and pole vault—a testament to her tremendous athleticism and versatility. She graduated from LGHS as the school record-holder in the 100- and 200-meter dash.
