Michelle moved off the diamond and into the dugout at the end of the 1990s, becoming head coach of the 2001 USA Softball National Red Team. Her stint with the Rebels resulted in being named a nine-time American Softball Association All-American. She spent 12 years behind home plate for the American Softball Association’s Redding Rebels, which earned a national championship three times between 1993-1995. She’s a gold medalist for several USA Softball teams and played professional softball. Michelle qualified for the Pam Am games and was a finalist for a berth on the 1996 Olympic squad. She continued on, playing in the softball World Cup in Japan in 1989, Softball World Championship in 1994 and played five times in the Olympic Festival. Michelle’s softball career didn’t end with college. She led the Titans to a 170-19-1 record string of victories between 1985-1987, including the NCAA 1986 national championship. She began her post-prep career at Butte Junior College and then spent three years at Cal State Fullerton playing on its national championship team. On April 27, 2007, Michelle’s OO jersey was officially retired from the AHS lineup. Michelle was chosen All East Bay First Team catcher and was Antioch High School team MVP in 1982. Michelle Gromacki’s face may have been hidden behind a catcher’s mask during her playing career, but she continues to make herself known in the world of softball. Jack left after the 1949 season to coach at East Contra Costa Junior College, now Diablo Valley College. The extraordinary leadership he exhibited earned Jack the honor of being named “Best Coach west of the Mississippi” in 1946. Beginning in 1940, Jack’s boys never lost more than one game in a season until 1948, when the record was 6-2. Jack took that dismal season as a challenge, and went on to lead the players to a remarkable record of 75 wins and six losses in 10 years – encompassing a 27-game winning streak from 1944 – 1948 that included AHS’s first undefeated season in 1945-46. His record: 0 wins, 6 losses and two ties. Mary’s College alumni’s first year as head coach was disappointing. Jack was Panther head football and track coach between 1939-1949, guiding some of the best teams – and players – to ever come out of Antioch. “This guy put two players in the NFL.” Shaw said that in 1951, three of the AHS boys Danilovich had coached were captains of their respective college football teams. “He put Antioch on the map” according to one of his star players, and fellow Sports Legend, Worth Shaw. Jack Danilovich’s tenure at Antioch High School was short, but his influence was indelible. Mary’s Hall of Fame, where he’s been so honored since 1970. Bus stayed in Antioch, serving the city as a police officer when his sports career ended. Bus played in the very first East-West Shrine Game in 1929, the same year this early athlete chose baseball after college, spending more than two yeas in the Pacific Coast AAA Baseball League. He was on the American Legion Football team, coached by Walter “Dutch” Eells, the namesake of Antioch High’s stadium, and in 1928, on a summer break from college, played on the championship American Legion baseball squad. When he wasn’t playing college ball, Bus played on club football teams. Bus was the first All-America player to come out of Antioch. He was First Team All-America in football in 1929: the legendary Knute Rockne signed the certificate. He played football and centerfield in baseball at St. His skills as a tackle and place kicker earned him All-League honors and a full scholarship to St. In baseball he played centerfield and held the record for most runs scored at Riverview High. At Riverview, Bus was both place kicker and tackle and was All-League for four years. Bus graduated in 1927 from Riverview High School, the very building that now houses the Antioch Historical Society Museum and Sports Legends Hall. The bone-jarring tackles made by “Bus” Ackerman in the 1920s era of football were made even more impressive by the lack of modern protective gear.
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