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| Eldin, off duty. Photo courtesy of Jan Onsgard. |
By Adam Sandler
What do actor and former UCLA quarterback Mark Harmon and Ocean Lifeguard and Competitor Eldin Onsgard have in common?
They are both members of the Pierce College Athletic Hall of Fame!
Eldin will be inducted May 28 into the Hall of Fame Class of 2014 with 13 other Pierce College alumni, a who’s who of collegiate and professional athletes, such as Olympian Kevin Barnett and MLB infielder Rich Auerbach.
Previous inductees include MLB stars Doug DeCinces, Barry Zito and Coco Crisp, and two-time Super Bowl champion/Pittsburgh Steelers Safety Jimmy Allen, among others. Harmon was inducted in 2010.
“Eldin bleeds Brahma Red. He’s been a fixture on campus for all his adult life, from being a student, coach, and teacher,” Pierce College Athletic Director Bob Lofrano tells County Recurrent. “He’s why we say here at Pierce, ‘Brahmas are rare people.’ Eldin has served this campus well, and the community well. He is a rare person. He is a Brahma!”
The Official Program Blurb about Eldin says: Attended Pierce from ’70-’72. He was an MVP Water Polo --1st Team All-Conference Water Polo/Diving. All-American Diving. Coached [swimming and water polo] at Pierce from ’79-’86. He has been teaching for over 30 years, and is currently at East L.A. College. He’s been an LA County Lifeguard for 45 years. See attached pics for images of the Eldin era.
(Two photos immediately below show Eldin in top form in diving "back in the day" at Pierce. Photos courtesy of Jan Onsgard.)
We all know about Eldin’s skill as an angler, visiting the Nation’s rivers and streams to catch the indigenous fish; his considerable competitive acumen and how he annually racks up multiple First Places in the 60-64 age group at CSLSA Regionals and USLA Nationals -- he’s apparently also a performer.
But what isn’t mentioned is that during his Pierce College days, Eldin also played volleyball, was a member of the Cheerleading Squad, and was in the Dance Theater and Choir. We can thank Jan Onsgard for this highly illuminating additional information!
Now we know why Eldin is so LITHE!
With that diverse set of skills, Eldin is the very definition of a Renaissance Man.
Well done, Eldin! Congratulations!
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| "Brahmance"... Eldin and Adam Sandler. Photo by Will Maguire |
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| The Trout Master. Photo courtesy of Jan Onsgard. |
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| Eldin in the hunt... Photo & © Will Maguire 2013. |
*** Many Thanks to Adam Sandler for sharing this great accomplishment of Eldin's with all of us!
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Until next time.....
"County Recurrent" News
http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com
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