Cougar Hall of Fame 2026: A Day Worth Celebrating

Sunday, August 23 was a perfect day in every sense of the word.

Cougars past and present gathered at Glendoveer Golf Course for a morning of golf and an afternoon celebration that reminded everyone in the gathering exactly what it means to be part of this community. Gorgeous weather, familiar faces, old memories surfacing, and a whole lot of laughter. And yes, a few tears too. The good kind.

This year's Cougar Hall of Fame inducted the 1999 and 2000 Golf Teams, Todd Manley, and Matt Ballou, while Dick Molstead, Michael Conner, Matt Stanfill, Gale Crosby, and Donna Lewis were celebrated as Cougar Stars. These are people who gave their best for PAA, and they deserved every moment of recognition they received.

Athletic Director Lance Judd invited former coaches to speak to and about each inductee, and the stories they told made the afternoon come alive. Todd Manley was inducted for his remarkable basketball career at PAA, a career that earned him a full-ride scholarship to play at Stanford University. Matt Ballou was honored for his excellence on the golf course. The 1999 and 2000 Golf Teams shared behind the scenes stories that made their wins even more dramatic and impressive than the record books alone could ever capture. Inductees and Cougar Stars each had the chance to share their own memories and express their gratitude, and the room hung on every word.

One of the most moving parts of the afternoon was the recognition of the principals who led PAA through a groundbreaking era in its athletic history. These were the leaders who navigated the challenges and the fight to receive accommodations from OSAA, who stood strong in the face of pushback from some in the community as competitive sports were brand new territory for PAA. They were trailblazers with a vision, and they supported students, staff, and families through difficult and defining times. The foundation of the strong athletic program PAA is known for today was built in part by their courage and conviction.

What a gift it was to honor them.

People coming together after years apart. Stories told and retold. A community remembering where it came from and celebrating how far it has come.

That is the Cougar spirit. And it was on full, beautiful display on Sunday.