Four Hall of Fame Inductees Highlight Awards Banquet

See Photos from the 2025 VC Athletics Hall of Fame Induction and Student Athlete Recognition Banquet

The Ventura College Athletic Department inducted four alumni student athletes into the VC Pirate Athletics Hall of Fame on Sunday May 4, highlighting the 17th Hall of Fame Induction and Student Athlete Recognition Banquet at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach Hotel. All 19 Pirate sports were represented in the evening's activities as the department honored the achievements of the 2024-25 academic year.

The celebration of another successful year on the field, court, course and pool for the Pirates included highlighting the Western State Conference championships for the softball and men's tennis teams. Additionally, 45 student athletes were recognized for outstanding achievement in competition and in the classroom.

The Pirates were a steady presence in the 3C2A Regional and state competition in 2024-25, with 11 sports competing in the post-season. The Pirate soccer team made its 27th playoff appearance in 28 seasons while volleyball made its eighth playoff appearance in the past decade. Women's water polo also advanced to the SoCal Regionals and men's cross country ran as a team in the post-season for the 11th consecutive season. Meanwhile, in the spring, the VC softball team returned to the playoffs while men's and women's swimming made a splash in regional and state competition. Both men's and women's tennis teams went to the SoCal Regionals and each had players in the 3C2A State Singles and Doubles Championships. Golf returned to state for the first time since 2022 and beach volleyball went to the playoffs for the fifth straight season with a pair playing on the final day of the state pairs tournament for the fifth consecutive season.

Women's soccer All-American Leslie Torres earned the Female Athlete of the Year Award and men's swimming All-American Jaiden Monroe was named the Male Athlete of the Year. AnnMarie Patterson from women's water polo and football's Daniel Duran were honored as the Outstanding Sophomore Athletes of the Year with a ticket to the Ventura County Sports Hall of Fame Banquet in June. Alexa Coubal from the women's basketball team and Bella Palacios from women's water polo were named the Female Scholar Athletes of the Year while Ty Morris of the Pirate football team earned the Male Scholar Athlete of the Year Award. 

Conference coaches of the year were also recognized, including Nelson Emery from men's tennis and Julia Tamai from softball.  Tamai was also honored as VC's Head Coach of the Year and football assistant Ian Dahlquist was named the Assistant Coach of the Year.

The evening was highlighted with the induction of four Pirate greats into the VC Athletics Hall of Fame:

• Mark Cleavenger '82, Southern California Conference MVP, All-American goalie in water polo, All-American swimmer and 1982 VC Male Athlete of the Year. Transferred to UC Santa Barbara
• Calvin Curry '93, two-time All-WSC honoree in men's basketball, WSC MVP in in 1993, State Player of the Year and an All-American in 1993. Played professionally overseas. Transferred to Oklahoma
• Monique (Orocio) Leal, two time All-WSC award winner in women's soccer, WSC MVP in 2020 and NSCAA All-American in 2010. Transferred to Kansas Wesleyan.
• John Speed '84, school record-holder in the 100m, on VC Top-10 list in 200m, WSC Champions in the 4x100m and 4x400m relays and ran track at San Diego State University.