Finding Alhambra's all-time greatest athletes
Alhambra
The Lions had one of the greatest athletic programs in the 1970s and '80s, featuring athletes who went on to do big things in the college and the professional ranks. Here is a look at five who stand out: Bob Breunig, 1971
Not only a fierce middle linebacker but a rugged linebacker and state champion wrestler in high school, Breunig went on to become a star at Arizona State and in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys. He won the Butkus Award for the best college linebacker in the nation in 1974, making first-team All-American. He started 117 consecutive games for the Cowboys and was a three-time Pro Bowler. He was a part of three Super Bowl teams, including the 1977 season that culminated with a victory over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XII.
Kathy Gibbons, 1972
A member of the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame, she set girls state high school track records in the 880-yard run and the mile. She was a member of the 1972 U.S. Olympic team and held world records in the 1,000 and 10,000 meters. She was tragically killed while training in Boulder in 1982, a year after she moved there to become the University of Colorado's track and field coach.
Only 2 opportunities remain to live in one of the most exclusive gated communities in North Central Phoenix – The Manors at Butler North. Call now to schedule your private tour of these move-in ready homes
Nathan LaDuke, 1987
One of the state's all-time greatest three-sport athletes, he was elite in football as an option quarterback and safety in wrestling as a state champion and in baseball where he was gifted at the plate and in the field. He played both football (at Arizona State) and baseball (at Grand Canyon) in college. He was a punter and a free safety at ASU, where he stood out with his incredible instincts and athleticism. He had a total of 13 interceptions in his last three seasons at ASU. He played pro football with the Arizona Rattlers. Steve Malovic, 1974
Maybe the most dominant big man the Arizona high school ranks saw in the 1970s, he used his 6-foot-10 frame to gobble up rebounds and his deft left-handed touch to score around the rim. He was magnificent in the Lions' 68-64 fourovertime win over Phoenix East for the 1974 state championship, considered one of the greatest all-time state basketball championships ever played in Arizona. He went on to be a standout at USC and San Diego State, before playing an NBA season with the Washington Bullets, San Diego Clippers and Detroit Pistons, before enjoying an extended pro career overseas in Israel. He died at the age of 50.
No. 5 Billy Boat, 1984
He was known for motor sports away from school. But in school he wasacademically among the best. He graduated in the top 2% in his class and took an academic scholarship to Arizona State. Two years after graduating from Alhambra, he founded Billy Boat Performance Exhaust. He raced in the Indy Car series from 19962003, and won the pole position at the 1998 Indianapolis 500. He won his only Indy Car race that same year at the Texas Motor Speedway.