2 hours Ago By Thomas Gase
The Vallejo Sports Hall of Fame announced its 2025 class on Sunday night, with headliners Duke Brown, Jason Shelley and Eddie Abasolo finally getting the call. The 19th annual class will be inducted at the Dan Foley Cultural Center on March 15. The Coach Sarna League and Vallejo PAL are hosting this year’s event, which will feature all proceeds going toward youth sports scholarships.
Brown, the longtime Vallejo High School boys and girls basketball coach who currently guides the ELITE High boys team, is the headliner of the new class. Fast approaching 300 career wins since since starting by coaching the boys team at Vallejo High during the 2001-02 season, Brown began as an assistant coach with longtime Bethel High coach Dwayne Jones under head coach Foster Hicks at Hogan High. Brown eventually would coach the junior varsity team at Hogan for nine years, a period he once called one of the best part of his life.
It was at Vallejo where Brown made his biggest mark, guiding Vallejo to 10 straight playoff appearances from 2002 to 2011, including four trips to ARCO Arena in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006. He retired from coaching after the 2018-19 season but returned to ELITE last year after getting the itch to coach again. Former Vallejo High Athletic Director and current track and field head coach Mike Wilson had a closeup view of Brown’s influence on Vallejo players.
“I really think Duke has been a fixture with us for a long time,” Wilson said in 2019. “But I think one of the best things he brought to the school and all his teams was discipline. He was really powerful with making sure kids got things done on time and acted in a respectful manner in front of other people.
” The event will once again induct 10 athletes, one coach, one team and one special achievement. The class consists of 1962 Vallejo High graduate and baseball player Jim Owens, 1986 Vallejo High graduate and baseball and football player John Hardy, 1992 Vallejo High graduate and baseball player Damon Hollins, who is now the first base coach for the Kansas City Royals. Also going in is Muay Thai boxer and Hogan 2004 graduate Eddie Abasolo, 1994 Vallejo High graduate and track and field and football star Ali Evans, St.
Patrick-St.Vincent High 2013 graduate Gabe Domecus, who starred in volleyball as a Bruin before winning two national titles at Ohio State. Vallejo High 2006 graduate wrestler Lauren Knight is also going in, while 1992 Vallejo High graduate and baseball player Chris Smith gets the call.
Welana Toki, a Hogan High graduate and basketball star will go in along with Vallejo High Class of 1992 graduate and football star Jason Shelley. The year’s special achievement goes to Don Bostick, who was a promoter for many sports, including skateboarding. The team going in this year will be the 2005-2007 Vallejo High girls wrestling teams that won three state championships in a row.
Prices are $80 for an adult ticket, while the price is $40 for a youth ticket (ages 6-12). Next month look for more individual stories on all the inductees in the Vallejo Times-Herald and online at timesheraldonline.com.
For more information visit vallejosportshalloffame.ticketspice.com/2025-vallejo-sports-hall-of-fame.
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