The Hilltop High School Hall of Fame celebrates and honors the achievements of individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields. Whether they’re coaching legends who shaped the school’s sports culture, star athletes who made a mark in their respective sports, entrepreneurs who forged successful careers or artists and scholars who excelled in their crafts, each honoree’s story is a testament to the excellence and impact of Hilltop High’s community.
This year’s induction ceremony will take place on Friday, Oct. 11, at 5:45 p.m. on campus prior to kick-off at the Homecoming football game.
In order to fund this incredible event, the Hall of Fame Committee appreciates support from the community at-large. Donations to fund this recognition are accepted at https://gofund.me/49f06cf8
Hilltop High School’s Legacy Committee announces the following 2024 Hilltop Hall of Fame inductees:
Edward Erich Anderson (Class of 1974) – Arts (posthumously)
Jose Barajas (Class of 2004) – Business/Entrepreneur
Tami Bruce (Class of 1985) – Athletics
Renate (Busch) Armstrong (Class of 1978) – Athletics
Lynn Garcia (staff/coach) – 1985-2014
Merlyn “Chip” Holmes (Class of 1967), coach 1985-2005
Brian Payne (Class of 1977) – Humanitarian
Alan Petersen (Class of 1973) – Arts
Sharon Sybert (faculty) – 1980-2006
Current Hilltop High School principal Bill Walsh lauded the careers of the latest inductees.
“Coming in as a second-year principal at a school with so much tradition has been amazing,” Walsh said. “The generational pride from the community is all part of the greatness of Hilltop.”
Hilltop High School is located at 555 Claire Ave., Chula Vista. For more information, visit the school’s website at hth.sweetwaterschools.org.
Selected biographies
Tami Bruce
The Hilltop alumna represented the United States in two freestyle events at the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea, placing fourth in both the 400-meter freestyle (4:08.16) and 800-meter freestyle (8:30.86).
Bruce competed on the Hilltop swim team before attending (and competing at) the University of Florida. During her four-year college career (1986-89), she won seven national championships – three times in the 1,650-yard freestyle (1986, 1987, 1988), twice in the 500-yard freestyle (1986, 1988) and once in the 200-yard freestyle and was a member of the Gators’ 4×200 freestyle relay team.
The 1988 Southeastern Conference Swimmer of the Year, she competed in the 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis, winning double gold in the 400-meter individual medley and 800-meter freestyle.
Competing for Australia in 1993 after her marriage in 1989 to Australian Olympian and fellow Florida Gator Duncan Armstrong, she placed sixth in the 400-meter freestyle event at the FINA World Swimming Championships.
Bruce broke onto the international scene by winning the gold medal in the 800-meter freestyle at the 1985 Pan Pacific Games in Tokyo.
Merlyn (Chip) Holmes
A 1967 graduate of Hilltop, Holmes later attended Sn Diego State University, graduating in 1971 while earning his teaching credential in 1972. While at Hilltop, known as the school on the hill, he was a multiple-sport athlete in cross country and track and field. Both sports would leave a life-long impact on him and draw him back to his alma mater, where he would have an impact on future generations.
Holmes was an all-league runner in cross country, helping the Lancers win two league championships. He also served as a regent of activities in the school’s Associated Student Body and was a sports editor on the yearbook staff.
He carried his winning ways into a highly successful coaching career at the school, coaching 15 league championship teams in track and field and two CIF championship teams in the sport. Throughout his long and successful career, he also taught and coached at Bonita Vista and Eastlake high schools. When it was finally over, he had won 55 Metro championships and six CIF titles.
That kind of success did not go unrecognized. He was inducted into the San Diego County Hall of Fame for coaching in 2010. Following his coaching career, he became an official in track and field and served as president of the Track Starters Association for three separate terms en route to being inducted into the San Diego Officials Hall of Fame in 2020.
He called the county hall of fame inductions “something special.”
While teaching at Hilltop, he served as the yearbook editor for 12 years and Lance newspaper advisor for six years. He also served as the public address announcer for football and basketball games on campus and also coached both girls and boys basketball and junior varsity field hockey.
He taught every level of math and also taught U.S. History in the school’s FLAGS magnet program (Foreign Language and Global Studies) for several years. He retired in 2010 after 38 years as an educator in the Sweetwater district.
He now devotes his free time to watching his grandchildren play sports, including high school sports. His grandson Tyler Holmes is currently the back-up quarterback at Grossmont High School.
Holmes won two CIF cross country championship while at Bonita Vista, two CIF track titles while at Hilltop and two more CIF track titles while at Eastlake.
The two Division I track titles stand out. “That was fun,” he said. “It’s crazy. What can you do not to be involved.”
His tutelage included a future two-time Olympian in the guise of a young Hilltop runner named Desiree Davila, now Desiree Linden, who represented the United States at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympic Games.
Linden graduated from Hilltop in 2001
“At Hilltop, she was very talented, very team-oriented,” the former Lancer coach said. “She did a lot to help the team. It was amazing to see her on television, be so proud of her and where she came from.”
Identifying and nurturing talent has been the most rewarding. “It’s been fun to see the talent in them and then see them to use that talent,” Holmes said.
Lynn Garcia
Garcia began working for the Sweetwater Union High School District in 1982. She worked at Del Rey High School as an Instructional Assistant in Special Education with Mike Pineda.
In 1985 Garcia became the varsity water polo coach for Hilltop High School and later that year became the boys and girls swimming and diving coach. During that time the Lancers won league titles in water polo and girls swimming.
In 1988 she was able to transfer to Hilltop High school as an instructional assistant in special education and become an on-site coach. She worked with Nancy Acerrio and then John Salts for the remainder of teaching career. She retired in 2014 after 32 years of working in the district.
During those school years, Garcia had the opportunity to be an assistant coach in volleyball, junior varsity coach for girls soccer and JV field hockey. When coach Janet Balsley retired in 1999, Garcia became the varsity field hockey coach. Her teams earned six league titles and an appearance in San Diego Section semifinal playoffs in 1999.
Garcia earned recognition as a CIF Model Coach of the year in 2009 and that same year was named National Federation of High School Coaches — Coach of the Year for the Western Region.
She joined the school site council and became the recording secretary for approximately 10 years. She received two Lancer of the Month recognitions. She volunteered to keep score for varsity volleyball, basketball and softball over the years and worked with Balsley in the testing department and special projects with Larry Hart in the special education department.
Prior to working for the Sweetwater district, she was a lifeguard/water safety instructor for National City and Chula Vista Aquatics. “I guess I can say I’ve taught lots of children to swim!” Garcia noted.
While a student at Southwestern Community College, she learned how to set up and run wrestling tournaments. She organized several Metro League and CIF tournaments. She became an adjunct faculty member in aquatics and water safety instructor at Southwestern College and was an instructor for the American Red Cross in CPR and first aid.
While attending Mesa College she played varsity volleyball and basketball. She was first singles in badminton and first doubles in tennis with her sister Karen Knowles. She also played competitive racquet ball.
“I had an amazing career working and coaching at Hilltop High School,” Garcia summed up. “I was able to use all sports I played and the wonderful coaching knowledge I received to share with so many Hilltop athletes and students. It has been such a privilege to work with wonderful administrators, faculty and staff members.”
Renate Armstrong
A dual-sport athlete (girls volleyball and basketball) while at Hilltop from 1975-78, Armstrong etched her name in the record books. She soared above the crowd to help her volleyball teams win multiple league championships, including a CIF section banner in 1976.
It was the golden age for girls sports in the South Bay.
Armstrong earned first team All-CIF and all-league honors twice in her high school career and was a three-time team MVP.
She was equally unmatched on the basketball court, helping Hilltop win a league championship and CIF championship in 1975. She earned first team all-league honors twice as well as the team MVP award.
She wasn’t finished on the playing court.
Hilltop’s Female Athlete of the Year in 1978, Armstrong competed in women’s volleyball at San Diego State University where she earned All-American honors in 1979 and a runner-up finish in the NCAA national championships in 1981.
Armstrong dedicated more than 30 years to education and coaching, retiring from Granite Hills High School in 2021.
The Hilltop Hall of Fame class of 2022 included Nancy Acerrio, Janet Balsley, John Baumgarden, George Fetter, Dr. Scott Leckman, Desiree Davila Linden, Mayan Mahoney, Mark Martensen, Linda Nelsen, Frank Pugh, Alvin Sears, Tim Tyler.
Notable alumni
Cheryl Cox (Mayor of Chula Vista), Tom Watts (American singer-songwriter, composer and actor), NFL punter and Super Bowl participant (with the Chargers) Bryan Wagner, NBA plyer John Tschogl (Atlanta Hawks/Philadelphia 76ers), LPGA golfer Charlotte Mayorkas, 2018 Boston Marathon winner and Olympic long-distance runner Desiree (Davila) Linden and professional baseball players Todd Pratt, Mike Jacobs, Greg Allen and Calvin Faucher.
