PREP NOTES
Albuquerque High names 2026 Hall of Honor class
Bulldogs greats from multiple eras and sports, plus a distinguished service honoree, will be recognized
Albuquerque High will honor its 2026 Hall of Honor inductees later this month.
This year鈥檚 group of inductees:
Gregg Papp was AHS鈥 head girls basketball coach from 1978-1993, led the Bulldogs to three district titles and coached the Bulldogs into the Class 4A state championship game in 1993, where AHS fell to Eldorado.
Brandon Sharts (Class of 1998) played for a pair of state championship basketball teams at Bulldog City, in 1995 and 1998. He was also part of four district champion squads at AHS, and was an All-State player in 1998.
Monica Garcia (Class of 2000) was the APS Female Athlete of the Year for the 1999-2000 school year. She was a three-time all-district player for the Bulldogs as well in both basketball and volleyball. She later became the school鈥檚 head volleyball coach, where she has had much success leading the program.
George Ramirez (Class of 1984) was a hugely important player for Albuquerque High baseball during what might have been the school鈥檚 best prep season, 1983, when the Bulldogs reached the Class 4A state title game. He was an All-State and All-District performer.
Dyon Santiago (Class of 2013) was a tremendous wrestler for the Bulldogs, winning a pair of individual state titles and twice earning All-American honors. He also was a standout football player for the Bulldogs, and a sprinter for the track team.
Jordan Santiago (Class of 2010) also was a two-time state champion wrestler for Albuquerque High, plus a multiple district and city champion.
Lucien Starzynski (Class of 1995) will go down as one of the most successful coaches Albuquerque High ever produced. He led the Bulldogs鈥 boys soccer program to three state championships 鈥 2015, 2017, 2019 鈥 plus nine district titles.
Loretta Gallegos Vasquez (Class of 1982) was a longtime AHS dance team coach, and the Bulldoggies were hugely prosperous during her 22 years, winning four state titles, plus a second place at nationals.
David Otero (Class of 1953) played four sports at AHS 鈥 football, basketball, baseball and track and field 鈥 and was part of a state runner-up football team. He was an All-City and All-State quarterback multiple years, and All-City and All-State as a catcher.
Ron Powdrell (Class of 1971), a stellar basketball player at AHS, who was twice an All-State first team selection, twice a Parade All-American, and a state champion with the Bulldogs in 1971.
The Distinguished Service Award is being presented to Miguel Tittmann, a 1995 graduate, a member of AHS鈥 state basketball championship team in 1995, a firefighter, and a captain with the Albuquerque Fire Department.
James Yodice covers prep sports for the Journal. You can reach him at jyodice@abqjournal.com or via X at .