Top athletes honored at Ken Hubbs banquet

SAN BERNARDINO – Several hundred people descended upon Indian Springs High on Monday night for the annual Ken Hubbs Awards.

The awards honor the late Ken Hubbs. Hubbs was a four-sport star and student body president at Colton High who went on to become the Rookie of the Year and set fielding records in 1962 with the Chicago Cubs. He died in an airplane crash before spring training in 1964.

Twenty-six boys and 26 girls school winners were announced and received watches. From among those, an overall boy and overall girl were picked. Also chosen were Keith Hubbs and Ron Doty recipients; those are based on character/determination.

The overall Ken Hubbs winner was Yucaipa High’s Will McHargue who is headed in the fall for the Coast Guard Academy. He excelled in football, wrestling, and track and field.

“I’m super honored on behalf of my coaches and teammates,” McHargue said. “I knew about Hubbs before because my dad played in the Hubbs Little League in Colton but I didn’t know a lot about him until about two years ago. Knowing his character and how he helped shape the community inspired me.”  

The overall female winner was Rialto High basketball player Carrington Davis. She scored more than 2,000 points and 800 rebounds during her prep career and has a scholarship to UC Davis.

Asked if she was surprised at winning the award, Davis said, “Yes and no. Yes, because there are so many amazing athletes to pick from. Someone had a difficult decision.”

Big Bear’s Aiden Brewer won the Keith Hubbs Award. Keith was Ken Hubbs’ brother. Redlands High’s Su’Riah Williams nabbed the Ron Doty Award. Doty was a teammate of Keith Hubbs.

Among the 26 male and 26 female winners were four each from Redlands schools.

Representing Arrowhead Christian Academy were runner Jeanna Lotz and football and baseball player Diesel Toth.

“I feel good,” Toth said. “I’m honored to represent ACA as the school’s best male athlete, and I think it’s a testament to my hard work.”

Said Lotz, “Getting the honor is amazing. It’s something to represent my school and God. It took a lot of hard work.”

Citrus Valley High winners were runner and cheerleader Olivia Elgan for the girls and baseball player Matthew Bline for the boys.

“It’s a big accomplishment and I’m grateful,” Bline said. “It means more knowing what a great athlete and person Ken Hubbs was.”

Said Elgan, “It really means a lot. It’s a big award and it was cool hearing how great Ken Hubbs was in so many sports and the impact he had on the community.”

Chosen as the male school recipient from Redlands High was track and field star Michael Cullen. Williams was picked for the girls.

“I’m surprised and honored,” said Cullen who has a school record best of 16 feet, six inches in the pole vault. “I guess I’m more well-known than I thought I was.”

Cullen’s father was a pole vaulter in college and encouraged him to take up the event. He will compete at the University of Montana next season.

Said Williams, who has starred in the shot put and discus on the track and field team, “I’m amazed, happy, honored, appreciative, and thankful. There are a lot of great athletes here and it’s cool to be a part of it.”

Redlands East Valley High’s female recipient was Katie Hornung, with Frank Rodriguez getting the nod among the boys. Both are runners.

“I’m honored to have my name spoken in the same breath as all of these great athletes,” Hornung said. “And learning more about Ken Hubbs was an inspiration.”  

Said Rodriguez, “This is a gift from God. It shows that hard work pays off.”