The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) has revealed that it will welcome 11 distinguished individuals into its Hall of Fame during a ceremony scheduled for June 26 at the Palace Station in Las Vegas. This year marks the 31st induction class for the NIAA.

2025 Inductees

The inductees are recognized for their remarkable contributions to high school athletics across Nevada. The new members are:

• Jim Cavin
• Mike Gomez
• Gary Hickman
• Amy Huntsman
• Rick Kauffmann
• Brad Loveday
• Rick Phillips
• Marc Ratner
• Gertha Robertson
• Yvonne Torres-Arguello
• Brian Whitaker

Ceremony Details

The induction ceremony will commence at 6 p.m. and tickets are priced at $60 per person. Interested individuals can secure their tickets beginning this spring via the official NIAA website, NIAA.com.

Achievements of the Inductees

The inductees have made significant impacts in their respective sports and schools:

• Jim Cavin: A veteran football official with 52 years of service, he refereed the 2024 Class 4A state championship game.
• Mike Gomez: Coached five sports over 30 years, leading Durango to a baseball state championship in 1999.
• Gary Hickman: A three-sport star at Moapa Valley in the 1960s, he was instrumental in securing state titles in football, basketball, and track in 1967.
• Amy Huntsman: Renowned for her exceptional coaching in girls basketball at Pahranagat Valley with a remarkable 580–202 record across 31 years.
• Rick Kauffmann: Served as a swimming and diving official for 26 years, encompassing a tenure as meet referee.
• Brad Loveday: A dominant force in baseball with 530 wins and seven state championships at Pahranagat Valley, alongside a lengthy coaching career in wrestling.
• Rick Phillips: Led Lincoln County High School’s boys basketball team to four state championships and notable playoff appearances.
• Marc Ratner: An official since 1966, he dedicated 32 years as commissioner before retiring.
• Gertha Robertson: Contributed to athletics in Clark County for 44 years and played a key role in the launch of boys volleyball as a sanctioned sport in 2000.
• Yvonne Torres-Arguello: Guided Chaparral to a state championship in girls volleyball during a long career that included various other sports roles.
• Brian Whitaker: Achieved 562 career wins in baseball at Valley and Silverado high schools, clinching a state title in 2000.

Looking Ahead

Timothy Jackson, the NIAA’s executive director, expressed his pride in welcoming this year’s inductees, stating, “We are pleased to welcome these deserving individuals into the NIAA Hall of Fame. They each contributed greatly in their own way to the success of high school sports in Nevada and have positively impacted the young men and women of our state.”