Hall of Honor

Class of 2024-2025

Using established guidelines for each category, the Northwest ISD Athletic Department has announced the 2024-2025 Hall of Honor class, celebrating student-athletes, coaches and athletic supporters who have made exceptional contributions to school programs.

Since the district’s inception 75 years ago, many high-achieving student-athletes and teams have represented Northwest ISD with distinction. The Hall of Honor was created in 2023 to recognize these individuals and teams as well as the support systems behind them.

Student Athletes

Desiree Freier

Northwest High School alumna Desiree Freier earned accolades as a pole vaulter throughout her high school career, setting state and national records. Competing for the Texans, she won three consecutive championships in the UIL Track & Field State Meet, all in the 5A classification. In 2014, her performances earned her the titles of Texas Gatorade Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year, USA Junior Champion, World Junior Championship Runner-Up and New Balance Indoor and Outdoor National Champion. During her time as a Texan, she set the overall girls state record in the pole vault with a vault of 13 feet, 9 inches, as well as the Junior American record with a vault of 14 feet, 7 inches. She went on to compete collegiately for the Arkansas Razorbacks, qualifying for the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships all four years and becoming a seven-time All-American.

Eric “Duke” Kicinski

Northwest High School alumnus Duke Kicinski excelled in multiple sports for the Texans, but none more so than track and field. Competing for the Texans, Duke earned a silver medal in the 5A classification at the UIL Track & Field State Meet as a senior. Following his high school career, he won the national title in the discus as a sophomore competing for West Texas A&M at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championship in 2016 before subsequently transferring to Texas Tech. As a Red Raider, he capped his collegiate career with a national title in the discus at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championship in 2019. Additionally, his throw helped the Texas Tech men’s program earn the team national title in the sport. In 2021, he competed at the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials, finishing ninth in the nation. Outside of his honors in track and field, he earned accolades as four-year varsity letterwinner in football and a two-time letterwinner in powerlifting.

msn in red shorts and shirt throwing discus

Coach

Mike Hatch

Mike Hatch served as the longtime coach of the Northwest Texans boys varsity basketball team, first from 1983 until 1997 and returning to coach from 2008 until 2018. During his time as a Texan, Coach Hatch amassed an overall win-loss record of 469-254 in 22 years; he earned a 614-361 record in 30 years as a head coach overall. Over the course of his tenure, the Texans reached the playoffs 14 times, advancing to the regional tournament four times and the state tournament twice. His time as head coach of the Texans culminated with a runner-up finish in the 2018 5A UIL Boys Basketball State Tournament. He earned District Coach of the Year honors nine times as well as DFW All-Star Coach honors twice.

Team

2018 Eaton High School Baseball

The Eaton High School baseball team earned the school’s first UIL athletic title when the 2018 varsity team won the UIL 5A Baseball State Championship. To win the championship, the Eagles amassed an overall season record of 32-9, surpassing expectations in the school’s first year with a graduating class. The Eagles beat Amarillo High School in a three-game series in the regional final to advance to the state semifinal game, where they defeated Kingwood Park High School by a score of 3-2 in an eight-inning game. In the state championship game, the Eagles defeated Forney High School by a score of 4-1.

Contributor/Sponsor

Marc Santini

For nearly two decades, Marc Santini volunteered to provide support for programs that supported NISD Athletics from his early days at Northwest Pee Wee Association, TCR Youth Football Association, Medlin Middle School, and Byron Nelson High School’s athletic programs including basketball, football, volleyball, and track and field. Over the years, he organized multiple fundraisers to support booster clubs for several athletic student programs. He volunteered countless hours even after all his children graduated from Byron Nelson High School. Paying it forward as a servant leader motivated Marc to volunteer and make a difference for all students in NISD athletics.

Class of 2023

Class of 2023

The Northwest ISD Athletic Department has announced the inaugural class for its new Hall of Honor, celebrating student-athletes, coaches and athletic supporters who have made exceptional contributions to school programs.

Using established guidelines for each category, the Hall of Honor selection committee has chosen members of the program’s Class of 2023. Members of the Northwest ISD Athletics Hall of Honor Class of 2023 include:

Student Athletes

Brittany Barnhill

Northwest High School alumna Brittnay Barnhill led her Texan softball teams to the UIL state tournament in 2005 and 2006, earning numerous awards throughout her career. In 2007, she was named the Texas Gatorade Player of the Year and Texas 5A Player of the Year, and she earned all-state honors in three years. She went on to play for the University of Texas and the University of Mississippi. She currently coaches the Eaton High School varsity softball team.

Marty Green

Northwest High School alumnus Marty Green passed for 5,730 yards during his football career for the Texans, throwing for more than 300 yards in multiple games, a rare accomplishment in the 1970s. He was a four-year starter for the Texans in football, also competing in baseball, basketball, and track and field. He led the baseball team to a 2A regional championship, which at the time was the furthest a 2A school could advance. He earned a full scholarship from Texas A&M University for baseball, though he eventually transferred to Pan-American University and was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the third round, though he returned to PAU and never played in the MLB.

Dustin May

Northwest High School alumnus Dustin May earned numerous accolades throughout his high school baseball career, with the Los Angeles Dodgers drafting the right-handed pitcher in 2016. He has since gone on to win the MLB World Series with the team in 2020. Entering his fifth season playing in the MLB, he is a starting pitcher who has won 12 games with 174 strikeouts and an ERA of 3.10. In 2020, he was the opening day starter for the Dodgers, becoming the youngest player to earn that honor since 1981.

Coaches

Teresa Smith

Teresa Smith supported students and coaches at Northwest ISD for 25 years, beginning as head volleyball coach and assistant track coach at Northwest High School. Her volleyball teams advanced to the playoffs eight times, winning two district titles and multiple top-10 state rankings. Her 1993 volleyball team earned silver medals with a runner-up finish in the UIL 4A State Volleyball Tournament, the same year she earned the Dallas Morning News Coach of the Year. She also served as the Texans’ girls athletic coordinator and the district’s assistant athletic director until her retirement in 2014.

Howard Putter

Howard Putter served as the longtime coach of the Byron Nelson Bobcat boys soccer team, leading the team to its 2014 UIL state championship. He started the school’s soccer program in 2011 before retiring a decade later after amassing more than 500 wins over the course of his 35-year coaching career. His 562-181-67 career record ranked him sixth in all-time boys soccer wins in Texas at the time of his retirement. In 2015, the UIL awarded Coach Putter the top honor of the NFHS State Coach of the Year.

Teams

1972 Northwest High School Boys Basketball

The 1972 Northwest Texan boys basketball team earned one of the most illustrious playoff runs in district history, finishing the season with a record of 33-2 and a trip to the 2A Regional Tournament. The team earned district and bi-district championships and defeated defending state champion Hughes Spring High School in the regional semifinal by a score of 105-82. The Texans played in the regional final just a few hours later and lost to Waco Midway by 2 points. The team was coached by Perry Elkins and included Mike Boaldin, Bobby Henry, Craig Lindsey, David McClary, Chris Moncrief, Mark Schluter, Randy Smith, Bruce Steele, Gary Wallum and Randy Wilson.

2013 Byron Nelson High School Girls Golf

Byron Nelson High School’s girls golf program earned Northwest ISD’s first UIL athletic title when the 2013 varsity team won the UIL 4A Girls Golf State Championship. To win the championship, the Bobcats surpassed Montgomery, which had won 11 of the 12 previous 4A girls state golf titles. Throughout the year, the Bobcats were consistently ranked either first or second in the 4A state poll. Coached by Barry Hawkins, members of the team include Alexandra Batista, Zoey Daneshfar, Aimee Mires, Maty Monzingo and Allyson Springer.

Contributors/Sponsors

Val and Kandy Franklin

Longtime community members Val and Kandy Franklin raised two children who graduated from Northwest High School and have five grandchildren who graduated from Byron Nelson and Eaton high schools. Val served as president of the Northwest Athletic Booster Club for five years, with his wife Kandy serving as an officer. They raised funds for all Texan athletic programs, ran concession stand operations, organized and printed game programs, and much more. Both Val and Kandy also served on the district’s Long-Range Planning Committee that led to the construction of Byron Nelson High School and Northwest ISD Stadium.

Gary Prescott

For more than 28 years, Gary Prescott served the students and staff of Northwest ISD with an unwavering commitment to athletic programs. He began his tenure in 1987 as an assistant football coach at Northwest High School before leading the team for five years, though he is widely known for his work in the athletic department. Coach Prescott retired from Northwest ISD as the district’s director of athletics in 2018 after 39 years in public education.

Nomination/Induction Criteria