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RENTON, Wash. - B.J. Garbe has taken home much heavier hardware as a multi-sport athlete at Moses Lake High School who went on to play professional baseball.

But there was something about being part of this WIAA hall-of-fame class that tripped him up with emotion.

Garbe was one of 10 athletes, coaches, officials and administrators between the 2019 and 2020 class honored at the WIAA hall-of-fame ceremony Wednesday afternoon at the Renton Pavilion Events Center.

"This award means a lot," said Garbe, dressed in a dark suit, to a packed luncheon crowd.

Much of Garbe's brief induction speech was thanking his parents, Kerry and Barbara, for their unwavering support during his playing days.

Garbe was one of the best baseball players to ever come out of Washington. He was named the Gatorade national player of the year in 1999, and was selected fifth overall in that year's amateur draft by the Minnesota Twins.

But the five-tool outfielder never advanced past the Double-A ranks in the minor leagues, and eventually retired from the sport in 2006.

He was also an all-state quarterback for the Chiefs, rushing and passing for more than 1,000 yards (with 41 combined touchdowns and zero interceptions) as a senior.

Garbe and his family - wife, Amy; daughter, Ava; and son, Gavin - have settled back in Moses Lake. He is now a CEO of a corporate construction company, managing 150 employees that is building a new Italian restaurant in town.

And his perspective of the value of high school athletics has changed now that he is in his early 40s.

"I just didn't realize the value of it at the time," Garbe said. "But one thing I noticed, the lessons you learn in sports - leadership, work ethic, how to win, how to lose, building confidence - don't get taught in a classroom."

He admits his son, now 7, is a "sports junkie" who is just now understanding what kind of athlete Garbe was.

"This is what was so cool about this," Garbe said. "I don't talk about (my career) much, but he got to see it first-hand today."

Other inductees:

ATHLETES

Drew Bledsoe, Walla Walla (1985-89)

The 17th-leading passer in NFL history with 44,611 yards, Bledsoe was a three-sport letterman in high school in football, basketball and track and field. He went on to become the Pacific-10 Conference player of the year at Washington State University, and was the top overall selection by New England in the 1993 NFL Draft.

Selina Burton-Bennett, Hazen (1990-94)

One of the best track and field jumpers in WIAA history, Burton-Bennett left the high school ranks with four Class 2A titles - two apiece in the long jump and triple jump. She also was a point guard for the girls basketball team. After high school, she went off to South Carolina State to compete in track and field.

Michelle Perkins, Lakeside of Seattle (1988-92)

Competitive fire and will to win were right in Perkins' wheelhouse. And she led the Lions to five state championships - three in girls basketball and two in girls track and field. In 1992, she was named the Seattle Times' female athlete of the year. Her UW basketball career was cut short due to injuries (knee).

COACHES

Jim Freeman, Mount Baker

The former standout runner at WWU ended up coaching 95 combined seasons over five sports with the Mountaineers. His cross country squads won five Class 1A titles. His track teams won three state championships, and his athletes captured 20 individual or relay titles. He was also the school's girls basketball coach.

John Schubert, West Valley of Yakima

When it came to soccer in the Yakima Valley for nearly three decades (1991-2017), Schubert's success was second to none. His teams on both sides advanced to the state championship match 11 times, bringing home five titles. Schubert also collected 548 career victories.

OFFICIALS

Terry Beckstead, wrestling

If you were a championship wrestler at Mat Classic, the state wrestling championships, over the past 35 years - chances are you had Beckstead officiating your match. His attention to detail and overall proficiency had him regularly rated as one of the best wrestling officials in the state. Also spent 25 yers on the WOA board.

ADMINSTRATORS

Jim Piccolo, Stanwood

He was the master of multi-tasking as an athletic director, assistant principal and student-council advisor at Stanwood for three decades. But during his tenure, as the area - and school - grew, so did his AD responsibilities. He was the state AD of the year in 1999, and national AD of the year in 2000.

CONTRIBUTORS

Bruce Brown

The Richland native was a teacher, coach and athletic director over a 35-year span, and founded Proactive Coaching LLC, which teaching a team-bonding curriculum for coaches all around the country. Also a motivational speaker.

Mike Colbrese

The longest-tenured WIAA executive director in history retired in 2019 after a 26-year run. The Montana native was hailed as a forward thinker on issues, but always with the student-athletes' best interests in mind. At 71, he is still involved in WIAA athletes as an official.