Class of 2003
Wrestling

Sara Fulp-Allen redefined female wrestling at Half Moon Bay High School. Well-known and highly respected by the staff and students, she was also revered by the surrounding coastal community. And she did not let them down. Her successful wrestling career spanned high school, college and national competition, and she was one spot away from representing the United States in the Olympics twice in her elite career. Sara also worked hard in the classroom, earning consecutive spots on the honor roll while in high school and college.

As a member of the Half Moon Bay wrestling team all four years, she was the PAL League Champion (at 103lbs) and the Girls’ California State Champion three years in a row. She also competed on a national level, and was named the USGWA Girls High School National Champion in 2002 and 2003 and the FILA Junior and Cadet National Champion (46kg) in 2002. She placed 5^th in the US Open in 2002, 2^nd in the Fargo National Championships 2002 (101lbs) and was the 2001 Klippan International Champion (Cadet Division) in Sweden.

After graduation, Sara continued to earn honors in wrestling at the collegiate level. As a member of the Women’s Wrestling team at Menlo College, Sara became a three-time Women’s College National Champion. She was also the Pan American Champion, the US Open Champion, the FILA Junior National Champion and the FILA University National Champion. She also placed second in the Junior World Championships in 2005 and third in the University World Championships in Turkey. Team captain for thee years, Sara was also honored as the Co-Female Athlete of the Year in 2007. She was a member of the Student Athlete Leadership Council and graduated with a BS in International Business Management – Cum Laude.

But the list doesn’t stop there. From 2007-2012, Sara has been a resident at the Olympic Training Center for the US National Wrestling Team and a seven-time member of the US National Team. During this time, she remained competitive in her field, earning international championships in multiple tournaments and placing second in both the Pan American Championships in 2007 and the University World Championships in 2008 in Greece. Sara placed third in the Olympic Trials in 2004 and 2008, narrowly missing a chance to compete in the Olympics.

At the same time, she earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Colorado. She has been an active member of USA Wrestling as the Oversight Committee Chair, Audit Committee; Athletes’ Advisory Committee Chair; a member of the Women’s Sport Committee; and a Volunteer National Coaching Staff.

Sharing in a big part of this experience is Sara’s younger sister, Katherine, who earned 3^rd in the 2012 Olympic Trials and is presently an Olympic Training Center resident. Katherine has been Sara’s workout partner and international wrestling travel teammate for the past four years.

Class of 1992
Football & Wrestling

If Silas Moore set the bar for running backs at Half Moon Bay High School, Matt Ballard set the bar for wrestlers. Matt was a three-time CCS Placer at 189 pounds (one of the toughest weight classes). He placed 6^th in his sophomore year, 4^th in his junior year and 2^nd in his senior year.  He was a two-time CIF State Qualifier and the first HMB wrestler to place at the state meet. In his senior year, Matt placed 5^th in the State and lost to the eventual State Champion 6-4. Matt also played 4 years of football at HMB. He was All-League and All-County LB in his senior year. Coach McNevin says, "Mathew Ballard was one of the hardest working athletes that we have ever had on Cougar Hill."

After graduation from HMB, Matt walked on at UC Davis and played four years of football (3 on the Varsity level). He was a starter on the DL in his junior and senior years. At 240 pounds, he was typically outweighed by 40-50 pounds, but he found a way to survive and excel. In his senior year, he was voted Defensive Player of the game in the Causeway Classic, UC Davis vs. Sacramento State.

After graduation from UC Davis, Matt was hired as teacher/coach at Half Moon Bay High School. His wrestling teams won 3 League Championships and he sent 7 wrestlers to the State Meet during that time. His greatest coaching achievement was bringing HMBHS its first CCS Championship in Football in 2005-06. That same year he won multiple Coach of the Year awards from the San Mateo Times, San Jose Mercury, 49er Focus and Peninsula Athletic League. Coach Ballard is currently Head Football Coach at Redondo Union High School where he is having continued success.

Class of 2006
Football, Basketball, Baseball

Michael Seaton lived Half Moon Bay Cougar Football from an early age, and proved that he would make his mark by the time he graduated. He dominated the gridiron as a sophomore and continued it until his senior year, where he led the Cougars to their only football CCS title.

He excelled at all phases of football, but shined most on defense. He was named 1^st team PAL linebacker three years in a row, was the team defensive MVP in 2003 and Team MVP in 2004. During his senior year, Michael was the PAL Defensive Player of the Year, and was named 1st Team All San Mateo County Linebacker. He was also the Team MVP of the Central Coast Section Championship Team in 2005. He carried the ball 231 times his senior year for 1,209 yards and 13 touchdowns. He had 17 receptions for 177 yards, one touchdown and 97 tackles. On defense, he had five sacks, five forced fumbles, seven interceptions and three thrown touchdown passes. Despite his individual career success, he recalls winning the 2005 CCS Championship as the highlight of his high school career.

What defined Michael was the way he led an undersized Cougar team to a section title against a superior opponent. He raised the level of all players, and made sure everyone was accountable at all times. His love and enjoyment for the game showed during his career, and that enthusiasm has since transferred to his coaching style at the high school. Michael will always be Half Moon Bay High School Football's number one fan, and his jersey, #1, has been retired.

A three-sport athlete, Michael credits many of his coaches for shaping his successful athletic career and his life, especially Matt Ballard, Keith Holden, Don Dias and basketball coach John Parsons Sr. Michael remains active in the community as a coach, business owner and real estate agent.

Class of 1985
Cross Country, Basketball, Track & Field

Lorena Ferreira made an instant impact on the Cougar athletic program as a freshman in 1981; she began her high school athletic career as a member of the varsity cross-country team and was named “Rookie of the Year.” In the next three seasons she was named “Most Valuable Runner” and was the top female runner on a team that captured four varsity league championships in a row. She was the pulse of the team. Lorena was the perfect complement to the low-keyed approach employed by Coach Dick Calvin. Coach would give the workout and Lorena would set the tempo and the example for others to follow. Her work ethic was such that she immediately established a high level of expectation not only for herself but also for her teammates. Lorena was named to the All-NPL, All-Region I and All-CCS cross-country teams.

Lorena used her tremendous running ability and great physical conditioning to her advantage on the hard-court. She didn’t need preseason physical training for basketball; she was ready to play as soon as she took off her cross-country running shoes. She could outrun any opponent up and down the court. Her high-tempo, spirited play was rewarded by being named team Captain of her frosh-team and then Most Inspirational and team Captain on varsity. Lorena led the 1985 varsity team to the NPL Championship. On the free-throw line, late in the game against Terra Nova, she sank two penalty shots to lock away the upset victory over the rival Tigers, and in so doing, captured the league crown. She was named to the All-League team.

Lorena was a dominant force on the track. Her ability to train at a high level of effort was rewarded with racing success and her constant encouragement and leadership in practice pushed her teammates to high levels of performance. She was very popular and the leader of the team, which at the time numbered 100. Not only did Lorena score more points in track meets for the Cougars during her years of competition, she led the girl’s varsity to the very first league championship in 1985.

Lorena Ferreira was the leader of the NPL Championship cross country team, the NPL Championship girl’s varsity basketball team and the NPL Championship girl’s track and field team. She participated in numerous school clubs and committees and was awarded a number of scholarship awards upon graduation. She credits her coaches, Dick Calvin and Lita Calvin, Ted Bregy and Bob King for making significant contributions to her athletic success.

Lorena graduated from College of Notre Dame where she majored in business administration and economics and competed in cross-country, basketball and track and field. Lorena continued running after college and has a best time for the marathon of 2:55.39. She is employed by Bristol-Myers Squibb in pharmaceutical sales, lives in Folsom and coaches basketball at Vista del Lago High School where her daughter, Dana, is a student-athlete.