Hall of Fame
To call Frank Mataya versatile during his WSU career is an understatement. From his enrollment in 1946 until graduation in 1951, with a physical education degree, the Roslyn native earned 13 varsity letters in four sports. Mataya was a left-handed quarterback and defensive specialist on the gridiron for coach Phil Sarboe. He played basketball for coach Jack Friel for three years, 1949-50-51. During the spring each year, Mataya was a mainstay for Jack Mooberry's track team, competing in the shot put (he was the state high school record holder), discus and javelin. He captured third in the discus at the Northern Division Championships one year, won the shot put title as a sophomore and a year later took fifth at the Pacific Coast Conference meet. Baseball entered the picture in 1951 when he joined Buck Bailey's team and hit .333, the third best average on the team. Mataya coached one year at Entiat High, then four years at Cle Elum, his high school alma mater. In 1959 his basketball team won the state title. In 1960 he began a long association with Wenatchee Valley College. He served as head football coach in 1960, had a 15-year reign as track coach and also served as head basketball coach for many years. He also wore the athletic director's hat for several years. In 1985 he retired from teaching and coaching duties.
