Alameda native and professional track-and-field athlete Cooper Teare was the headliner at St. Joseph Notre Dame’s (SJND) 2022 Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony Saturday, April 30, at Kelly Gymnasium on SJND’s campus. For Teare, a 2017 graduate, the honor stands out among the many he has achieved as a world class track athlete in middle school, high school, and at the University of Oregon.

What might seem to be just a small time, hometown tribute looms large for Teare, who has earned many merits in one-mile and 5K race competitions. Teare, 22, thanked his former teammates and coaches during his speech at the ceremony.

“This is bigger than myself,” Teare said. “They allowed me to achieve goals I didn’t think possible.”

He gave special thanks to his high school coach Alex Mason for pushing him to the next level. He also praised his high school track team captain Gabe Arias during his speech.

Teare understands that his success is the result of contributions and support from many others who saw in him more than he saw in himself and nurtured him into becoming the elite athlete he is now.

“It takes a village,” he remarked, “and now I have a tent inside of that big village,” as he shares honors with the likes of former NBA superstar Jason Kidd and 54 other honorees in the SJND Hall of Fame.

Most recently, Teare, who just missed qualifying for the 2020 Summer Olympics in the 5K race by .95 of a second (“Teare Misses Olympics,” July 8, 2021), helped the Duck Track Club run the second fastest 4xone-mile in history by completing his one-mile distance in 3:53.2 at the Oregon Relay at Hayward Field on the University of Oregon campus on April 23. Teare ran as the anchor leg. Teare signed a professional contract with Nike in Dec. 2021.

Alluding to the future when he can tell his kids and grandkids of the honor, Teare said, “This lasts a lifetime, and no one can take that away from me.”

Other athletes inducted on Saturday include Ray Young (class of 1998-basketball), a McDonald's All-American — bestowed upon the top 24 high basketball seniors in the country — who led the Pilots to the back-to-back California high school Div. 1 title game appearances.

Anne Luna (class of 2003-golf), who played on the men’s golf team — there was not a women’s golf team at SJND for her first three years — and played golf collegiately at Sacramento State University.

Peter Piombo (class of 1963-baseball), who became an assistant coach for the SJND baseball team for more than 20 years. The entire 1971 men’s golf team was also inducted into the Hall of Fame on Saturday.

Tomas Pineda, a photographer who took pictures at many SJND sporting events, and Robert Butler (class of 1971-master of ceremony) were also inducted into the SJND Athletic Hall of Fame.

The previous day, SJND held the 2020 Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony, which was postponed at the time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Inductees include: Chris Aria (class of 2008-tennis), Dan Curry (former athletic director and supporter-posthumously), Phoebe Grunt (class of 2013-volleyball), Alex Harris (class of 2004-basketball), Joe Nelson (class of 1993-baseball), Jennifer Radecke-Noble (class of 2002-swimming), Ken Rodrigues (supporter), Josh Hammer (master of ceremony) and the 1965 men’s basketball team.