Flyer courtesy of Rancho Cordova Athletic Association

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - A distinguished Cordova High School varsity basketball team accompanied by three exceptional football players, two All-American swimmers, a respected coach, a Negro League baseball standout and a legendary soccer star will be inducted into the Rancho Cordova Sports Hall of Fame this fall.

The 11th annual induction ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, at Rancho Cordova City Hall. 

“Today marks the 11th anniversary of the Rancho Cordova Sports Hall of Fame, as we recognize the newest inductees to the Class of 2026,” said City Councilman David Sander, President of the Rancho Cordova Athletic Association. “These individuals have demonstrated a high level of achievement in athletics, whether as players or coaches, and have made meaningful contributions to the local sports community. We are proud to acknowledge their accomplishments and ensure their legacies are preserved for future generations.”

Honorees elected to the Rancho Cordova Sports Hall of Fame were judged to have attained significant achievements in or have made notable contributions to athletics, as well as exhibiting high standards of character and sportsmanship.

Class of 2026 inductees are the following.

1978-79 Cordova Lancers basketball team. Led by All-City selections Larry Connors and Mike McCullough, the 1978–79 Lancers delivered a dominant performance in the Metro League, finishing with a 13–2 record and an overall mark of 27–3. The team advanced to the Section AAA finals, earning runner-up honors, and is widely regarded as one of Coach Hub Morphew’s finest teams in Cordova High School history. For much of the season, the Lancers held the No. 1 ranking in the area.

Ken Bowles (Football, Cordova ‘76). One of the most versatile athletes to emerge from Cordova High School, Bowles earned Sacramento Bee Player of the Year honors as a member of Cordova’s 1975 national championship team and was selected to the Sacramento Union’s All-City First Team. Demonstrating exceptional versatility, he scored touchdowns from five different positions. Bowles went on to have standout collegiate careers at both the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the University of Pittsburgh.

Mike Brannon (multisport, Cordova ‘05). Brannon was a three-sport standout at Cordova High School, earning numerous accolades, including recognition as the top discus thrower in track and field. In football, he was named Team MVP, First Team All-City linebacker and Team Defensive MVP during his senior year. He continued his success at Sacramento State University, where he earned the Ray Clemons Award as the team’s top defensive player. Brannon later played for the Vienna Vikings of the European Football League, where he was again honored as the team’s Defensive MVP.

Elmer Carter (Baseball, Community Award). Carter was an early standout in the Negro Major Leagues during the 1930s. In 1937, he led all Negro League hitters with a .390 batting average while splitting time between the Birmingham Black Barons and the St. Louis Stars. He served as catcher for the legendary Satchel Paige and later enlisted in the U.S. Army’s 1st Infantry Division during World War II. Following his baseball career, Carter played a key role in establishing the first Black-owned bank in Oak Park. He resided in Rancho Cordova for several years before his passing in 2011 at the age of 100.

Elizabeth Cocker Escobar (Swimming, Walnutwood High ‘14). Cocker Escobar was a four-year swimming letterwinner and team MVP, earning multiple relay medals while representing Team USA at the 2015, 2017 and 2019 World Deaf Swimming Championships. Building on this competitive success, Cocker went on to serve as Director of the USA Deaf Swimming Association, where she led Team USA at the 2023 World Deaf Swimming Championships. In addition to her leadership roles, Cocker has contributed to athlete development as a swim instructor at Gold River Sports Club.

Jessica Mackiewicz (Soccer, Cordova ‘96). A standout scorer for Cordova High School’s varsity team in 1996, Mackiewicz continued her exceptional career at American River College, where she earned First Team All-American honors and helped lead the Beavers to a California Community College state championship. In recognition of her achievements, Mackiewicz was inducted into the American River College Hall of Fame in 2020 and remains the program’s all-time leading scorer with 165 goals. She later excelled at Sacramento State, earning First Team All-Big Sky honors during an outstanding collegiate career.

Bill Meehan (Norte Del Rio, ‘62). Meehan served as a cornerstone of Rancho Cordova youth athletics for more than three decades. Throughout his distinguished career, he coached numerous All-Star, Senior Babe Ruth and American Legion teams, including a 13-year-old Babe Ruth All-Star team that advanced to the state championship. A former president of both Rancho Cordova Little League (RCLL) and the Babe Ruth League, Meehan was a widely respected mentor whose former players consistently credit him with shaping not only their athletic abilities but also their character. He will be inducted posthumously in recognition of his enduring contributions.

Lamon Muldrow (Football, Cordova ‘07)

One of the most accomplished running backs in Cordova High School’s football history, Muldrow earned the Sacramento Bee’s 2006 Offensive Player of the Year honors after an exceptional senior season in which he rushed for 2,303 yards and 30 touchdowns. Muldrow continued his dominance at Sierra College, leading all California junior colleges as a freshman with 1,963 rushing yards. Among his standout performances at Sierra was a remarkable single-game effort in which he rushed for 257 yards and scored six touchdowns. Muldrow later carried that momentum into a successful collegiate career at San Jose State. 

Scott Mefford (Swimming Cordova ‘80)

Mefford built upon an outstanding high school swimming career at Cordova High School to earn a full athletic scholarship to the University of Utah. During his collegiate tenure, he achieved All-American honors twice, excelling as a backstroke specialist and contributing to multiple relay successes. A dominant competitor, Mefford captured Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Division I championships in all four years and qualified for the 1980 Olympic Trials. He also established numerous university and NCAA swimming records, solidifying his legacy as one of Utah’s premier athletes.

Tickets for the induction ceremony are $35, which includes an appetizer and cocktail reception and awards program can be purchased at the Cordova Community Council, visit cordovacouncil.org/ccc-events/11th-Annual-Rancho-Cordova-Sports-Hall-of-Fame.

The Rancho Cordova Athletic Association was formed in 2013 to foster lifelong values of good sportsmanship, teamwork and healthy, active lifestyles through the development of excellent youth sports facilities and organizations, positive coaching and access to play for all.