In 1995, the Saints Alumni Association and then-athletic director Mike Stephenson, started the St. Augustine Athletic Hall of Fame. Each year since, the Saints community has recognized past athletes, coaches, and administrators who have had stellar careers and been instrumental in helping make Saints one of San Diego’s most historic and storied schools. This year, Saints is proud to induct two more people to its Hall of Fame. Joining the Hall of Fame ranks this year are Marco Anzures and Joe Craig.
Marco Anzures, class of 2006, was a 4-year letterman for both cross country and track. While at Saints, he played key roles in the cross country team’s 2004 and 2005 league championships, as well as the 2006 CIF championship. In his senior year, he finished 3rd in state and was named the Western League Runner of the Year, including a league record time of 14:58. In track, he was a league
champion his senior year in the 1600-meter and 3200-meter, as well as a CIF champion in the 1600-meter. He is still part of the school record for the 4×400 relay.
Following Saints, Marco accepted a track scholarship to UCLA. In 2009, he received All-West Region honors as well as 2nd Team All-Pac 10. During his time at UCLA, he turned in three Top 10 All-Time indoor track records: 8:03.71 in the 3000-meter, 14:03.58 in the 5000-meter, and 29:00.21 in the 10,000-meter. His collegiate career culminated with Marco qualifying in 2010 for the USA Track and Field National Championships for the 10,000-meter, as well as a spot running for Team Adidas in 2010 and 2011.
Marco graduated from UCLA with a master’s degree in Exercise Science. After starting his coaching career at University City High School, he moved on to coach at Cerritos College, before accepting a teaching and coaching job at San Diego City College. He is married to Natasha LeBeaud, who he helped coach to a Pan American Games and World Cross Country championships.
Joe Craig is affectionately known as “the father of Saints wrestling.” Coach Craig started as a parent volunteer in 1976. Facing some tough economic times and the departure of the current wrestling coach, Saints was considering dropping wrestling as a sport. Thanks to Coach Craig’s generosity and dedication, he volunteered to take over as the head coach. Coach Craig was notorious for spending time in the off-season at the San Diego Library studying any books he could find on wrestling.
From 1977 – 1992, Coach Craig’s teams won league championships in 1984, 1986, and 1992, as well as the 1992 CIF Championship. For that 1992 team, Coach Craig was n
amed CIF Coach of the Year. During his time, he coached eight individual CIF champions and two Masters champions. Coach Craig was also an instrumental part in Saints’ role in the 1978 PSA plane crash, donating the team’s wrestling mat for use in the gym to help with the crash victims, and then using his own money to help purchase a new mat.
In 1987, at the age of 45, Coach Craig was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Coach Craig continued to coach for five more years before his declining health forced him to retire. Coach Craig eventually passed away in 2011. Accepting the Hall of Fame induction on his behalf are his children, Joseph and Ana.
