Photo by Josh Jambor The photos of past inductees of the Alpena High School’s class of 2026 Wall of Fame hang on the wall at the school. Six new inductees will be honored during a half-time ceremony at the boys varsity game against Gaylord on Friday.

ALPENA – Six Alpena High School graduates are slated to be inducted into the Wall of Fame at the school. The former students excelled at sports, won titles, garner All-State honors, and set school record for today’s athletes to chase.

This year’s inductees include:

RAY TIMM

Coach Timm guided Alpena Men’s Gymnastics through a golden era. He was an assistant coach from 1973 to 1977. He became the head coach from 1978 to 1982. His team’s finished with a remarkable 57 wins and only 3 losses. His teams captured three consecutive state championships in 1980, 1981, and 1982. Coach Timm was Michigan Gymnastics Coach of the Year in 1980, 1981, and 1982. He guided 12 athletes to become state champions and mentored 13 who achieved All-American status; additionally, his teams from 1980 through 1982 were recognized as All-Americans.

MITCHELL DAY – Class of 2017

Day earned numerous achievements in distance running, including All-State honors in cross country for three consecutive years. He placed 14th in 2014 and was the runner-up in both 2015 and 2016. He added All State honors on the track with a second-place finish in the 3200 in 2017. Mitchell set school records in cross country and in the 3200 meters on the track, cementing his legacy as one of Alpena’s premier distance athletes.

AIDEN DAY – Class of 2018

Day was Alpena’s dynamic playmaker on the high school’s soccer team. He was named Team MVP and Big North Conference MVP in 2017, with All State Honorable Mention for the same season. He holds an array of soccer school records, including six goals in a game, 37 points in a season, and career marks of 55 goals, 35 assists, and 90 points. Aiden also excelled in track, contributing to the All State 3200-meter relay team that placed seventh in 2018.

ADEN SMITH – Class of 2019

Smith demonstrated exceptional consistency and versatility in both cross country and track events. He earned All State in cross country in 2016(12th), 2017 (22nd), and 2018 (21st). On the track, he was All State in 2019 with a runner-up finish in the 3200 and helped the 3200-meter relay achieve All State status in 2018, setting the school relay record. Aden won the 2017 cross country regional title and won regional crowns in the 3200 in both 2018 and 2019. At the next level, he earned NCAA Division I Great Lakes All Region honors in 2022 and qualified individually for the XC Championships.

JOSH SMITH – Class of 2019

Smith distinguished himself with All State cross country honors in 2016, 22nd, and 2018, 28th, and on the track with All State finishes in the 1600 in 2018, 7th, and 2019, when he finished eighth. He was part of the All State 3200-meter relay in 2018 and helped set the school record in that event. Josh is Alpena’s 1600-meter school record holder, a two time Big North Conference champion in the 800 meter, and a -two-time regional champion in the 1600 meter. He continued to excel collegiately, earning NCAA Division I Great Lakes All -Region recognition in 2023.

He was also part of the 2018 All-State 3200m relay team. This relay is one of the most competitive events in high school track, and finishing seventh highlights the team’s dedication and talent. Their collective effort not only brought statewide recognition but also set a standard of excellence for Alpena’s distance squads, inspiring future athletes to strive for similar achievements and reinforcing the program’s reputation for producing top-tier relay teams. Members of this team were Josh Smith, Aden Smith, Drew Seabase and Aidan Day.

CHRIS DEROCHER- Class of 2019

DeRocher set an Alpena record as its top basketball scorer with 1,624 points, breaking a 47-year-old mark. He was a three-time conference First Team selection and the 2019 The Alpena News Player of the Year. He also earned BCAM’s BEST All State honors in 2018 and 2019. He was a four-year varsity letter winner and three-time team MVP, later starring at Alpena Community College, where he made the MCCAA First Team and was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2021. A multisport- standout, Chris was a Big North First Team baseball player and helped capture a district championship in 2017. In 2019, he received Alpena’s Vic Knowlton Male Athlete of the Year.

The former high-school athletes will be honored at the Alpena High School Wall of Fame ceremony that will take place at halftime of the varsity boys’ basketball game on Friday against Gaylord.