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vol . 5 , no. 33 : april 15-21 , 2026 : losgatan.com
local scene p7 : author peggy townsend p8 : mosque op-ed p14 : interurban railway p16 Jonathan Natividad
SUPPORTERS OF ATHLETIC HOF INDUCTEES CREDITED FOR GIVING BOOSTS
A LOCAL TEEN’S AQUASCAPING NONPROFIT HELPS WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
Greta Wagner and Brian Brogan kept on ascending
Grandfather’s PTSD inspires Evan Johnson to launch charity
Emanuel Lee, Sports Editor
Faizi Samadani, Contributor
If there is a common thread among those who have been inducted into the Los Gatos High School Athletic Hall of Fame, it’s this: they all needed a support system of teammates, coaches and family members to help them ascend to newfound heights. For Greta Wagner (class of 2014), soaring was literally a part of her daily training. Wagner is one of eight inductees in the 2026 LGHS Athletic HOF class, which includes Dan Dolen (class of 1970), Bill Berk (1990), Ben Winkelman (2000), Brian Brogan (2005), Danny Sullivan (2006), Sarah Safir Smith (2008), and Cady Chessin (2013). The Induction Ceremony will take place on May 2 at La Rinconada Country Club. Tickets can be purchased at GoFan.co. Wagner won the 2014 girls pole vault event in the CIF State Track and Field Championships, a year after finishing in a tie for second. Her winning mark in the 2014 Championships of 13 feet, ¼ inch was just shy of her alltime personal-best of 13-2, still a school record and one of the top 20 marks in state history. “In that moment, you see where all your hard work paid off,” Wagner said. “I ended up missing high school graduation
Growing up in Los Gatos from the age of three, Evan Johnson witnessed his grandfather’s battle with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Ivan Sitalov, who is still alive now, served as a soviet major in the Soviet-Afghan War from 19791982. Sitalov was left with the condition after surviving three plane crashes. When Johnson built his grandfather an aquarium, he realized that this connection to nature—and happier times—dramatically helped his grandfather's PTSD and overall mental health. This inspired Johnson to create his nonprofit Ivan the Angelfish in honor of his grandfather. Sitalov moved in with Johnson’s family to help take care of his newborn sister, when Johnson was just three.
➝ Athletic HOF, 10
➝ Angelfish, 4
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CONTRACT EXTENSION Los Gatos’ Jake Tonges just signed a two-year $8 million deal to continue playing with the San Francisco 49ers. He spoke with the Los Gatan about his career trajectory—from undrafted free agent to becoming a key offensive performer. P12.
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