Armando Avina is a lieutenant for the Washoe Sheriff's Office in Nevada.

Darrell Hardcastle lives in Texas, where he still teaches and coaches both football and baseball at Van Alstyne High.

They're forever connected, along with the late Maurice "Augie" Agostini and long-time classified staff member Nancy Lewallen, as members of the East Union High 2022 Hall of Fame on Thursday.

Fittingly, their enshrinement took place prior to the Lancers' Valley Oak League game against visiting Manteca High. Agositini's son, Jim, is the head coach for the EU girls’ varsity basketball team.

Ron Agostini is the public address announcer and scorekeeper for his brother's team.

Their dad passed away in 2009 but was remembered for his many contributions to the school. Augie Agostini helped launch the EU Athletic Boosters Club, served as its first president, and was inducted to the City of Manteca Hall of Fame in 2001.

Agostini Field on Northgate Drive is named in his honor.

Lewallen was joined by her husband of over 50 years, Ron, at the ceremony that welcomed her to the Lancers family Hall of Fame.

She was raised in Susanville, went to college in Santa Cruz, where she met Ron. They landed in Manteca in the late 1960s, with Nancy Lewallen finding her way to East Union.

She worked at the school for almost 30 years, enjoying her time working with district and county personnel, staff, booster clubs, etc. She especially enjoyed helping out the students. Lewallen was thankful for the enshrinement to the EU Hall of Fame, from the bottom of her "red and blue heart," she said.

As for Avina and Hardcastle, they were both thrilled to be back home.

"Armando was one of the best-ever (student athletes)," said Hardcastle of the 1991 EU graduate.

He was a 1974 graduate of the school.

Hardcastle was an outstanding football and baseball player for the Lancers, earning all-VOL in latter during his senior year.

After college, he returned to Manteca, becoming the first-ever former student to join the East Union teaching staff.

During his 19 years at the school, Hardcastle's teams won six league titles in baseball along with a CIF crown in 1998.

His three children were also Lancers -- Vonda graduated in 1995, Jessie was in the Class of 1997, and JT was a member of the Class of 1999.

After his son's graduation, Hardcastle moved to Texas. He resides in a town just north of Dallas. 

Hardcastle has been at  Van Alstyne High for the past 17 years, teaching a variety of classes, mentoring and, of course, coaching.

Avina's exploits on the playing field could almost be described as legendary.

In a football clash against rival Manteca High, Avina, as quarterback and kicker for the Lancers, accounted for all the scoring in the win.

He earned MVP, all-State, all-Area honors over multiple years in football, basketball and first-team all-VOL in baseball.

In the state all-star football game, Avina was named MVP.

He was drafted by the Houston Astros in baseball but opted to play football at the University of Nevada, Reno.

He held the record for the longest career punt average, which stood for 25 years.

In 1996, he signed with the NFL's Buffalo Bills as a kicker and punter. He made it through the preseason before being cut.

The Bills were still one of the dominant teams in the 1990s. "That team was loaded," he said, reeling off legendary names such Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Bruce Smith, to name a few.

Armando Avina, who has been with the Washoe Sheriff's Office for the past 20 years, was joined by his team of all-stars at his Hall of Fame induction. Included were his wife, Jenny, and his sons, Austin and Jace.