It’s an honor and blessing to be selected as a member of the Summerville High School Hall of Fame. What makes this honor even more special to me and my family is that I join my brother, Michael Oliva, Class of 1998, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020. My parents and my Gramps were always our biggest and loudest supporters.
During my 4 years at Summerville I participated in Football, Basketball, and Baseball every year earning a 3D block “S” letterman’s patch for playing in 12 consecutive sports. Along the way I got to play with some amazing athletes, and learn from some incredible coaches. A few of those Summerville coaches that helped shape the way I approached sports both as a player during my playing career and later as a coach are Mr. (Mitch) Heldstab, Mr. (Marlin) Heldstab, and Mr. Woods. Their knowledge and passion for the game is still an inspiration for me to this day. During my 4 years playing at Summerville, I was fortunate enough to be a team captain on multiple occasions which I 
believe taught me how to be a leader and deal with adversity. I was named to the Mother Lode League all-academic team every year, and earned Mother Lode League first team honors my senior year in football, baseball, and was named the Mother Lode League MVP in basketball. My favorite athletic memory was during my senior year basketball season where we went 13-2 in league and won the Mother Lode League Championship even though we were picked to finish 5th out of 6 teams. I had a great group of teammates and coaches, and the atmosphere was electric at every game!
In addition to playing sports, I was always trying to put my best foot forward in academics as well. I maintained a 4.0+ cumulative GPA over my high school career and graduated with honors. My favorite classes were Geometry taught by Mr. Ronten, and Economics taught by Mr. Christiansen. These ended up being my favorite subjects in college where I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from UC Davis. At UC Davis I played football during my 4 year stint, becoming an all-american on the gridiron and was named as one of the 4 team captains my senior year.
Living in Tuolumne since I was 2, and attending Summerville Elementary K – 8th and then attending Summerville High my entire High School career, I have Black & Orange running through my blood. This school and town is what drew me and my wife, Abby Oliva (also a Bear alumni, and teacher at Summerville Elementary), to return back to our hometown to raise our kids after we both graduated college. We have lived in big cities and there is no place like Tuolumne County.
Upon moving back to Tuolumne County I had the privilege to immediately join the Bear family and was brought onto the coaching staff of the football team by Mr. Watson. While attending Summerville, Mr. Watson was one of my favorite coaches that taught me a ton about fundamentals, putting in hard work, and being humble.
Since returning to Tuolumne County, I have been fortunate enough over the last 18 years to coach multiple sports at Summerville High, including football, softball, soccer and basketball. Now that both of my children, Cora Lee Oliva (Class of 2026) and JT Oliva (Class of 2028), attend Summerville High, the sense of pride and joy that I experience not only coaching them but watching them compete for the Black & Orange is unparalleled.
In closing, I would tell current and future Summerville students to be involved in the things that give you joy. Find your passions and pursue them with all of your heart. Show up to school, class, practice, games, work, extra-curricular activities, and always give maximum effort. Strive for greatness, and don’t ever settle for mediocrity.