THE 2025 INDUCTEES INTO the Parochial Athletic League (PAL) Hall of Fame include a professional football player, Olympic water polo official, vice president of a women’s professional soccer team, a professional beach volleyball player and a longtime PAL basketball coach.
RUSS SMITH, DIRECTOR OF ELEMENTARY ATHLETICS, WELCOMES EVERYONE TO THE MAY 13 PAROCHIAL ATHLETIC LEAGUE HALL OF FAME CEREMONY AT THE TUSTIN RANCH GOLF CLUB. PHOTOS BY STEVEN GEORGES/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
The induction ceremony took place following the 6th Annual Parochial Athletic League Golf Tournament held May 13 at the Tustin Ranch Golf Club.
PAL gives students attending faith-based K-12 schools within diocesan boundaries the opportunity to play competitive sports in an environment guided by Christian principles, sportsmanship, responsibility, respect and teamwork.
To qualify for the PAL Hall of Fame, inductees had to have attended a Catholic or Christian school within a PAL League. Candidates must be PAL athletes who went on to enter professional sports as a player or administrator, went on to become an Olympic athlete or official, or coached in the PAL program for at least 10 years.
The PAL Hall of Fame was established in 2022 as a way of honoring athletes, coaches and supporters who have made significant contributions to the league.
“We strive to make afterschool sports accessible to each and every one of our students,” said Russ Smith, director of elementary athletics for the Diocese of Orange. “Some of our athletes over the years have gone on to do great things in sports.”
Smith served 30 years as a teacher at Sts. Simon & Jude Catholic School and has been in charge of PAL since 1998. Under his guidance, PAL now offers a total of 10 sports in 38 schools throughout an academic year, with thousands of participants.
While most of the 38 participating schools are part of the Diocese, it is not a requirement, Smith said.
The 2025 PAL Hall of Fame inductees are:
GARY PETTIS, RIGHT, FATHER OF 2025 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE DANTE PETTIS, ACCEPTS HIS AWARD ON BEHALF OF HIS SON, WHO COULD NOT BE IN ATTENDANCE, FROM RUSS SMITH DURING THE PAROCHIAL ATHLETIC LEAGUE HALL OF FAME CEREMONY AT THE TUSTIN RANCH GOLF CLUB.
DANTE PETTIS, NFL WIDE RECEIVER
St. Edward Parish School and JSerra Catholic High School. Pettis earned numerous accolades as a multi-sport athlete in football, basketball and track and field at JSerra and still holds the Orange County record for the long jump (23-feet, six-inches). He earned a full scholarship to play football for the University of Washington, where he set the record for punt returns for a touchdown (9). Pettis was the 44th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and went on to play for the San Francisco 49ers, New York Giants, Chicago Bears and is entering his second year with the New Orleans Saints. Pettis was unable to attend the ceremony, but his father, Gary Pettis, a former Major Leaguer for the Angels, Tigers, Rangers and Padres accepted the award on behalf of his son.
Pettis read a letter submitted by Dante. It read, in part: “One of my favorite memories was having my dad coach me in basketball. That was something really special, something my friends and I still talk about today. And it only happened because of PAL.
PAL gave me a foundation. It taught me how to work hard, how to handle adversity, how to win with humility and lose with grace. I learned how to be a great teammate and how to lead with character in the face of adversity.”
JUSTYNE FREUD, VICE PRESIDENT, SAN DIEGO WAVE Fútbol Club
Sts. Simon & Jude and Mater Dei High School. Freud was a multi-sport athlete at Sts. Simon & Jude before going on to play soccer for four years at Mater Dei, where she received numerous honors, including Trinity League MVP, first team selection from the Orange County Register and the Los Angeles Times, and Mater Dei Athlete of the Year.
She went on to play soccer at Oregon State University, helping the program earn top 10 rankings.
Freud went into the business side of professional sports and is currently the head of marketing and public relations for the San Diego Wave FC. She has helped the Wave draw 22,000 fans per game.
“I just appreciate every single person that got me here,” Freud said. “I think I’m forever grateful for PAL, for Mater Dei, for Oregon State for allowing me to thrive in a position, but also just learn the different areas and life skills that I think leads me to today.”
TOM FERRARO, COACH
Coached basketball at Sts. Simon & Jude for 12 years, staring in 1993.
Coaching has allowed Ferraro to instill values such as teamwork and discipline on to future generations and remains one of the most rewarding experiences of his life.
“I really think this is an incredible honor. I guess it’s more for longevity. You know, when you have five children, four boys and a daughter, you get to coach many years. I enjoyed those 14 years more than anything. I enjoyed being with my family, my children, their friends and classmates. And it made me a better person, I hope. And I hope I did the same for them.”
JENN MCCALL, OLYMPIC WATER POLO OFFICIAL
St. Bonaventure Catholic School and Rosary Academy.
McCall has the distinction of becoming the first female referee to represent the U.S. in water polo in the Olympics. She played multiple sports from fifth through eighth grade at Saint Bonaventure and lettered in water polo, golf and swimming at Rosary.
McCall went on to play water polo at the University of Pacific and then USC. She began officiating water polo and eventually began officiating at international competitions.
“To be celebrated not just as a multi-sport athlete, but also as the first female referee to represent the United States in the Olympics is something I could have never imagined when I first stepped onto the field or into the pool,” McCall said. “It was St. Bonaventure that I developed not only my academic skills, but the resilience, discipline and teamwork that have served me throughout my life.”
WHITNEY PAVLIK-LEVECKE, AVP VOLLEYBALL
St. Catherine of Sienna School and Mater Dei High School
Pavlick-Levecke excelled in multiple sports during her years at St. Catherine before attending Mater Dei, where she played basketball and volleyball, earning multiple accolades for both sports. Pavlik-Levecke made her AVP debut in 2007 and was named AVP Rookie of the Year in 2008.
She earned three consecutive AVP Manhattan Beach Open championships from 2011 to 2013 and was named AVP Best Offensive Player of the Year in 2016.
Pavlik-Levecke returned to Mater Dei where she now serves as director of family relations and assistant Varsity Beach Volleyball coach.
“Tonight, just isn’t about my journey,” Pavlik-Levecke said. “It’s a reflection of the people, places and values that shaped me. It was at St. Catherine, where I first discovered my love for sports and the joy of being part of something bigger than myself. That foundation led me to Monterey High School, a place that would change the course of my life in more ways than one. I was blessed with incredible coaches, supportive teammates and a community that believed in me, even when I didn’t truly believe in myself.”