Woodside High School’s top 5 athletes of all time
WOODSIDE, Calif. (BVM) – Woodside High School is no stranger to elite athletes walking its hallways. From Super Bowl champions to Olympic gold medalists and first-round NBA Draft picks, the Wildcats have produced an impressive lineage of impactful stars.
While some deserving candidates will certainly be left off, here are the top five athletes in Woodside High School history:
- Zack Test, Class of 2007
Born in Woodside, Test began playing rugby during his freshman year with the Wildcats. He made his professional debut during the 2008-09 IRB Sevens World Series and not only became a regular for the U.S. team but quickly emerged as one of the best players on the U.S. team. Test led the U.S. team during the 2010-11 IRB Sevens World Series with 24 tries and 120 points and helped the U.S. win bronze at the 2011 Pan American Games. His performance throughout that year earned him the Rugby Mag 2011 Men’s 7s Player of the Year award. With 143 career tries in the World Rugby Sevens Series, Test led all U.S. players in tries scored until Perry Baker broke his record in 2018.
- Mike Nolan, Class of 1977
The son of long-time NFL head coach Dick Nolan, Mike carved out a niche of his own in the pros. Mike had stints as a linebackers coach (Broncos) and defensive coordinator (Giants, Redskins, Jets, Ravens) before getting his shot as an NFL head coach. He was hired in 2005 as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers like his father once was and also served as the team’s general manager. The 49ers went just 18-37 during Mike’s tenure which ended with his firing in 2008. Mike went on to become the defensive coordinator of three more franchises (Broncos, Falcons, Dolphins) before his most recent role as the defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys for the 2020 season.
- Rich Kelley, Class of 1971
Kelley went on to Stanford from Woodside and in 76 career games with the Cardinal, averaged a double-double of 18.6 points and 12.4 rebounds on 49% shooting from the field. The 7-footer was drafted No. 7 overall in the 1975 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Jazz and would go on to play for 11 seasons. His career-best season came in 1978-79 when he averaged 15.7 points, 12.8 rebounds (good for second in the league in rebounding that season) and set a franchise record for blocked shots (166). Kelley currently ranks 94th on the NBA’s career offensive rebounds list (1,872).
- John Naber, Class of 1973
Following his graduation from Woodside, Naber helped lead USC to four consecutive NCAA swimming titles (1974-77). At 20 years old, Naber won four gold medals at the 1976 Summer Olympics, each coming in world-record time. His world-record time in the 200-meter backstroke (1:59.19) and the 100-meter backstroke (55.49) each stood for seven years. Naber won the 1977 James E. Sullivan Award, presented to the top American amateur athlete of the year, for his accomplishments in Montreal. He was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an “Honor Swimmer” in 1982.
- Julian Edelman, Class of 2005
Edelman was a household name in Woodside long before his pro football career after leading the Wildcats to a 13-0 record as a senior quarterback in 2004. He transitioned to Kent State University where he was a three-year starter at quarterback and broke Joshua Cribbs’ single-season total offense school record in 2003. Edelman was drafted in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots where he moved into a return specialist and wide receiver role. By 2013, he was a staple of the Patriots’ offense and became one of the league’s most productive postseason receivers ever. Edelman ranks second in postseason receiving yards (1,442) and receptions (118). He helped New England win three Super Bowls and was named Super Bowl MVP of Super Bowl LIII where he accounted for more than half of his team’s total receiving yardage (10 catches, 141 yards). Edelman announced his retirement earlier this year after 12 seasons with the Patriots.
