3 Men To Be Inducted In West Aurora District 129 Athletic Hall Of Fame

AURORA, IL — Three men will be inducted into the West Aurora School District 129 Athletic Hall of Fame during a reception and ceremony in January.

Mario Clark, Tim Griffin and Matt McKee, who graduated in 1990, 1981 and 2005, respectively, will be celebrated during the Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Reception and Ceremony Jan. 7. Hosted by the Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse of West Aurora High School, at 1201 W. New York St., the event will begin at 2 p.m.

The new members will be inducted at about 4:15 p.m., happening in between the girls' and boys' varsity basketball contests against the East Aurora Tomcats. The girls' game will start at 3 p.m., and the boys' will begin at 4:30 p.m.

Here's an overview of each of the inductees' careers.

Mario Clark

Mario Clark earned four varsity letters during his run with the boys' basketball team before he was named to the Illinois High School Association's First Team All-State in 1990. He ranked second in both steals and scoring in West Aurora High School history.

After graduating in 1990, Clark went on to play basketball at Chicago State University and John A. Logan Community College before finishing at Indiana State University, where he led his team in scoring and assists for two seasons.

Clark is a co-founder of M. Property Investments, a real estate firm. He and his family are active local community members, according to school district officials.

Tim Griffin

Tim Griffin was a linebacker for West Aurora High School's football team who was part of the 1978 playoff team as a sophomore. He suffered a season-ending injury as a senior but went on to be a three-year starting linebacker for Northern Illinois University's football team.

As a senior in college, Griffin served as team captain and was voted most valuable player. He still ranks among NIU's top linemen of all time in career tackles, solo tackles and single-season tackles, according to District 129 officials.

Griffin currently lives in Geneva with his family.

Matt McKee

A three-year starter for the boys' volleyball team at West Aurora High School, Matt McKee graduated with three IHSA records in the sport — for most kills in a season, aces in a season and kills in a match. As a senior, he led the Blackhawks to the state quarterfinals where they finished in fifth place.

McKee went on to play volleyball at Pepperdine University and was a member of the 2007 and 2008 teams that placed among the top three teams in the nation. He also earned the title of scholar-athlete four times during his time in college.

McKee became a 911 EMT and paramedic and resides in Simi Valley, California, with his wife and two children.