Ephrata School District announces Hall of Fame inductees

EPHRATA — The Ephrata School District announced the newest additions to its Athletic Hall of Fame. This induction recognizes alumni, coaches and teams whose performances at Ephrata High School and subsequent athletic contributions have brought distinction to themselves, the school and the Ephrata community. 

“The tradition of Ephrata Athletics is built on a legacy of excellence, and we celebrate this history with pride,” said Bryan Johnson, EHS athletic director. “These new inductees exemplify that legacy and their extraordinary achievements will continue to inspire our community and future Tigers.” 

This year’s Hall of Fame inductees include Amy Jo (Silva) Bush, Travis King, Mya Spencer, Jerry Pitts, Don King and the 1993 Boys Basketball team. The group is joining 31 individuals and four teams from prior years. 

To qualify for the Hall of Fame, a student athlete must have graduated from EHS at least five years ago and participated in varsity sports for a minimum of two years and must have achieved one of the following milestones: being named first team all-conference or all-state, earning a top three state medal in an individual sport, securing a district championship in an individual sport or receiving a major honor such as an All-American Award. 

“Athletics is such a proud tradition in the Ephrata School District that to see these people being welcomed into the Hall of Fame is heartwarming,” said Sarah Morford, Communications Director for Ephrata schools. “It’s a recently new endeavor for the schools and to watch these numbers build is something that just makes your heart happy.” 

The 2025 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees will be celebrated during a banquet set for Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. This is the fifth class of Hall of Fame inductees. 

Amy Jo (Silva) Bush 

Bush was a standout during her time at Ephrata High School from 1988-1991. She excelled in basketball, volleyball and track and was recognized as a High School All-American and led the girls basketball team to a fifth-place finish at state her senior year, along with league and district championships. 

She ranks as the Ephrata girls’ second all-time leading scorer with 1,285 points. She also holds EHS records for the most career free throws attempted at 744 and most free throws made with 403. 

Following high school, Bush earned a full-ride scholarship to UCLA, where her team made it to the Sweet 16 in 1992, before transferring to Gonzaga University on a full-ride to be closer to her mother. She has continued her success as a coach, winning the California Division 5 Coach or the Year award in 2018. 

Travis King 

Graduating from EHS in 1993, King was a star in basketball and tennis. In basketball, he was a four-time first-team All-Conference selection from 1989-1993 and a First Team All-State honoree in 1991, 1992 and 1993. He was named State MVP and Mr. Basketball Washington State. 

King was a vital part of the team that earned second at state in 1992 and won the State Basketball Title in 1993. He also helped secure two Caribou Trail League championships and a CTL District Championship. 

In the state championship game, King broke the Washington State All-Time Basketball Scoring record and is the EHS basketball points record holder. After graduating, he went on to play for Walla Walla Community College and Eastern Washington University. 

Mya Spencer 

Spencer graduated from EHS in 2019 and excelled across three sports: soccer, wrestling and track and field. She was the State Champion in wrestling in 2019, where she had a 48-0 record, a three-time state medalist, with a career high school record of 145-18 and a two-time District 6 Wrestler of the Year. 

In soccer, she was First Team All-League in 2018 and 2019, and her 82 career goals are the third most in school history.  

On the track, she holds EHS school records in the 200 meters, 400 meters, and the 4x200 meter relay. After high school she played one year of soccer at Columbia Basin College, where she was the unanimous defensive player of the year. 

Jerry Pitts 

Pitts, a 1955 EHS alumnus, was a four-sport letterman in baseball, basketball, football and track. His dedication to EHS athletics earned him the title of EHS Most Outstanding Athlete from 1951-1955.  

In 1953, he achieved a school record by breaking the EHS pole vault record. He went on to play baseball at Eastern Washington University. 

Don King 

King is recognized for his two decades of impactful service to EHS Athletics, coaching from 1978-2002. As the EHS varsity girls head basketball coach from 1981-1997, King amassed a stellar 71% winning average with an overall record of 287 wins and 116 losses.  

His program made eight State Tournament appearances, securing six State Trophies, including one second-place finish. King was a four-time NCW Female Coach of the Year and developed 23 All-League players, six All-State players and two All-Americans.  

Additionally, serving as the EHS head track coach from 1990-1998, he guided the 1990 Girls Team to League, District and State Championships. The 1991 Girls Team finished second at State. In 1998, he earned the honor of being the Central Washington Athletic Conference Track Coach of the Year. 

1993 Boys Basketball Team 

The 1993 boys basketball team achieved a major milestone by winning the first boys’ basketball state championship for Ephrata. The team finished with a record of 26-1, which included a 20-0 regular season. 

Known for their high-scoring offense, the team averaged 88 points a game and scored over 100 points at least five times. They defeated Blaine, East Valley Yakima, Colfax and Port Townsend to win the State A title. 

Travis King was named MVP of the State Tournament, while he and Eric Davis earned First Team All-League honors. The team was led by coaches Marty O’Brien, Gary Archer and Dave Johnson. 

About the Ephrata Hall

The Athletic Hall of Fame is a collaboration between Ephrata High School and the Tiger Boosters club. A board of 13 individuals oversees the Hall of Fame. Nominees must receive a vote of 75% of the board members to be inducted.  

For more information on the EHS Athletic Hall of Fame, visit www.ephratatigers.com. 

    The full 1993 Ephrata Tigers basketball team, coaching staff and cheer squad stand together for a photo after winning the State Championship Title. Travis King and Eric Davis both earned First Team All-League honors for their contributions to the team that year.
  

    Left to right: Amy Jo (Silva) Bush, Travis King, Mya Spencer, Jerry Pitts and Don King.