Bronco family legacy spans generations

By Margo Consul

Like many old, private institutions, Santa Clara is known for its tradition of family legacies. One even, includes Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh.

Though Walsh never attended Santa Clara, her family--spanning three generations-- created a noteworthy legacy of Bronco athletic tradition.

It begins with a young, strapping football player named Marte Formico. He played football for Santa Clara from 1948 through 1950. In 1949, "The Splendid Splinter" earned his athletic credibility. Formico caught a punt return in a game versus San Jose State to dodge and weave his way to a touchdown that brought the Broncos back from a score of 13-7 at the beginning of the fourth quarter to a score of 14-13 to win the game.

After Formico's comeback touchdown, the Broncos went on to win six more games and earn their invitation to the 1950 Orange Bowl. The Broncos upset the University of Kentucky with a score of 21-13 in a game that is still considered one of the biggest upsets in the history of college football.

Marte Formico is also the father of Margie Formico. Margie played volleyball for Santa Clara from 1974 to 1975. Her family's athletic genes showed during her two seasons on the varsity squad as Formico earned the title of Most Valuable Player in back-to-back seasons.

"She was just great. They were playing over in the old gym and she was just a remarkable competitor," high school sweetheart and husband Tim Walsh said of Margie.

"Volleyball was a little different back then, but she came from a real athletic family and played well," Tim added.

While Margie Formico is not a household name, Kerri Walsh is. Margie Formico and Tim Walsh are the parents of the back-to-back gold medalist phenomenon.

Tim Walsh has an impressive resume as well. Standing at 6 feet 5 inches, Walsh played Minor League Baseball and semi-pro basketball.

Margie remembers volleyball as a different kind of game than it is today.

"It was fun, and it was a time when we played for fun and it was a chance to get exercise," Margie said. "It was a different time, before Title IX, and it wasn't as competitive."

Although Margie deferred attention from her experiences to that of her eldest daughter Kerri, it is undeniable according to Tim that his wife's passion for athletics is what got all their children involved in competitive sports.

The Walshes' have three daughters, Kerri, Kelli and K.C, and a son, Marte, all of whom have played collegiate-level sports. Marte, who is the oldest and is named after his grandfather, played basketball at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Kerri's volleyball career at Stanford is well documented. Kelli played volleyball at Santa Clara in 2003 as a setter/defensive specialist. K.C. played volleyball for two years at Loyola Marymount as a setter and one year at Oregon State.

"I coached the kids through basketball and baseball, and when they got to St. Mary's and Los Gatos she (Margie) coached them through volleyball," Tim said. "She was able to teach them pretty good techniques."

Kerri played volleyball at Stanford from 1996 to 2000 as an outside hitter/middle blocker. Throughoust her career at Stanford, Kerri was named to the First Team American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American and Mountain Regional Most Valuable Player in 1997 and 1998. Her 521 kills during her freshman year is third most in school history in a single season. When she was a junior, she was named Pac-10 Player of the Yearí -- the sixth Cardinal to earn the honor -- was named to the First Team All-Pac-10 and her .379 season hitting percentage is the third best total in school history. Kerri was also named to the NCAA First Team All American all four years at Stanford.

Upon graduating in 2000, Kerri was teamed up with Misty May-Treanor, and they went on to win gold in beach volleyball in the 2004 Olympics and then again in 2008.

Tim Walsh reflected on his family's experience with club volleyball, which was a new sport in Northern California when Kerri started playing. The Walsh family spent 18 years in club volleyball with Kerri, Kelli and K.C.

Kerri was the one who really picked up on her mother's enthusiasm for the sport. She admits that her inspiration throughout her career has been her mother.

"My mom is one of my biggest inspirations simply because she is a warrior of a woman," Kerri said.

"I've been around athletes my whole life, but I'm from a family of very strong women, and I feel that has been a strong catalyst in my life, and strong men of course -- you know behind every great woman -- but my mom is huge in everything I have done."

Contact Margo Consul at (408) 551-1918 or at mconsul@scu.edu.