The Ballistic United Soccer Club, in keeping with its commitment build for the future while embracing its past has announced the 2025 Hall of Fame class.
Mike Nieto and Tony Chavarria are the two players being inducted and will join the Chuck Lemoine Family as the first family inducted into the HOF.
The inductions will take place May 8, following the annual Ballistic Golf Tournament fundraiser at the Callippe Golf Course in Pleasanton.
For more information, check the Ballistic web site at BUSC RAGE Golf Fundraiser at Callippe Golf Course – Ballistic United Soccer Club.
Mike Nieto
When Mike Nieto and his family moved to Pleasanton, he was 10 and had no idea what soccer was all about.
He played one season in the recreational league before trying out and making Harry Miller’s under-12 team.
“I went from playing like 10 games in the season to playing over 100 games,” said Nieto of the transition to playing comp soccer. “Playing that many games and traveling makes it cool. I had played CYO basketball and little league and after (Miller’s) team I think I played one more year of baseball.”
It was also during that year on the under-12 team that Nieto felt soccer was something special.
“I was so green,” said Nieto. “But halfway through (with Miller) it was one of those things where the more success you have, the more enjoyable it became.”
Nieto plowed through his time at Ballistic and at Amador Valley High School, enjoying success at all levels.
Following his graduation from Amador, Nieto moved on to the University of California, Berkeley, where he played from 1982-85.
Nieto still occupies several spots in the Cal record book. He is first all-time in assists with 40; tied for sixth in goals with 24; and is third in total points with 88.
In 1983 Nieto was named the Pacific Soccer Conference Player of the Year and was also named to “All Far West” team.
Following his Cal career, Nieto was a member of the Greek Americans professional team and was key in the Greek’s winning multiple U.S. Open Cups.
Currently, Nieto has been a BUSC Board Member for over five years, coming full circle.
“I owe a lot to the club,” said Nieto. “That’s why I came back and work for the club. I’ve got to give back.”
And he will be for a few more years.
“I want to see how the futsal center turns out,” said Nieto. “I think we have done some great things.”
Tony Chavarria
Chavarria’s first memory of Ballistic United is the one that sticks with him the most, and for him, it sums up his feelings about the club.
“I remember when my parents took me to sign up for the first time at one of the elementary schools,” said Chavarria. “I was like seven. We walked through the door and there was Ian Lang (former board member). He said, ‘Welcome to the Ballistic United Soccer Club.’ It was like walking through the gates of heaven.”
Chavarria said it was around when he was 12 or 13 that he realized he could be a good player, but since he first stepped on a field, it has always been about having a good time.
“It was funny,” said Chavarria about learning soccer. “I thought it was just about going out and kicking the ball around. I always played kickball at Valley View. It’s always been fun for me.”
That explains his best memories of playing Ballistic.
“I don’t remember too many games or scoring goals,” said Chavarria. “But all the traveling to places like Mexico City and Calgary, hanging out with the guys on the team – that created friendships that I still have today.”
After a very successful run with BUSC, then Amador Valley, and some junior college soccer, Chavarria came back to BUSC like so many former players have.
In 1987 he came back as a volunteer, helping some teams train. He eventually moved into the role of Director of the Rec program.
It was a perfect match.
“I knew I was a good player, but I always felt I could be a coach,” said Chavarria. “You can be the greatest player, but it doesn’t mean you can coach.”
Chavarria made trips to Holland to work on his craft and like when he put on the cleats, he was successful, putting together a Rec program that was the envy of so many other clubs.
And like when he played, it was all about having a good time.
“I really enjoyed watching the kids lining up and having some fun,” said Chavarria. “You get to see all these new mom and dad’s coming into the sport. I had the joy bringing the game to them.”
Now retired and skiing up to 70 times a year – I talked with Chavarria when he was up on the mountain at Tahoe Palisades – he reflects and smiles.
“I had a lot of fun giving back to the club,” said Chavarria. “Like I first saw – it’s like walking through the gates of Heaven.”
The Lemoine Family
For the last 40-plus years, you can’t go back and find a time there wasn’t someone from the Lemoine family not involved in soccer in Pleasanton.
And it has been every generation of the family.
Chuck, the patriarch of the family, has been a coach, a referee, and volunteered for just about everything the club needed help with.
Norma, the matriarch who passed away recently, was a coach for BUSC, relishing the times she and Georgianne Miller coached their teams to wins over the male coached teams.
Jeff is the oldest son and spent time as a player and a volunteer for various Ballistic events.
Sean is the middle son and has been all about soccer since he was a child. He had a successful playing career all the way through Foothill High, then went on to play with brother Erik at Santa Barbara Community College.
After college he coached for just about every organization in Pleasanton – Ballistic, Pleasanton Rage, and Foothill. His children have carried on with the family legacy as well.
Oldest son Nico played for Ballistic United, then the De Anza Force, and then joined the San Jose Earthquakes Academy team.
He then moved on and played professionally with the Rio Grande Valley F.C. before joining the Houston Dynamo of the MLS. Currently he is a free agent.
His oldest daughter Gabby played when she was younger, with the youngest children Gunnar and Harley are both currently playing youth soccer, of which Sean and his wife Katie coach.
