University of San Francisco Athletics

Athlete All-American

Frederick Klemenok

Honors:
Football (1946-1951)

PETALUMA PRODUCTS: In 1942, when the war years were just beginning to show what they could do to college athletics, two toe-headed youngsters from the egg capital of Petaluma enrolled here at the Hilltop to finish what education they could before Uncle Sam beckoned their services. It didn't take long for the fans hereabouts to recognize their ability, and local sport scribes began uttering praises for Hal Jensen and Fred Klemenok, two of coach Al Tassi's brightest prospects.

It was the first game of the season and the first college game for either Hal or Fred. The Dons were using a single wing formation with Klemenok at left half and Jensen at right half. Then it happened. Klemenok faded back and looped a long spiral that Jensen gathered in and continued on for a touchdown. A combination was born and the opponents from Arizona State knew they had a football game. It wasn't long after this play that Jensen waltzed 73 yards for another touchdown, and Don hopes were kindled higher than ever with the thought that the needed spark had arrived, and that the next few years would prove that the Dons had a ball club.

Conditioning was always a dominant factor in the past, and this year the Dons boast one of the finest conditioned squads on the Pacific Coast. Only one athlete has met with a serious injury. Fred Klemenok was a Don regular before the war, winning the Dons Club Trophy for his passing. At College of the Pacific during the Marine Training Program, Fred made an enviable record with his good right arm. Today he must be content with remaining out of action for the whole season, because in a scrimmage, Fred was hit hard in a freak accident, and his leg was broken. Fred was the number one understudy for quarterback Jimmy Kyan, and was giving Jimmy a hard battle for the first team. His loss will be sorely felt, especially by the fans from Petaluma. He is one of the many boys from Petaluma who are putting so much spark in the squad.

15,000 spectators were treated to an interesting battle in the second half, as the passing of Fred Klemenok was the hit of the afternoon. Klemenok had not played in any previous games, an early season injury making him physically incapable of action. He threw 21 Don passes, and completed 11 for a better than .500 average. He gained for the Hilltoppers a total of 200 yards .from scrimmage, more than the USFers had been able to make by passing in three previous games. In fact, it more than doubled their total to date.

When the Dons leave the field after their last game of the season against St. Mary's on the 30th of November, there are three who will have played their last game beneath the banner of Green and Gold. These men, Forrest Hall, Hal Jensen and Fred Klemenok, all seniors, will close their college football days against an arch rival whose defeat would more than satisfy them as a proper send-off from the school, at which they chose to spend their days of learning. A look at the records of these three and one easily reveals why USFers may be justly proud of the way these men have conducted themselves as students, athletes and gentlemen. The two Don backfield men from last year who are linked with the LA Rams are Fred Klemenok and George Buksar (TheFoghorn).

Then there's the family history in Petaluma. After graduation from USF, Fred Sr. played for the semi-pro Petaluma Leghorns, and was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 1949. Fred Jr. was a quarterback at Petaluma High and Santa Rosa Junior College, helping lead the latter to a No. 2 ranking in California and No. 6 in the United States. Fred Sr.'s granddaughter, Ali, is a softball star at Petaluma High School (SFGate).

Schedule

Athlete All-American

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Upcoming Event: Women's Golf versus West Coast Conference Championship - Day One on Apr. 25, 2026

Upcoming Event: Baseball versus Pacific on Apr. 25, 2026 at 1:00 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Women's Golf versus West Coast Conference Championship - Day Two on Apr. 26, 2026

Upcoming Event: Baseball versus Pacific on Apr. 26, 2026 at 1:00 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Women's Golf versus West Coast Conference Championship - Day Three on Apr. 27, 2026

Upcoming Event: Baseball versus San Jose State on Apr. 28, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Men's Golf versus WCC Championship - Day One on May. 1, 2026

Upcoming Event: Track and Field versus Payton Jordan Invitational on May. 1, 2026

Athlete All-American

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