CAMDEN COUNTY 2019 SPORTS HALL OF FAME
PRESENTED BY THE CAMDEN COUNTY BOARD OF FREEHOLDERS
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Congratulations to Tonight’s
2019 SPORTS HALL OF FAME Awardees
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October 24, 2019 Dear Guests, October 25,of2018 On behalf the Camden County Board of Freeholders, we are proud to present to you the 2019 Sports Hall of Fame Inductees for the Camden County Dear Guests, Sports Hall of Fame. On behalf of the Camden County Board of Freeholders, we are proud to present to you the It is due to their commitment to teamwork and leadership in sports and their 2018 Sports Hall of Fame Inductees for the Camden County Sports Hall of Fame. community that our twelve inductees deserve to become permanent fixtures in the history of Camden County. We are truly honored to recognize their legacy to It is due to their commitment to teamwork and leadership in sports and their community that sports in Camden County. our thirteen inductees deserve to become permanent fixtures in the history of Camden County. We are truly honored to recognize their legacy to sports in Camden County. Congratulations to the 2019 Sports Hall of Fame Inductees and to their families and friends who have each inductee in the past and friends Congratulations to the 2018 Sportshelped Hall ofsupport Fame Inductees and to their families through present day. who have helped support each inductee in the past through present day. We hopeyou youenjoy enjoy evening! We hope thethe evening!
Louis Cappelli, Jr.Jr. Louis Cappelli, Freeholder Director Freeholder Director
2019CAMDEN CAMDEN COUNTY FREEHOLDER 2018 COUNTY FREEHOLDER BOARDBOARD Louis Cappelli, Jr., Director Louis Cappelli, Jr., Director Edward T. McDonnell, Deputy Director Edward T. McDonnell, Deputy Director Jeffrey L. Nash Jeffrey L. Nash Carmen G. Rodriguez Carmen L. G.Young, Rodriguez Jonathan Sr. William F. Moen, Jr. Jonathan L. Young, Sr. Susan Angulo SusanShin Shin Angulo
Melinda Kane
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PROGRAM 5-6PM BUTLER PASSED HORS D’OEUVRES MASTER OF CEREMONIES ROBERT JAKUBOWSKI HALL OF FAME COMMITTEE WELCOME FREEHOLDER DIRECTOR LOUIS CAPPELLI, JR. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 2019 BOB KENNEY MEMORIAL AWARD CHRISTINE DZICZEK BLESSING DINNER BUFFET 7:30PM 2019 INDUCTION CEREMONY JON BATCHELOR - Legends LILLIAN WATSON STRAUB - Legends NICK BAKER ABBY GEORGE CAREY JESSICA COPSKEY DEPRINCE BO GRAY ROBERT C. JACKSON BLAISE KOZENIEWSKI LARRY LITWIN B. MARTIN LUDWIKOWSKI DONNA SEYBOLD DESSERT AND COFFEE 5
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Tonight we hold our fourteenth induction ceremony of the Camden County Sports Hall of Fame. It all began in 2004 when Bill Collins, the Highland High School track coach was bragging about the new South Jersey Track Hall of Fame to his friend and old coaching colleague then County Clerk Jim Beach. “Why can’t we get something going to honor our county athletes?”, wondered Collins. “Why not,” wondered Beach, and he took the idea to Louis Cappelli Jr., the County Freeholder Director. When Cappelli embraced the idea, Beach was off and running. Always a good organizer, Beach assembled people such as his Administrative Assistant Kim Vesper, former Eagles President Dr. Harry Gamble, historian Doug Frambes and the county’s ace Special Events expert, Roland Traynor. Beach sprinkled in veteran sportswriters Mark Narducci of the Inquirer and Phil Anastasia of the CourierPost and convinced retired newspaper editors Jack Carty, Bob Kenney and John Vogeding to join his growing committee. Pennsauken Mayor Rick Taylor, then a school administrator, PR expert Camy Trinidad and former coaching legend Joe Murphy joined Collins at the conference table. Writers Walt Burrows, Kevin Callahan and Rick Ventura added years of sports experience. Anastasia, the former sports editor at the Courier-Post, came up with the mission statement: “To remember those who have brought honor and glory to Camden County through sports.” Kenney was selected chairman of the committee with Murphy as his assistant. Kim Vesper, who directed the early meetings, was elected executive secretary and things began falling into place at an incredible pace. Nearly 400 very qualified men and women were on the first list of candidates. Fortunately John Vogeding’s constitution committee had anticipated the overload and inserted a series of ballot requirements for induction. The list of candidates grew to over 500 and the committee itself expanded along the way as Cliff Still, Mark Lonetto, Dean Ragone, Mike and Scott Petrozza, broadcaster Pat Delsi, and coaches Jeanne O’Brien Kline and Deirdre Kane, became involved. When Beach became a State Senator, new County Clerk Joe Ripa joined the committee along with Gus Ostrum, Floss Mitchell and Dana DeLucca. Joe Bretschneider and Brett Waters also joined the committee and in 2013 Attorney William Dilks came aboard. Tonight the Hall welcomes its fourteenth class, a special group of 12 outstanding men and women who, indeed, have brought honor and glory to Camden County through sports.
HALL OF FAME COMMITTEE Joe Murphy, Chairman Mark Lonetto, Assistant Chairman Kim Vesper, Executive Secretary Rick Taylor, Treasurer
Senator Jim Beach Tony Black Freeholder Lou Cappelli Bill Collins Pat Delsi
Bill Dilks Terry Durkin Christine Dziczek John Fisher Al Harris
Robert Jakubowski Deirdre Kane Mark Kemonosh Jeanne O’Brien Kline Tim Malloy
Scott Petrozza County Clerk Joe Ripa Ken Roberts Ken Shuttleworth 7
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CHRISTINE DZICZEK St. Joseph’s HS
2019 BOB KENNEY AWARD Chris Dzicek, this year’s Bob Kenney Award winner, grew up in the Fairview section of Camden in the 1960s. There were no organized sports for girls then, so the closest she got was when the family went to watch her brother John play baseball. “They were the only summer vacations we got, too” she added.“They did have basketball at St. Joseph’s High School, so I played basketball,” she explained. “They started girls’ softball then, so I played four years of softball and basketball. But there was no publicity about girls’ sports, so we didn’t get much support for softball other than a few parents. “Publicity, team rankings and all-league and all-group rankings came with Bob Kenney, sports editor of the Courier-Post,” Dziczek went on. “That is why this award means so much to me. He did so much for girls’ sports and he didn’t just talk the talk. He walked the walk, too. I also played for coach Bob Kenney and the Oaklyn Manor Bar adult women’s team some years later.”Chris also had a good role model in her older brother John. “He would also have a catch with me and never once said ‘You throw like a girl’ to me,” she said. Dziczek graduated from St. Joe’s in 1973 and went on to Slippery Rock State College in western Pennsylvania. “I played club softball there, but they told me I was too short for basketball,” she related. But she did get a degree in health and physical education and found a job with the Black Horse Pike Regional District in 1978. She was assigned to Highland High School. “I taught physical education and coached any sport that had an opening,” she noted. “My first sport was coaching cheerleading, but then I coached field hockey, softball and tennis. In 1999, I was appointed the athletic director at Highland.” She had also earned a master’s degree in Educational Administration from Rowan University. Chris must have done a good job, because the following year she was tapped as athletic director for the Black Horse Regional District. That included Triton and Timber Creek, as well as Highland. “It meant that I had to administer 57 sports, instead of 19, and cover two leagues,” she pointed out. She also had to learn how to get along without regular dinners, especially with her growing involvement in helping high school sports in other ways. Dziczek started by getting together with other coaches and supporters to form the South Jersey Girls’ Softball Association. “We wanted to give recognition to softball athletes by recognizing the outstanding players, teams and coaches,” she noted. “Bob Kenney was active in that too.” She was a member of the NJSIAA eligibility committee for 19 years and is still a member of the NJSIAA compliance committee. “We monitor schools to see that they are complying with NJSIAA rules and regulations,” Chris said. “It also means that I meet new athletic directors to explain those rules before they have a chance to inadvertently go astray.” Dziczek has been a board member of the Camden County Sports Hall of Fame since 2014 and she has been a valued link to athletic directors and many coaches she has worked with during her career. She is also a friendly voice for female athletes.
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Thank you for being in attendance Straubie GHS’57 *Ruth Harris Strow GHS’52 *Maryanna Watson Barr GHS’63 (2009 Camden County Sports Hall of Fame Recipient)
*Michael Pisker Schaaf GHS’70 *Michele Barr Strom GHS’84 *Lynda Barr Scelsi GHS’87 Charlotte Longano Brown GHS’60 Doris Kramer Cann GHS’60 *Former Women’s Field Hockey Player
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NICK BAKER Haddonfield Memorial HS
Nick Baker is now retired as track and field coach, but continues as the successful cross-country coach at Haddonfield High School. He and his wife Maureen are still part of the Haddonfield family they have served for more than 40 years. The feelings are mutual, as the Baker Project recently launched attests. The Baker Project is a drive to raise money to dedicate the Haddonfield track to honor Nick and the stadium patio to honor both Nick and Maureen. The drive is being led by Dr. Joseph Serico, a former principal, under the endorsement of the Haddonfield Educational Trust. Dr. Serico has known the Bakers for over 40 years and even coached opposing teams. So if anyone knows how deserving the Bakers are, it is he. “Last year I took on the volunteer responsibility to lead a campus-wide beautification project at Haddonfield High School,” he said. “We were offered the opportunity to secure naming rights as part of the project. In my view, there are only a very select group of people who have earned the right to be so honored by the school. Haddonfield won nine winter indoor track titles and five outdoor state championships in track under Nick Baker’s tutelage. He has compiled an even more amazing record in cross-country, which he still coaches. His teams have compiled a record of 326-16 and have a winning streak of 200 dual meets going into this year. He has won 35 state championships, including the last 15 in a row. Baker has been the South Jersey Track Coaches Association Coach of the Year four times for crosscountry and twice for track, in addition to Northeast Regional Coach of the Year. He was inducted into the SJTCA. At the induction, Baker was hailed as “the most successful track and cross-country coach in South Jersey history.” He has also served as president of the SJTCA for 14 years. Maureen Baker started the girls’ track program at Haddonfield in 1978 and accomplished something her husband hadn’t. Whereas Nick took over established programs, Maureen launched the girls’ program from scratch. Like her husband, girls’ track and cross-country has produced plenty of winners – 150 consecutive dual meets and nine state championships in cross-country. She has retired as coach, taking on a role of teaching younger athletes in the Haddonfield Middle School. Nick is a native of Ireland who came to New York at the age of five with his parents. He was a member of a state champion and Eastern States cross-country team and is a graduate of Springfield College, where he met his wife. The Bakers have two children, Courtney and Colin. Courtney is a teacher in South Jersey and follows in her parents’ footsteps as the Haddonfield head girls’ track and crosscountry coach. Colin, the school’s 1600 record-holder, now works in finance. Dave Stewart, assistant cross-country coach and the father of one of Baker’s former distance runners, is another Nick Baker booster. He states that every Haddonfield student-athlete, whether a freshman or senior, continually believes in the Baker system and the championship results serve as proof. “Nick would be the first to acknowledge that the main part of his success is from the kids buying into the program for over 40 years and doing the work needed,” Stewart said. “If I could describe better how he gets them to do that, and somehow package it, I could make a lot of money. But he just somehow has that gift of leadership where the kids take charge and internalize the team’s goals.”
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The Family and Friends of
ABBY GEORGE CAREY send their love and congratulations to Abby and all the Honorees on this wonderful recognition!
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ABBY GEORGE CAREY
Haddonfield Memorial HS
Abby George Carey graduated Haddonfield Memorial High School as a member of the Class of 1995. She was named the top female athlete that year with Haddonfield’s Cyrus D. Marter Award. During her time at Haddonfield Abby collected 12 varsity letters total for her efforts in softball, basketball and soccer. She was dominant in all three sports in the Colonial Conference where she was named All Colonial Conference a total of eight times. Abby was All Colonial Conference at Third base her Junior Year. A shift to Shortstop during the Senior season had the same result with an All-Conference honor. As a standout athlete in three sports, Abby tends to enjoy basketball the most because she is always in the middle of the action. She also loved playing for Coach Trish McNutt; also a member of the Camden County Sports Hall of Fame. During Abby’s tenure the Bulldogs won two State Championships. In these two Championship runs Abby recalls an 11-point run in the fourth quarter her sophomore Year leading to victory in the championship game. A year later, as a Junior, Abby was awarded the MVP of the State Championship game. The 1995 team was prohibited from competing for another repeat performance though many considered them the favorites. Abby scored 1,077 points at Haddonfield and her hoops accolades include First Team All Group 1 her Junior year and First Team All Group 2 her Senior year. Her Senior year also included All South Jersey First Team, All State Third Team and Philadelphia Inquirer All Area Team. Abby has many games that she remembers but the game that remains with her the most was a triple overtime loss against eventual State Champions Middle Township representing their only loss during Abby’s Senior Year. Though Abby enjoyed the excitement of basketball, she truly excelled as goalkeeper for the Bulldog’s on the soccer pitch. Abby was a fearless goalkeeper. Abby was First Team All Colonial Conference. Two times she was named 3rd Team All South Jersey. Following her Senior year, she was named 1st Team All South Jersey and 2nd Team All State. For the Bulldogs she recorded 50 shutouts and won two Colonial Conference Championships. Abby was only the second player in South Jersey history to achieve fifty shutouts in her soccer career. As a top scholar-athlete, Abby was recruited to play Soccer at several top schools including Stanford, Penn, Davidson and Harvard. Abby chose to spend her collegiate days at Georgetown University. Her Freshman year was incredible with 115 saves that year and five shutouts. Her sophomore year was not as productive as she broke her leg against Villanova early in the season. The injury kept Abby on the sidelines until her Senior year. Returning to the goal her senior year adding a few more saves and another shutout. Abby, always enjoying the excitement when the game was coming to her goal, recalls the Notre Dame game her freshman year and recording 17 saves that day; which is still a school record. Abby was named Team Captain for two years. She was also a Big East Academic All star for four years. Despite the shortened time in goal due to injury, Abby is #5 all time in career saves at Georgetown with 175. She is #7 all time with 6 career shutouts. She still holds the all time most single season shutouts with five during her Freshman year.
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JESSICA COPSKEY DEPRINCE
Sterling HS
If it is true, that we do what we do because of who we are, Jessica (Copskey) DePrince showed she was a fighter from the start. In 1983, Jessica survived a serious child-hood illness at birth known as hydrops fetalis, the Doctors at Pennsylvania Hospital had given her less than a 3% chance for survival while still in the womb. After an emergency c-section, seven blood transfusions, and countless weeks in the NICU she had won her first battle long before ever stepping onto a basketball court. In 1999 Jessica came onto the South Jersey high school basketball scene in parallel fashion to how she played, quiet and unassuming, showing little emotion on the basketball court, allowing her individual and team achievements to do the talking. Over the next four years under the leadership of legendary Sterling High School basketball coach Bill Ulrich and interim coach Jackie Donovan, Jessica and her team would make history. In 2000 and 2001 Jessica led Sterling to two New Jersey Group II State Championships, and to becoming the first South Jersey basketball team to win the Tournament of Champions in 2001. USA Today took note and ranked the Sterling Lady Knights 17th in the country. Throughout all the big games there was one that stood out, even over the Tournament of Champions 2001 Title win against Columbia. That Tournament of Champions Title was really won a week before where spectators would bear witness to the same fighter that Doctors gave a 3% chance of survival to in 1983, and what many call the best basketball game of Jessica’s career. Sterling was down 32-25 early in the third quarter against powerhouse and consensus #1 team in the state Red Bank Catholic, with the game and her high school career slipping away Jessica managed to shake off defenders and hit two back to back three pointers sandwiched by a Red Bank Catholic foul shot, Sterling trailed by 1 point 33-32. With the game on the line Jessica was at her best, she shot 11-21 from the field and added seven rebounds for a game high 35 points, sealing the victory she went 10-10 from the foul line late in the game. Red Bank Catholic’s coach Joe Montano commented after the game, “she was a woman playing against girls tonight.” Never comfortable with individual accolades Jessica exemplified true leadership holding great admiration and credited her coaches and teammates who fought alongside her in times of victory and defeat. The 6’1” guard compiled 2,991 points in her high school career and was named the New Jersey State Player of the Year in 2000 and 2001, Tournament of Champions MVP in 2001, and later to the New Jersey All Decade Team. She went on to earn a full-scholarship and start as a Freshman for Drexel University in the CAA Division I Conference, after being named to the CAA All-Rookie team in 2002 her promising career was cut short due to an injury going into her Sophomore season. These days you will likely find Jessica in a hospital operating room serving as Director of Sales for State of the Art Medical, a leading medical device distributorship founded by Keith and Dena Lambie serving the Northeast for the past 30 years. The arena may look different; however, Jessica still strives to emulate the echoes that still ring true from Sterling’s Bill Ulrich and his uncanny ability to lead and coach up. Now on the sidelines, Jessica has found great joy in coaching and watching her 11-year-old daughter Gracie develop and grow as an athlete and person. The opportunity to be Gracie’s Mom has far outweighed any accolade, and it has reinforced the message delivered from that little girl in the NICU, that who we are is what matters, if we understand this whether through victory or defeat, we will know success. 15
Congratulations To All Inductees
WILLIAM D. DILKS ATTORNEY AT LAW
116 S. BROADWAY GLOUCESTER CITY, NEW JERSEY 08030
TEL: 856-456-7336
FAX: 856-742-1707
THANK YOU TO OUR PATRONS: 372 American Legion Baseball Clifford Gonshery
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Bo achieved early success in baseball as a pitcher with the Cherry Hill Babe Ruth Team, who were National Champions in 1989. The Babe Ruth World Series was held in Cranston, RI. Bo was selected to the All-Tournament Team. Bo regarded his Babe Ruth coach, the late, great Ed Foley, as an outstanding teacher and mentor. Bo was a member of the Cherry Hill West baseball team, who were four-time State Champions from 1989 - 1992. During his high school career, Bo earned numerous accolades. He was named 1990 All-Conference and All-South Jersey; 1991 All-Conference, All-South Jersey, All-State and was a Carpenter Cup Champion; and 1992 All-Conference, All-South Jersey, All-State and All-American. Bo was the star pitcher and hitter named to the All-Tournament team winning the National Upper Deck Classic, held at Cal State - Fullerton College Field in Anahiem, CA. The last batter he faced and struck out was a player from the Westminster H.S. Squad (Miami) by the name of Alex “A-Rod” Rodriguez. Bo finished high school with a pitching record of 30-0 and was subsequently drafted by the Phillies in the 32nd round. He instead elected to attend Temple University along with three other members of his high school team. Bo left school at the end of his sophomore year after sustaining an injury to his pitching arm. Currently, Bo is the director of Post 372 Cherry Hill American Legion Baseball. He also serves as a coach and instructor at Scanzano Combat Baseball Academy. Bo has worked at TD Bank for 20 years as a Senior IT Manager V.P. and manages a team of 23 employees globally. Bo also played slo-pitch softball for four years for the nationally ranked Deluxe Bakery of Runnemede Tournament Team under the leadership of Sam Racabaldo, a great sponsor who has kept excellent teams competing and winning tournaments throughout the country for many years. Along with his continued involvement in baseball, Bo enjoys watching his four children play baseball, softball, soccer, basketball and field hockey. Surf fishing is another one of his interests. Bo is married to Karen, another Cherry Hill West graduate. He says that she is his “rock” and without her handling a great share of the family duties and helping with his many activities, it would not be possible for him to be so involved with his hectic schedule. Bo and Karen are the very proud parents of: Bo - studying music and computer science at RCBC Rowan College, Burlington County; John - an outstanding baseball player and member of the 2018 Cherry Hill West SJ Group III Champions; Cora - a soccer and field hockey player at Carusi Jr. School as an 8th grader; Lila - a softball catcher, basketball and soccer player in the 7th grade. Bo says he is a happy man with no regrets and is very content to continue coaching baseball. At the end of the day, he truly believes it was his calling.
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ROBERT C. JACKSON
Paul IV HS
Robert Jackson graduated from Paul VI in 1972. He participated in football, indoor track and baseball with one year of wrestling as a freshman. For the Eagles, he was a standout baseball player that included time at Shortstop and Pitcher. He received All South Jersey honors his Senior Year. His prowess was recognized by scouts that included a visit from the Washington Senators who considered drafting him. Baseball would not be part of his future plans as a cold day on the field led to some problems with his throwing arm. He was eventually moved from Short Stop to First Base. Jackson will learn years later that he had a torn rotator cuff. Bob was an outstanding member of the of Paul VI Indoor track team. A member of the High Hurdle Relay Team, Bob and his teammates broke a South Jersey High Hurdles Record. Albeit short lived as Metuchen would regain their record later in the same meet. For a sport that is usually built on individual records, Jackson is proud that it was a Relay Team where he found success. Jackson’s exploits on the gridiron would be his most memorable. Initially getting Varsity playing time as the punter his Freshman year, he would become Wide Receiver and Safety for his Sophomore and Junior seasons. The team was led at Quarterback by Bill Deery and had a very successful 8-1 record during Jackson’s Junior year. With the departure of All South Jersey Deery, the Eagles needed to fill the QB void. In stepped Jackson to lead what will be a memorable Senior year. Jackson fondly recalls the team song being “The Impossible Dream.” Several games highlighted that year including a come from behind win against Lenape. Bishop Eustace presented a strong defensive effort against the Eagles, but an overall team effort is what helped Jackson and his teammates succeed. An especially gratifying win was against JFK High School avenging the only loss from the previous season. Finishing the year 9-0 and Ranked #1 makes this team one of the best to ever play for Paul VI. Jackson has previously entered the Paul VI Hall of Fame and the football team from his Senior year is also entering the Paul VI Hall of Fame this year. His football accolades included being recognized by Brooks-Irvine, the All-American award as well as All-State New Jersey, All South Jersey, South Jersey Player of the year, and several conference awards. Bob is most proud of the accomplishments that this team made together. Bob was heavily recruited by 19 of the top twenty football teams in the country. After much consideration, he was inspired by his Grandfather’s service in the Navy helping Bob decide on the United States Naval Academy. Though entering Freshman year as a Quarterback, he moved over to Tailback. Bob eventually became the fullback for three years. The most memorable games were those against Notre Dame. Bob ran 135 yards against the Irishman one year. Also, of great pleasure was being alongside his Naval brothers in an undefeated 3 – 0 run against Army. This leader of the field became a leader off the field too. Rising to the rank of Captain, Jackson earned 25 medals and ribbons for personal or command excellence, he believes his highest achievement has been the selection for him to command 3 ships; USS Merrimack, USS Ponce, and USS Wasp.
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BLAISE KOZENIEWSKI Highland Regional HS
Blaise Kozeniewski, a graduate of Highland Regional in 1988, was a three-sport scholar athlete earning 11 varsity letters. Blaise left his mark of excellence at Highland Regional High School, where he lettered in soccer, basketball and baseball, and captained all three teams his senior year. In addition, his accomplishments on the field and court earned him numerous post season accolades and awards. Specifically, in his senior year, Blaise received All-Conference, All-Group and All-South Jersey honors in soccer, and All-Conference and All-Group recognition in basketball. But it was baseball where he truly excelled, earning All-Conference, All-Group, and All South Jersey honors in both his junior and senior years. He batted over .400 all four years and was a stellar defensive player as well. Blaise represented Highland Regional in both the Garden State Games and the Carpenter Cup, was a member of Team Brooklyn in the Continental Amateur Baseball Association Tournament, and was named a South Jersey Top Ten Male Athlete by the Courier Post and Philadelphia Inquirer. Blaise continued his baseball career after graduation at Camden County College. There he was named to the All-Region 19 first team, Converse All-American first team, and the NJCAA AllAmerican Team. He earned the Clark W. Leeny Memorial Award for academic and athletic excellence and the Rawlings Big Stick Award as the Mideast Batting Champion with a .533 batting average. From Camden County College, Blaise transferred to the University of Georgia. While at the University of Georgia Blaise set numerous records. He led his team in home runs his junior year and batting average his senior year. In 1992, he was named first team All-Southeast Conference shortstop, the Red Wooten College Player of the year, University of Georgia Association Scholar Athlete, University of Georgia MVP and SEC Player of the Week. Blaise is considered one of the all-time greatest shortstops to ever wear the University of Georgia uniform. As a result of Blaise’s outstanding career at Georgia, the next year he was drafted by the New York Yankees. His first year with the Yankees in “A” ball, Blaise led the team in hitting and doubles. Unfortunately for Blaise the Yankees had drafted another shortstop by the name of Derek Jeter the same year. Though Blaise had a successful first year in the minors as an infielder, he was moved to the bullpen as a pitcher the next year. He was eventually traded to the Chicago White Sox where they also wanted him as a pitcher. After four years in the minors Blaise decided to become a scout for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He was a regional scout for the Tampa Bay for the next three years, before he decided to move away from baseball. Blaise is grateful for all the coaches he’s had, from youth sports through professional, for not only their time and support but for also helping him be successful as both a player and a coach. Above all, Blaise thanks his mother, Carolyn for her unwavering support at home and in the stand; and his father Stephen, for instilling in him the importance of fundamentals, dedication and fair play. Blaise was inducted into the South Jersey Baseball hall of Fame in 2004, and the Highland Regional High School Hall of Fame in 2017. Today, Blaise lives in Williamstown with his wife Kim and their daughters Callie and Shaye. He continues the tradition established by his father- coaching his children in soccer, basketball, softball and volleyball. He now works as a union electrician for IBEW.
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LARRY LITWIN
Pennsauken HS
Larry Litwin has had an active and distinguished career in sports journalism, officiating, sports and professional organizations since moving to Camden County at the ripe old age of one week. His roots go back to the 1960s, when he was a three-year varsity third baseman at the newly-opened Pennsauken High School. He also served concurrently as sports editor of the school newspaper and yearbook, giving promise of what was to come over the next five decades. He was also a standout in independent baseball, receiving MVP honors while playing for the Merchantville Lions club in the Delaware Valley League and batting .429 (believed to lead the league in hitting) for Westmont in the Garden State League. Litwin earned a partial baseball scholarship to attend Parsons (Iowa) College. There he also continued to hone his sports writing talents as sports editor and columnist for the college newspaper. At Parsons, he also began his broadcast career as a play-by-play and color analyst for baseball and basketball for radio station KMCD-AM. Returning home, Larry began working for WJJZ (Mt. Holly) and WKDN (Camden). He covered scholastic football and basketball and was introduced to a larger audience when he broadcast the NIT Basketball Tournament, more popular at the time than the NCAA Tourney. That opened the doors to producing or announcing the newly-minted Philadelphia 76ers, the Philadelphia Golf Classic and many road games for the New York Mets. The late 1960s found Larry breaking into the Big Apple and reporting on all major sports and serving as producer for Howard Cosell’s popular daily radio program, “Speaking of Sports.” He also worked behind the scenes on ABC’s first “Monday Night Football” telecast. Litwin also literally kept close to baseball by umpiring scholastic and college games. He is marking his 42nd year and has officiated nearly 2,000 games. That includes post-season baseball and softball games such as the Tournament of Champions and North-South All-Star Game. For the past 25 years he has worked closely with Joe Hartmann as an umpire, manager and championship announcer for the Diamond Baseball Classic. Larry was invited to join the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association in 1967 and has been a member of the Board of Governors and its secretary for more than five decades. He has also been the organization’s treasurer for the past seven years, succeeding the late Bob Kenney – founding president of this Hall of Fame, as well – upon his death. He has also served as emcee of the Sports Writers Association since the passing of Harry Kalas in 2009. In 2007, he was inducted into the Public Relations Society of America College of Fellows for “having left a significant footprint in the field.” In Litwin’s busy life, he was elected vice-president of the South Jersey Hot Stovers, an organization promoting baseball, in 2016. He has further contributed to, participated in or been recognized by the following organizations: Alpha Epsilon Rho National Broadcasting Society, Associated Press, Camden Police Department, College and University Public Relations Association, International Radio Festival of New York, Parsons College Wall of Fame, Philadelphia Press Association, National Radio and Television News Directors Association, Rowan University Faculty Wall of Fame, South Jersey Baseball Hall of Fame, Television and Radio Advertising Club of Philadelphia, United Press International.
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PAST INDUCTEES Ben Addiego Claire Alden Harden Tony Alfano Bill Andracki Todd Azar George “Cap” Baker Mikki Baile Andrew Bailey Dan Baker John Barr Maryanna Barr Joe Barth Eusheka Bartley Al Bass James Bathurst Carl Belz Sue Bell-Stashis Amanda Berry Anthony Black Charlie Blank Lynn Blaszczyk-Petruzzelli Meghan Bolger-Stasi Matt Brady William Bramble Joe Bretschneider Mickey Briglia Phillips Ray Brooks Joanne Burke Doug Burnett, Jr. Toni Byard-Jenkins Al Carino Rich Carlucci Jack Carty Don Casey Bill Collins Megan Collins-Heiar Sr. Joan Companick Sam Coursen Jim Crawford Bill Culbertson Thomas Curley Bill Davidson Danielle Dayton George Dempsey Rosemary Deniken-Blankley Adam Derengowski Art Dipatri Erin Donohue Patty Dunlap-Patoulas Michael Elder Cathy Englebert-Martin Bob Falconiero Joe Fields Duane Fisher Glenn Foley Jennifer Flinn Doug Frambes
2012 2011 2007 2012 2013 2009 2008 2018 2017 2017 2009 2005 2015 2006 2017 2012 2014 2014 2016 2018 2014 2013 2012 2017 2014 2009 2006 2009 2018 2016 2006 2014 2011 2006 2009 2017 2012 2008 2007 2016 2017 2015 2016 2005 2013 2014 2011 2012 2011 2016 2014 2018 2008 2017 2016 2017 2007
Joe Galliera Harry Gamble Lisa Gedaka Will George Marie Gimmi Ron Giordano Michael Glavin Jerry Gold Edward Gramigna Bob Greacen Al Harris Joe Hartmann Donna Heyn-Wilson Dwight Hicks Jeff Holman Jim Horner Billy Hunter Wayne Huntsinger Ralph Ipri “Skeets” Irvine Steve Israel Kelli James-Precourt Deirdre Kane Ken Kelley Bob Kenney Tom Kenney Sean Killion Christine Kitching-Palladino Jeanne O’Brien Kline Pearl Kowalski Ferne Labati Michael Lamb Bill Laxton Timothy Lenahan Megan Light-Mason Mark Lonetto Dawn Mader Sandy Mader Bob Maneely Bill Manlove Margie Mannion Bea Markwick Al Mattern Larry Mauriello Dave Martin Vince McAneney John McCarthy Don McComb Bob McElwee Kathy McGahey Agnus McGlade Bernadette McGlade Mickey McGlade Theresa McGlade Trish McNutt-Green Bill Melchionni, Jr. Gary Melchionni
2015 2005 2005 2015 2008 2018 2016 2011 2009 2015 2016 2009 2015 2007 2008 2009 2007 2015 2013 2005 2011 2013 2006 2013 2006 2007 2007 2015 2006 2008 2011 2015 2017 2016 2017 2012 2018 2018 2018 2008 2016 2005 2013 2013 2015 2007 2012 2014 2005 2006 2005 2006 2007 2008 2018 2008 2009
Joe Melchiore Betty Miller Andy Mitchell Dennis Mitchell Judy Morgan Ben “Sonny” Morrell Jackie Donovan- Mulligan Joe Murphy Edward Myer Bill Narleski Joe Neal Dianne Nolan Bert Nolan Vicki Orzechowski Rick Owens Jim Oxley Gary Papa Stan Pawlak, Jr. Dot Porter Mike Racobaldo Phil Raimondo Dave Reiss Ralph Ross Mike Rozier Jim Ryan Terry Schaal-Durkin Mary Scharff Michelle Schlichtig-Hastings Sue Schooley Gail Shelly Joy Silver Ron “Itchy” Smith Russ Spicer Art Still Valerie Still Laraine Stiles-Flynn Golden Sunkett Pete Sunkett Adam Taliaferro Bess Taylor John Taylor Bill Thompson Tom Trotman Bill Ulrich Bob Viggiano John Vogeding Bill Wagner Jersey Joe Walcott Nailah Wallace Kevin Walls Raymond ‘Bucky’ Waters Virginia Whitaker Larry Wigley Gary Williams Julie Williamson-Sullivan Wilbur Wilson Henry Wisnieski
2005 2007 2012 2005 2011 2008 2012 2009 2006 2013 2014 2008 2007 2007 2018 2014 2012 2011 2005 2017 2014 2018 2008 2005 2013 2011 2007 2016 2009 2017 2018 2006 2005 2005 2018 2013 2006 2014 2011 2007 2006 2006 2011 2009 2012 2008 2009 2005 2014 2013 2011 2009 2017 2013 2015 2005 2008
SELECTION COMMITTEE Sen. Jim Beach Tony Black Bill Collins Pat Delsi
Bill Dilks Terry Durkin Christine Dziczek John Fisher
Al Harris Robert Jakubowski Deirdre Kane Mark Kemenosh
Jean Kline Mark Lonetto Tim Malloy Joe Murphy
Scott Petrozza Ken Roberts Ken Shuttleworth
How to nominate a candidate for the Hall: Send a name with a phone number and a brief summary of achievements to: Kim Vesper, Executive Secretary 100 University Court, Blackwood, NJ 08012 P: 856.401.2451 E: halloffame@camdencounty.com 24
B. MARTIN LUDWIKOWSKI Cherry Hill West HS
A 1975 graduate of Cherry Hill West High School, Marty Ludwikowski was not only one of the most feared distance runners in the state of New Jersey, but was also one of the top runners in the country. Marty excelled at both cross country and track. In cross country Marty’s senior year season would be one of the greatest of all-time. Everyone knew Marty was one of the top runners in the state entering his senior year, after having a very successful junior year. However, no one was prepared for what was to follow. He would finish first in every race he entered that year and would lead his team to the number one ranking in South Jersey. He would set the course record at the South Jersey Conference Meet, the South Jersey Group 4 sectionals, the Camden County Meet, and the group 4 state meet. His time at the group 4 state meet was 15 seconds faster than anyone else from all the groups. He capped off his season by winning the New Jersey Meet of Champions while setting the meet and course records. For his efforts he was named to the National All-American Team by Harrier Magazine. In Indoor track, he broke Marty Liqouri’s state indoor two mile record with a time of 9:04.5. In 1975, running in front of 17,000 people he won the Millrose Games high school mile (defeating at the time undefeated Kevin Byrne) in a time of 4:15.5 which ranked him 20th all time in the nation. During the outdoor track season Marty would continue his assault on the New Jersey Record Board. He would run a six mile race on the track in a time of 29:03 which not only was the state record but the best time in the nation that year. He also set the state record in the 10,000 meters with a time of 30:50 which was the third best time in the Nation that year. He would go on to win the New Jersey Meet of Champions in the Two mile that season too. He went to the University of Florida after high school where he was first team all SEC in cross country. He then transferred to Manhattan University his sophomore year and there he became one of the top collegians in the East and the country. He was an All-American in cross country finishing 10th at the Nationals. He finished third at the IC4A’s and 2nd at the NCAA Regionals in cross country. In track he placed 2nd in the IC4A’s 5000 meters in 1977 and 10,000 meters in 1980. In 1979, Marty was a world Cross Country Team Qualifier for the U.S.. After college he ran the 5000 meters in 13:49.63 which was one of the fastest times in the country. In 1982 he would win the Manhattan Borough 5 mile Championship, defeating 1,700 other runners including two time allAmerican Louis Ostolozaga in a record time of 23:45.3. In 1984 and 1988 he qualified for the Olympic trials. He was also ranked in the top ten of the world in the 15 Kilometers. Marty’s spectacular career has not gone unnoticed. He has been inducted into the Manhattan Athletic Hall of Fame and the South Jersey track and Field Hall of Fame.
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CAMDEN COUNTY BOARD OF FREEHOLDERS CONGRATULATES PAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
TY BOARD OF FREEHOLDERS SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
2006
2007
2006
2007
2008
2009
2008
2009
2011
2012
2011
2012
2013 2013
2014
2015 2015
2016 2016
2017
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2005
2014
2018
DONNA SEYBOLD Collingswood HS
Donna Seybold, a 1986 graduate of Collingswood High, starred in basketball, tennis and softball and earned a total of ten letters during her scholastic career. While she excelled in tennis and softball, she will always be remembered for the Group 2 state championship basketball game in 1986. The Colls team captained by Seybold won the only state hoops title in the school’s history. Collingswood was down 12 points to Harrison when Jeanne Mooney simply took over. She scored 18 points in the last quarter and her basket with 20 seconds left sent the game into overtime. Seybold saved the day in the first overtime. Her perfect pass to Mooney resulted in a second overtime, which was all Collingswood. The Panthers were victors, 76-66, as Seybold matched her game average of 20 points. Mooney had by far her highest-scoring game with 37. Donna also praised the team’s coach, John Bach. “Mr. Bach really knew the game,” she said. “His father was an NBA coach. Jeanne and I faced a lot of triangle-and-two and box-and-one defenses and he always had a counter-attack for it. He knew what the other team was going to do before they did it. And he scouted our opponents, which not many did in the girls’ game of that day.” Seybold earned All-Group honors for three years and was an All-South Jersey choice in 1985 and ’86. She was also selected to the Philadelphia Inquirer’s All-Area team and the NJ State Senior All-Star team in 1986. She played in the Garden State Games in 1985 and ’86. She was a varsity starter for four years in tennis and an All-Colonial Conference choice at first singles in 1984, 1985 and 1986. She was also an All-Group selection in same three years. In softball, the Oaklyn product led the Colls to the Group 3 sectional title. She was again an All-Group choice for three years and an All-South Jersey selection in 1984 and 1985. Seybold earned a basketball scholarship to Manhattan College and was a three-year starter and captained the team in her junior and senior years. She scored 1,214 points and was a member of the 1987 and 1990 MAAC championship teams. Donna was also a member of the MAAC Tournament teams in those years. She was the MAAC Tournament MVP in 1990 for her tourney totals of 62 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists. She was the Al Carino Basketball Club’s Collegiate Player of the Year and Metropolitan Association’s Player of the Year in 1990. After playing a year of professional ball in Ireland, she accepted the job of women’s basketball coach at Loyola of Maryland – a rival of Manhattan in the MAAC and coached her team to MAAC Tournament championships (and NCAA Tournament berths) in 1994 and 1995. Donna then coached at Indiana State for six years (1995-2001) before returning to the Philadelphia to begin an executive sales representative position with Eli Lilly & Co. in 2002. She has been inducted into four Halls of Fame: Manhattan College, Collingswood High, Metro Atlantic Conference and the Al Carino Basketball Club of South Jersey. She is now living back in Collingswood with her wife, fellow Hall of Fame inductee, Gail Shelly.
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LEGENDS OF CAMDEN COUNTY As the Camden County Sports Hall of Fame prepared for our fifth induction ceremony, it was evident to the committee that we had a problem. Our efforts to properly honor athletes who brought honor and glory to the county through sports were losing ground. Our stringent rules involving election was causing a back log as we attempted to honor the great athletes who performed in the county over the past 100 plus years. We were faced with a tidal wave of deserving candidates who had just missed election each of our first four years. Concerned, we formed a veterans committee with instructions to come up with a solution as part of our fifth anniversary inductions. Pat Delsi, Joe Murphy, Harry Gamble, Jean Kline and Bob Kenney met several times and decided to add a special class of inductees. The committee agreed to focus on the first half of the last century. Murphy proposed we call them “legends” and make them full members of the Hall of Fame but without the usual fanfare since so many of the candidates were deceased. Using results from previous elections, input from various halls of fame and extensive research that included input from deceased historian Doug Frambes fine books, the committee filed its special list of Legends. The committee as a whole approved the recommendations and tonight we welcome these legends of the past as new Hall of Fame members.
Jon Batchelor, Haddonfield
A great 3-sport standout athlete at Haddonfield High School, Jon was recruited to play football at the U.S. Naval Academy. Graduating from the Academy in 1959, he stayed on to coach football, boxing, and baseball. Jon got his Masters in Education from George Washington University, and went on to teach for 35 years at Eastern HS, while coaching football and baseball. In 1994, he was inducted into Haddonfield’s Hall of Fame. Stan Bialkowski, Camden The ace of Camden High’s staff in ’46 and ’47, he pitched in the Phillies farm system and later was an all-star in the Browns’ system before entering the Korean War. He later excelled in the area semi-pro baseball circuit over a dozen outstanding seasons. Ed Biehler, Camden After an all-star basketball career and the high scorer on his 1941 championship team, he passed up college offers to enter WW II. He returned to star several years as a leading scorer in area independent leagues. He is inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Howard Birchmeier, Collingswood He was an All-Group 4 tackle as a junior and All-South Jersey as a senior in 1954 and was named the Brooks-Irvine Lineman of the Year. He also was a member of the school’s first wrestling squad and was a letter-winner in baseball. Willard Bisbing, Collingswood A three-year football and baseball star, he was twice named All-South Jersey as a halfback on title teams in ’34 and ‘35. He starred at Mississippi and played professionally in Canada. The war interrupted his career but he later played top semipro ball. John Brown, Camden Played only one year of football at Camden High but so impressed that he earned a scholarship to Syracuse, where he played well enough to land with the Cleveland Browns for a long National Football League career on championship teams. Joe Cervino, Sr, Haddon Heights He was a fine athlete, coach and promoter. He was an all-star single wing back on two championship teams at Haddon Heights and later started the Garden State Baseball League in Camden County. He also enjoyed a fine career in boxing. Bill Conover, Collingswood Bill not only lettered in four sports at Collingswood; he excelled in all. He led the football team to a pair of titles as an All SJ halfback. He was the first in N.J. to long jump 23 feet and excelled as captain, centerfielder, and cleanup man on the baseball team.
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Fred Cooper, Haddonfield He was big and exceptionally quick as an early football star and earned All-South Jersey honors in both 1936 and ’37. He is considered among South Jersey’s best break-away threats and was a charter member of the Haddonfield High School Hall of Fame. Helen “Pete” Costenbader, Haddon Heights She coached the powerful Haddon Heights hockey team for 32 years beginning in 1930. Three times she led the Garnets to undefeated seasons and several championships. She was inducted into both the South Jersey field hockey and basketball halls-of-fame. Don Cragin, Camden A versatile running back he served as captain in 1918, ‘19 and ‘20 while becoming Camden High’s first football superstar. He later rewrote the record book during a brilliant career at Franklin and Marshall College. William ‘Bill’ Diemer, Collingswood Bill became an integral part of the coaching staff in 1924 and served 35 years to 1959. He assisted Skeets Irvine in football and, starting in 1943, coached the baseball team to several championships. He became Athletic Director in 1949 and remained in that position until he retired. Jack Earle, Collingswood He combined sprinter’s speed with brute power and perfect balance to become a great football player. He was voted the running back on the Brooks-Irvine All-Time Team as a four year player selected All-South Jersey in 1930 and 1931. He later had a fine career at Villanova. He also excelled in basketball and track at Collingswood. Bob Elder, Merchantville A pioneer and long time basketball coach at Merchantville, he brought the jump shot into the game and developed a series of outstanding players while bringing the first state championships to South Jersey. He was inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame in 1981. Bill Flynn, Gloucester Bill excelled in baseball and basketball at Gloucester Catholic then Gloucester High. He spent the next three years as a turret gunner clocking over 50 missions and winning the Distinguished Flying Cross. After the war he organized and coached the VFW Gloucester Mustangs, going to the National playoffs 12 times. He organized the South Jersey Midget Football League and founded the Carmen Palmiero Basketball League. Bill also coached the Gloucester team in the Camden County League for 15 years and coached the Gloucester Catholic High School team for 12 years, compiling a record of 198-55-2.
Hazel Nickerson Gallagher, Collingswood During her decade at Collingswood High School she helped mold a hockey tradition that remains solid today. Her 10 teams won three “New Jersey” titles and finished second five times. Her teams lost only 16 games over the ten-year reign and twice went undefeated. William “Kid” Gleason, Camden He played professional baseball with the Camden Merritt of the Eastern League in 1885 and signed with the Phillies in 1888. In 1890 “Kid” was ranked among the best pitchers in baseball. He was traded to the St. Louis Browns in 1892 and then to Baltimore in 1894 where he had a .342 batting average, helping the Orioles win a pennant. George Good, Camden He starred in basketball and baseball in high school before continuing his baseball career at Ursinus College. After graduation, he signed with the New York Yankees in 1936. His professional career ended when he suffered a broken leg. He turned to umpiring in 1946, covering the Negro National League and area colleges for more than 46 years. Fred Heimach, Camden Connie Mack signed him as a nineteen year old in 1920. He made the starting rotation in 1922 with the Athletics. He moved on to Boston in 1926, then to the Yankees in 1928 and helped them win a World Championship as a reliever. He was traded to the Dodgers in 1930 and finished his career there in 1933. He frequently visited his Cramer Hill home, stopping in at his father’s pool hall accompanied by Babe Ruth and other teammates. Catherine Hinke, Haddon Heights She coached 39 years at Haddon Heights after a brilliant athletic career at Palmyra. Her Heights hockey teams were undefeated championship squads in 1962 and 1963. Her 1971 team was ranked with the best in South Jersey history. Ken Landis, Camden He excelled in sports for Camden High and Springfield College. He returned to South Jersey to coach at Camden in 1940 and after World War II produced championship teams at Collingswood and Lower Camden County Regional until 1964. He was one of the first and best wrestling officials in South Jersey. Harold “Hut” Larsen, Collingswood He led his football team to the title in 1928 and was All-South Jersey tackle in 1929 and the top 440 man in the area in 1930. An Annapolis graduate, Larsen earned the Navy Cross and Distinguished Flying Cross in WWII. The sinking of a Japanese cruiser was one of his military accomplishments. Ted Laux, Collingswood He lettered four seasons in football and was a three-year starter in baseball and basketball. He led the football team to South Jersey titles in ’34 and ’35 and was twice All-South Jersey. He played football at St. Joseph’s College and was a reserve quarterback with the Philadelphia Eagles. Al Leslie, Collingswood He gained All South Jersey honors as a halfback on the championship team of 1945. He was a starting guard in basketball and was considered one of the most outstanding infielders and hitters in the state during the mid-1940s. He signed with the Red Sox and after four pro seasons returned to the Camden County League and enjoyed a long semi-pro career. Gordon Leslie, Collingswood Gordon was All-South Jersey in both baseball and football. In basketball he was a top scorer and exceptional rebounder. As a running back he helped the Colls win championships in “47 and ’48. He lettered four years in baseball and led his team to two championships. He turned down professional offers to attend Lafayette College where he starred for three years and served as captain his senior year.
Al Litwa, Camden He was an outstanding baseball player at Camden High from the start and developed into a brilliant triple threat tailback on the great single wing football teams coached by Billy Palese. He was All-South Jersey in football and All-State in baseball in 1941 and 1942. After the war he starred at Villanova and was a successful coach at St.Joe’s in Camden. Ben Mark, Collingswood A long time coach at Collingswood in basketball, he was a basketball standout and an All-American in lacrosse at Rutgers. He took over the court squad in 1932 and his teams won five Camden Suburban League Crowns. His 1940 unit became the first in the history of the school to win the South Jersey Group 4 championship. In 1981 he was selected to the South Jersey Basketball Hall of Fame. Cy Marter, Haddonfield A great player and great coach, Cy was a standout guard on the fine teams of 1925, ‘26 and ’27. He was twice named All-South Jersey. He became coach in 1933 and led his team to three titles and a pair of shared crowns in 16 outstanding seasons. Jim McQueston, Collingswood Jim earned 10 varsity letters as a four-sport athlete at Collingswood. He was a top sprinter and was honored in 1934 as the finest scholastic shortstop in the area. He was a basketball starter for three years and a superb receiver and rugged defensive end. He excelled in semi-pro baseball and played professionally with Trenton in the Inter-State League. Bill Mitchell, Collingswood He was an All-South Jersey end and was a state champion hurdler and pole vaulter and a star in basketball. In college, he starred in football for Indiana before transferring to Georgetown where he was an early selection to the Georgetown Hall of Fame. Bill coached track at the Naval Academy and was a top football official. He later was a special agent with the FBI. Walt Motson, Collingswood He earned 11 letters in four sports. He was All-Group 4 end in football and was a star on the basketball team, the first Collingswood unit to capture a South Jersey championship. He was a hard-hitting first baseman in baseball and a consistent point-winner in the weight events in track and field. He later played for the University of Pennsylvania. Walt Novak, Camden An all-around athlete, he was an outstanding end on three great Camden High teams. He earned All South Jersey honors in 1936 then had a Hall of Fame career at Villanova University. He was a receiver and a defensive back with the Eagles. He returned to South Jersey and produced championship teams as a coach at Camden. Allen Padgett, Haddonfield A two-time, All South Jersey running back, Allen produced four glorious seasons in the Haddonfield backfield as he established himself as one of the greatest game-wreckers in South Jersey history. He later served thirty years as his town’s Police Chief. Carlos Paisley, Gloucester He arrived at Gloucester City as the football coach in 1930 and promptly produced an unbeaten, unscored upon team. He coached basketball for 35 seasons, football for 24 years, and baseball for 11 seasons. He also coached track, wrestling and boxing while serving as the school’s athletic director. Bill Palese, Camden One of the early great triple threat running backs, Bill excelled at Camden, then at William and Mary College before returning to coach on the hill. He produced several championship football teams at Camden and served as the school athletic director.
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Joe Papiano, Camden A successful football and baseball coach at Camden High School, Papiano was asked to begin the sports program when Camden County College was formed and he became the school’s first athletic director. He developed the Cougars into a national contender and the school’s gymnasium is named in his honor. Stan Pawlak Sr., Woodrow Wilson The Hot Stovers’ South Jersey Baseball Coach of the Year Award is named after Stan, who coached Woodrow Wilson to nine City Series Championships, four South Jersey Crowns and the State Championship in 1954. He excelled in football and baseball as a member of Wilson’s first graduating class in 1933. Jimmy Picken, Audubon He starred at Collingswood as a football lineman, basketball guard, and baseball catcher. He went on to gain All-American honors in basketball at Dartmouth, and served as bullpen catcher on the fabled 1927 Yankees. He returned to South Jersey to coach powerful teams at Audubon in basketball, baseball and football. His 1937 football team was the Group 3 state champions. George Pims, Collingswood He was the All-South Jersey quarterback in 1942 when he led his team to the championship and became Collingswood’s first 1,000-yard passer In basketball he was a two year starter and one of the top set shots of his day. For three years he held down the keystone sack in baseball and did not commit and error as a senior. Marty Pocius, Merchantville Coached football and track at Merchantville High in the school’s glory years after a long tour at Camden Regional. Later was an outstanding track official. He was an all-star lineman as an athlete in the early 1930s and played in the first Orange Bowl. He established the SJ record in the discus in 1932. Ruth Woolston Pond, Collingswood Ruth was one of the area’s top performers in field hockey, basketball and tennis before the war. Later she became the only South Jersey woman to produce field hockey champions at three different high schools. She began her career in 1941 at Collingswood, where she put in two tours of duty. Ruth won championships both times. She also won titles at Haddonfield and Gloucester while compiling a 75-44-22 record. Dr. Mary Rice, Merchantville In 1944, Dr. Rice took over the coaching job at Merchantville High School and produced a championship contender. In 18 seasons, her teams went 94-63-50. She left the high school ranks after a championship run in ‘62 and became the head coach at Glassboro State College where she produced several fine teams. Hank “Moose” Rossell, Collingswood In 2003 he received the Prestigious Ed Myer Award for his contributions to high school football after a brilliant three sport career at both Collingswood High School and the University of Pennsylvania He was an All-South Jersey center on the 1943 football team, the leading scorer on the basketball team and a standout pitcher and outfielder on the baseball team. George Savitsky, Camden An All-South Jersey tackle on championship teams at Camden High he later became an All-American on ranked University of Pennsylvania football teams. He eventually played on the line for the Philadelphia Eagles in the National Football League. Bob Schuenemann, Collingswood He was an All-South Jersey football player at Collingswood and held the South Jersey long jump record from 1931 until the Carl Lewis jumps. He was an early inductee into the Collingswood Hall of Fame.
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Norm Selby, Woodrow Wilson Extremely fast, he was an All-South Jersey end and a hall of fame baseball player who also excelled in track and basketball. The Second World War ended his bid to play with the New York Giants but he excelled in top semi-pro ball for two decades. Wallace Sheehan, Camden Catholic “Bud” was a star on the famous 1929 Camden Catholic basketball team that played for the national catholic high school championship in Chicago. He later starred at St. Vincent’s College and played semi-pro baseball and basketball for years in Camden County. Matt Siedlecki, Camden A massive, rock solid tackle who dominated on both sides of the ball, Matt anchored the Camden High line for four seasons and was named to the All-South Jersey first team three times, in 1940, ’41 and ’42, the only lineman so honored.
Lillian Watson Straub, Gloucester City
Starting at Gloucester City High School, Lillian Watson Straub played field hockey for 43 years. She worked on many committees for field hockey including the committee to divide New Atlantic into two divisions, which led to the creation of the Mid Atlantic Section. She was also instrumental in having women’s hockey added as an Olympic Sport. Sarah Taylor, Haddonfield She was an outstanding athlete at Haddonfield and Temple Universiry. She then produced many great teams during her 28 years of coaching at Gloucester City in both basketball and field hockey. Al Usilton, Jr., Collingswood A two-time All-South Jersey center for the great Collingswood Football teams, he also excelled in baseball and basketball. Al was inducted into the South Jersey Basketball Hall of Fame in 1981. Al Vogt, Camden An All-South Jersey tackle at Camden High just before the Great War, he helped his school win several championships. He also excelled in basketball and baseball and after playing at Penn, coached fine teams at Woodrow Wilson High School. Rheta Batten Ware, Collingswood She was a standout in hockey, basketball and track and helped win several championships in the early 1930s. She was voted the best athlete in the school at the graduation of 1932. In field hockey, she set a Collingswood scoring record which stood until the 1960’s. Grover “Worm” Wearshing, Camden He was a three-sport star at Camden High (football, basketball and track) and then at Temple University, where he was inducted into the Temple Hall of Fame in 1971. He later coached many great football and baseball teams at Camden, Woodrow Wilson and Moorestown. Peg Smith Wilson, Merchantville The first woman inducted into the South Jersey Basketball Hall of Fame, she was a rebounding sensation at Merchantville High School. After graduation she joined the great RCA Teams and led her team against top competition in New York and Philadelphia. William “Swede” Yerkes, Gloucester A multi-sport star, he established the South Jersey scoring record in football in 1929 with 173 points that stood until 1950. His extra point kicking record of 29 points lasted 31 years.
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9 P R O U D L Y
9 S P O N S O R E D
BOARD OF FREEHOLDERS Louis Cappelli, Jr., Director Edward T. McDonnell, Deputy Director Jeffrey L. Nash Carmen G. Rodriguez Jonathan L. Young, Sr. Susan Shin Angulo Melinda Kane
COUNTY OFFICIALS Joseph Ripa, County Clerk Gilbert “Whip” Wilson, Sheriff Michelle A. Gentek-Mayer, Surrogate Jill S. Mayer, Acting Prosecutor
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