High School Hall of Fame Inducts Six Athletes

All of us should have a friend like . 

When she returned to for a 20-year reunion, she toured the school with her friend Louise Sadowsky Brock. Then she noticed the school's Athletic Hall of Fame in the school. 

And then she got mad.

Where was the three-sport star Sadowsky anyway?

"She made girls sports cool," Weisskopf said. "She was the epitome of what sports is all about. She did it all."

Weisskopf went to work, and last Friday Cincinnati-based attorney Sadowsky Brock made another run to Highland Park.

Sadowsky Brock is the lone female inductee this time around. The induction ceremony, held last Friday night, inducted former hoops stars Gene Melchiorre and Bob George, swimmer John Robbins, longtime team doctor Dr. Robert Rosenzweig and class of 1939 graduate Mideo Zanotti. The 1982 boys basketball team was also honored.

Sadowsky Brock recalls entering high school from Northwood Junior High.

"I was under five feet and weighed about 95 pounds," Sadowsky Brock said. "It was quite the thrill to make the varsity."

Of course, coaching in the building in those days was Chuck Schramm. He, too, wanted to see Sadowsky get into the Hall of Fame.

"She was our point guard," Schramm said. "We didn't have to worry about getting the ball up the court. She was the most dedicated person. She was captain and MVP of all three teams and never had a B in high school."

Three sports (volleyball, basketball and softball) and straight A's on top of that.

"I didn't have much of a social life," Sadowsky Brock said.

At graduation, she was handed the medal of honor at the high school.

Gene Melchiorre

Melchiorre might go down as the best basketball player ever at Highland Park.

"He's the best athlete in the whole history of the school," Schramm said. "He was as good as Bob Cousy in basketball. He was a two-time All-American."

Melchiorre starred at Bradley University.

Bob George

Schramm also played basketball with 1952 graduate George. This 6-foot-6 player led the Suburban League in scoring his senior year. He went on to a successful basketball career at Iowa.

John Robbins

Highland Park's swimming team got a boost when Texas resident Robbins transferred in during his junior season. His 1959 season stood out as this senior won a state diving championship. In addition, he was ranked third nationally.

Robert Rosenzweig

For 25 years, Dr. Rosenzweig wandered the sidelines at Highland Park. An orthopedic surgeon by trade, he served as the team doctor. In addition, he helped set up the first athletic trainers at the high school.

Mideo Zanotti

Zanotti played both baseball and basketball for the Giants.

The 1982 boys basketball team

The 1982 Giants basketball team won 20 games under coach Jerry Wainwright. The club reached the Sweet 16. The players on this special team were: Devoine Gibson, Veltra Dawson, Ken Hoffman, Josh Wexler, Richard Geist, Ron Schulman, Richard Bernstein, Mitch Kovitz, Ken Cohen, Morley Mathewson, Tom Ivey, Bruce Mordini, Bob Wilens, Jim Peddle, and Jon Shapiro.

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