Lemont Athletic Hall Of Fame Set To Induct Four On Sept. 13

LEMONT, IL — The newest members of Lemont High School’s Athletic Hall of Fame will be introduced at a ceremony on Sept. 13, at Cog Hill Golf Club in Lemont. The hall of fame’s 20th induction class will include Steve Bradford ‘67, Chris Traina, Rylie (Jay) VanAsdlen ‘15, and John Young, LHS shared in a news release.

Tickets are $25 each ($10 for children) for the induction and cover the cost of lunch. Tickets may be purchased at the online through Sept. 7 at: https://omella.com/h9ipy.

The Lemont High School Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 2004, and provides an opportunity for the school to recognize alumni, coaches, parents and community members for outstanding athletic accomplishments and extraordinary support, the school shared.

Nominations are accepted in one of four categories - Athlete, Coach, Parent/Community Member, or Pride of Lemont. Nominees in the ‘Athlete’ category are not eligible for induction to the Athletic Hall of Fame until five years after their graduation from the school, LHS said.

The high school shared information on each inductee below:

STEVE BRADFORD ‘67 – Earned varsity letters in baseball, football, and track and field... played four seasons of varsity baseball... led the state in ERA as a junior in 1966... went 4-2 with 38 strikeouts in 34.0 innings with a 0.00 ERA... helped Lemont to a Fox Valley Conference baseball title in 1966... served two seasons as the starting quarterback (1965-66)... was the Northeast Conference runner-up in the high jump as a senior in 1967... National Honor Society student... played football and baseball at Elmhurst College... posted a 1.93 ERA as a senior in 1971, ranking among the school’s all-time leaders... served as a youth baseball and football coach... played for the Chicago Fire of the Men’s Senior Baseball League, helping his 55+ team to seven World Series appearances and one title.

CHRIS TRAINA – Posted a 468-186-1 record over 19 seasons (2007-26)... guided Lemont to eight South Suburban Conference titles... led Lemont to 15 IHSA Regional titles and seven IHSA Sectional crowns... four-time SSC Blue Coach of the Year... five-time Illinois Coaches Association Class 3A Sectional Coach of the Year... 2024 Illinois Coaches Association Softball Hall of Fame Inductee... Lemont won 20 or more games 16 times in 19 seasons... coached three Gatorade Illinois Softball Players of the Year (Suzie Rzegocki, 2007; Sage Mardjetko, 2022 and 2023)... became the first IHSA Class 3A coach to lead a team to three straight top-two state finals finishes... Lemont was the 2021 IHSA Class 3A State Runner-Up... just the second Illinois softball coach to lead teams to consecutive IHSA Class 3A State Championships (2022, 2023)... led the 2023 squad to a school record for wins in a season (35)... owns the two winningest seasons in school history (34 in 2022, 35 in 2023)... served 26 years as a faculty member in the Physical Education Department.

RYLIE (JAY) VANASDLEN ‘15 – Four-year all-conference player on the softball diamond... helped Lemont to 92 wins, two South Suburban Conference titles, and two IHSA Regional crowns... became the program’s first three-time Illinois Coaches Association All-State First Team selection (2013-15)... hit better than .400 each year and posted a .494 career batting average... holds career records for hits (212), home runs (27) and runs batted in (175)... ranks second all-time in career batting average and runs scored (175)... posted an .862 career slugging percentage, with 87 extra-base hits... stole 61 bases with a career on-base percentage of .532... led Lemont in hits, runs batted in, and stolen bases each year from 2012-14... was among the team’s top three in runs, hits, home runs, RBIs, stolen bases, batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and OPS each of her four seasons... set school single-season records by hitting .584 with 10 home runs as a sophomore in 2013... earned All-North Region and second-team All-America honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association in 2013... signed a National Letter of Intent to play softball at Western Illinois University.

JOHN YOUNG – Served as Lemont’s Athletic Director from 2001-24... responsible for oversight of the school’s athletics and activities program... led Lemont’s athletic department during a period of unprecedented growth... helped transition Lemont to the newly formed South Suburban Conference in 2006... Lemont won 13 SSC Presidents’ Cups in 18 years from 2007-24... 20 of Lemont’s 26 sports advanced to state finals competition during his tenure... Lemont won 12 team state championships and seven individual state titles... 11 sports won team state trophies or had individuals earn state medals... helped develop the LHS Sports Complex... also aided in major improvements in the stadium, gymnasium, and wrestling room... guided the development of the Lemont High School Athletic Hall of Fame, which debuted in 2004... facilitated the implementation of the “Young Hearts for Life” cardiac screenings program... two-time Illinois Athletic Directors Association Class 3A/4A Division 3 “Athletic Director of the Year” (2015, 2024)... member of the IADA Executive Board... served as President of the SSC Athletic Directors... earned Certified Athletic Administrator designation from the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.