Central Regional To Induct Superstar 1971 Varsity Football Team Into Hall Of Fame Tonight

To say 1971 was a good year for the Central Regional High School football team would be a bit of an understatement.

That was the one and only time Central Regional won the honor of best team in the state and best team in Ocean County, said Donna Bahrle, secretary to schools Superintendent Triantafillos Parlapanides.

And tonight the boys of that long ago autumn will be inducted into the high school's Hall of Fame in a private ceremony for honorees, family and friends. But residents can come out and see them at halftime at the home football game tonight at Joseph J. Boyd Field, she said.

Varsity team members that year were Warren Abrecht, Alan Abrecht, Michael Aiello, Richard Alter, John Bach, Mark Beale, Peter Bell, Richard Bishop, Matthew Bonner, Raymond Boos, Michael Boyd, Timothy Boyle, Richard Breitenbach, Reggie Brewton, David Burke, Peter Burke, Peter Callahan, James Chaney, Larry Clyburn, Eldridge "Jack" Clyburn, Jeff Connell, Michael Curry, James Dezendorf, James Dinkins, Steve Ditchkus, Robert Eldridge, John Emig, Thomas Farrand, Michael Fisher, Gordon Gaffney, Robert Gallagher, Gary Grant, Harry Gray, Doug Hall, Cyrus Haynes, William Herkert, John Hodulich.

Also, Nicholas Iaria, Michael Iaria, Miles Jones, Thomas Kendzia, James Kerrigan, John Kerrigan, Robbie Keyes, John Kilmurray, James Kirkpatrick, George Kuhn, Daniel Lasner, Kurt Lorton, John P. MacIntosh, Marvin MacIntyre, David Miller, William Miller, Walter Otlowski, George Pearce, Ernie Pecoraro, Michael Pecoraro, Richard Pullen, James Rosanio, C. Rourke, David Russell, Ronald Stalhut, John Sullivan, David Taylor, Randy Tunney, George Weston, Dale Wilber and Kevin Williams.

The team amassed a 9-0 record, with giant wins in each game. They defeated Manasquan (20-12) Toms River South (64-20), Point Boro (36-0), Shore Regional (50-0), Trenton (54-8), Howell (48-0), Jackson (48-6), Wall (50-6), and Southern (34-19).

Special VIP seats for the game can be purchased for $10 each at the gate, Bahrle said.

Also slated to be inducted tonight are:

Kelly McGowan, Class of 1989. She was a star athlete in three sports - field hockey, basketball, and softball. Softball was her first love. She had a career batting average of .482.  Kelly was an integral part of three championship teams.  Her teams won the Shore Conference Class B South Divisional Championship, the Ocean County Tournament Championship, and the NJSIAA South Jersey Group III Tournament Championship.

Kurt Leiter, Class of 1979. During his junior and senior years he was selected as First Team All-State Pitcher and was also named WOBM Athlete of the Year. He went on to star at Oklahoma State University where he was selected as a First Team All Big 8 Conference Pitcher in 1982 and his teams were ranked in the top five in the nation.  Kurt pitched in the College World Series for two years. He signed a professional contract in 1982 with the Baltimore Orioles.  Kurt pitched for the Baltimore Orioles Minor League AA Affiliate.  His team won the 1982 AA Championship.