CHS Athletic Hall of Fame Announces Inductees

Columbia High School's Athletic Hall of Fame—now in its fourth year of giving awards—will induct 10 coaches and student athletes at a ceremony to be held on May 7 at the Maplewood Country Club. The 1978 and 1979 soccer teams, which won back-to-back state championships under Coach Gene Chyzowych—will also be enshrined.

"People don't realize that Columbia High School has had many professional athletes, Olympians and national champions of college sports," said Hall of Fame president Jerry Auriemma, a Maplewood resident and 1971 graduate, who added that making the selections has become slightly more challenging in the fourth year of inductions.

Among the eight athletes to be inducted is James Valentin, '52, who played for Columbia's 1951 football state championship team and was offered athletic scholarships from 52 colleges. (He ultimately went to Indiana University.) Rounding out the list are Lynn Fader, all-around athlete, '58; Roger Flax, tennis, '61; Marybeth Kakoleski-Gigel, softball, '77; Regina Sullivan, basketball, '79; Gail Bryant, track, '81; Mark Brown, basketball, '87; and Laura Wilkes Evans, all-around athlete, '91.

Long-time girls basketball coach Johanna Wright—whose team advanced deep into the state playoffs this year—is the coach inductee. And a new award to honor athletes who give back to the school in other ways has been dedicated for Ben Cross—the former CHS guidance counselor and football, basketball and baseball coach—who will be its first recipient.

Auriemma marveled at the way members of Columbia's most storied teams—including the 1951 football champions, who were the first team to be inducted—seem to maintain contact through the years.

"They stay very close, which is amazing," he said. "I guess that's what winning does."