The Johnston High School Athletic Hall of Fame is gearing up for what could be a record turnout when its class of 2015 is officially inducted early next month.
The class of 2015 includes eight former athletes, two coaches and as many teams that so proudly wore the blue and white.
Gary Mazzie, the Hall of Fame’s founder and director, this week announced that in keeping with tradition, the induction ceremony will be divided into two parts, starting at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3 inside the Edward L. DiSimone Gymnasium.
Once the actual induction ceremony is complete, people will make their way to the Pocasset Bay Manor at Old Pocasset Road off Hartford Avenue for the post-induction dinner. Tickets are priced at $30.
“We again have another great class of former Panther greats,” Mazzie said. “That’s why we’re expecting what we hope is as record crowd for the actual induction ceremony … We hope that as many people as possible will turn out for the inductees, and our gymnasium is obviously the best place for that. Also, there’s no admission charge.”
The individual athletes scheduled for induction are Susan A. Baffoni, class of 1975, basketball; Jill A Calabrese, class of 1985, basketball, softball; Chris G. Hopkins, class of 1975, football, basketball, baseball; Joseph M. Hopkins, class of 1978, basketball, baseball; Kenneth J. Hopkins, class of 1972, football, basketball, baseball; Raffaele M. Marziale, class of 1972, hockey; Anthony J. Ponticelli, class of 1971, baseball; and Vincent Salzillo, class of 1967, basketball, baseball.
Former Johnston High Principal Pasquale J. Paolantonio and one-time teacher and coach Bruce S. Vittner have been selected under the criteria of longevity, contributions to the school and athletic department, and other awards and achievements.
In keeping with tradition, Johnston High’s 1975 Suburban State Championship tennis team will be also be inducted. Vittner, in fact, was the head coach of that prolific Panther pack, which played its way to the prestigious state tennis title.
Team members and their respective years of graduation were: Albert Benetti II, class of 1975; Mark D. Bowder, class of 1975; Mark S. Capasso, class of 1977; William B. DeGiulio, class of 1977; Joseph L. Lancellotti, class of 1976; William B. Lancellotti, class of 1975; Jerome Sam, class of 1975; and Gerald W. Schaffert, class of 1977.
One of the evening’s special highlights will come when the 1974-75 Johnston High boys’ basketball team – which captured the Class B State Championship – is inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame.
And heading that team of one-time Panther greats – which later went on to upset long-time powerhouse Central High School and win the Rhode Island Bicentennial Tournament at and former Our Lady of Providence Prep – was none other that the legendary, late and beloved long-time Panther teacher and coach, Robert A. “Bob” Smith.
The team’s induction will also take place on the Robert A. Smith Memorial Court that was once the sight of many great games the 1974-75 Panthers won en route to claiming the state crown.
That team’s roster is Michael W. Shields, Michael R. Pagliaro, Anthony P. Graziano, Bernard D. Fusco, Leo D. Messier and Manager William J. Baldwin, all class of 1975; Paul S. Aiello, Joseph A. Baffoni, Steven M. Brown, Manager Kevin P. Gatta, Richard J. Gelsomino, Michael P. Leveillee, Daniel E. Mazzulla Jr., class of 1976; and Donald M. Sweet, Steven P. DeSantis, class of 1977.
The Hall of Fame selection committee includes Steven DeMeo, Edward DiSimone, Jason Achille, Richard Hagopian, James Hopkins, Carolyn Thornton Iannuccilli, Alan McGillvray, Tony-Marie Achille, Janet Zucchi, Dennis Quaranta and Mazzie.
For more information about the Hall of Fame or induction ceremony and dinner, please contact Mazzie at gmazzie@johnstonschools.org.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here