PERRY HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME

2010 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees Announced

Friday, October 30th, the 2010 Inductees to the PHS Athletic Hall of Fame were announced during the Perry vs. Glenoak football game. The inductees for this year are: Tom Winkhart (Football Coach), Shaun Smith (Wrestling), Kay Port (Basketball), Darcy Wakefield (Swimming), Brandon Smith (Track), Dan Rogich (Basketball), and Dan Douglas (Baseball). A dinner honoring this year’s class will take place January 28th at 6:00pm at the Executive Events Center in Perry Township.  Ticket information will be posted soon.

CLASS OF 2009

pictured left to right: front row: Larry Wilson, Keith Wakefield, Marci Raymondi-Durieux, Steve Fink, Denise Callahan, Brent McBurney, Gary Define; middle row: Tim Laps, Lance Burick, Nick Venuto, Nicole Marcelli, Chris Newlon; back row: Chip Hare, Harry Sword and Tom Nelson.

February 5th was a night that will stand out in the minds of the 177 individuals who attended the induction ceremony of the first class of the Perry High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Thirteen athletes and two coaches were honored at Executive Events as family, friends, colleagues, coaches, teammates, players and community members looked on with Perry Pride. Both laughter and tears accompanied the honorees’ speeches. Fond memories of days gone past came to life as stories were shared from the podium and within small groups throughout the room. Each of the inductees thanked those who supported them and especially the parents and family members who gave up time, money and energy to see that they excelled in the sports that they chose to participate. They all express the surprise they felt when learning that they would be a member of the first class of the newly created Perry High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

Highlights included Chris Newlon who accepted the honor on behalf of his father, Ken Newlon, who was killed in a car accident in 1973. Chris shared that this honor meant more to his family than he could express. It gave him an opportunity to learn more about the man who died to young but left an everlasting impression on a community that saw it fit to honor him 44 years after he left the halls of Perry High School.

Perry class of 1985 member Nicole Marcelli flew from Florida to be honored as a Perry athlete who not only lettered in 5 sports but was also Miss Perryite and participated in 3 bands.

Finishing up the night was the animated basketball coach Larry Wilson who flew in from Arizona. Stories of his coaching career at Perry which ran from 1973 to 1991entertained the audience.

Click here to view the complete 2009 Induction Program