Hanover Park Schools Induct 12 Into Hall of Fame Next Month

East Hanover's longstanding tradition of athletic excellence gets a boost when 12 local athletes and coaches get their places in the sun as members of the brand new Hanover Park Regional High School District Athletic Hall of Fame.

The new hall will hold its inaugural induction on Thursday, Oct. 10. The first class of honored inductees will include: Karen Sanchelli, Jennifer Leddy Fetterolf, Charlie Frazier, Tom Wilson, Toni Fortunato, and Josh Keena of Whippany Park High School and Erin Breslin Amalfitano, James D. Adams, Mike Wenrich, Vincent Capano, James LaValle, and Greg Schroeder of Hanover Park.

“A Hall of Fame recognizes a legacy of excellence for athletic achievement within the Hanover Park Regional High School District community,” said John Manning, principal of Whippany Park High School. “Whether athlete or coach, these outstanding men and women are the standard-bearers for a tradition of excellence that has spanned decades of commitment, dedication and hard work.”

The Athletic Hall of Fame is established to recognize those who have contributed to the athletics in both high schools, their community, and whose lives were influenced by their time spent within the district- either as students or coaches. The establishment of the Athletic Hall of Fame is made possible by the efforts of the Department of Athletics of Whippany Park and Hanover Park, as well as the Hall of Fame Voting Committee and the Hanover Park Regional High School District Board of Education.

"With the establishment of this Hall of Fame, we will be connecting the history of the schools to its current students, faculty, and community,” said Hanover Park High School Principal Thomas Callanan. “It is our goal to continue to honor the amazing achievements of our students, both past and present, and the Hall of Fame provides us with another avenue to do so.”

Potential candidates for induction must have earned a varsity letter and graduated from one of the high schools, or have served as head coach at one of the high schools for no less than five years.

Induction ceremonies will be held Oct. 10 at the Hanover Manor, 16 Eagle Rock Ave. in East Hanover at 7 p.m. The inductees will also be honored publicly in a reading of their names at that weekend’s football games. The names of the inductees from Hanover Park High School will be read at Hanover Park’s home game versus Jefferson Township on Oct. 11 and Whippany Park inductees will be similarly honored at Whippany Park’s football game versus Hopatcong High School on Oct. 12.

Superintendent of Schools Carol Grossi said the inductees are special to the community.

“For our students, they are role models," Grossi said. "For our coaches, they are inspiration. For all of those people who have had the opportunity to stand side-by-side with them on the playing field or in the athletic arena, they are heroes.”