RCS Athletic Hall of Fame inducts 15

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By Melanie Lekocevic

Capital Region Independent Media

The RCS Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2024 was inducted on Saturday in the high school gym. Melanie Lekocevic/Capital Region Independent Media

RAVENA-COEYMANS-SELKIRK — The gym stands were packed Saturday afternoon as the RCS Athletic Hall of Fame inducted 15 former athletes into its Class of 2024.

The Hall of Fame was established in 2018 when the inaugural class of honorees included 11 former athletes and coaches. This year’s cohort was composed entirely of former student athletes.

Inductees are selected by the RCS Sports Association Hall of Fame Committee based on a set of criteria.

“We have bylaws,” committee member and coach Ron Racey said. “Athletes cannot be selected until they are five years out of high school, coaches have to coach for at least 15 years. They have to be outstanding in one sport and they are recommended by a past coach or a past athlete.”

Over the years some awards have been granted posthumously, with the athlete’s family or loved ones accepting on their behalf.

This year’s class of inductees saw two of the youngest awardees.

“This is our sixth class,” Racey said. “We have gone all the way back to 1948 for our first recipient, and then two young ladies from 2016 are our youngest inductees ever.”

The plaques awarded to this year’s inductees on display outside the gym prior to the ceremony. Melanie Lekocevic/Capital Region Independent Media

Football announcer and former coach Jim Gorham said that in addition to honoring the accomplishments of former student athletes, the awards also serve another purpose.

“It gives a lot of the young athletes that hear about this a goal to try to strive for and join some of these wonderful athletes, both men and women,” Gorham said. “It’s an extra perk to get them going. It’s nice to see every year a lot of the older group mingling with the younger group and we can both learn from each other.”

Master of Ceremony Jim Gorham welcomed the crowd to the induction ceremony. Melanie Lekocevic/Capital Region Independent Media

Gorham made a special announcement during the awards ceremony — the family of the later student athlete Seana Hazelton made a $10,000 donation to the RCS Athletic Hall of Fame in her memory.

For the inductees, receiving the plaque and inclusion in the Hall of Fame is an honor.

“This is surreal — it’s a great honor,” said Lorin Williams. “It was really cool hearing about all of the achievements of the other inductees.”

Bailey Kross Frangella, who along with Haley Irvis, both from the RCS Class of 2016, was one of the youngest inductees. She said hearing her athletic accomplishments, which Gorham recited for each former athlete, was eye opening.

“It’s a shock and really exciting,” Frangella said. “It’s an honor — I actually don’t remember doing all of this, I was just having fun.”

Previous inductees who attended this weekend’s ceremony. Melanie Lekocevic/Capital Region Independent Media

Here is the list of this year’s inductees, in alphabetical order, with a sampling of their athletic accomplishments.

TOM CARRK

Tom Carrk, left

A member of the Class of 1969, Carrk was a four-sport athlete, most notably competing in football and baseball, and also basketball and track

Carrk was an all-star quarterback for two years, and held the RCS record for touchdown passes and yards. He was captain of the football team for one year and played on the undefeated Colonial Council basketball team in 1968 and again in 1969.

After high school, Carrk attended Norwich University where he played varsity football all four years.

ANTHONY DEMATTEO

The family of Anthony DeMatteo, left.

DeMatteo played three sports at RCS — football, basketball and baseball.

He was captain of the football team in 1954 and the team was CHVL champions for three years straight. The basketball team was also league champion in 1956 and he captained the baseball team in 1955, also the championship team for two years.

BRIANNA DREXLER

Brianna Drexler

A graduate of the Class of 2006, Drexler competed in soccer, indoor and outdoor track.

She held school records in 55m hurdles, 50m hurdles and long jump, and was captain of the indoor track team in 2006. Drexler also captained the outdoor track team for two years and was Colonial Council individual champion in 100m hurdles for three years and long jump. She was Section 2 Class B champion in the 100m hurdles for three years and long jump for one year.

After high school Drexler competed in varsity track at St. John’s University and was an Academic All-American for three years.

KAYLA HOTALING

Kayla Hotaling

 Hotaling, a graduate of the Class of 2013, played basketball all four years and was captain for three. She scored 1,052 points during her years at RCS and was a Colonial Council All-Star from 2011-13.

Hotaling played varsity basketball at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts after high school, scoring 1,060 career points, and was a New England Women’s Basketball All-Star in 2017.

HALEY IRVIS

Haley Irvis

Irvis graduated in 2016 and played volleyball and softball all four years of high school.

She held the school record for kills for points with 1,154 and blocks for points with 342, and was a volleyball Colonial Council champion and All-Star for several years running. In softball, she held the school record for strikeouts with 641 and total wins.

After graduating from RCS, Irvis played softball for Long Island University and threw a no-hitter in 2018 against the University of Maine.

VEL JOHNSON

Vel Johnson, left

Johnson was a three-sport athlete, playing football, wrestling and baseball, and graduated in 1975.

He was captain of all three teams for one year apiece and earned Colonial Council championship and All-Star honors.

BAILEY KROSS (FRANGELLA)

Bailey Kross (Frangella)

Kross competed in basketball, softball and volleyball for all four years, graduating in 2016.

She earned All-Star honors from the Colonial Council in softball and volleyball, and had the second highest all-time defensive digs for RCS with 1,098, and service aces with 412.

Post high school Kross did crew with Iona College for two years and softball with Union College for another two years.

RYAN MANNING

Ryan Manning, left

Manning played baseball, basketball, cross country and outdoor track, graduating in 1996.

He was captain of the basketball team for two years, also earning first-team All-Star for two years with both the Colonial Council and Section 2.

After graduating, Manning played basketball at Western New England University for all four years and was captain for two. He holds the school record for most three-pointers in a game with nine.

KIM PRIOR (PHILLIP)

Kim Prior (Phillip)

Prior, a graduate in 2001, played basketball and softball, serving as captain for both teams.

In softball she was a Colonial Council All-Star and NYS All-Star team member in 2001.

After high school, Prior played softball for Hudson Valley Community College and her team took second place in the NJCAA Softball World Series in 2003. She also played softball for two years at SUNY Oneonta.

RALPH SCHIMMEL

Ralph Schimmel

Schimmel played football, basketball and baseball and graduated in 1956.

He was captain of all three teams and played on championship teams for all three sports.

The family of Brent Shook

BRENT SHOOK

A graduate with the Class of 1987, Shook played football at RCS.

He was team captain in 1986 and was Capital Conference Player of the Year for two years. He was also Times Union Player of the year and is the all-time RCS leader in career rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. Shook was RCS’s first to have 300 rushing yards in a single game.

ALEX SOUTIERE

Alex Soutiere

Soutiere was a three-sport athlete, competing in football, wrestling and track.

Graduating in 2013, Soutiere was a member of the football divisional champions and captain for one year, as well as a divisional and state All-Star. He captained the wrestling team and had a career 117 wins, and was a council champion and Section 2 state qualifier champion. He placed second in the state in 2012 and third in 2013.

LORIN WEIDMAN (WILLIAMS)

Lorin Weidman (Williams), left

 Weidman played soccer, basketball and outdoor track at RCS, and was captain of all three teams.

She was a Colonial Council All-Star in soccer for two years, and council champion in 400m, also holding the school record in 400m.

After high school, she competed for Binghamton University in soccer, where she was also captain.

ASHLEY WILSON

Ashley Wilson, left

 Wilson was on the soccer, basketball and track teams while at RCS, graduating in 2009.

She was captain of the soccer team, and they were Colonial Council champions in 2006, and sectional and regional champions, and state semi-finalist in 2008. She was a career goals leader at RCS with 108 and an Empire State Games Gold Medal winner.

LARRY WYCHE

The family of Larry Wyche

Wyche competed in basketball and baseball, and was a member of the undefeated Colonial Council champion and Section 2 championship team in 1968.

He was a Colonial Council All-Star in baseball for two years and had an average of 14 strikeouts per game. He pitched a perfect game in the Colonial Council game, where he had 19 strikeouts. His career batting average was .418.

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