The Hilton High School Sports Hall of Fame will induct the 2005 National Championship Girls’ Cross Country Team at Hilton High School on Tuesday, December 29. This year’s honored Hilton CSD team will include members and coaching staff: Head Coach Mike Szczepanik; assistant coaches Jeff Merkel and Seth Blodgett; and athletes Caileen Childs ’06, Nicole Griffiths ’06, Amanda Griggs ’06, Shelby Herman ’08, Ashley Jones ’08, Ashlea Keene ’06, Allison Sawyer ’07, Caroline Schultz ’07 and Erin Pratt ’09.
The Induction Ceremony will take place during the Hilton High School Hall of Fame Boys Basketball Tournament. All members of the Hilton Sports Hall of Fame and community members are invited to attend the presentation of inductees in the auditorium at 4:30 p.m. The inductees will also receive recognition in the gym at the beginning of Hilton varsity game vs. Greece Athena at approximately 6:15 p.m.
The Hilton Central School District Sports Hall of Fame annually recognizes those individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the Hilton athletic program and in some cases, at a higher level through their participation as athletes, coaches or administrators. Candidates must be graduates of Hilton High School for a minimum of five years or retired coaches from the Hilton Central School District.
Candidates include those who have made outstanding contributions to the Hilton sports program or established themselves in the field of athletics at the local, state, national or international level (professional, Olympic, college athlete, coach, etc.); students who, while in high school, received athletic honors such as All-American, All-State, All-Greater Rochester, State/Sectional Championship, Athlete of the Year or All-County. Overall team success and multiple-sport participation may also be considered. Any student who participated in Hilton athletics may be considered under special circumstances.
Members of the selection committee include: Brian Bartalo, Hilton High School principal and former swim coach; Tom Coyle ’55, former statistician and record keeper; Jeff Merkel ’84, athlete and track/cross country coach; Mike Whelehan ’75, athlete and coach; Dick LeBeau, retired athletic director and coach; Chris Monfiletto ’89, teacher and soccer, ice hockey and tennis coach; Ken Krause, former soccer coach, teacher and current athletic coordinator; and Michael Giruzzi, director of Physical Education and Athletics.
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