The chosen few Class of 2014

SPARTA — Every year since 1976, the Sussex County Sports Hall of Fame (SCSHOF) has focused the spotlight on individuals and their contributions to numerous sports in the area.

Louis Frato, Eugene Mendes, Michael Parichuk, Steven Dalling, William Ehling, Kevin Michaels, Meghan Radimer, and Justin Scheid attended the Induction Dinner and accepted their plaques and their placement in the Class of 2014 during a ceremony at Lake Mohawk Country Club.

Sports Hall Of Fame President Gunner Frauenpries, who was inducted into the first class in 1976, served as Master of Ceremonies.

“As of today, there will be 212 members in the Hall of Fame. From 11 school districts within Sussex County, starting with the high school system, then college, professional career, and Olympics," Frauenpries said. "It is a combination of overall merits, over a series of years, and possibly from a series of different sports.”

There are two veterans inducted every year that are brought back into the spotlight. Honorary members inducted are those who have done amazing things for sports in Sussex County either as a coach, photographer, or within the media.

Among the tables of family, friends and alumni was Dennis Tobin, Superintendent of Schools in Sparta. Having participated in sports in Sparta in his youth, he then went on to become a teacher and coach of basketball at Sparta High School. He believes that the Sports Hall of Fame does a wonderful job recognizing people who have contributed to local athletic programs and has no intention of cutting any school sports programs.

“One of our goals every year, through the budget process, is to maintain all the programs we have," Tobin said. "If anything we try to increase the opportunities for the students.”

The Sports Hall of Fame and the 212 plaques representing the inductees have a new home at The Cochran House (on the Green) in Newton. Anyone seeking more information can contact them at sussexcountysportshalloffame@gmail.com.

The Class of 2014
Louis Frato — Veteran

Louis Frato was inducted into the Veteran category by Doc Ayers, his baseball mentor, idol, American Legion League coach. Recognition of his achievements came to light after his daughter researched and compiled all his stats as a Christmas present.

While he also played basketball and soccer, baseball was his true passion. In the American Legion League Frato says Coach Ayers made it fun to learn the game and play it the way it should be played. He enjoyed the game and wouldn’t succumb to pressure, even after making mistakes and getting the Coach Ayers “stare”.

During his senior year in high school while recovering from a knee injury, his mother gave him two pieces of mail: one was his classification from the Army and the other an invitation from the St. Louis Cardinals but because of his injuries he was not able to continue with either.

He now has a son he coached in baseball and two grandsons that his son has coached. He is proud of watching them all as they play the game and earn sportsmanship awards and says the family philosophy is to learn the game you’re playing and have fun — if you can’t have fun, then don’t play.

Eugene Mendes — Veteran
Eugene Mendes was inducted in the Veteran category, by Pat Shea. Grew up in Pompton Lakes High School and went on to attend Jacksonville University. For three seasons pitched in the NY Mets organization.

After blowing his knee out he moved back up to Sparta in 1977 after interviewing and being accepted for coaching baseball, basketball and football at Sparta High School. Reflecting on his time on the field, he never succumbed to pressure.

“You’re instincts kick in," Mendes said. "You don’t feel the pressure while you’re in combat.”

He never got to the point of ever wanting to quit, saying “it was my knee that quit” and claims his greatest challenge was raising his kids and being a good father.

His words of advice to young athletes are succinct, “Never give up, be positive.”

Mendes is now retired from teaching and coaching, and enjoys trying to keep up with his twin daughters.

Michael Parichuk — Honorary
Michael Parichuk has been involved in Sussex County sports for more than 50 years, and was inducted by Dan Cleary.

“He brought teams to the field ready to play and ready to play the right way,” said Cleary of Parichuk.

Parichuk played basketball at Pope John and earned All County recognition. After college, a Father at Pope John called and said they needed an English teacher as well as a football and basketball coach he focused on the students.

He eventually moved on to Kitttantiny High School to coach and and be a guidance counselor to the students there. Jerry Morrelli invited him to be a basketball analyst on his Sports Beat cable television program for 17 years. But for all the achievements and contributions he made in sports, it is finding that player who was a diamond in the rough and encouraging kids, not pressuring them, that he finds fulfilling.

“Helping people is the greatest reward,” Parichuk said.

An attestant to that is Greg Kylish, a former player he coached, who traveled an hour and a half to be at the award ceremony for him and Lou Frato. Parichuk also coached one of the other members of the Class of 2014, Steve Dalling as freshman football player.

“I never saw someone hate to lose as much as he did," Kylish said. "Wrestling was really his sport. If you were up against this guy, you faced one of the toughest opponents you were ever going to face.”

William Ehling
William Ehling was inducted for his football and wrestling accomplishments by Coach Ron Earl, head football coach at Sparta who said of Ehling, “Pound for pound, he was one of the best competitors we ever had.”

Ehling racked up awards, including District 14 and Region IV Champion 141lbs and graduated in 1982. He then attended college in Princeton, receiving eight Varsity letters in an attempt to be a collegiate All-american.

Challenges and quitting never crossed his mind because during the period of time he was playing, Sparta sports teams were on a winning streak. It was only losing sight of having fun that ever caused him to perform below his ability and his achievements are relatively modest in his mind.

He humbly states, “If I look at the credentials of many of the other inductees, I wonder why I am included.”

Steven Dalling
Inducted by John Gill, his head wrestling coach at Kittatiny High School. Dalling comes from a family of wrestlers and believes his biggest challenge was that he didn’t like to lose.

Through family tradition, he never thought of quitting, he just pushed himself harder. He would spend time at clinics or travel to practice with his uncle out in East Stroudsberg. That dedication earned him numerous awards including Kittatinny Regional High School’s first State Championship Title for wrestling and the first to win one hundred matches.

While he jokingly claims that he would rather be on the wrestling mat than receiving his induction into the Sports Hall Of Fame, he concedes, “I appreciate it a lot, I really do.”

Dalling is passing his work ethic and skills down to “all the little guys at Stillwater Fredon wrestling” where he coaches the recreation league.

Meghan Radimer
Meghan Radimer was inducted into the SCSHOF by her high school track coach Gary Dutko. Her talents that landed many awards include thrower for track, along with shot-put, discus, hammer and javelin, her best sport in college, where some of the records she set still stand. She was also the goalie for the college soccer team.

While she tore her ACL before senior year she made it back and into the soccer Nationals. Radimer has never wanted to stop being active in athletics, so she still competes by running marathons including the Marine Corp Marathon and more than nine full marathons and half marathons.

“It was my work and I never wanted to stop," Radimer said. "It might be cliche, but, never give up. If you’re really passionate about something just keep following your dreams. I never imagined I would be standing up here tonight to receive such an amazing honor. It's still kind of surreal and I am very happy and excited to be here.”

She now teaches Physical Education and Health at Stillwater and Fredon elementary schools.

Justin Scheid
Justin Scheid was inducted by Brian Corcoran, his high school cross country coach at Pope John. Nearly 29 years old, he started running because he was frustrated with other sports where players often sat on sidelines after playing their allotted time.

Because of great training and coaches he was able to compete in high school and in college. As a freshman, the upper class-men welcomed him as someone who could compete on their level and held no animosity regarding his age.

For Scheid, it was a great coach and team racing that made it fun and he continued to compete while attending Georgetown University in DC. It was a great race plan he put forth back in 2003 that made the greatest race in his mind stand out, even though he finished second place.

It was a two-mile night race, where he took the lead with two laps to go, but was edged out at the finish line. He now runs local races on his own but usually with Team Propane and Pearl Izumi Mid Atlantic and has finished both the New York and the Boston Marathons. He feels honored that family friend and organizer of Team Eastern Laura Delea worked with the committee to get him nominated into the Sports Hall Of Fame.

Kevin Michaels
Inducted by his younger brother Jan Michaels for his football achievements, Michaels was raised in Vernon but attended Sparta High School, graduating in 1969.

His titles and awards for football, wrestling and track were earned as a student at SHS and at University of Virginia. He learned skill and determination from his father who taught at SHS and was the “drill instructor” type of coach who didn’t believe in quitting and wanted the kids to learn very little detail, even if it was difficult.

“Not to be brash but, I always expected to win if I was competing," Michaels said.

Two of his greatest achievements are winning three ACC wrestling titles at descending weights: 190-sophomore, 177 as a Junior, 167 as a senior, and Outstanding Student Athlete of the Year at University of Virginia.

“I wasn’t on the Deans List but I was right under there," Michaels said. "I worked hard, I trained hard, I took care of details. I never played any sport or competed in any way for glory or fame. I competed to compete, not for recognition. I’m honored [to be inducted] but also bewildered. This is so minuscule compared to raising my family. Yes, Im honored.”

But Michaels added with tongue in cheek, “What took ‘em so long?”