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Honoring past athletic figures
(by Erin Patricia Griffiths - October 07, 2008)
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Photo Courtesy Of Westwood Jr./Sr. High School
The focus of the Westwood Jr./Sr. Regional High School Athletic Hall of Fame is to honor past athletes who have contributed to the long tradition of the school’s community. Pictured are the members of the 1935 baseball team on the front steps of the high school, formerly located at the corner of Mill Street and Third Avenue.
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With championship teams and state titles, Westwood Jr./Sr. Regional High School athletic department has much to be proud of. To honor those who have passed through their halls filled with a long tradition of athletic successes, the athletic department has been working to institute an Athletic Hall of Fame.
“I taught here for one year, 30 years ago, when I had just gotten out of college,” says Trish Benevento, athletic director at the high school. “And from the time I left 30 years ago to now, there is such a rich history of athletics in this area. Westwood especially because it is such a small school, and it produces really strong teams across the boards in our league.”
Although only having returned to the school three years ago, Benevento recognizes the importance of the past successes and triumphs of the department and the honor that is owed to those who have contributed to the school in various capacities, be it student-athletes, coaches, or fans through the years. “When I came aboard, one of the pieces of my interview process was that they were interested in starting something like this [athletic hall of fame],” says Benevento.
Along with 34-year veteran staff member of the school, Patrick McGowan, Benevento has worked to coordinate a Steering Committee comprised of present staff members and alumni to get the program started. The committee has been organizing an event to officially inaugurate the hall of fame in November 2009 with a dinner to introduce the first class of inductees.
The program will consist of a dinner every two years at which a class of honorees, including one state championship team, six athletes, two coaches, and one contributor such as a doctor, booster, or fan who has contributed to the team, will be recognized by the selection committee. “We should memorialize the traditions that we have had and let everyone else know that it has been a very successful program and we plan on continuing it,” says Benevento.
Part of the focus in creating the hall of fame is educating present athletes about the history of the school and athletic department they represent on the fields and in their gyms. “That is the key, to let present athletes know that they are part of a long tradition and I think that is a pretty cool thing,” says McGowan. “As we’ve cleaned out closets and we find stuff like this,” he says, gesturing to team photos from years past, “it just reminds us how far back our athletic teams and traditions go.”
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Nomination Criteria for Hall of Fame
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Athletes:
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Must have attended Westwood High School
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Must have earned an athletic varsity letter
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Must have displayed high moral character, contributed significantly to his/her school and community
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Must be out of school 10 years
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To be considered when selection: number of “lettered” seasons, league recognition, county recognition, state recognition, national recognition, other awards
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Coaches:
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Must have been a member of the Westwood High School coaching staff for a minimum of five years
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Coaching record
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League/county/state championships
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Coach of the year awards
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Other achievements
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Contributors:
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In order to be considered as a contributor, individuals must have displayed loyalty, pride, and dedication in the tradition of the Westwood High School athletic program.
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How to nominate a candidate:
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To nominate a candidate for consideration in the first class of the hall of fame, visit the Web site at www.wwrsd.org and click on the “Quick Links” item for “Athletic Hall of Fame.” Awards may be given posthumously. For more information on nominations or to help with the program contact Trish Benevento at 201-664-0880 ext. 2137 or Patrick McGowan at 201-664-0880 ext. 2002.
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Mission Statement:
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The Westwood Regional High School Athletic Hall of Fame seeks to honor former student-athletes, teams, coaches, faculty, administrators, and community members whose sports achievements, contributions, and character have reflected positively on our high school, its athletic program, and the communities of Westwood and the Township of Washington.
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Although a monumental task to sift through the history of the athletic department, which dates back to the early 1900s, both McGowan and Benevento are committed to the mission of the program. “Pat [McGowan] has been here 34 years, coached many teams, and seen many athletes come through here, many sons and daughters of athletes continuing the tradition,” says Benevento. “And with such a rich tradition, we just felt it was about time that we honor those individuals who have given a lot to the school. We are trying to bring them back and let them know we do appreciate them, and we do appreciate the pieces that they have left here and the memories that they have left here. It is important,” she continues.
The committee is looking for nominations from people within the community to recognize former players and coaches deserving of recognition to be submitted by Saturday, Nov. 15 for consideration. In addition, anyone interested in assisting with the program is welcome to help.
The pair hopes that the community will embrace the program, as it has its traditions. “I have been in two or three schools, but coming back here there is definitely a different feel with the camaraderie and the closeness with the community. The fact that people do stay around and they do support one another and the athletic program is tremendous,” says Benevento. “I think it is important to start now and not wait any longer to get this done.”
The selected nominees for the first hall of fame class will be publicly announced in Pascack Valley Community Life in January 2009.
Erin Patricia Griffiths' e-mail address is GriffithsE@northjersey.com.
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