ERINE GROVE CALA

 A 1990 GRADUATE OF HOPATCONG HIGH SCHOOL, SHE PARTICIPATED AT THE VARSITY LEVEL FOR 4 YEARS IN SOFTBALL AND BASKETBALL.  IN SOFTBALL, SHE WAS ALL-AREA; ALL LEAGUE; AND MOST VALUABLE PLAYER IN 1988, 1989 & 1990.  IN 1989, SHE WAS SELECTED FOR ALL WEST JERSEY 1^ST TEAM AND IN 1990, SHE WAS SELECTED ALL STATE 2^ND TEAM.  IN 2000, SHE WAS AN INDUCTEE INTO THE HOPATCONG HIGH SCHOOL “WALL OF FAME”.  AS A SOFTBALL PITCHER FOR THE TRENTON STATE COLLEGE LIONS FROM 1991-1994 SHE RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING RECOGNITION:  MEMBER OF NCAA NATIONAL SOFTBALL CHAMPIONS 1992, 1994; NJAC PITCHER OF THE YEAR 1993; NCAA ALL-AMERICAN 1993, NCAA ALL REGION 1994; NJAC PITCHER OF THE YEAR 1993; NCAA ALL-AMERICAN 1993; NCAA ALL REGION 1994; NCAA NEW JERSEY WOMAN OF THE YEAR 1994, NJAC WOMAN ATHLETE OF THE YEAR 1994.  HER CAREER PITCHING RECORD IS 61-5 FOR A NCAA RECORD WINNING PCT. OF 92.4%.  HER COLLEGE PITCHING CAREER ERA WAS A REMARKABLE 1.42.

DAVE DELEA 

A 1958 GRADUATE OF NEWTON HIGH SCHOOL, HE PARTICIPATED AT THE VARSITY LEVEL FOR 3 YEARS IN FOOTBALL AND 2 YEARS IN BASKETBALL.  DURING THESE 2 YEARS IN BASKETBALL AT STARTING CENTER, THE TEAM RECORD FOR 1956/1957 – 1957/1958 WAS 32 – 6.  SELECTED 2^ND TEAM ALL-COUNTY BOTH YEARS.  IN FOOTBALL, HE GAINED ALL COUNTY IN 1956 & 1957.  PLAYED FOOTBALL PROFESSIONALLY FOR FRANKLIN MINERS 1958, THROUGH 1961 & 1965 THROUGH 1968.  DURING THE 1958-1961 YEARS THE TEAM RECORD WAS 55-5-2 AND WAS DECLARED NATIONAL SEMI-PRO CHAMPIONS IN 1960 & 1961.  PLAYED FOR PATERSON MINERS IN 1962 & NEWARK BEARS IN 1963.  BOTH TEAMS WERE ATLANTIC COAST FOOTBALL LEAGUE CHAMPIONS.  PLAYED FOR HUDSON VALLEY VIKINGS IN 1964.  WAS SELECTED FOR ATHLETIC SPORTSMAN AWARD BY NJ HERALD IN SEPT. 1968.

JIM DUFFY 

Graduated from Newton High School in 1992 where he earned varsity letters in Baseball (4 years), Basketball (3 years), Football (3 years).  In Baseball for the years of 1990, 1991 & 1992, he was All SCIL, All Area & All West Jersey and in 1991 & 1992, he was named All State.  In Football, for the years 1991 & 1992, he was All SCIL, All Area, All West Jersey and All State in 1992 representing Newton High at Giants Stadium in North/South Game.  In Basketball, he scored 1,125 career points and was All SCIL in 1991 & 1992 and All Area, All West Jersey and All State in 1992.  In 1992 he was Team Captain and MVP in all 3 sports.  At Seton Hall University he was a 4 year Varsity Baseball starter and 1996 team Captain.  He was elected to the All Big East team in ’94, ’95 & ’96.  Other awards were NJ Herald Athlete of the Month (April ’92), New Jersey College Player of the Year (1995), Seton Hall Athlete of the Year (1996), National Baseball All American (1995-9th in nation with .429 BA).  Records held at Seton Hall:  Total Hits (247), Consecutive Game Hitting Streak (29).  Signed by the Houston Astros in ’97 and played for 4 years in various professional baseball leagues, NY Penn League, Midwest League, Fla State League, Texan League AA; 2 time Houston Astro Player of the week; I time Fla. State Player of the week.

HELENE REIGSTAD GEISSEL

1985 GRADUATE OF SPARTA HIGH SCHOOL, PARTICIPATED IN BASKETBALL & TRACK AND FIELD FOR 4 YEARS AT THE VARSITY LEVEL.  CO-CAPTAINED THE 1^ST STATE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM FROM SUSSEX COUNTY/29-0.  SHE WAS THE FIRST LADY SPARTAN SELECTED TO PLAY IN THE NORTH/SOUTH ALL-STAR GAME.  DURING HER BASKETBALL CAREER, SHE WAS THE FIRST LADY SPARTAN TO SCORE 1,000 POINTS (1,084) AND THE FIRST WITH 1,000 REBOUNDS (1,129).  HOLDS SINGLE GAME REBOUND RECORD – 29.  ALL S.C.I.L. 1984-85.  SELECTED BY THE N.J. HERALD ALL-AREA (2^ND TEAM 1983 – 1^ST TEAM 1984-85), STAR LEDGER ALL-WEST JERSEY (2^ND TEAM 1983 & 84, 1^ST TEAM 1985).  STAR LEDGER 1^ST TEAM ALL-STATE GROUP 2 – 3^RD TEAM ALL-STATE ALL-GROUPS – 1985.  STAR LEDGER FINAL POLL – TEAM RANKED #2.  CONTINUED BASKETBALL CAREER AT CATAWBA COLLEGE, NORTH CAROLINA, 1986-89 AND FINISHED 3^RD ALL TIME WITH 929 POINTS AND 2^ND IN REBOUNDS WITH 703.

JEFFREY HULL

 GRADUATED FROM MORRIS HILLS HIGH SCHOOL IN 1964 WHERE HE EARNED VARSITY LETTERS IN FOOTBALL (3 YEARS) AND WRESTLING (4 YEARS).  GRADUATED FROM BLOOMSBURG COLLEGE IN 1968 AFTER RECEIVING VARSITY LETTERS ALSO IN FOOTBALL & WRESTLING.  GAINED GREAT RECOGNITION AND DISTINCTION AS HEAD WRESTLING COACH AT HIGH PINT REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL FROM 1971, 1993 & 1997-1998.  HIS TEAMS PRODUCED THE MOST WRESTLING VICTORIES IN SUSSEX COUNTY HISTORY (285‑108 3)  RECORDS INCLUDE LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP IN 1974 & 1975 (SKYLINE CONFERENCE); 1976, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1990, & 1997 (SCIL).  THERE WERE SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS IN SECTION 1 FOR 1984 (GROUP 2); 1985 THROUGH 1991; 1993; 1996 (GROUP 3).  TEAMS WERE STATE RUNNER-UP IN 1984 (GROUP 2) AND 1988; 1989; 1990 (GROUP 3).  THEY WERE RATED BY N.J. COACHES POLL IN THE TOP 10 TEAMS IN N.J. 5 TIMES.  2^ND IN 1990 & 3^RD IN 1989.  PERSONAL AWARDS INCLUDE:  NJSIAA HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE (1994); MD HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE (1994); ALL AREA WRESTLING COACH (7 YEARS); REGION COACH (3 YEARS); DISTRICT COACH OF YEAR (6 YEARS); ALL AREA CROSS COUNTRY COACH (1 YEAR).  DESIGNED AND ORGANIZED SUSSEX-WANTAGE WRESTLING PROGRAM; COORDINATED USA FEDERATION TOURNAMENTS AND PROPOSED REORGANIZATION OF STATE SECTIONAL WRESTLING PROGRAM THROUGH NJSIAA.

NICHOLAS STEFKOVICH 

A 1976 Graduate of Franklin High School, he participated at the varsity level in Basketball & Golf for 4 years.  In Basketball, was selected 1^st Team All County, All Conference in 1974, 1975 & 1976.  Also, in 1976, was selected All State Group I in Basketball.  In Golf, was selected 1^st Team All County in 1973, 1^st Team All County All Conference in 1974, 1975 & 1976.  Also was selected All State Group I in 1976.  At the University of Connecticut, played Basketball for 4 years, 1977 through 1980.  Team participated in 2 NCAA Tournaments.  While at the University, he was awarded the Outstanding Scholar Athlete Award in 1979, the “James C. Zabell” Award in 1979 and the PRESTIGIOUS “Husky Award” in 1980.

HERBERT WILSON

Began Softball Pitching career with first win in 1944 and continued to compete at high level locally with last win in 2001, a period extending over seven decades.  Usually competed on two or three teams each year without ever experiencing a losing season for any team.  Was awarded MVP in Sussex County Softball League in 1956 & 1957; Athlete of the Month in 1986 plus Outstanding Player of the Year in 1996.  Interest in sports continued with many years of coaching Little League & Babe Ruth League Baseball and Junior Bowling.  Was active in organizing and administering numerous Softball, Baseball & Bowling Teams and Leagues.  Bowling career covered period from 1952 to 1999.  Carried County Wide High Average in the high 180’s to middle 190’s for several years.  During US Army Service (Korea 1951-52) was responsible for organizing various sports competitions with Army units.

LAURA REIGSTAD ZAKRZEWSKI

1988 GRADUATE OF SPARTA HIGH SCHOOL, PARTICIPATED IN BASKETBALL AT THE VARSITY LEVEL FOR 4 YEARS.  DURING HER CAREER, SHE WAS A 4-YEAR STARTER, WON A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP (1985), 2 SECTIONAL TITLES (1985, 1986), 4 LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS (1985, 86, 87 AND 88), AND 4 CONSECUTIVE COUNTY TOURNAMENTS (1985, 86, 87 & 88).  FROM 1985-86, THE LADY SPARTANS WON 57 CONSECUTIVE REGULAR SEASON GAMES IN S.C.I.L. COMPETITION, THE TEAM WAS 78-2.  HER CAREER RECORD WAS 100 WINS 7 LOSSES (93.4%).  SHE WAS THE 4^TH LADY SPARTAN SELECTED TO PLAY IN THE NORTH/SOUTH ALL-STAR GAME.  SHE WAS THE 3^RD LADY SPARTAN TO SCORE 1,000 POINTS (1,303) – TEAM RECORD.  OUTSTANDING FREE THROW SHOOTER DURING HER H.S. CAREER SETTING TEAM RECORDS FOR ALL FOUR SEASONS.  ALL S.C.I.L. 1986, 87 AND 88; ALL AREA N.J. HERALD 1^ST TEAM 1986, 87 AND 88; STAR LEDGER ALL WEST JERSEY 3^RD TEAM 1986, 2^ND TEAM 1987, 1^ST TEAM 1988.  STAR LEDGER 1^ST TEAM ALL STATE GROUP #3 – 2^ND TEAM ALL STATE ALL GROUPS 1988.  IN 1985 STAR LEDGER FINAL POLL TEAM RANKING #2 1985, #3 1986; #6 1987; AND #20 1988.  SELECTED TO ALL STAR AAU TEAM REPRESENTING N.J. AT NATIONAL COMPETITION 1985, 86 AND 87.  CONTINUED BASKETBALL CAREER AT DIV. I LaSALLE UNIVERSITY 1989-1992.  TEAM RECEIVED NATIONAL RANKING IN 1989 AND PLAYED IN NCAA TOURNAMENT.  IN 1992, SHE COMPETED IN THE NATIONAL NIT TOURNAMENT.  ASSISTANT GRADUATE COACH 1993-94 AT LaSALLE UNIVERSITY.