The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (2024)

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (1)

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The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (2)

To visit the Schuyler County Historical Society website, click here.

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For earlier Brian O'Donnell history columns and other historical items, click here.

Talk on Forestry Production
in Schuyler set for May 14
The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (6)

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (7)Special to
The Odessa File

MONTOUR FALLS, May 3, 2019 -- Forestry production in Schuyler County and the region will be explored on Tuesday, May 14, in the fourth session of the Harvesting Schuyler’s Heritage speaker series, Conversations About Agriculture Across Time.

Mike Hanlon of Cotton-Hanlon, Inc. and Charlotte Malmborg of the New York State Hemlock Initiative will be the speakers. The presentations will be at Ray Forker Excavation, 2049 Route 14, Montour Falls, starting at 6 p.m.

Paradiso’s Village Bakery of Montour Falls will offer a chili supper for purchase. Serving will begin at 5:30 p.m.

Hanlon and Malmborg will review the history of forestry production in the region and look at the current industry, as well as what the future holds.

Harvesting Schuyler’s Heritage is a partnership of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schuyler County and the Schuyler County Historical Society. The free monthly talks are about past agricultural endeavors in the county and what’s happening in those areas today.

The eight sessions of Harvesting Schuyler’s Heritage are being hosted across the county. Other subjects will be honey production in June, grapes and wine in July, salt production in September and hops and brewing in October.

Contact Cooperative Extension at (607) 535-7161 or the Historical Society at (607) 535-9741 for more information.

1-room school exhibit opensThe Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (8)

Brick Tavern Museum hosts look at bygone institution; Lee School Open House set

MONTOUR FALLS, May 3, 2019 -- A new exhibit at the Schuyler County Historical Society’s Brick Tavern Museum illustrates with photos and maps the bygone proliferation of rural, one-room schoolhouses across the county.

Today, a few are homes, but most are only memories. One, however, still stands as it would have in the 1800s.

The Historical Society’s own Lee School on Route 14, on the southern edge of Montour Falls, will open as part of the special exhibit. Retired teachers Marty Evans and Judy VanSkiver will play the role of schoolmarms, welcoming visitors of all ages to the Lee School on Saturday, May 18, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Lee School was built in 1828 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The red, barn-style, painted clapboard building was typical to the mid-to-late 19th century farming communities of the area. It contains a large wood-burning stove, school desks, books, blackboards and an antique world globe, exhibited almost exactly as it would have been in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The one-room schoolhouses exhibit is in the Brick Tavern Museum’s Gallery. It will be in place through July.

The Schuyler County Historical Society celebrates and honors the history of the county at the Brick Tavern Museum, Wickham Rural Life Center and Lee School. Hours at the Brick Tavern Museum and Wickham Rural Life Center are Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursday 2-8 p.m. Admission is free. The Historical Society is supported in part by a TAP grant administered by the Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce.

Seneca Shortcuts: A history
of Ferries on Seneca Lake
The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (9)

Local historian Gary Emerson has written a number of articles for the Schuyler County Historical Journal. This is one of them. Second of a series.

By Gary Emerson

In the 19th century days of horses and buggies, area people could utilize lake ferries rather than travel around the lake to get to the other side. One of the earliest ferries on Seneca Lake was the Goodwin Ferry, owned by John Goodwin. It began operation around 1805, pre-dating the arrival of steamboats on the lake. The Goodwin Ferry carried passengers between Starkey Point on the west shore of Seneca Lake and North Hector (Valois) on the east side.

The ferry was 80 feet long, 18 feet wide, and had a 65 foot tall mast. The ferry was used not only to transport people, but also wagons, horses, cattle, and goods such as soap, grain, coal, and fruit. Anywhere from twenty to eighty head of cattle could be carried on the boat. The Goodwin Ferry provided a convenient connection for people traveling between Auburn and Bath. The fare for a person was 25 cents. For a horse and wagon it was 75 cents. A herd of cattle was charged two shillings per head. If someone wanted to cross right away on a special trip, they had to give up a silver dollar. The ferry typically earned between twenty-five and fifty dollars a day.(1)

According to the legislative act on 2 May 1845 that authorized Ira Fowler and Alfred Goodwin to operate Goodwin’s Ferry, if the ferry owners refused to transport someone or their goods, or if they purposely delayed their transport, the owners were liable to each patron for a fine of ten dollars. The legislation also prohibited anyone from operating a competing ferry within three miles.(2)

The ferry took advantage of different sources of power including wind and human power manning the oars. If a passenger complained about being in a hurry, he was handed an oar and encouraged to help out. Eventually the Goodwin Ferry employed a one horse-power motor: a horse on a treadmill that powered a paddle-wheel. The horse was put to work on days when there was little wind. A real engine was added in the 1870s, allowing the ferry to cross the lake in twelve minutes. The ferry ran from sun-up to sun-down.

The Goodwin Ferry operated for five years without a state charter, but in 1810 Goodwin applied for and received a charter. It continued to operate until 1897, when competition with railroads made the ferry obsolete.

Frank Wood served as captain on the Goodwin Ferry for over thirty years, making his first voyage in 1867. On 16 June 1876, Wood had his best day, moving 208 passengers across the lake and collecting $340 in fares.(3)

Captain Wood never had a serious accident during his career, but he did have a close call in 1886. Captain Wood and the Goodwin Ferry left North Hector for Starkey Point that day, even though a strong wind was already keeping most boats off the lake. On board was 18-year-old Fred Look, who managed the engine, and who later described the harrowing journey. Since the engine was used only on windless days, Look was on deck taking a turn at the wheel as the storm worsened. Waves crashed over the bow, making the 18-foot deck awash with water. The sails had been “reefed” (rolled and tied down to reduce surface area) because of the strong wind. The ferry was weathering the storm until a huge wave struck the boat, slapping it sideways as a loud crack signaled the splitting of the boat’s centerboard. Captain Wood took the wheel while Look and the other crew members frantically tried to fire up the steam engine.(4)

Captain Wood decided to beach the ferry boat to save it. Wood shouted to the crew, “Run ‘er up on the side hill--anywhere!” Before they could get up steam, the boat ran aground in gravel between Starkey Point and Big Stream. Stuck on the gravel and being pounded by wind and waves, the boat was in danger of being smashed to pieces. But the storm suddenly freed the boat from the gravel and it was once again afloat in the lake. Captain Wood had the crew anchor the boat until the engine was ready. Using the engine and the sails the men attempted to reach port, but the boat was too damaged. Twelve hours after they began their journey, the crew and boat made it to McKell’s Point where they anchored to sit out the storm. The ferry boat was later towed to Coal Point (now known as Salt Point) to a dry dock for repairs that took nine days.(5)

In 1895, a wealthy Philadelphian, Thomas Richardson, who ran a restaurant in Elmira, bought the Goodwin Ferry and renamed it the Richardson Ferry. Captain Wood continued to operate the ferry for Richardson until it closed in 1897. The last month it ran, the ferry collected only $70 in fares, of which $50 went to Wood. The boat sat along the shore at North Hector Point and apparently served as a playhouse for children -- until it was eventually cut up and used as fuel for a wood stove.(6)

(1)

Arthur Richards, “A Horse Treadmill Propel Passengers from Starkey to North Hector,” Elmira Sunday Telegram, undated, in Schuyler County Historical Society, folder on Ferries.
(2) An Act Authorizing Ira Fowler and Alfred Goodwin to continue a ferry Across the Seneca Lake, May 2, 1845. Laws of the State of New York Passed at the Sixty-Eighty Session of the Legislature.
(3) “Old-Time Ferry Captain Dies in Valois,” undated newspaper article, Schuyler County Historical Society, folder on Ferries.
(4) “Campbell Man Old Seneca Sailor: Fred Look Likes to Tell About Big Storm of 1886,” Elmira Sunday Telegram, undated, Schuyler County Historical Society, folder on Ferries.
(5) Ibid.
(6) “Old-Time Ferry Captain Dies in Valois;” Notes on Ferries, Schuyler County Historical Society, folder on Ferries.
(7) Ibid.

The Schuyler life and political times of David Bennett HillThe Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (10)

Local historian Gary Emerson has written a number of articles for the Schuyler County Historical Journal. This is one of them. First of a series.

By Gary Emerson

A cold rain fell on the morning of October 25, 1910, as the crowd waited at the railroad station clutching their umbrellas. It was nearly 11 a.m. as they watched and listened for the train due to arrive with the remains of one of the most famous former residents of Montour Falls. He grew up in a modest house on Genesee Street near the falls, and went on to become the mayor of Elmira, Governor of New York State, a U.S. Senator, and even ran for President of the United States. Now David Bennett Hill was to be buried in his hometown.

David Hill was born on August 29, 1843, the sixth child of Caleb and Eunice Hill. Caleb was a carpenter who built canal boats and constructed buildings in the village, while Eunice kept their home, raised the children, and grew flowers that were the envy of many.

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (11)As a boy, David was often seen running about the village barefooted. He was bright and did well in school. As a teenager, he and a friend, Joseph Dolph, tended a lock on the Chemung Canal during the summer. Havana, the early name of Montour Falls, was a growing town, and benefactor Charles Cook was politically well connected in state politics. Young David had the chance to meet and see many important political figures when they visited the town, such as Governor Washington Hunt, President Millard Fillmore, Secretary of State Daniel Webster, and U.S. Senators William Seward and Stephen A. Douglas. Little did anyone know that David Hill’s future would rival the accomplishments of these famous visitors that he so admired.

David graduated from the Havana Academy in 1860. Both he and Joe Dolph shared an interest in the law, and the two young men pursued law studies. David studied in the office of a lawyer in Havana, but in 1863 Elmira lawyer Erastus Hart, who had taken an interest in David, invited him to move to Elmira to complete his studies. He passed the bar exam in 1864, and opened a law office in Elmira with an older partner, Gabriel Lewis Smith. But even as he practiced law, David indulged in another burning interest: politics. He quickly became involved with local politics in Elmira, often staying late in his office talking politics with many visitors.

In 1870, the 27-year-old Hill was elected to the New York State Assembly, where he served two one-year terms. In the Assembly he worked with the infamous Boss Tweed, and together the two men bought the Elmira Gazette to use the newspaper as a Democratic Party forum. When Tweed’s corrupt practices were exposed, Hill quickly sought a new mentor, Samuel J. Tilden. Tilden and Hill worked together on the Judiciary Committee in the Assembly, and Tilden admired the young Hill. When Tilden ran for Governor, Hill worked diligently in Elmira to promote the Tilden campaign.

After serving in the Assembly, Hill returned to his law practice in Elmira. His yearning for the political arena soon led him to a successful run for mayor of Elmira in 1882. That same year, New York Democrats were looking for candidates for governor, and Hill’s name was one on the minds on many, along with Grover Cleveland. Hill settled for the Lieutenant Governor slot on the ticket, and in November, Cleveland and Hill won their elections easily. Neither man was to languish in their office for long, as other political laurels beckoned.

Cleveland’s three-year term as governor was cut short when he resigned in January, 1885 to assume the office of President of the United States. Hill became the Governor of New York, finishing out Cleveland’s last year as governor and then won election to two terms of his own. As governor, Hill enacted several important pieces of legislation. Hill signed legislation to create the Adirondack Park, which preserved vast acres of land as a forest preserve. He ended executions by hanging and replaced them with the electric chair, which Hill considered more humane. Hill also sought to curb child labor, signing legislation prohibiting the use of children under the age of 13 in industry, as well as placing limits on the hours of employment for minors and women under age 21.

While he did accomplish some good, the shadier side of his past and present continued to haunt him. Hill continued to support Tammany Hall, which left him open to criticism of being a “machine” politician. Many recalled Hill’s venture with Boss Tweed in buying the Elmira Gazette, and suggested that Hill had been under the control of Tammany Hall. A Thomas Nast cartoon depicted Hill trying to close the door of a closet with the skeleton Boss Tweed inside. Hill staunchly opposed proposals for secret ballots, preferring the continued use of party printed ballots, which encouraged straight party ticket voting. It also allowed employers and political machine leaders to see how constituents were voting, thus enabling influence over their choices. Hill also used patronage to keep loyal Democrats appointed to state offices.

Although Hill abstained from alcohol, he strongly supported the liquor interests in the state. Hill opposed raising excise taxes on alcohol and licensing fees on establishments to the frustration of prohibition forces. Hill realized that there were a lot of men who did drink, and they were voters.

A scandal that seemed to reveal how Hill used his influence was the “Steal of the Senate” in 1891. During his terms as governor, Hill had to deal with a legislature controlled by Republicans. As his last term as governor was ending, the New York Assembly finally had a Democratic majority, but the Senate did not. A change of only three seats in the Senate could give the Democrats a majority, and Hill devised a way to make that happen. As governor, Hill controlled the patronage allowing him to choose the county canvassers who certified the election results. In the Senate election, the Republican victors of the 15th, 25th, and 27th Senate districts suddenly found themselves disqualified due to improper ballots or ineligibility. The Democrats took control of the Senate, as Hill pulled off one last party coup before leaving the governor’s chair. With Democrats in control of the legislature, Hill was named a U.S. Senator (at that time, state legislators chose U.S. Senators), but his sights were set on a higher office.

The year 1892 was a presidential election year, and many Democrats thought David Hill would be the logical nominee, and so did David Hill. Yet, there were some in the party who preferred Grover Cleveland. Although Hill had served as Lieutenant Governor under Cleveland, the two men had experienced a falling out. Cleveland had not supported Hill’s elections as governor, and Hill had only reluctantly campaigned for Cleveland in his presidential campaign. Cleveland had distanced himself from Hill, fearing Hill’s reputation would tarnish his presidential campaign.

To solidify his hold on getting Democrats in New York to nominate him and to build momentum, Hill called for an early meeting of the Democratic convention in his state in February, 1892. Hill got the New York nomination, but it was costly. Many Democrats across the nation resented this “snap convention,” and they disliked how Hill “stole” the Senate in New York. Both tactics smacked of Tammany politics. When the party gathered in Chicago for the national convention, Hill saw his dream of national glory evaporate in disappointment as the delegates once again turned to Grover Cleveland. Cleveland went on to win the election, leaving Hill to imagine that if not for a few mistakes, he could have been President. It was a bitter pill to swallow.

Hill now turned his attention to a term in the U.S. Senate, where he found a familiar face that reminded him of good times from the past. Joe Dolph had earned his law degree and moved to Binghamton, New York to open a practice. There he joined the Oregon Guard in 1862 that protected a wagon train headed to Oregon. Dolph settled in Oregon, where he was elected to the state legislature, and in 1882 was chosen to represent Oregon in the U.S. Senate. Now, the two old friends who once tended a canal lock, now tended to the laws of the nation in the upper house of Congress.

After serving one term, Hill left the Senate in 1897 and returned to practicing law in Albany. He still kept his hand in politics, giving counsel to fellow Democrats, and even managed the presidential campaign of Alton Parker against Teddy Roosevelt in 1904. After losing that campaign, Hill decided to retire from politics for good. He sold the Elmira Gazette to Frank Gannett, and spent his remaining days at his magnificent estate he purchased in 1892 known as Wolfert’s Roost. The home, located near Albany, included a swimming pool, a small lake, and an impressive library.

In 1906, Hill, complaining of impaired vision, was diagnosed with Bright’s disease, a kidney ailment. He periodically suffered from bouts of debilitating symptoms that sometimes lasted for weeks. By 1910, his condition worsened, and his older brother, Alonzo, a Missouri physician, was summoned to come to his aid, but he was unable to arrive in time. The Sage of Wolfert’s Roost died on October 20, 1910.

Alonzo escorted his brother’s body back to Montour Falls for burial. The village closed schools and businesses, and flags were flown at half-mast. The casket was escorted from the train station to the cemetery, passing his childhood home along the way. The man, who once ran as a bare-footed boy through the streets and had risen to national prominence, had come home.

For 30 years, David Hill was a force in New York State and national politics. Today, a small park in Montour Falls honors his memory, and his boyhood home still rests under the shade of the trees lining Genesee Street.

Image in text: David Bennett Hill

Through the ancient hallways...The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (12)

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (13)Former Watkins Glen High School Principal and former Watkins Glen School Board President Brian J. O'Donnell has delved into the past to provide us with some historical WGHS facts. After a series of 60 monthly entries, he is now presenting articles on an irregular basis. This is the second of those.

By Brian J. O'Donnell

As the District creates "new" history with the consolidation to one campus, I thought it appropriate to go back and look at some "old" history (courtesy of the 1941 "ORACLE" which took great pride in updating District history from the beginning up to and including the Class of 1941).

* in 1900 the 1st ORACLE was published by the Senior Class and until 1914 it continued to be the official annual of the Watkins High School;

* from 1914-1924 there was no Senior publication. The Class of 1924 began the publication of a quarterly, known as the PEPPER POT which for several years served both as a school paper and yearbook;

* in 1933 the ORACLE was revived, replacing the PEPPER POT and served as the School's yearbook through 1954, when the name was changed to the SENECAN; (The 1st SENECAN was dedicated to MR. JOHN ELLIOTT);

* special mention was made in the 1941 ORACLE of MR. LAYTON OWEN, school janitor/custodian from 1905-1935. "Layt was always interested in the school affairs and in the students themselves.There are none but remember him with kindly thoughts."

* a wonderful tribute to the District's longest serving faculty member:
"MISS ELIZABETH MALONEY was hired to teach in the Glen Avenue School on July 21, 1890 at a salary of $250. In September 1892 she was transferred to the Academy building and taught there until 1930. When the Annex was built in 1923 she was made part-time Librarian along with her 1st Grade teaching. In 1931 she was made full-time Librarian, the position that she held until her resignation in 1940, thus completing fifty years in the school system. In all these years she was faithful to her often heavily loaded task and highly loyal to the school."

* Watkins' 1st graduate was MARY FREER in June of 1883 (her middle name was MINNIE); she married CHARLES SEARLES and became a contributing citizen of Cripple Creek, Colorado; the commencement ceremony was held on Wednesday, June 13th at 2:00 p.m. in the old Academy building. The Program began with a prayer by Rev. William Sharp, followed by a vocal solo ("Drift of the Tide") sung by Julia Roe, a recitation ("Mark Anthony's oration over the dead body of Caesar) by Harry Bennett, another ("A Tribute to Washington") by W.F. White, an original poem by Maude Coats, and an essay by the sole graduate, MARY FREER.

Watch here for future presentations of "old" news and the people and events that contributed so much to the history and tradition that today is the Watkins Glen Central School District.

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (14)

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (15)

The Watkins Glen Grade 3 class of 1951-52.

Some memories ...The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (16)

By Brian J. O'Donnell

One of the final steps in the full District consolidation was the ceremony this past June at the Middle School to speak to the history and heritage of a District building that served the Watkins Glen District for some 85 years.

At that presentation were four former Middle School Principals (CHARLENA CURRY BROWN, BRIAN J. O'DONNELL, DAVID WARREN & KRISTINE SOMERVILLE) plus the current and final Middle School Principal (a Gr. 7/8 facility), KAI D'ALLEVA.

The final step in the full District consolidation will be the "RIBBON CUTTING" (for the recently completed new construction and renovation) scheduled for Thursday, August 28th at 11:00 a.m. (ALL are invited to attend!).

I thought it appropriate here to display two pictures, given to me by the "Irish" girls from the estate of recently deceased CHARLENA CURRY BROWN.

The picture above is of her Gr. 3 class for the 1951-1952 school year --- in the "old" building (current Middle School as we know it today).

The picture below is of her Gr. 3 class in the 1953-1954 school year, first year in the "new" Elementary School. (Look at those class sizes!!!)

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (17)

The Watkins Glen Grade 3 class of 1953-54.

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (18)

Through the ancient hallways...The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (19)

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (20)Former Watkins Glen High School Principal Brian J. O'Donnell, now president of the Watkins Glen School Board, has delved into the past to provide us with some historical WGHS facts. After a series of 60 monthly entries, he is now presenting articles on an irregular basis. This is the first of those.

By Brian J. O'Donnell

The following information was sent to me by Charlie Cole, former School Board Member and President.

Charlie's grandmother - FANNIE BUDD - later married to IRA COLE - was a member of the Watkins Academy's 12th graduation class, the Class of 1894.

Fannie was one of just six graduates that year (others being HELENA BALDWIN, GEORGE BUCK, ANNA ELY, ELIZABETH RUSSELL and ALLIE SHERMAN). On June 22, 1894 (a Wednesday evening) these students graduated at the M.E. Church. Musical selections were provided by MISS NETTIE ELLSWORTH and MRS. LANNING, with the Mandolin Club also performing.

MRS. LANNING, then recently returned from studying in France, was accompanied by MISS FREDA KEELER, daughter of Judge Keeler. A "Mr. Parks also sang creditably and maintained his reputation as a tenor" as reported in the newspaper. MISS KING, MISS BUDD and MISS JENNIE HURD played piano selections as well. GEORGE L. BUCK, son of Commissioner Buck, gave an oration titled "OUR ENVIRONMENT." MISS FANNIE BUDD'S essay was "Early Rising" - one "of original turn and happy in expression" as cited by the reporter. MISS HELENA BALDWIN spoke of "The Triumph of Times," a presentation described as "the rare gift of ease and forceful elocution," while ALLIE MAY SHERMAN spoke on "Heroic Women of the Past." MISS ELIZABETH L. RUSSELL spoke on "Baron Steuben" and MISS ANNA A. ELY spoke on "Education - its effects on the individual." MISS SHERMAN gave the Class History and MISS BALDWIN gave the Class Prophesy.

The Rev. J.R. Drake gave the invocation and Rev. Louis F. Ruf gave the benediction. Diplomas were awarded by President of the Board of Education E.B. RUSSELL. The motto for this Class of 1894 was - "HONORES NON SINE LABORE."

MISS FANNIE BELLE BUDD'S essay on "Early Rising" dispelled many of the time-honored arguments in favor of rising early - especially the one about "the early bird gets the worm." Her retort was simply put, "Served the worm right. It had no business being up that early."

Following graduation the Class went to the Alumni Banquet at the Glen City Hotel. Daniel S. Tuttle was Toastmaster.

Through the hallways ...The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (21)

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (22)Former Watkins Glen High School Principal Brian J. O'Donnell, now a member of the Watkins Glen School Board, has delved into the past to provide us with some historical WGHS facts. This is the 60th and final entry in a monthly series. There will, however, be future irregular entries.

By Brian J. O'Donnell

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES --- and the unselfish service. Very best wishes to all of our retirees: June of 2012...
* KATHY GILLETTE: Elementary School Librarian; 30 years service in Watkins Glen (35 total years service in public education)
* SUE KIRTON: Middle School teacher; 13 years service in Watkins Glen; 21 total years service in public education
* LUCY LUCKEY: Special Education teacher; 13 years service in Watkins Glen; 32 total years in public education
* MARCI ERGOTT: Teaching Assistant; 32 years of service in Watkins Glen
* SHARON CLARK: Administrative Secretary; 30 years of service in Watkins Glen
* KAY GOOSEN: Cleaner; 42 years of service in Watkins Glen (several of which were in the Burdett School)
* MARIAN BOYCE: 6 years as District Clerk preceeded by 16 years on the Board of Education
* BOB DILL: 11 year veteran of the Board of Education (1992-93 --- 1997-98 and 2007-08 -- 2011-12)

Athletic Accomplishments continued..... from previous months...

* 1999 - 2000:

- ERIN SPENCER & KELLY SAVARD become very 1st WG Cross Country athletes to qualify for the NYS Championships; ERIN finished in 82nd place and KELLY finished 88th;

- MARK MATTHEWS: Team Captain for the Boys' Soccer Team and IAC Defensive Player of the Year!
- SHELLY CONTI: signed letter of intent to play for Division I TOWSON UNIVERSITY;
- MARYANN REISS: named Wegman's "Athlete of the Month" for December 1999

- Swimmin Women qualified for NYS Championships:
ASHLEY FAZZARY, CATHY BROWN, KIM WARREN, TRACEY FAUSEL, MAURA WILLOCK, ALLISON HANLEY, MARYANN REISS, MARIAN SCHAMEL, JENN BILLS, NICHOLE CHAFFEE, & CASSANDRA KEEFER;
* ASHLEY: finished 17th in Diving
* MARYANN: fnished 2nd in 200 IM
* CATHY: finished 7th in the 50 Free and 8th in the 100 Free
* CATHY/KIM/ALLISON/MARIAN: finished 4th in the 200 Freestyle
* KIM/MARYANN/ALLISON/CATHY: finished 9th in the Medley Relay

- COACH RAY KASCHALK & Boys' Soccer Team became the very 1st male WG Team to achieve the honor of being named a "Scholar-Athlete Team." The Girls' Soccer and Cross Country Teams also qualified as Scholar-Athlete Teams

- SASHA KUZNEZOV: Swim Team Co-Captain, set Dryden HS Pool Record in both the 100 and 200 Free and set the Odessa-Montour HS pool record in the 200 Free; SASHA held a number of WG HS pool records;

- BRANDON MARGRENO: #1 player on the Bowling Team with an average of 193+ finished 7th overall in the IAC Championship Tournament

- ALEX KELLY: wrestled to a 35-7 season and 5th place in the Sectionals; KELVIN SCHOONMAKER had a 24-victory season and JOSH PERSONIUS
defeated 23 opponents;

- Watkins Glen's 1st-ever SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM TROPHY as Girls' Basketball team defeated Lansing; in the semi-finals prior to that game held at the Horseheads Middle School (neutral court) WG defeated Odessa-Montour 61-56 as SHELLY CONTI had 29 points, CASSIE KEEFER had 12, JILL PEVO had 8 and AMY CHAFFEE & ALICIA LEARN each chipped in with 6.

- Cheerleaders & Cicero Competition: 1st place for Duet-Trio performance; 2nd place for Solo and Cheer/Dance AND named "Outstanding Team Performance Dance/Drill/Cheer: ASHLEY BAUMAN, TRENT BOND, ADAM HAYES, DENISE HOREIN, KRISTEN KRIEL, ALYSSA MARCH, ALICIA MOORE, JACKIE ORR, KARLA SMITH & BETH VICKIO.

- Girls' Varsity Basketball honors: SHELLY CONTI (1st Team ALL TWIN TIERS 14.7 point average with 9+ rebounds per game), MOLLY SCHAMEL (Honorable Mention ALL TWIN TIERS); and COACH MICHELLE VENDITTO - Female "Coach of the Year" -- Team finished a 19-4 season as Sec. IV Class C Champion.

- ERIK DALECKI: finished 5th at NYS Track & Field Championships with a discus throw of 133 feet 3 inches (school record for the discus is 142 feet 6 inches set by BUD NEMETH back in 1986)

- Girls' Varsity Swimming Team completed their 5th consecutive undefeated season at 14-0 (12-0 in the IAC) and the Girls' Bowling Team repeated as League Champion in the IAC;

- 1999/2000 was final year of coaching for MIKE WATSON and final year as Athletic Director for DON DRYDEN...

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2000 - 2001:

* 6th consecutive undefeated season for COACH KATE LA MOREAUX and the "Swimmin Women"
* Boys' Soccer Team completed 13-6 season (12-4 in the IAC)
* Varsity Girls' Volleyball Team under COACH KELLY SORENSEN had 1st winning season in years at 10-7 (10-6) in the IAC
* Varsity Boys' Basketball Team & Varsity Girls' Basketball Team both turned in 10-6 seasons
* Boys' Swim Team was 7-3
* Varsity Baseball Team was 16-7 (16-6 in the IAC)
* Golf Team completed season at 9-5-1
* Coach of the Year: JOE REYNOLDS
* Fan(s) of the Year: DOUG & GAYLE GARDNER

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COACH MIKE WATSON: AS WRESTLING COACH: HIS CLUBS COMPLETED A 15-Year RECORD OF 145-45-2 WITH UNDEFEATED SEASONS IN 1990/91 AT 12-0-2 AND 1991/92 AT 14-0-0 COMPLETELY TURNING AROUND A PROGRAM THAT ONLY HAD SEEN 3 WINNING SEASONS SINCE 1954. COACH WATSON coached seven (7) members of the Century Club (wrestlers with a minimum of 100 career wins!) --- which included two of his own sons! He coached NYS Champion (155 lbs.) MATT MARCINIAK and was instrumental in MATT's 189 career wins (most by any NYS wrestler ever at the time of his graduation). He was a member of the Corning-Painted Post Athletic Hall of Fame, Elmira-Kiwanis Club "Coach of the Year" in 1985, Class C/D "Coach of the Year" in 1991 and he was inducted into the Watkins Glen Athletic "Hall of Fame" in 1993.

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* annual Football "BUCKET GAME" was a double overtime 25-24 victory by Odessa-Montour - a GREAT game for both teams!

* Some of the Boosters' Club Athletes of the Month were: JULIE MILLER, ERIN SPENCER and MOLLY SCHAMEL

* Girls' Varsity Swim Team was recognized as a "Scholar/Athlete" Team...

* IAC Volleyball All Stars were: KELLY FIELD & ASHLEY WOOD, Division 1 2nd team;
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On January 16, 2001 MOLLY SCHAMEL scored her 1,000 point for the Girls' Varsity Basketball Team (just the 2nd WG girl to do so - following JESSICA CRAVER IN 1996-97); JESSICA graduated as WG's career scoring leader; MARY MARTHA BRUBAKER, Class of 1995 had preceeded JESSICA, scoring 971 points in her career; MOLLY graduated with 1,164 total points and the record as WG's all-time scoring leader - a record she held for 11 years until TAYLOR CHAFFEE came along and scored 1,748 career points.

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2001-2002: COACH JOE LEMAK passed away on October 18, 2001 and Alumni Field was 'temporarily' re-named as "JOE LEMAK FIELD" for the annual "Bucket Game" against Odessa-Montour; GLENN RAPALEE, Class of 1929 and Member, Athletic "Hall of Fame" died
on 11/22/01; PETER GALATIS, former Teacher & Coach 1955-1987 and Member, Athletic "Hall of Fame," died on June 23, 2002.

JAMIE HARTER, KATE LA MOREAUX, TRACIE MC ILROY, and LYNN NORMAN served on the Athletic Council;

2002-2003:

TRACIE MC ILROY& MARIE KEEFER (among others) kept the BOOSTERS CLUB up and running;
TRACIE MC ILROY, KATE LA MOREAUX, KAZ ESTELOW & LYNN NORMAN served on the Athletic Council;
COACH KATE LA MOREAUX: honored by Sports Illustrated, "Faces in the Crowd" for unbeaten dual-meet record of 109-0

* Booster Club "Athletes of the Month:
September: KRISTIN VAN HORN
October: EMILY MAC WILLIAMS
November: MICHELLE WARREN & COURTNEY WARREN
December: TODD LINCOLN
January: KEVIN MURPHY
February: KRYSTAL LEWIS
April: MARKUS BUELOW
May: JANELLE SEDLACK

* Varsity Football Team defeated Odessa-Montour in annual "Bucket Game"
* Varsity Boys' Soccer completed a 15-3-1 season;
* Varsity Girls' Swim Team completed 8th consecutive and final undefeated dual-meet season at 12-0
* Cross Country Team was 4-1
* Varsity Boys' Basketball Team was 14-7
* JV Girls' Basketball Team was 19-1
* Boys' Track Team was 5-3; Girls' Track Team was 6-2
* Girls' Bowling Team finished 2nd in the IAC

* COACH DANIELLE MAZZOLA and Girls' Varsity Volleyball Team won their 1st-ever game in the new Field House, defeating Hammondsport on 10/03/02 by a score of 25-16, 25-22, 24-26, 25-16

* Both Boys' Varsity and JV Basketball Teams defeated Odessa-Montour in the new Field House: Varsity beat OM 70-32 while JV's won 28-27;

* COURTNEY WARREN & MICHELLE WARREN qualified to swim at the NYS Swimming Championships (a family tradition dating back to their sister KIM WARREN;

* BOOSTERS' CLUB recognition: Fan of the Year: MARIE KEEFER; Coaches of he Year: ZACH BROWN & JIM SCOTT

* In memory of SETH MARCELLUS (JV Soccer) and KYLE GREGORY & BRENNAN LOVE (Varsity Soccer), permanent plaques were placed on display in the Field House.

* Varsity Tennis Team was led by KEVIN MURPHY, who won most matches of anyone on the team;
* Boys' Track: MARKUS BUELOW scored 2,968 points in the Pentathlon for 1st place in Section IV;
* Boys' Golf Team: ERIC HANSEN qualified for IAC-All Senior Academic Team with a 90+ average for all 5 years of competition;
* Boys' Swimming: KEVIN MURPHY selected as MVP at IAC Championships (2nd year in a row!!!);

* Girls' Bowling: SYLVIA BROWN: high game for the year at 224 (in a 554 series);
KRYSTAL LEWIS: highest average for season at 165.3

Boys' Bowling: TREVOR YAW: team's highest game at 256 ( in a 622 series);
ADAM SCHAFFER: best boys' average at 183.0

* JV Boys' Basketball Team: Most Valuable Player Co-Winners: KYLE GREGORY & CONOR FLAHIVE

* Boys' Varsity Basketball: TODD LINCOLN - 30-point performance against Dryden;
BRAD HRYNKO - last-second shot to beat Groton in Sec. IV Class C quarter-finals

* Girls' Varsity Swim Team IAC All Stars: MICHELLE WARREN, LANE VAN EMRIK, KELSEY WOOD, KRISTIN VAN HORN, SARAH MURPHY, TERESA LA FACE, EMILY MAC WILLIAMS, COURTNEY WARREN, and LAUREN WOOD.
Hardest Working: MICHELLE & COURTNEY WARREN
Sportsmanship: KELSEY WOOD
Most Improved: SARA MORTON

Note: 2002-2003 concluded my tenure as High School Principal and, as such, -- after 60 monthly columns now --- I will be contributing articles on a somewhat less regular basis. Future articles will be a mixture of past and current history and -- as always -- will highlight both student and adult achievements.

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (23)

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (24)

As the Banquet approaches, here's look at the Class of '87The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (25)

By Brian J. O'Donnell

WATKINS GLEN, June 18 -- In 1983 the Class of 1987 was in 8th Grade at our Middle School (see pictures above and below for this honored Class). In 1987 when they graduated from High School, many of these students held leadership positions and/or achieved academic and athletic honors.

This coming Saturday, June 23, it will be the sponsoring class for the annual Alumni Banquet at the Watkins Glen Community Center.

Some highlights of the class:

Class Officers:
President: STEVE BEAVER; Vice Pres.: BRETT CHEDZOY; Secretary: MISSY ARNOLD; Treasurer: LISA BARTONE

Student Council President: STEVE BEAVER;
Student Council Exec. Committee: EMILY KRAMER

Valedictorian: EMILY A. KRAMER
Salutatorian: JOHN R. DILTS
Senior Oration: ERIC W. KITTELL

Superintendent of Schools (Interim): KENNETH F. HARRIS
High School Principal: FREDERIC E. LORENZ
President - Board of Education: GERALDINE RICHTMYER
Class Advisor: NICHOLAS J. DUGO
Top 10 Students: EMILY KRAMER, JOHN DILTS, ERIC KITTELL, FAITH ANN MUIRHEAD, LISA BARTONE, BEN PULLY, MELINDA FRANZESE, JOHN UPDYKE,
APRIL PETERSON & TIFFANY JAYNES

Various Award Winners:
"Francis W. Blake" Sportsmanship Award: KELLY BONZO and STEVE BEAVER
National Scholar/Athlete Awards: EMILY KRAMER and JOHN UPDYKE
Edward Homan Physical Fitness Awards: STEVE BEAVER and SUSAN BALL
Cinderella Softball Award: KELLY BONZO
Physical Education Oscars: MIKE SCHAFFNER and EMILY KRAMER
"Dr. Arthur H. Jackson" Award: BLAINE MOREHOUSE
"Joseph J. Lemak" Outstanding Athletes: MIKE MINICHIELLO, BLAINE MOREHOUSE and MICHELLE HUBBARD
"James Angelo" Basketball Award: MIKE MINICHIELLO
Northrup Foundation Award: ERIC KITTELL
Lucy Viglione French Award: LISA BARTONE
Winifred Chase Love Music Award: DENISE RANDOLPH
PTA Scholarship Award: KIRSTEN TEETER
PTA Art Award: AMY WASHBURN
Women of the Moose Nursing Award: DARLENE PRATT
Performing Arts Award: MIA FILIPPETTI
Larry Morris Memorial Award: BRETT CHEDZOY
Industrial Arts Award: KEN LANDRY
Cook-Warner Most Improved Student: BRIAN DEAN
American Legion Auxiliary Homemaker: REBECCA RYAN
Ronald Ward Scholarship Award: KRISTINE ALLEN and JAMES MASON

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (26)

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (27)

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (28)

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (29)

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (30)

Class of 1952 in the 1st Grade, with Miss Mary Catherine Rooney as the teacher.

Thanks for the memories ...The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (31)

Class of 1952 is among Banquet's honorees

By Brian J. O’Donnell

As we gear up for the annual Alumni Banquet, let’s look back at another of the honored classes for this year:

60th Year Class -- The Class of 1952:

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (32)Yearbook: ORACLE – dedicated to MR. RONALD M. WARD, Class Advisor;
ORACLE Editor-in-Chief: NANCY MILLER,
Associate Editors: MARY JANE WICKHAM, MARJORY PIKE, LARRY FIELD, DELIVAN GATES, RICHARD CLARK, & PEGGY HAWES;
Business Manager: JOHN HOARE;
Circulation Manager: FRANK BASSETT;
Music Editors: NANCY LOVE & ANN ADAMS
Art Editors: SANDRA RICHARDS & BILL RYAN
Sports Editors: ANN SPECCHIO & CHARLES ROBERTS
Assistant Circulation: ROSELEAH KENDALL
Photography Editors: RAYMOND BERRY & DELBERT EDKIN
Typists: TERESA FILIPPETTI, VINCY MONDALTO, FRANCES WOODWARD

Board of Education: Don Wickham, Frank Cole, Ruth Woodward, Russell Jones, Wood Howell, Bertha Ganung, John Hoare; Clerk – Vera Ely
Principal: WARREN E. HERTENSTEIN
Vice Principal: FRANCIS W. BLAKE

Class Officers:
President: JOHN HOARE
Vice Pres.: FRANK BASSETT
Secretary: ANN SPECCHIO
Treasurer: NANCY LOVE

This Class of 1952 began in the High School with LARRY FIELD as Class President and Miss Ledoux as Class Advisor; for Sophomore Year Larry Field was elected President again and MR. WARD was Class Advisor; JOHN HOARE was Class President for both Junior & Senior Year with Mr. Ward as Advisor once again; Junior Prom King and Queen were: LAUREN LODGE & NANCY LOVE; Girls State representatives were: Nancy Love & HOPE MERRICK.

Senior Ball – “Silver Bells” – King & Queen: LARRY FIELD & DONNA ELY
Senior Play – “Willie’s Week-end” directed by BILL KELLY
Senior Trip – Gettysburg, Baltimore, Norfolk, Richmond and Washington, D.C.

“Willie’s Week End” main characters: Mary Jane Wickham, Sandra Richards, Rosaleah Kendall, Delivan Gates, Jr., Ann Specchio, Nancy Love, Frances Woodward, William Ryan, John Hoare, Jr., Nancy Miller, Francis DeSarno, Peggy Hawes, Richard Clark, Richard Adams & John Viglione.

Class Valedictorian: ROBERT FENTON 94.2%
Class Salutatorian: JOHN HOARE, JR. 93.3%
Plus: FRANK BASSETT 92.3%, MARJORY PIKE 91.4%, WILLIAM BOND 90.5%, NANCY MILLER 89.8%, MARY JANE WICKHAM 88.9% and SANDRA RICHARDS 88%.

Photo in text: Class of 1952 in 6th Grade with Miss Kuhn as the teacher.

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (33)

Class of 1952 in 2nd Grade with Mrs. Wen as the teacher.

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (34)

Miss Brezina's 3rd Grade class.

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (35)

Miss Iva Wetmore's 4th Grade class.

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (36)

Miss Curry's 5th Grade class.

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (37)The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (38)

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (39)

Class of 1962 in kindergarten, with Grace Abbott as the teacher.

A look back in time ...The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (40)

A Look Back in Time: the Class of 1962
50th Anniversary Class from Watkins Glen

By Brian J. O'Donnell

As the Watkins Glen High School Class of 1962 --- the 50-Year Class to be honored at the Alumni Banquet on Saturday, June 23 at the Clute Park Community Center -- gets ready to celebrate and get together to meet old friends, it seems only appropriate to go back a few years to more innocent and simpler times. Here are seven class pictures:

* GRACE ABBOTT's Kindergarten; she taught from 1929-1962
* DORIS OWEN's Grade 1 Class; she taught from 1938-1962
* EMILY MORGAN's Grade 2 Class; she taught from 1942-1960

* Grade 3: CHARLENA CURRY's Class: she was Teacher then Principal from 1951-1977
* Grade 4: IVA WETMORE's Class: she taught from 1936-1968
* Grade 5: BEATRICE FIELD's Class: she taught from 1949-1969
* Grade 6: MISS DANN's Class: (unsure of actual years!)

Watch for information pertaining to the 60th Anniversary Class AND the 25th Anniversary Class as we build up to the anual Alumni Banquet.

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (41)

Class of 1962 in 1st Grade, with Doris Owen as the teacher.

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (42)

Emily Morgan's Grade 2 class.

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (43)

Charlena Curry's Grade 3 class.

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (44)

Iva Wetmore's Grade 4 class.

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (45)

Beatrice Field's Grade 5 class.

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (46)

Miss Dann's Grade 6 class.

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (47)

Through the hallways ...The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (48)

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (49)Former Watkins Glen High School Principal Brian J. O'Donnell, now a member of the Watkins Glen School Board, has delved into the past to provide us with some historical WGHS facts. The 59th in a continuing monthly series.

By Brian J. O'Donnell

Continuing athletic achievements:

* 1991-1992:
- SANDERS WATSON was named 1st Team IAC All Star in Soccer while STEVE DECKER and CHAD HETHERINGTON were named "2nd Team" and MIKE GILL, TEX HANNAN, BEN BRANDT & CHRIS KING garner "Honorable Mention" status;
- NATE VAN OSTRAND rushed for 108 yards on just 9 carries and scored 3 touchdowns in WG's 30-22 football victory over Spencer Van-Etten;
- KRISTEN BROWN swims to Section IV Class C CHAMPIONSHIP in both 100 Backstroke and 100 Freestyle;
- MICHELLE COMPTON, TEX HANNAN & SYD SMITH placed well at Corning Community College's 1/2 MARATHON; MICHELLE won in her age group;
- NATE VAN OSTRAND was named 1st Team ALL TWIN TIERS in Football - he rushed for 1,081 yards on 191 carries;
- ERIC SCHOLTISEK & STEVE JAYNES earn "Honorable Mention" for ALL TWIN TIERS football team;
- LAUREN RICHTMYER named "OUTSTANDING" by Seneca Weightlifting Club
- MIKE ELLIOTT achieved his 100th career win in Wrestling

- Kiwanis Club "Athletes of the Month"were:
September: KRISTEN BROWN
October: LEAH EVERTTS
November: SANDERS WATSON
December: MIKE ELLIOTT
January: CALEB WRIGHT & CHAD HETHERINGTON
February: MIKE GILL
March: MIKE ELLIOTT
April: RONI PIERCE & STAN CROUT
May: STEVE DECKER & NATE VAN OSTRAND & HOLLY MOSHER
June: SHELLI THOMPSON, JENNIFER YUHASZ & TRACY WILLIAMS

- COACH ROB MICHEL's Boys' Swim Team won the CHAMPIONSHIP at 13th annual "John Beecher Competition at EFA"
- JAIME BELIGOTTI (JV Cheerleader) sang National Anthem at 1/15/92 Varsity Basketball Game
- CHRIS GLICK, TEX HANNAN & MIKE ELLIOTT won their weight CHAMPIONSHIPS at the annual Watkins Glen Invitational Wrestling Tournament; SANDERS WATSON finished 2nd
- Varsity Cheerleaders won Greater Rochester Invitational; CAPTAIN RONI PIERCE & ANDREA WHITTAKER finished in the Top 10 Individually
- AMY HOAGLAND & MARNIE DAVIS competed in the New York City "DANCE CARAVAN" and advanced to National competition in July
- SAM DORDONI, SANDERS WATSON, CHRIS GLICK, TEX HANNAN, MIKE ELLIOTT & JEREMY BEBER won IAC Wrestling CHAMPIONSHIPS; SANDERS, CHRIS, MIKE, and TEX went on to win Section IV CLASS C CHAMPIONSHIPS and MIKE
ELLIOTT was named the tournament's "OUTSTANDING WRESTLER." MIKE ELLIOTT completed an individual 40-2 season and a 3rd place finish at the NYS Championships; the Wrestling team completed a perfect 14-0 season;
- Girls' Basketball: IAC All Stars - 1st Team: HOLLY MOSHER; 2nd team: SHELLY THOMPSON
- Tennis team completed an undefeated season at 8-0; Girls' Basketball Team took 1st place in SPORTSMANSHIP and Varsity Girls' Swim Team completed a 12-2 season (10-2 in the IAC);
- Athletic Awards:
"Joseph Lemak" Award: MIKE GILL & RONI PIERCE
"Dr. Arthur Jackson" Award: BRIAN COLEMAN & LAUREL MC INTYRE
"T.J. O'Rourke" Award: STEVE DECKER
"James Angelo" Award: MIKE GILL
"Edward Homan" Award: SCOTT HANNAN & RONI PIERCE
Physical Education Oscars: ADAM WHITE & CHRISTINE RICHTMYER
Athletic Service Award: MICHELE COMPTON
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1992-1993 Accomplishments...

* AMY DUGO & CHAD HETHERINGTON were student representatives to the Athletic Council
* JENNIFER YUHASZ set new Cross Country course record (20:29 over 3.1 miles) at Tioga Golf Course on 10/6/92; she later was named 1st Team IAC All Star
* IAC All Stars in Soccer: CHAD HETHERINGTON, SCOTT STRONG, SANDERS WATSON, TED PEARCE & JEREMY BEBER
* Cross Country Championship Meet: JENNY YUHASZ (7th place), HEYLTJE BOND (17th), JULIE DORDONI (21st), JUDY DUNN (20th), HEATHER LAUGHLIN (31st), ABE PAZOS (39th), GREG SHARAF (53rd), JOE GIASI (66th), SAM DORDONI (67th), and CHRIS FOLNSBEE (72nd)
* "Swimmin Women" - swam to 2nd place in Section IV Class C Championships led by KRISTEN BROWN, MEGHAN HANLEY, AMANDA HENRY, CHRISTIE COOLICAN, AMY DUGO & KATHLEEN SCHAMEL; HEIDI DRAKE was Sec. IV Class C CHAMPION in Diving

* Some Physical Education "Celebrities":
- Hula Hoop Champions: PAT AMEIGH (202 circuits), RICH PIKE (199), CHRIS LE ROUX (175), and ROBERT LA TORRE (153)
- Novelty Archers: JASON NOVAK (score of 66), CHRIS PIKE (58), DOUG OLIVER (52) and KEVIN RUMSEY (49)
* Girls' Swim Team was: #1 in IAC SPORTSMANSHIP
* Varsity Soccer Awards:
- MATT MURPHY for Sportsmanship
- JEREMY BEBER as Most Valuable Player
* KRISTEN BROWN swam to 15th place finish at NYS Championships and was one of just thirteen swimmers considered for the NYS "SWIMMER-SCHOLAR" Award
* COACH MICHELLE VENDITTO earned her 1st victory as Varsity Girls' Basketball Coach in early December (she would go on to Coach more than 100 victories in Varsity Basketball); COACH JOHN FAZZARY got his 1st JV Basketball Coaching win this same year
* WG Invitational Wrestling Tournament:
DAN BOND, SANDERS WATSON & MIKE ELLIOTT wrestled to CHAMPIONSHIPS;
JEREMY BEBER (2nd place) ANDY CHRISMAN (4th place);
* IAC WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS: DAN BOND, SANDERS WATSON, & JEREMY BEBER won CHAMPIONSHIPS; JOEL SKORUSA, ANDY CHRISMAN & MIKE ELLIOTT (2nd place);
* MIKE ELLIOTT: won the Section IV CHAMPIONSHIP and wrestled to #4 at NYS Championships
* SANDERS WATSON wrestled into the "Century Club" with his 100th career victory
* IAC Boys' Swimming CHAMPIONSHIPS:
CHAD HETHERINGTON, CALEB WRIGHT, JOE GIASI & BEN BINGHAM (400 Freestyle) - 1st place; CALEB WRIGHT (100 Butterfly) - 1st place; MIKE LA MOREAUX (Diving) - 2nd place; CHAD HETHERINGTON (100 Free) 2nd place; CALEB WRIGHT (200 IM) - 3rd place; CHAD HETHERINGTON (50 Free) - 3rd place;

* MARY MARTHA BRUBAKER was named IAC Southwest Division All Star in Girls' Basketball;
* former Coach & teacher JOE LEMAK was named to the Section IV HALL OF FAME
* ALUMNI NEWS OF NOTE:
- HEATHER THORP - Class of 1990 - named "Honorable Mention Empire Athletic Association Basketball ALL STAR at College;
- BECKY DRAKE - Class of 1990 - named "Honorable Mention" ALL AMERICAN NCAA Division III Swimming & Diving
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1993-1994 achievements and accolades:
* Kiwanis Club "Athletes of the Month":
September: CHRISTIE COOLICAN
October: CHRIS KING
November: JENNY YUHASZ
December: CHARLES SCHOLTISEK
January: DAN BOND
February: HOLLY MOSHER
March: TED PEARCE
April: TRACY WILLIAMS
May: CHRISTIE COOLICAN
June: DAVID SEITHER

* CRAIG MAY: finished 29th out of 175 runners (3rd in his age group) in the JOHNSON CITY HERITAGE DAYS RUN; WILLIE WATSON finished 56th overall and 1st in his age group (age 12/13)
* IAC Soccer All Stars: CHRIS KING & JOHN BARR
* Section IV Football All Stars: Honorable Mention to ROY WEBB & KEVIN RUMSEY
* IAC Swimming All Stars: MEGHAN HANLEY & CHRISTIE COOLICAN
* IAC Cross Country All Stars: JENNY YUHASZ
* SCOTT WRIGHT named MVP at Dundee Basketball Tournament

* Special Weightlifting Competition:
- JULIE DORDONI 1st place; PAULA DeLaESPRIELLA, 2nd place; AMY REASOR & JUDY DUNN 3rd place;
- RICH PERRONE 1st place; KEVIN RUMSEY, 2nd place: JOHN BARR 3rd place

* Teacher DANNIE BROWN swam 80 laps and raised over $600.00 in the "Cancer Swim-A-Thon"; Teacher EMMA SMITH helped organize the event
* BILL SPENCER carded a 49 in Golf at the Newark Valley match;
* FRANK MADAFFARI & AMY WIRTH won the "Physical Fitness Oscars"
* JULIE EDMISTER & MATT MURPHY won the "Francis W. Blake" Sportsmanship Award
* JOHN BARR & HOLLY MOSHER won the "Edward Homan Physical Fitness Award"
* JENNIFER YUHASZ & CHRIS KING won the "JOSEPH LEMAK" Award
* TED PEARCE won the "James Angelo" Award
* KEVIN RUMSEY won the "Senacas Award"

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1994-1995 achievements & accolades...

* Team Records: Varsity Girls' Swimming: 12-2 overall (11-1 in the IAC); JV Volleyball 12-3; Varsity Girls' Basketball 18-2 overall (17-1 IAC); JV Girls Basketball 15-4 overall (13-4 in the IAC); Wrestling 11-5; Boys' and Girls' Track Teams -- both at 5-2 in the IAC; Varsity Softball 17-4 overall (14-2 in the IAC); Tennis 8-3 overall (7-0 in the IAC)

* Kiwanis Club Athletes of the Month:
September - CHRISTIE COOLICAN
October - BLANCHE FRANZESE
November - MIKE GROVER
December - JOEL SKORUSA
January - DAVID SEITHER
February - MARY MARTHA BRUBAKER
March - DAN BOND
April - MELANIE NORMAN
May - ADAM DOBSON
June - TRACY WILLIAMS

* TRAVIS LINCOLN - Varsity Football - kicked our 1st Field Goal in a decade;
* MARY MARTHA BRUBAKER & DAVID SEITHER were Student Representatives on the Athletic Council
* IAC Swimming All Stars: HOLLI KEEFER, CHRISTIE COOLICAN, TRACI LINCOLN,
MEGHAN HANLEY, MICHELE BAHNS, & MEGAN BAHNS

* COACH BOB KING and Boys' Soccer Team were awarded "Doug Wilson Sportsmanship Award"
* MARY MARTHA BRUBAKER was named by Ithaca Journal as "Athlete of the Week"
* MEGAN BAHNS, SARAH WRIGHT & TRACI LINCOLN were named "Scholar/Athletes" by the Elmira Star Gazette

* DAN BOND - wrestled his way to his 3rd championship in the WG Wrestling Invitational
* JOEL SKORUSA won his 1st Championship in the WG Wrestling Invitational
* DAN BOND & DARRICK BEBER won 1st place titles at the IAC Championships

* DAN MOWRY won 1st place in the 500 Free at the IAC Swimming Championships
* ANDY GARRETT won 1st place in Diving at the IAC Championships

* Varsity Girls' Basketball Team: won IAC Championship * Varsity Girls' Swimming team: won Section IV Class C Championship

* Girls Varsity Basketball All Stars: MARY MARTHA BRUBAKER, JESSICA CRAVER, TRACEY WILLIAMS.
MARY MARTHA BRUBAKER was also named as Large School "Most Valuable Player"

* IAC Wrestling All Stars: DAN BOND & DARRICK BEBER

* March 14, 1995: Varsity Girls Basketball Team and Coaches MICHELLE VENDITTO & RON PIERCE were formally honored by the New York State Senate (by proclamation) on behalf of their outstanding season.

* VLAD HANDL: Section IV ClassC/D Tennis Champion
* IRA CADY: honored in Football as an ESPY Winner
* Varsity Baseball Team: Tri-Champions (with Groton & S. Cayuga) for "William Denning Sportsmanship Award"

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Athletic "HALL OF FAME" - Class of 1993: MIKE WATSON, FRED SEITHER, WILLIAM SHIRES, JOHN LOOSE

On the evening of HOMECOMING I made the presentations -- along with Business Education Teacher & Assistant Track Coach KAZ ESTELOW -- as we inducted two Coaches and two Athletes.

* COACH MIKE WATSON: 1985-2000 Wrestling Coach (overall record of 145-45-2); coached winningest wrestler (up to that time) in New York State history (MATT MARCINIAK); coached five (5) "Century Club" wrestlers (wrestlers having 100 or more career victories); coached more than 50 Sectional Champions; named 1991 Class C/D Section IV "Coach of the Year"; named (in 1985) Elmira's "Kiwanis Club Coach of the Year"; also very
successful as Cross Country and Track Coach

* COACH FRED SEITHER: highly successful, enthusiastic & motivational Swimming & Diving Coach from 1971-1978; his Swim Teams compiled an overall 226-73-1 record winning the IAC Championship in 1974, 1975, and 1976; as Boys' Track Coach his teams compiled an overall record of 105-42 (League Record of 64-7) with Championships in 1971 and 1972 in the old Lakes Region League, and 1973 (IAC - South), 1974 (IAC overall), 1976 (IAC - South), and 1977 (IAC overall); both the 1974 and 1977 teams were undefeated at 11-0; additionally he Coached JV Football to an undefeated season at 8-0 in 1974 and was Assistant Varsity Coach for the 1972 and 1975 IAC South Co-Champion seasons; he formed an Indoor Track Club which sent one qualifier to the 1977 NYS Meet; overall he coached 5 athletes to individual State-level competition;

* JOHN LOOSE: WG Class of 1983:
Outstanding four-year member of Football, Basketball and Track teams; named in 1983 as IAC Defensive Player of the Year and All Lakes Region All Star in Football; also in 1983 named WG Defensive MVP and was league leader in interceptions with five; he was Track Team MVP in 1983;
John went on to earn seven Varsity letters at Ithaca College in Football and Track and was Indoor & Outdoor High Jump Champion for two years and a five-time NCAA Qualifier in Track, a Division III All American and six-time Ithaca College record holder in the High Jump; he was also an Assistant Football Coach at West Point.

* WILLIAM G. SHIRES: WG Class of 1950
four-year 1st string player in Football, Basketball and Baseball; 2nd team Southern Counties League Basketball All Star in 1949, making the 1st Team in 1950; he was 1st Team Elmira Sunday Telegram All Star on the Scholastic Football Team of 1950; he maintained a .400+ career batting average in Varsity Baseball and went on to play professional baseball in the Pittsburgh Pirates minor league organization from 1953-1955.

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1996-1997:
* 1st ever Girls' Soccer Game: - COACH KAREN ARMSTRONG and Team defeated Southern Cayuga 2-1 on September 5, 1996 as JESSICA SEDLACK & TRACI LINCOLN each scored a goal and COVENEY FITZSIMMONS & MEGAN MC GROGAN had assists and ANGELA UPHAM had 19 saves in goal; team went on to post 7-10-2 overall season (5-2-1 league) record, finishing 2nd place in the I.A.C.

* COACH CRAIG LATTIN'S Modified Soccer Team completed a perfect 11-0 season, outscoring opponents by a total of 59-1;

*COACH LE BARON, COACH BROWN, COACH OVENSHIRE & COACH KETTER & the Varsity Football Team brought the "BUCKET" back home with a 14-7 victory over Odessa-Montour;

* JUSTIN CROOKS was awarded "STUDENT ATHLETE AWARD" at the Edison Cross Country Meet by the Edison Coach

* Girls' SWIM Team I.A.C. All Stars: KIM WARREN, DANI FRANZESE, MARIAN SCHAMEL, HEIDI GARDNER, MEGHAN HANLEY, ALLISON HANLEY, JENN BILLS, ASHLEY FAZZARY, MARYANN REISS, NICOLE CHAFFEE & CATHY BROWN. Team completed 2nd consecutive UNDEFEATED SEASON with record of 14-0 overall and 12-0 in the I.A.C. Team was I.A.C. Champion and Section IV Class C CHAMPION for 3rd year in a row and even more importantly won the I.A.C. Sportsmanship Award. This Team was ranked #1 in New York State in Class C/D with a total of 4,337 points --- more than 350 points ahead of the 2nd place Team.

* COACH BILL DAVIS was honored by the I.A.C. for his 12 years serving as Faculty Manager for Athletics;

* KIM WARREN qualified for States in Swimming & finished in the Top 25

* All Southern Tier Soccer Honors to RON EDELE (1st Team), JASON SABATINI (2nd Team) and NATE WEBER & ANDY CHICONE (Honorable Mention)

* Football - I.A.C. honors to: IRA CADY, SHANE BOND, BUZZIE WEBER, JASON SWITZER & DEWAYNE BUTLER (1st Team); IRA CADY (1st Team All League), BUZZY WEBER (Honorable Mention - All League); JASON SWITZER (All Twin Tiers) and DEWAYNE BUTLER (Honorable Mention All State Academic Team)

* Boosters' Club Athletes of the Month:

September: ELIZABETH ROHMANN
October: JASON SABATINI
November: MEGHAN HANLEY & KIM WARREN
December: ANDY GARRETT
February: JESSICA CRAVER
March: TRACI LINCOLN
April: CHRISSY TRUAX
May: ANDY CHICONE

* Girls' Swim Team and Girls Soccer Team named NYSPHSAA Scholar Athlete Teams by virtue of all student/athletes academic averages of 90% or more.

* AMANDA AHO (1st female on Wrestling Team) pinned her opponent in what was the 1st-ever time two females met on a Wrestling mat in New York State History.

* JESSICA CRAVER became 1st female Varsity Basketball Player to score 1,000 points in her career

* JESSICA SEDLACK repeated as IAC Pentathlon Champion (finished 9th at NYS Championships)

* ANDY GARRETT - named as one of Top 20 Divers in all the United States

* Golf Team completed 10-3 season; Tennis Team finished at 7-3 overall and 6-2 in the I.A.C.;
Varsity Softball Team was 14-6 overall and 14-4 in the I.A.C.; Varsity Girls' Basketball Team finished at 18-4; JV Girls Basketball Team completed 16-4 (15-3 in the I.A.C.) season; Boys' Soccer Team finished at 15-5.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

1997-1998:

*Varsity Football Team finished 4th in the Conference while Boys' and Girls' Soccer Teams won Divisional Championships (Boys' were 13-6-1 overall and 11-3-1 in the IAC while Girls' were 10-9-0 overall and 8-6-0 in the League); Varsity Girls' Swim Team finished undefeated for 3rd consecutive year at 14-0 and 12-0 in the IAC, winning both League & Division Championships; Girls' Varsity Basketball Team won Divisional Championship with overall record of 17-5 (15-1 in League competition); JV Girls' Basketball completed 17-3 overall season while a perfect 16-0 in league play --- this is believed to be the 1st undefeated JV Girls' team in our school's history; JV Baseball Team was 13-5 overall and 11-3 in IAC play finishing season tied for 1st place; JV Softball Team finished in 2nd place in the League, and Golf Team completed an outstanding 12-2 season.

* STEVE TERRY: established new school record with 34 career assists in Soccer;
TRACI LINCOLN: was IAC Large School Southwest Division MVP in Girls' Basketball;
DAN BOND ( 167 career wins) and JOEL SKORUSA (162 career wins) led Wrestling Team to 13th consecutive winning season;
MOLLY SCHAMEL: heaved the discus 89 feet 10 1/2 inches

* Boys' 4x100 Track Relay Team set new school record finishing #3 at NYS Championships (STEVE TERRY, KEVIN SMITH, MATT MADORSKY, ED GARDNER & ANDY CLARK)

* IAC All Stars in Soccer: ED GARDNER, STEVE TERRY, MIKE BEBER & ERIC VAN SKIVER (1st Team); and JOE DORDONI, NATE WEBER, JESSE JOHNSON & DARREL WATSON (2nd Team);

* IAC Football All-Stars: IRA CADY, SHANE BOND, MIKE MARGRENO & ANDY KENDALL - Football Team won "Bucket" with 30-7 victory over Odessa-Montour

* KIM WARREN & ASHLEY FAZZARY competed in NYS Swimming Championships; KIM finished 11th and ASHLEY finished 18th;

*AMANDA AHO: competed in Girls' High School Folks Style Nationals (271 girls from 38 states) and placed 6th in her bracket of 32 female wrestlers earning "ALL AMERICAN" honors; she won 4 matches and lost 3 (leading 5-2 in her final match, she dislocated her shoulder);

* MARY ROSE CHICONE & NICOLE CHAFFEE sang the "National Anthem" at various athletic events & pep rallies.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

1998-1999:

* Athletes of the Month:

September: MARY ANN REISS
October: MIKE BEBER
November: MARIAN SCHAMEL, ALLISON HANLEY, KIM WARREN, CATHY BROWN
December: MOLLY SCHAMEL
January: SHELLY CONTI
February: CASSANDRA KEEFER, JESSE JOHNSON
March: JASON RAPPLEYE
April: JAY SULLIVAN
May: ANDY CLARK

* Boosters' Club COACH OF THE YEAR: 1993-1994 ROB MICHEL; 1994-1995 KATE LA MOREAUX; 1995-1996 COLE LEE; 1996-1997 JIM SCOTT; 1997-1998 DAVE WARREN; 1998-1999 JIM SCOTT

* KATE LA MOREAUX: named Kiwanis Club/Elmira Star Gazette COACH OF THE YEAR June 24, 1999
* SHANNON CALLANAN & JESSE JOHNSON: received "Dr. Arthur J. Jackson" award
* JEFF LEARN: won "TJ O'ROURKE" and "James Angelo" Awards
* GEOFF SMYDER & SHANNON CALLANAN: won "Track & Field" Awards
* JESSICA O'BRIEN & MIKE BEBER: won "Joe Lemak" award
* TAMMI LINCOLN & BRIAN BAKER: won "Francis W. Blake Sportsmanship Awards"

* Varsity Girls' Swim Team completed 4th consecutive undefeated season at 14-0 overall; 12-0 in IAC;
* Varsity Girls' Basketball Team was 17-3 overall (13-3 in IAC) with JV Girls' at 13-3
* Girls' Bowling Team was 1st in IAC; Boys' Bowling Team won 2nd place honors;
* JV Softball Team finished at 13-3, Tennis Team completed 7-2 season and Golf Team was 11-3 in their matches

* COACH BOB KING and Boys' Soccer Team defeated Waverly for 100th win since inception of the program;
* COACH KELLY SORENSEN and Girls' JV Volleyball Team won 12 matches in a row on way to IAC Large School Southwest Div. Championship;

* KELLY SAVARD ran to 1st place in two meets and a strong 17th at the Tully Invitational;
* Boys' Soccer Team All Stars were: JESSE JOHNSON , PHIL WATSON & MIKE BEBER (1st Team) and MARK MATTHEWS & RANDY THORPE (2nd Team)
* Girls' Soccer All Stars: TAMMI LINCOLN (1st Team), LINDSAY SCHMIDT (2nd Team) and EMILY SMITH (Honorable Mention)

* Two new teams were formed: Junior High Girls' Volleyball with COACH KILLEEN KANE;
Varsity Girls and Boys Bowling with COACH JAMIE HARTER

* ASHLEY FAZZARY: established new school Diving Record with 254.65 points, qualified for NYS Championships in both 1997 and 1998 and coached Boys' Swim Team divers in both 1997 and 1998.

* JAN LEARN, MARIE KEEFER, TRACI MC ILROY, DIANE JOHNSON and others kept the Boosters' Club alive and well!

* Girls' Basketball Team's Sectional win over Marathon was COACH MICHELLE VENDITTO'S 100th career win

* SHELLY CONTI: named "Honorable Mention ALL TWIN TIERS and 1st Team IAC Southwest Division Large School All Star in Basketball;
CASSIE KEEFER named 1st Team All Star on same team and ALICIA LEARN named "Honorable Mention"

* MIKE MARGRENO named 1st team All Star IAC Southwest Division in Basketball while JEFF LEARN and ERIC SCHMIDT were named "Honorable Mention";

* MOLLY SCHAMEL: scored 34 points with 20 rebounds in "Melissa Wilson Basketball Tournament"; she also had 24 points & 20 rebounds against Groton to win the IAC Large School Championship and was named 1st Team All Twin Tiers leading Senecas with 15.2 point average along with 14 rebounds and 4.2 blocked shots per game; she led 16-5 Girls and also had seventeen (17) double/doubles; MOLLY was also named to the Ithaca Journal's All Star Team -
THE SWEET 16 (the very best 8 girls and 8 boys in the region); MOLLY also was named IAC All Star 1st Team

* JASON RAPPLEYE: bowled best three-game series in Southern Tier history for a junior bowler with an 821 total;
DIANE CUMMINGS: won individual Championship Sec. IV Class C Title on 2/20/99

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See you again in June --- look for Athletic Achievements from 1999-2000, 2000-2001, 2001-2002 and 2002-3.

Through the hallways ...The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (50)

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (51)Former Watkins Glen High School Principal Brian J. O'Donnell, now a member of the Watkins Glen School Board, has delved into the past to provide us with some historical WGHS facts. The 58th in a continuing monthly series.

By Brian J. O'Donnell

*** Update: Last month I mentioned that JEAN LAWTON'S 1st Varsity Girls' Basketball Team was 1972-73. I received a nice e-mail from PATTI SCHIMIZZI clarifying that the 1st Girls Varsity Basketball Team was the one in 1971-72 (coached by Jean Lawton). Patti was joined on that team by JULIE BERRY, CAROLINE DE LORRAINE, GAIL DICKENS FRANZESE (all seniors) and others; that was Patti's sophomore year. She went on to say that it was that 1972-73 team that won the Division. In 1973-74 COACH JERRY LOUGHLIN coached both the Boys' Varsity and the Girls' Varsity teams.

HISTORY becomes much more dependent upon people's memories and experiences, especially when written records are hard to find. Thanks again PATTI!

Moving forward with additional athletic accomplishments and accolades, we find the following:

Anyone remember when we used to distribute large colored seasonal schedules that also highlighted athletic achievements? From some of those old schedules comes the following:

* Spring 1995: "Special Thanks -- to the Watkins Glen Boosters Club for making the 1994-95 sports season possible;

*

Fall 1995: CONGRATULATIONS to the WGHS Hall of Fame 1995 Inductees: GLENN RAPALEE (Class of 1929), CHARLES ANDREW (1933), JOHN CARPENTER (1939), ROBERT MARCINIAK (1957), JASON BOND (1988), BECKY DRAKE (1990), HEATHER THORP (1990) and MATT MARCINIAK (1991)

*

Winter 1995: * CONGRATULATIONS "SWIMMIN WOMEN" -- Top Ranked Team in NYS Class C/D 1994 & 1995:
1995 season: 14-0 Dual Meet Record, IAC Dual Meet Champs, IAC Team Champions, & Sec. IV Class C Champions
All Stars: HOLLI KEEFER, KIM WARREN, MEGHAN HANLEY, TRACI LINCOLN, JENNIFER BILLS, MARIAN SCHAMEL, MARYANN REISS, CHRISTINA WILLIAMS, ALLISON HANLEY & NICOLE CHAFFEE; HOLLI KEEFER was undefeated in IAC Diving throughout the season and named Ithaca Journal "Athlete of Week" 10/3/95 and Sports Boosters
Athlete of the Month for October 1995

*

Spring 1996:
* DAN BOND (Wrestler) 29-1 for the season, 134-30-0 overall career record;
*Girls' Swim Team 14-0 season record and IAC & Section IV Champions, NYS Ranked #1 Class C/D
* Boosters Club Athletes of the Month: September: ANDY CHICONE (Soccer); October: HOLLI KEEFER (Swimming); November: MARIAN SCHAMEL (Swimming); December: DAN BOND (Wrestling); January: ANDY GARRETT (Swimming); February: JESSICA CRAVER (Basketball); March: PETER DUGO (Swimming)
* Soccer Team All Stars: ANDY CHICONE (1st Team), JASON SABATINI & CHRIS DERSHAM (2nd Team)
* Football All Star: TRAVIS LINCOLN Division VI
* Fall SPORTSMANSHIP - Watkins Glen 1st place overall in the League
* Girls' Swim Team: Named Scholar Athlete Team
* Boys' Swim Team: ANDY GARRETT & ANDY CHICONE win Sec. IV Class C Diving to advance to NYS Championships. Andy finished in 13th place in NYS
* Cheerleaders: win "Spirit Award" at S.T.A.C. Competition
* JV Boys Basketball: MATT MADORSKY sinks winning foul shot with no time left on the clock as WG beats Odessa-Montour
* Girls' Varsity Basketball Team won Southwest Division Championship in Large School Division; JESSICA CRAVER was MVP of Large School Southwest Division and IAC All Star; TRACI LINCOLN & HEIDI GARDNER were also 1st team All Stars

* Fall 1996:
* featured "Hall of Fame" inductees - athletes & benefactors:
- Athletes: GEORGE SPADER (Class of 1914), CHARLES G. STAMP, JR. (Class of 1933), BOB ORMSBEE (Class of 1960), GARY VOORHEIS (Class of 1963), HAROLD CHAFFEE (Class of 1973), STEVE WEBER (Class of 1978), SUE STOCUM (Class of 1986)
- Benefactors: DR. THOMAS J. (JACK) LOVE, JR., and MR. DON MAAS
* HOMECOMING QUEENS were also featured: TRACEY PIERCE (1988), JODI SIPPERLEY (1989), KIRRA MC DERMOTT (1990), RONI PIERCE (1991), LEIGH HAZLITT (1992), JUDY DUNN (1993), CHRISTIE COOLICAN (1994), and KELLY DENSE (1995)

* Winter 1997:
* Boys' Soccer Team - South IAC Champion 15-5 season; Coach BOB KING
* Girls' Soccer Team - South IAC 2nd Place 5-2-1 season; Coach KAREN ARMSTRONG
* Modified Soccer Team - 11-0 season; outscored opponents 59-1; Coach CRAIG LATTIN
* KAZ ESTELOW - Faculty Manager for Athletics...

*

Spring 1997:
* Girls' Varsity Swimming Team ranked #1 in NYS Class C/D for 3rd year in a row;
* JESSICA CRAVER named IAC Large School Southwest Division MVP 2nd year in a row (Girls' Basketball)
* Girls' Swim Team & Girls' Soccer Team chosen as Scholar-Athlete Teams
* JASON SABATINI wins IAC South SCORING TITLE (Soccer)
* Boys' Soccer Team wins IAC South CHAMPIONSHIP 11-1 IAC Record; 13-3 overall
* NYS Diving Championships: ANDY GARRETT (3rd place); ANDY CHICONE (17th place)
* Boys' JV Baseball Team 11-5 in IAC; Southwest Large School Division Champion
* Boosters' Club Coach of the Year:
1993-1994: ROB MICHEL; 1994-1995: KATE LA MOREAUX; 1995-1996: COLE LEE

*

Fall 1997:
* Hall of Fame - Class of 1997: FREDERICK A. JOHNSON (1900), HENRY F. LEMBECK (1902), THOMAS A. LEMBECK (1906), WALTER JOHNSON (1933), RON LA PRE (1959), JIM COMBS (1984), MICHELLE SEITHER (1991), PETER LA MOREAUX (1991), KRISTEN BROWN (1993), COACH BARB HUGHEY, COACH GERALD LOUGHLIN and MARY (PINTO) FRANZESE (Benefactor)

*

Winter 1998:
* Watkins Glen Boosters' Club Executive Board:
Co-Presidents: JAN LEARN & TERRI THORPE
Treasurer: TRACIE MC ILROY
Secretary: LYNN NORMAN
* FABULOUS FAN AWARD for 1997: MRS. LOUISE ANDREWS, MRS. LOLA ANNE LUTOMSKE, MR. MOSE ADESSO
* TERESA LA FACE & EMILY MAC WILLIAMS swam width of Seneca Lake on 9/01/97
* Girls' Varsity Soccer Team won IAC Southwest CHAMPIONSHIP
* Boys' Soccer Team completed 12-6-1 season (11-4-1 in IAC)
* Girls' Swim Team completed 14-0 season (12-0 in IAC) and won 3rd consecutive IAC CHAMPIONSHIP; completed 3rd consecutive undefeated season and have won 53 consecutive dual meets; again #1 NYS Ranking in Class C/D

*

Spring 1998:
* 25th anniversary of Most Valuable Player athletes from 1972-1973 season...
Softball LEE HERRICK, Basketball JOHN CALLANAN
Basketball LEE HERRICK, Cross Country KEVIN MURPHY
Girls Swimming PEG MC GONIGAL, Track HAROLD CHAFFEE
Boys Swimming DAN HOLMAN, Baseball JEFF GARDNER
Football HAROLD CHAFFEE, Tennis DOUG COLEMAN
Wrestling BYRON THOMPSON, Golf MIKE MOORE
* Some 1997-98 athletic highlights:
- MOLLY SCHAMEL scores 15 points and grabs 24 rebounds in WG victory over Waverly 48-42
- TRACI LINCOLN: scores 19 points, has 10 rebounds, 10 assists and 5 steals as WG defeats previously unbeaten Odessa-Montour
- DAN BOND completes 32-2 senior season on wrestling team for 167-19 career record (tying MIKE ELLIOTT for 2nd most career wins.)

*

Fall 1998:
* Sports Boosters Club: Co Presidents: JAN LEARN & TERRI THORPE; Secretary: DIANE JOHNSON; Treasurer: MARIE KEEFER. (Special Thanks to TRACIE MC ILROY & LYNN NORMAN for so many years of service!)
* Featured information on LEON "HAM" ANDREWS (Class of 1942), BERNARD J. BARILE (Class of 1941), MIKE BARTONE (Class of 1934) and SAM SCHIMIZZI, SR. (Class of 1942)

*

Winter 1999: * NICOLE SIMIELE scored 127 points on JV Volleyball this season
* KELLY SAVARD: 1st place in two recent Cross Country meets; 17th overall at Tully Invitational
* MIKE BEBER: (Soccer) broke STEVE TERRY'S career assist record and JASON SABATINI'S career scoring record;

*

Spring 1999:
* Both Boys' and Girls' BOWLING Teams won IAC CHAMPIONSHIP titles on 2/13/99; Boys' Team led by: JASON RAPPLEYE (666 series), BRANDON MARGRENO (634), JESSE JOHNSON (625) and RYAN ROMANOS (581); Girls' Team led by DIANA CUMMINGS (480 series).
* Girls' Swim Team: Ranked #1 in NYS Class C/D for 4th consecutive year; scored total of 4,670 points good for #12 ranking among ALL New York State schools regardless of divisions/classes.
* Some Athletes of the Month were:
September: MARYANN REISS; October: MIKE BEBER; November: Girls Swimming 4x100 Relay Team (MARIAN SCHAMEL, ALLISON HANLEY, KIM WARREN, CATHY BROWN); December: MOLLY SCHAMEL; January: SHELLY CONTI

*

Fall 1999:
* some 1998-99 highlights were...
- JV Baseball Team won IAC Large School South Division CHAMPIONSHIP
- JV Boys' Basketball Team: 16-4 overall; 15-1 in IAC; won IAC Southwest Large School CHAMPIONSHIP
- Varsity Girls' Basketball Team: 13-3 in IAC, earned 5th consecutive IAC Southwest Large School CHAMPIONSHIP and won IAC overall Large School CHAMPIONSHIP
- In inaugural seasons for both bowling teams, the Girls' Bowling Team won regular-season IAC Championship and the IAC Championship; and the Boys' team finished in 2nd place in the regular season and won the overall IAC CHAMPIONSHIP
- Golf Team completed 11-3 dual match season and JV Girls' Softball Team compiled 11-3 season and 2nd place in the IAC
- Varsity Girls' Swim Team completed undefeated season 14-0 overall and 12-0 in the IAC, winning everything AGAIN!
- JV Girls' Volleyball team finished 12-3 to become IAC Southwest Division CHAMPIONS
- on June 24, 1999 COACH KATE LA MOREAUX was named Kiwanis Club/Elmira Star Gazette female "COACH OF YEAR"

*

Winter 2000:
* Coaching Staff --- Winter Season...
- Boys' Swimming COACH SUE BALL
- Wrestling COACH MIKE WATSON; Assistant COACH RAY KASCHALK
- Boys' Varsity Basketball: COACH JOHN FAZZARY
- Boys' JV Basketball COACH JIM SCOTT
- Girls' Varsity Basketball: COACH MICHELLE VENDITTO
- Girls' JV Basketball COACH RON PIERCE
- Jr. High Volleyball: COACH KILLEEN KANE
- Jr. High Swimming: COACH JILL WINKKY-WADE
- Bowling: COACH JAMIE HARTER
- Jr. High Boys' Basketball: COACH BEN CONNELLY
- Jr. High Girls' Basketball: COACH BRIDGID COOPER

* JOSH BUTLER: Gr. 11 rushed for two touchdowns and 105 total yards in just 8 carries as WG beats Edison 28-20, ending a long losing streak;
* NICK MIZERAK: Gr. 11 Quarterback connected with MIKE MARGRENO for two long touchdowns (20 and 42 yards) and a two-point conversion as WG defeated Odessa-Montour in the "Bucket Game" 20-0;
* School Spirit: Superintendent DON DRYDEN and teachers KAZ ESTELOW, DAVE WARREN, RAY KASCHALK, STEVE SHYMKIW & JAMIE HARTER all take a pie in the face for the "Bucket Game" assembly
* Senior Athletes: Volleyball (VAL MAHON, JAMIE SWITZER & KELLY BAUMAN), Swimming (BETHANNE BECKHORN, JENN BILLS, NICHOLE CHAFFEE, BREANA COPP, ALLISON HANLEY, CASSANDRA KEEFER, MARY ANN REISS, & MARIAN SCHAMEL), Boys' Soccer (ANDY CLARK, TYSON VAN SKIVER, CHARLIE CHICONE, MARTIN HUTSCH, & EMER SMITH - Manager), Football (ERIK DALECKI, MIKE MARGRENO, MIKE PERSONIUS, MIKE DZIEDZIC, ALEX KELLY & JOSH PERSONIUS), Cheerleading (ANGELA STANDISH), Cross Country (DEVLIN SMITH & SASHA KUZNEZOV), and Girls' Soccer (MEGAN MC GROGAN, EMILY BYERS, JESSICA PETERSON, LINDSAY NICHOLS, ANNE BARTONE, KAYLA EVANS, MARY ROSE CHICONE & KRISTY SMITH)

*

Spring 2000:
* Boosters Club Athletes of the Month:
September: ERIC DALECKI (Football)
October: MARK MATTHEWS (Soccer)
November: CATHY BROWN (Swimming)
December: SASHA KUZNEZOV (Swimming)
January: NICK DRAKE (Basketball)

* SHELLI CONTI (29 points/15 rebounds) and CASSANDRA KEEFER (12 points) lead WG to 61-56 Section IV Class C Semifinal win over Odessa-Montour at the Horseheads Middle School on March 1st;
* SHELLI CONTI (17 points/13 rebounds/8 blocked shots) and CASSANDRA KEEFER (11 points) lead WG to 49-46 victory over Lansing in the Section IV Class C CHAMPIONSHIP at the Broome County Arena on March 4th. THIS WAS OUR 1st SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP EVER!!!!!
* MOLLY SCHAMEL was named MVP & 1st Team IAC All Star for Division I - SHELLY CONTI & CASSANDRA KEEFER were also named as All Stars
* SASHA KUZNEZOV swam to 6th place finish in NYS Championships in 100 yd. Freestyle and 11th place in the 50 Freestyle in Buffalo, NY on March 4th; he also was on the 200 Freestyle Relay Team along with CODY CHAMBERS, KEVIN MURPHY and ANDY CLARK
* SASHA KUZNEZOV was named Co-MVP at the IAC Championships held on February 12th
* Girls' Bowling Team won IAC CHAMPIONSHIP on February 12th led by JAMIE LAPRIORE (499 series), MISTY GAUGHAN (494) and DIANA CUMMINGS (465);
* BRANDON MARGRENO rolled a 580 series as Boys' Bowling Team won 3rd place at the IAC Championships
* MIKE MARGRENO: scored basket with 12 seconds left in the game to lead WG to a 70-69 win over previously undefeated and NYS Ranked #3 Notre Dame; for that game NICK DRAKE had 21 points, MIKE had 17 and BEN WINSTEAD scored 14
* ANTHONY DOANE tipped in a missed shot with just 4.5 seconds left in the game to send the WG vs. Odessa-Montour game into overtime --- WG went on to win 65-61 as MIKE MARGRENO scored 20 points and NICK DRAKE scored 16 and PHIL WATSON
chipped in with 10
* CHEERLEADING news/notes...
- At "Dance Elite Competition" at Cicero, NY on 3/11/00 the team won a plaque for "Outstanding Team Performance" in Dance/Drill/Cheer;

* Fall 2000:
* 1999/2000 Fan of the Year: KATE BARTHOLOMEW
* 1999/2000 Coach of the Year: STEVE SHYMKIW
* 2000 Graduate SHELLY CONTI - All Twin Tiers Basketball Team, IAC 1st Team All Star, All-State Class C 2nd Team, Referee's Association Sportsmanship Award; and full scholarship to Division 1 TOWSON UNIVERSITY
* Girls' Varsity Swim Team: Ranked #1 in NYS in Class C/D for 6th year in a row; Team Members in Class of 2000 completed four-year high school career with 54-0 dual meet record;
* Boys' Varsity Basketball Team: set school record with 31 points in a single quarter; defeated Odessa-Montour in overtime 65-61; and defeated Notre Dame (ranked #6 in NYS Class C) 70-69
* Girls' Varsity Basketball Team completed season with 19-4 record as IAC CHAMPIONS, SECTION IV CLASS C CHAMPIONS and competed in the NYS "Elite Eight" Championships
* Girls' Bowling Team placed 2nd in the IAC and 1st in the IAC Championship Tournament; Boys' Bowling Team placed 3rd in the IAC Tournament and 5th in the Sectionals
* Varsity Cheerleaders placed 2nd at the Greater Rochester, Johnson City & Syracuse Championships

*

Winter 2001:
* Boys' Soccer - IAC Division 2 1st Team All Stars: MATT JAYNES, PHIL WATSON, T.J. LOVE, D.J. AMISANO, SEAN LOVE & STEVE LEE
- Defensive MVP: PHIL WATSON - Offensive MVP: D.J. AMISANO
* Varsity Football: "Best" Bucket Game in school's history" --- October 13, 2000 at Odessa-Montour WG 25 OM 24 (Double Overtime); (Seniors on that team: WILLIAM CUMMINGS, WILLIAM COSTON, JASON THOMPSON, JOSH BUTLER, TONY BANKS,
SEAN O'LOUGHLIN, JEFF ALLEN, MATT NOTARFONZO and RYAN VAN HORN)
* Girls' Varsity Swimming: completed 6th straight IAC CHAMPIONSHIP along with 6th consecutive SECTION IV CLASS C/D CROWN; completed 6th consecutive dual-meet unbeaten season; it was a team of CHAMPIONS led by: CATHY BROWN and the other Seniors JESSICA CONKLIN, TRACEY FAUSEL, SKYE LEWIS, KATHRYN THOMAS, KIM WARREN, MAURA WILLOCK and team manager ADAM KRESS.
* ERIN SPENCER was named to 2nd team IAC All Stars in Cross Country; at IAC Championships at Marathon on 10/28/2000 she ran the 3.1-mile course in 21:40
* the 2000 Girls' Volleyball Season was dedicated to AMBER BROCKWAY
* the 2000-01 wrestling season was dedicated to COACH MIKE WATSON; the January 19/20, 2001 annual Watkins Glen Invitational Wrestling Tournament was renamed the "Mike Watson Memorial Wrestling Tournament"

* Spring 2001:
* MOLLY SCHAMEL concludes her Varsity Girls' Basketball career as WG's all-time leading scorer with 1,164 total points
* DIANA CUMMINGS bowled a 625 series, leading Girls' Bowling Team to 2nd place in Section IV Class C Championships
* KELVIN SCHOONMAKER wrestled to the 189-pound CHAMPIONSHIP at the Section IV Class C Tournament
* NEIL CALLANAN: won the IAC DIVING CHAMPIONSHIP

*

Fall 2001:
* recap of the Scholar Athlete Teams from Fall of 2000: GIRLS' SWIM TEAM, CROSS COUNTRY TEAM, BOYS' & GIRLS' SOCCER TEAMS
* JULIE MILLER established NATIONAL RECORD for 'goalie saves' in soccer on September 4, 2001
* Coaching Staff for Fall Season:
Varsity Football: COACH BRIAN LE BARON Assistant: COACH HAROLD CHAFFEE
JV Football: COACH JW BOSANKO, COACH MIKE POWERS
Girls' Swimming: COACH KATE LA MOREAUX
Assistant: COACH KELLY STERNER; Modified: COACH SUSIE BALL
Varsity Volleyball: COACH DANIELLE MAZZOLA; JV Volleyball: COACH BRIDGETTE SEARLES-SOLOMON
Cross Country: COACH JOE REYNOLDS
Soccer:
- Varsity Boys' COACH RAY KASCHALK - Varsity Girls': COACH STEVE SHYMKIW
- JV: COACH GARY STOW - Modified Boys': NORM DE RAICHE - Modified Girls': RICK SAVARD
- Cheerleading: LYNN NORMAN

*

Spring 2002:
* May 15th - FIELDHOUSE OPEN HOUSE held...
* Boys' Varsity Basketball: completed 19-3 season and won Division I and IAC CHAMPIONSHIPS
* KEVIN MURPHY qualified for NYS Championships in Swimming and broke school record in the backstroke
* CHEERLEADERS win the DIVISION I CHAMPIONSHIP
* JORES PETERS wins CHAMPIONSHIP at the "Mike Watson Memorial Wrestling Invitational:
* Both Varsity Boys' and Girls' Basketball Teams earn Scholar-Athlete distinction

Obviously the above are only a small portion of athletic achievements over these years but are certainly worthy of mention here. Look for more athletic news/notes in the May column.

Through the hallways ...The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (52)

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (53)Former Watkins Glen High School Principal Brian J. O'Donnell, now a member of the Watkins Glen School Board, has delved into the past to provide us with some historical WGHS facts. The 57th in a continuing monthly series.

By Brian J. O'Donnell

Continuing athletic coverage.....

*

January 16, 2001: MOLLY SCHAMEL scored her 1,000th point in Varsity Basketball then scored an additional 26 points later on in her final game to finish her career with 1,164 career points (ranking her #1 all-time for WG Girls' Basketball); just behind MOLLY were JESSICA CRAVER (Class of 1997) who became WG's very 1st 1,000 point girls scorer just ahead of MARY MARTHA BRUBAKER (Class of 1995), who graduated as WG's all-time leading scorer up to that time.
---------------------------------------------
Update.......
* TAYLOR CHAFFEE , Class of 2012, has somewhere in the neighborhood of 1,600 points now -- ALL ALONE AS #1.
----------------------------------------------
* September 18, 1992: CHAD HETHERINGTON scored his 22nd career soccer goal, breaking NILS WATSON'S season record of 21 set in 1988;

* May 5, 2000: SHELLY CONTI pitched a no-hitter for the girls softball team, striking out 11 as WG defeated Edison 1-0 in Section IV Class C playoffs;

* May 24, 2001: ALICIA LEARN went 5-for-5 with a home run, triple and 2 RBIs in WG's 14-4 Section IV Class C playoff win over Tioga; in that same game APRIL BYERS went 4-for-4 with a double and 6 RBIs;

* February 10, 2001: NEIL CALLANAN won the IAC Diving Championship;
* October 12, 2000: STEVE LEE has a "hat trick" (3 goals scored) in soccer;
* September 21, 2001: SEAN LOVE has a soccer "hat trick."
* February 2, 2002: KELVIN SCHOONMAKER & JORES PETERS won 1st place titles at IAC Wrestling Championships

* JOSH BUTLER: completed 2000 Varsity Baseball season with record of 8-3 as a pitcher, a .381 batting average and 1st Team IAC All Star selection; that same season featured NICK MIZERAK (22 steals), KEITH BUBB (.433 batting average) & ANTHONY DOANE (22 RBIs);

* AMY CHAFFEE (Class of 2002) scores seven (7) three-point baskets (a school record)..... finishing with 24 total points in WG's 57-39 win over T-Burg;
* ERIC HANSEN: hit a "Hole in One" on T-Burg Golf Course - 3rd hole - 125 yards - using a sand wedge;
* CATHY BROWN: swam to 2nd place finish in NYS Swimming Championships (highest individual WG finish ever)
* JORES PETERS: wrestled to a 30-6 record in 2002, dedicating his season to his late coach, MIKE WATSON

Some *FIRSTs...

- 1st Girls Track Team formed in 1975 with NANCY LOUGHLIN as Coach;
- 1st live broadcast over Channel 5 Television to our local community was Varsity Girls Swimming meet at home vs. Frewsburg;
- 1st female swimmers to dominate record books were: ALLISON ISLEY & KATHY HATSELL;
- 1st Girls Varsity Basketball team was in 1972-73 with JEAN LAWTON as Coach
- 1st 'ceremonial pitch' on newly constructed Baseball field in April 2002 was by former Varsity Baseball Coach and now High School Principal DAVE WARREN; catcher was NICK BUTLER.
- 1st WG base runner on new Baseball field in April of 2002 was JON PRESTON; 1st WG player to score run was JON PRESTON; 1st WG hit and RBI was by NICK BUTLER
- 1st 'ceremonial pitch' on new Softball field (April 2002) was thrown by KERI MC ILROY (Class of 1996 and Member of the Athletic "Hall of Fame"; as a pitcher during the 1995-96 season KERI had a 20-3 record)
- 1st WG hit on new Softball field was by SHANNON LEWIS; 1st WG run was scored by ASHLEY BAUMAN; 1st RBI was driven in by JESSICA BROWN; 1st triple was hit by APRIL BYERS
- 1st wrestler in 35 years to win a Section IV Championship was MATT MARCINIAK
- 1st WG wrestler to enter "Century Club" with 100 career victories was AARON STANSFIELD
- 1st ever Boys' Soccer Team Coach was BOB KING
- 1st ever Soccer game - played under the lights - was on September 23, 1998
- 1st male Cheerleader in many decades: DAN WAGNER (Class of 1993)

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From a SENIOR RECOGNITION GAME on October 27, 1995 in Football: profile information included the following athletes along with their nicknames:
TRAVIS ("AMPS) LINCOLN, BILL ("DOLLAR BILL") SPENCER, SCOTT ("GINO") YAW, JASON ("STERNER") STENQUIST and...
A.J. ("WAKA WAKA") MATWIEJOW...

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* In the 1982-83 school year the VARSITY FOOTBALL TEAM, under guidance of Head Coach CRAIG CHEPLICK and Assistant Coach BOB LEE, completed an 8-2 season to capture the IAC Division I CHAMPIONSHIP; DARRIN STOCUM was selected 1st Team ALL STATE as a running back and "BRUD" HOLLAND was selected 2nd Team ALL STATE as a kicker; that same season the JV FOOTBALL TEAM went 7-1 and also won the IAC
Division I CHAMPIONSHIP.

* In that 1982-83 school year the Girls TENNIS TEAM under the direction of Coach BARB HUGHEY completed an 8-3 season as Junior Co-Captain ANDREA HOLMES completed an undefeated 10-0 season AND won the Section IV Class B title in singles. (The following season ANDREA very successfully defended her Class B Title, then added the Intersectional CHAMPIONSHIP as well, completing a stellar 16-2 individual season);

* Also in 1982-83 the Boys VARSITY SWIM TEAM (Coach STEVE WOODWORTH) completed a three-year record of 34-1 and the Boys' JV BASKETBALL Team (Coach JERRY LOUGHLIN) completed a 16-2 season.

* In the 1984-85 season COACH WOODWORTH & COACH ROB MICHEL guided the Boys' Varsity SWIM TEAM to their 5th consecutive IAC CHAMPIONSHIP as well as the Section IV Class C Championship; in 1985-86 while the Boys' SWIM TEAM took their 6th consecutive IAC CHAMPIONSHIP, the Varsity GIRLS' SWIM TEAM (Coach KATE LA MOREAUX) won their 1st IAC CHAMPIONSHIP in our history.

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In 1988-1989:
- The varsity FOOTBALL Team completed a 4-1 League record, finishing as TRI-CHAMPIONS (along with T-Burg & Odessa-Montour)
- Assistant Coach CRAIG CHEPLICK of the SUNY Cortland Red Dragons helped team retain #1 Ranking in Division III East Region by virtue of a perfect 11-0 season;
- Varsity CHEERLEADERS won 1st place in Greater Rochester Invitational Tournament
- GUS CANOVAS - Foreign Exchange student from Brazil - won Section IV West Championship in Tennis along with the overall IAC Championship and was runner-up in the Sectional Championship
- Varsity Football Team defeated Athens 6-0 on 9/24/1988 as CHAD CROSS rushes for 159 yards and the game's only touchdown
- MATT MARCINIAK became WG's very 1st Sectional Wrestling Champion at 145 lbs. and qualified for NYS Championships; AARON STANSFIELD finished in 3rd place. (Closest we had ever come before to a Sectional Champion was ADAM MARCINIAK & ANDY STANSFIELD - both finished in 2nd place a few years prior)
- IAC All Stars in Baseball - all 1st Team selections: JOHN BONZO, JIM STOCUM & CHAD CROSS with ERIC LARSON as Honorable Mention
- IAC All Stars in Football: CHAD CROSS, KRIS DAVIS, AARON STANSFIELD; Division VI All Stars: CHAD CROSS, AARON STANSFIELD, TREVOR HOLLAND, MARCUS LAROSE, KRIS DAVIS, VINNIE CORNISH, DAVID BELL & CHRIS CHEDZOY

In 1989/1990:
- began the Football season as one of only two Twin Tiers schools with a winning record during the decade of the 1980's (50-29-3)
- Coach RON PIERCE and Boys' JV Basketball Team won 1st ever IAC Divisional Championship
- IAC All Stars - Girls' Swimming: BECKY DRAKE, KRIS NOBLE, CHANDRA FLAHIVE, MICHELLE SEITHER & KRISTIN BROWN
- KRIS NOBLE & BECKY DRAKE both qualified for NYS Swimming Championships and both finished in 13th place
- HEATHER THORP scored 27 points and had 11 rebounds in Girls' 1st Varsity Basketball game of the season
- MIKE ELLIOTT, ADAM ROBBS & MATT MARCINIAK won IAC Wrestling Championship titles in their weight classes
- Coach JERRY LOUGHLIN led Boys' Varsity Basketball Team into Sectionals (1st time for WG in past five years)
- Boys' Varsity Basketball IAC All-Stars: JOHN YEAGER & JASON FESMIRE (1st Team), JOHN BONZO & AARON PETTIS (2nd Team); JOHN YEAGER had 19.7-point season average; JASON FESMIRE had 14-point average with 9.7 rebounds per game
- JOHN TERRY, LINDA MAPES, ROSANNE PARADISO and others led a very successful & contributing Boosters Club
- Some athletic team Captains were:
TREVOR HOLLAND, SEAN STRANG, B.J. SHELDON, DAVE WILBUR & MARK SWINNERTON - Varsity Football
PAT SEITHER & BRIAN COLEMAN - JV Football;
JEFF KING, NILS WATSON & JASON FESMIRE - Soccer
MARGARET FAZZARY, MEGAN BROWN & CHANDRA FLAHIVE - Girls' Varsity Swimming
BRENDA COON & HEATHER THORP - Varsity Volleyball
CRYSTAL SHEESLEY & CHRISTINE RICHTMYER - JV Volleyball

In 1990/1991:
- PETER LA MOREAUX, Varsity Football Tri-Captain, named "ALL TWIN TIERS"
- MICHELLE SEITHER finished 20th at NYS Swimming Championships
- "MATT MARCINIAK DAY" held on March 4, 1991 to honor MATT's NYS Wrestling Championship (1st and only individual title in our history) MATT
graduated as ALL TIME Leader in CAREER WINS in all of NEW YORK STATE
- Captains' Club Members: MARNIE DAVIS, HEATHER GRAY, KIRRA MC DERMOTT, MICHELLE SEITHER, BRIAN THOMAS, CONNELIA ROSS, ADAM DOANE, CHRIS GLICK, CHAD HETHERINGTON, CHANCE VAN CLEEF, PETER LA MOREAUX, MATT MARCINIAK, ADAM ROBBS, MATT SMITH & BONNIE COONS
- SANDERS WATSON, CHRIS GLICK, MIKE ELLIOTT, TEX HANNAN, MATT MARCINIAK & JEREMY BEBER win IAC Titles in Wrestling
- ANDY CHRISMAN & BILL RUMSEY win IAC JV Championships
- IAC All Stars in Girls' Basketball (2nd Team): MICHELLE SEITHER & DODI SEIVER
- MIKE GILL & PETER LA MOREAUX led "Unofficial" Boys' Volleyball Team to Section IV Class C Finals
- Kiwanis Club Athletes of the Month (new award that began in February): ADAM ROBBS (Wrestling), MICHELLE SEITHER (Basketball), PETER LA MOREAUX (Track), and MATT MARCINIAK (Golf)

*********************************************************

* FREDERICK A. JOHNSON - WG Class of 1900
- 1st three-sport star in school history (Baseball, Football and Track)
- Named in school yearbook - "ORACLE" - as one of the best All-Around Athletes" in Class of 1900
- as Baseball Team Catcher & Right Fielder helped team to wins over Montour Falls (29-10) & Warner's Business College (11-9)
- Fullback on undefeated Football team (3-0), which beat Cook Academy (33-0), Starkey Seminary (11-0) & Horseheads HS (10-6)
- Athletic Association President
- selected to WG Athletic "Hall of Fame" in 1997

* HENRY F. LEMBECK - WG Class of 1902
- 1st four-sport star in school's history (Baseball, Football, Track & Basketball)
- Captain of Football and Track Teams; Baseball: 1st Baseman; Football: Left Halfback; Track: Broad Jump and Hurdler; Basketball: Forward
- Named in 1900 "ORACLE" as one of the best All-Around Athletes
- Athletic Association Officer
- selected to WG Athletic "Hall of Fame" in 1997

* THOMAS A. LEMBECK - WG 1903-1906
- left school as Watkins' ALL TIME SCORER in Basketball with 300 points in three years;
- Basketball Team Captain 1903-04; Team beat Odessa 28-2, Sayre 40-1 AND even Keuka College; 1904-05: beat Horseheads two of three times, and Seneca Falls 68-1; 1905-06: beat EFA 39-1 and Cortland Athletic Club 2-0 in an overall 14-2 season
- Star PITCHER and 3rd Baseman on Baseball Team
- selected to WG Athletic "Hall of Fame" in 1997

*** *****************************************************

* MATT MARCINIAK DAY: March 4, 1991. Information on display to help celebrate Matt's wrestling achievements: A New York State championship in 1991, after being 5th in 1989 and 3rd in 1990; Section IV, IAC and Watkins Invitational titles all three years; records of 37-2, 38-1 and 41-0; New York State career leader in victories (189 from grades 7-12).

Student Council Vice President
National Honor Society Member
Class of 1991 Ranking - 11th
Accepted at West Point
Wrestling Team Tri Captain
Empire State Games 1990 Gold and Silver Medal Winner

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Athletic "HALL OF FAME": 3rd class --- the CLASS OF 1992...

* Our 3rd annual induction took place on June 2, 1992 - again at the year-ending ALL SPORTS BANQUET - with the largest class of honorees to date. Once again members of the Athletic Council inducted the new members; TINA WINCHELL by KAZ ESTELOW, ANDREA HEICHEL by BOB KING, DARRIN STOCUM by JAMIE HARTER, PATTI SUITS DOWLING by KATE LA MOREAUX, GLENN BOYCE by JERRY LOUGHLIN, DON SMITH by BILL DAVIS, T.J. O'ROURKE by RONI PIERCE & TOM HARRISON by BRIAN O'DONNELL. This was the final year that the "HALL OF FAME" inductions would take place at the All Sports Banquet.

* DON SMITH: WG Class of 1950
- Varsity Baseball (4 years), Varsity Basketball (4 years), Varsity Football (4 years);
- ALL STAR Southern Counties League (Basketball) for two years; Southern Counties League Basketball Scoring Champion for two years;
- Held five scoring records in Basketball: Most points in a single game with 60; Most Field Goals in a single game with 26; Average points per game with 24.9; Most points in one season with 249; and Most Field Goals in one season with 103;
- .400 career batting average over four seasons in Varsity Baseball;
- named to ALL SCHOLASTIC Football Team in 1949-1950;
- Elmira City League ALL STAR & MVP in Basketball in 1956-1957;
- Professional Baseball player for Boston Red Sox organization (played one season in Corning, NY)
- WG Golf Club Champion 1965; Member-Guest Champion 1966 & 1968; scored at least two holes-in-one

* DARRIN STOCUM: WG Class of 1983
- three-sport star: Football, Basketball and Baseball
- for 1982 FOOTBALL season: Co-Player of the Year in Twin Tiers, 1st Team All Twin Tiers (Running Back) and 1st Team ALL STATE (Running Back)
- All-IAC in FOOTBALL 1980, 1981, 1982
- 2,400+ Career Rushing Yards...
- Varsity Basketball: All-IAC Team in both 1981 and 1982
- Varsity Baseball: All-IAC Team for 1982
- Member, St. Lawrence University Football Team in 1983 and 1984

* PATTI SUITS DOWLING: WG Class of 1977
- Outstanding competitor in Swimming, Diving, Basketball and Track & Field
- 1977-1979: Varsity Diver at St. Bonaventure University
- 1979-1981: worked with handicapped students in Swimming & Bowling programs
- B.S. in Physical Education from Ithaca College; M.S. from Florida State
- graduate assistantship at Nordrhein Westfalishe University, Munster, West Germany;
- worked as Recreational Director at Edinburgh Boarding School in England

* TINA WINCHELL: WG Class of 1986
- four-year team member of Varsity Basketball and Varsity Softball Teams; Member of Tennis Team for two years;
- Varsity Basketball: Team Captain all four years; All Twin Tiers selection Gr. 11 & Gr. 12; Most Valuable Player Award Gr. 10-11-12; All IAC Selection Gr. 11 & Gr. 12; Exceptional Seniors game participant 1986
- Varsity Softball: also played on HS JV Team as Gr. 8 student; awarded "Most Improved Player" and "Most Valuable Player" on varsity level
- Varsity Tennis: "Most Valuable Player" Gr. 11 and Gr. 12; Qualified for Sectionals Gr. 11 & Gr. 12
- Played Varsity Basketball at Cazenovia College 1986-1988; as point guard led team with most steals and assists

* TOM HARRISON: WG Class of 1955
- won four varsity letters in Baseball and three varsity letters in Basketball;
- in 1955 he completed his "dream season":
1) led Southern Counties League in scoring with 25 points per game average (scored in excess of 30 points per game numerous times, with a career high of 41 points against Odessa-Montour);
2) Named 1st Team ALL SOUTHERN COUNTIES LEAGUE
3) Named "Arthur H. Jackson" Award winner
- began High School career when fellow Hall of Fame member Coach Francis Blake was Vice Principal; played Varsity Baseball under another Hall of Fame member, Coach Joe Lemak;
- went on to play Football at SUNY Morrisville and was a star player for the Watkins Glen State Championship Softball Team; also played Softball & Basketball on U.S. Army teams from 1960-1963;
- today he is both an avid and outstanding golfer;
- was chosen to make the first "official" basket at the dedication of our new Field House

* ANDREA HOLMES: WG Class of 1984
- four year member of Tennis Team; team had winning seasons all four years (7-3, 5-3, 8-3 and 6-5); played under direction of Hall of Fame Coach BARB HUGHEY
- Individual tennis records: Gr. 9 (4-2), Gr. 10 (9-0), Gr. 11 (10-0), Gr. 12 (16-2); Career record: 40 - 4;
- Team Captain Gr. 10 and Gr. 12; Team Co-Captain Gr. 11
- As a Junior became Section IV Class B Champion; became 1st female Sectional Champion in WG history
- As a Senior repeated as Section IV Class B Champion, then won the Section IV Intersectional Championship as well; Most Valuable Player award winner

* GLENN BOYCE: WG Class of 1976
- three-year Varsity letterman in Football, Basketball and Baseball;
- 1st team IAC All Star in Football and Basketball; Member of 1976 IAC Championship Football Team
- played Varsity Basketball at SUNY @ Fredonia;
- as a Coach: 1982 Junior High Basketball "Coach of the Year", 1984, 1986, 1987 South Central AA "Coach of the Year"; 1987 State AA "Coach of the Year"; 1989 Capitol A Conference "Coach of the Year"
- 1987 Head Football Coach for Canton Academy (AA State Football Champions); 1991 Head Football Coach for Hillcrest Christian School (A "South" State Football Champions); and 1987 as a Coach his team was ranked #2 in the State of Mississippi

* T.J. O'ROURKE: WG Class of 1952
- three sport STAR: Football, Basketball & Baseball
Just a few of his Varsity Football Achievements.....
- Varsity Football: 1948-49 - scored two touchdowns in 33-0 win over Athens; 1949-50: scored two touchdowns and ran for an extra point in 34-6 win over Horseheads; 1949-50: caught one touchdown pass, ran for another and scored extra point on a run in 19-0 win over Waterloo; 1950-51: scored two touchdowns, one on a pass reception and one on a blocked kick in 52-6 win over Horseheads; 1950-51: in 14-0 win over Painted Post he scored all 14 points - pass reception for a touchdown, a run for a touchdown and two extra points; 1950-51: in his final Varsity game he scored two touchdowns and two extra points;
Just a couple of his Baseball achievements.....
- had four hits and four RBIs in 11-0 win over Edison
- pitched a no-hitter against Penn Yan
Just a few Varsity Basketball achievements.....
- 1948-49: scored 36 points in 77-65 win over Dundee, 30 points in 75-58 loss to Edison and 20 points in 68-49 loss to Waverly;
- 1949-50: chosen Southern Counties League 2nd Team All Star
- 1950-51: chosen Southern Counties League 1st Team All Star, and was also League Scoring Champion; also in 1950-51 he scored 41 points in 94-60 win over Horseheads, 27 points in 66-33 Sec. IV Class B semifinal win over Cato-Meridian; the team won the Class B Championship
with 48-36 win over New Berlin; in his final Varsity game he scored 27 points to finish season with 219 total points for a 21.9-point season average.

Look for more athletic honors and achievements in April!!!

Through the hallways ...The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (54)

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (55)Former Watkins Glen High School Principal Brian J. O'Donnell, now a member of the Watkins Glen School Board, has delved into the past to provide us with some historical WGHS facts. The 56th in a continuing monthly series.

By Brian J. O'Donnell

Continuing coverage of some athletic achievements -- in no particular order of era or importance ...

* Faculty Manager for Athletics BILL DAVIS originated the idea for the "Hall of Fame." He approached me during the 1989-90 school year with the idea to honor our athletes for their outstanding accomplishments. I concurred and together we determined the criteria/qualifications for selection and the location of where to display pictures/plaques of those honored.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION...
- at least four years since high school graduation
- emphasis on CHARACTER-SPORTSMANSHIP-LEADERSHIP qualities...
- consideration of League and/or State recognition (All Star, MVP, other)
- School recognition (Record Holder, Team Captain, Award Winner, etc.)
- College athletic participation
- Adult athletic competition and/or coaching
(these criteria were to be factors in consideration of nominees but no nominee had to be rated in each and every category)

NOMINATION PROCESS...
- nominations were encouraged from current coaches, past coaches (both Coach LEMAK and Coach GALATIS were consulted with regularly)
- nominations could be submitted by parents, friends, teachers, former teammates, community residents, etc.
- nominations were known only to the Athletic Council members; no public listing of nominees was ever released;
- nominations were expected to also include as much background information as possible (newspaper clippings, etc.)

VOTING PROCESS...
- The High School Athletic Council (Principal, Faculty Manager, Boosters Club President, and two to three Coaches) voted on each nominee
- There were often discussions pertaining to just how many nominees to honor each year to preserve the integrity and honor of selection; in some years there were only a few nominees selected; in other years there were many nominees honored;
- There were discussions pertaining to participants being one-sport stars vs. those who participated successfully in multiple sports;
- Once nominees were selected a formal letter was mailed to each honoree congratulating them and inviting them to the formal induction ceremony and asking them to provide a 3x5 or 8x10 picture to be placed on permanent display with their listing of accomplishments/statistics. A week or so later a formal press release was sent out to inform the entire community of the selections (the process from nomination to selection to communication to the actual induction ceremony covered several months.)

HALL OF FAME FORMAT & LOCATION...
- it was determined early on that there were to be three distinct categories for "Hall of Fame" honor: Athletes, Coaches and Benefactors. Athletes and coaches are self-explanatory; benefactors are those individuals who have contributed time/talent/expertise in so many ways to our overall athletic program and are deserving of recognition;
- the format for display was to be a frame (some were 8x10, some 10x16, some smaller) displaying a picture of the honoree along with a variety of athletic accomplishments and statistics; each frame would be glued to the wall; directly under each frame was a separate plaque (a standard-sized 5x7, I believe, with the honoree's name and year selected for honoring)
- the "Location" for the "Hall of Fame" was the hallway wall area, outside of the school auditorium, beginning just off the Main Lobby (the old Main Lobby now) and continuing down toward the gymnasium (then --- the new Swimming Pool now) and then around the back wall of the auditorium and up the hallway back towards the cafeteria (now the Art classroom). There was a large sign in place just above the hallway doors leading down the hallway past what used to be the Home Economic rooms, now the Broadcast Studio area. For a number of years this location served us well, but with the major construction/renovation of 2000 the "Hall of Fame" had to be relocated.

HALL OF FAME today.....
- Hall of Fame selection continued while construction/renovation took place until 2003 and then there were no selections in 2004 and 2005. During the early 2000's there was no formal area for display but honorees still received recognition at an athletic event and still received their own 5x7 plague of recognition.
- In the 2005-2006 school year High School Principal Dave Warren, Craig Cheplick (Fac. Mgr. Athletics) and I worked to bring back the selection process and find a permanent location for the "Hall of Fame" display. With Superintendent Tom Phillips' support and assistance it was decided to have that permanent display in the main hallway of the newly constructed Fieldhouse. Craig Cheplick had seen numerous Halls of Fame in his travels and coaching experiences and he suggested and implemented the format we see on display today. "Key" to our display is the artistry & talent of Tony Vickio. With the support of the Boosters' Club (especially the efforts of GLENDA GEPHART), Coaches, talented students and many others, our "HALL OF FAME" continues today.

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* The inaugural Class for the Watkins Glen athletic "HALL OF FAME" was introduced on June 6, 1990 at the "ALL SPORTS BANQUET" That year, following the blessing by REV. FRED HANNON, Rector of St. James Episcopol Church, and a fabulous dinner sponsored by the Boosters' Club and a wonderful talk from guest speaker Jack Spates (Cornell University Head Wrestling Coach) and the athletic awards presented by each coach, the following were inducted into the "HALL OF FAME":

---COACH JOE LEMAK---BLAINE MOREHOUSE--- JIM SCOTT---WILLIAM (BILL) DAVIS--- BILL COLUNIO

*

COACH JOE LEMAK: (7/21/1917 - 10/18/2001) -- 35-year career in Watkins Glen 1948-1983
- as a young lad he was active in boxing, ice skating and football (Peekskill, NY); won an athletic scholarship to Manhattan College; won Diamond Glove Open Boxing Championship of Westchester County in 1936; following College he was in the U.S. Navy from 1942-1946 rising to rank of Lieutenant;
- at Watkins Glen as Physical Education and Health teacher he coached Football, Basketball and Baseball, helped (with his son) to construct our Football and Baseball fields, and served more than 25 years as Director of Summer Programs at Clute Park;
- as avid golfer he was Watkins Glen Golf Club Champion in 1953, 1955, 1956 and 1957; he was Tompkins County Golf Champion in 1969-1970-1975 and won the Secretary's Cup in 1972, and the Governor's Cup in 1975
- one of his proudest moments came on March 16, 1951 when his Boys' Varsity Basketball Team defeated New Berlin 48-36 at Cornell University's Barton Hall to win the New York State Section IV Class B Varsity Basketball Championship
- Joe was elected to the Section IV Hall of Fame in 1993
- in his later years following retirement he was well known throughout his neighborhood as a local magician, and he along with his wife Mary was quite active in the Watkins Glen Public Library -- in 1991 he was chosen to be the Public Library's Ambassador for National Library Week.

*

JIM SCOTT -- WG Class of 1964
- lettered in Football, Basketball and Baseball; averaged 14 points per game and helped lead Coach Pete Galatis' Varsity Basketball team to Section IV Class B semifinals in 1964
- awarded Coach Blake Physical Education "Oscar" for outstanding play;
- continued outstanding basketball play both at Corning Community College and SUNY at Brockport (held 11 of a possible 17 basketball records upon graduation from CCC and was on All Tournament Team (1967-68), Most Valuable Player (1968-69) and SUNY All Conference Team (1967-68 and 1968-69)
- at WG coached JV and Varsity Boys' Basketball and Girls' Softball, has led the Saturday Morning Seneca Youth Basketball Program for almost 30 years and been selected Boosters' Club "Coach of the Year" multiple times

*

BILL COLUNIO -- WG Class of 1965
- extremely talented and successful member of both Basketball and Baseball teams;
- signed professional baseball contract with the New York Yankees and played a few seasons in their minor league organization

*

WILLIAM (Bill) DAVIS -- WG Class of 1960
- outstanding three-sport star in Football, Basketball and Baseball; played under guidance and direction of Coach Lemak, Coach Galatis and Coach Warner;
- went on to stellar baseball career at Ithaca College; signed professional contract with the Chicago Cubs as a pitcher at 5:00 p.m. on the day he graduated from Ithaca College, and played two seasons of minor league baseball in that organization: Year #1 - Idaho; Year #2 - Illinois
- served WG as long-time Physical Education teacher, Coach and Faculty Manager for Athletics;
- served our community as Community Recreation Director at Summer Beach Program; coordinated Saturday Morning Recreational Program; and instituted "Davis Cup" community Tennis Championships.
(BILL was totally surprised by his selection --- a well-kept 'secret' by the Boosters' Club!)

*

BLAINE MOREHOUSE -- WG Class of 1986
- Varsity Football IAC All Star (1985 and 1986); IAC Defensive Player of the Year (1985 and 1986); New York State All Star Team (1985 and 1986)
- went on to stellar football career at SUNY Cortland and named Division III All American in 1988

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INAUGURAL "TOP DRAWER 24 TEAM" -- the 1st Scholar-Athlete-Citizen team, sponsored by CHARLIE HAEFFNER, editor/publisher for The Odessa File, honored extraordinary young men and women "because of a combination of achievements and traits that together make them uniquely qualified to tackle the challenges of today and of the future." Beginning with Watkins Glen and Odessa student athletes/scholars, this "Team" has since been extended to both Bradford Central and Trumansburg High Schools. Members of this exclusive group from Watkins Glen are:

2006:
MOLLY MURPHY
SOPHIE PETERS
JACLYN CONKLIN
JON FAZZARY
ALAN McILROY
STEVE COMBS
JOHN M. BIANCO
MICHELLE THORPE
COURTNEY WARREN
JEFF KELLOGG
PHIL BROWN
NATASHA EVANS
ASHLEY EVANS
MOLLY OATES

2007:
ELLIE FAUSOLD
JAIMIE SEDLACK
MOLLY MURPHY
SOPHIE PETERS
ALAN McILROY
ANDREA WITIAZ
JACLYN CONKLIN
SUNNIE SMITH
JOHN M. BIANCO
ARIANA MARMORA
BEN STAMP
TOM BLAKE
JEFF MEEHAN

2008:
ELLIE FAUSOLD
JAIMIE SEDLACK
MOLLY MURPHY
SOPHIE PETERS
ALAN McILROY
JACLYN CONKLIN
ERNIE BRENNAN
ASHLEY SAVARD
ERIC DAHL
MOLLY BILINSKI
BEN QUIGLEY
NICK PHOENIX
ABBY STAMP
JOE STANSFIELD

2009:
ELLIE FAUSOLD
JAIMIE SEDLACK
NICK PHOENIX
ABBY STAMP
JOE STANSFIELD
GUNNAR LOPEZ
NICK SECORD
ALEXA YASKULSKI
ALICIA UPHAM
CODY DAHL
KATEY CHEPLICK
ERIC MACK
HALEIGH WIXSON
SHANNON HAZLITT

2010:
TAYLOR CHAFFEE
JESSICA STANSFIELD
ANGELA KEOUGH
AUSTIN STEPHANY
HALEIGH WIXSON
ADAM RICE
SHELBY OLAFSON
ANDREW CONKLIN
AMBER SWARTZ
TRAVIS WAITE
STUART COOK
ERIC MACK
JENNA SWARTHOUT

2011:
HALEIGH WIXSON
ADAM RICE
SHELBY OLAFSON
ANDREW CONKLIN
AMBER SWARTZ
CASEY HOLLAND
SHANNON HAZLITT
THOMAS WICKHAM
TAYLOR CHAFFEE
JESSICA STANSFIELD
ANGELA KEOUGH
AUSTIN STEPHANY
HALEY TUTTLE

As CHARLIE HAEFFNER says, "Each honoree has excelled in unique and impressive ways, maintaining along the way the capacity to do so while operating with what I like to call a core of kindness. They are tough, and yet compassionate, determined and sportsmanlike."

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Some miscellaneous athletic news:

*

Yearbook Dedications:

1945: COACH FRANCIS W. BLAKE
1953: COACH FRANCIS W. BLAKE
1960: COACH FRANCIS W. BLAKE
(1st person I'm aware of with Yearbook dedications in three different decades of service at Watkins Glen)
1950: COACH JOE LEMAK
1979: COACH JOE LEMAK
1966: COACH JERRY LOUGHLIN
1975: COACH JERRY LOUGHLIN
1990: COACH JERRY LOUGHLIN
(2nd person with yearbook dedications in three different decades.)

* 1902: 1st Girls Basketball Team organized
* 1906: 1st Boys' undefeated Basketball Team (named mythical New York State Champions)
* 1908: 1st Track Team is organized
* 1909: Athletic Association is instituted
* 1916: Southern Counties Basketball League formalized
* 1924: District joins Sportsmanship Brotherhood
* 1933: Boys' Basketball Team becomes Class B Sectional Champions
* 1933: 1st Tennis Team is organized
* 1951: Boys' Varsity Basketball team wins Section IV Class B Championship
* 1954: Lettermen's Club is formed
* 1954: 1st Wrestling Team organized; MR. MILFORD A. WARNER named as Coach;
* 1990: WG Athletic "Hall of Fame" organized
* 2001: Final Football game played on Alumni Field on November 2, 2001
(STEVE OLIVER led the team to a 50-40 victory over Union Springs as he scored 5 touchdowns and rushed for 280 total yards; his yard total fell just shy of the school record of 294 rushing yards set by GEORGE PALMER in 1971)
* 2002: FINAL Tennis match ever played on the Middle School courts was held between MIKE DONNELL - member of 2nd team doubles team in 1939 - and his daughter KATHY (star tennis player from the Class of 1967); NO SCORE was recorded
* 2002: Final Basketball Game in the "old" gymnasium (current HS Swimming Pool)
(This was a 2nd round Section IV Class C game between Watkins Glen with a record of 19-2 and seeded #2 vs. Southern Cayuga with a record of 16-4 seeded #6; Our Varsity Boys' Team completed season as IAC Division I Champions and overall IAC Champions --- a year to remember!!!)
* 2002: June 13th - dedication of new Fieldhouse
(National Anthem was played by several trumpet players arranged by DIANA GROLL. Alma Mater was sung by the Varsity Cheerleaders (the reigning IAC Champions) under direction of Advisor/Coach LYNN NORMAN. Speakers included Board of Education President PEGGY SCOTT, followed by a representative from Governor GEORGE PATAKI's office, Watkins Glen Mayor BOB LEE, and High School Principal BRIAN O'DONNELL. MRS. SCOTT & SUPERINTENDENT DR. MARY ELLEN CORREA held the symbolic ribbon cut by Superintendent of Buildings & Grounds MIKE DE NARDO. Athletic Director JAMIE HARTER then introduced TODD LINCOLN - member of Boys' Varsity Basketball team --- to throw the 1st pass to TOM HARRISON --- member of the 1954/55 Varsity Boys' Basketball Team and leading scorer in the old Southern Counties League with a 25+ point average his Senior year) to score the very 1st "official" basket.)
* 2002: December 3rd - 1st JV and Varsity Boys' Basketball games played on new basketball court in the Fieldhouse;
1st JV Basket: BRIAN RENTSCHLER 1st Varsity Basket: DREW BUBB 1st Varsity Assist: TODD LINCOLN
1st Varsity 3-pointer: TODD LINCOLN
Team Scores: JV WG 28 Odessa-Montour 27 Varsity: WG 70 Odessa-Montour 32
*2003: New Swimming Pool opens - 1st Girls' Swim Meet in new pool (October 23, 2003) was against Odessa-Montour
* 2003: Varsity Girls' Swim Team undefeated winning streak of 109 dual meets comes to an end on 9/02/03 in 98-83 loss at Horseheads

* During the major construction/renovation of 2000-2003: prior to the building of the new athletic fields the outdoor season of 2000-2001 was a true challenge as Athletic Director JAMIE HARTER arranged for the following:

--- Varsity Baseball and Track "Home" events were scheduled at Odessa-Montour
--- JV Baseball "Home" games were held at the Watkins Glen State Park --- upper campground field)
--- JV Softball "Home" games were held on our one remaining field available during renovation
--- Varsity Softball "Home" games were held at the Burdett Elementary School

*

Boys' Varsity Basketball CHAMPIONSHIP of 1951:
- On Wednesday, June 6, 2001 - as part of the annual ALL SPORTS BANQUET - the Boys' Varsity Basketball Team was honored on the 50th anniversary of their Championship season. Team members from that 1951 team were:

T.J. O'ROURKE, Captain -- TED MARCINIAK -- J. WILLIAM (BUB) SMYDER -- ROGER HERRICK -- FRANK BUTTON -- TONY TALLARIDO -- ANTHONY (TONY) SPECCHIO -- DELIVAN GATES
..... and COACH JOE LEMAK ... and Team Manager JOE DEL ROSSO
(T.J. O'ROURKE, TED MARCINIAK, and COACH JOE LEMAK are in the WG Athletic "HALL OF FAME")

The 1951 team's championship was the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Class B Championship. The team completed a 13-5 season then went undefeated in Sectional play at 3-0 to win that title. During that same season COACH MILFORD (BUD)
WARNER's JV Team had a 17-1 season and won the Southern Counties Championship.

* 1898: CLYDE OVERPECK - WG Class of 1902 - became Schuyler County Bicycle Champion
* 1909: WILLIAM CHANDLER, HAROLD CASSIDY, JOHN WAIT & CLARENCE PECK combined to win our oldest trophy - the 1909 Hobart Inter-School Association One-Mile Relay
* 1971: ESTHER PELLER CHURCH became NYS High Jump Champion in Special Olympics (Her Coach was JEAN LAWTON)
* 1973: LEE HERRICK became 1st female player on Boys' Varsity Baseball Team; MARIE FITZSIMMONS became 1st female player on Boys' JV Baseball Team
* 1991-94: CHARLENE BELL became 1st female to play on Boys' Varsity Football Team
* 1997: AMANDA AHO - 1st female on Boys' Wrestling Team pinned her opponent in the very 1st New York State wrestling match between two female opponents
* 1999: LIZ HENRY became 1st female Pole Vaulter in our Track team history

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* Some additional individual achievements include:
- DON SMITH, Class of 1950: scored 60 points in Varsity Basketball game vs. Newark Valley (26 field goals & 8 foul shots) in the 1948-49 season
(Game score was WG 108 - NV 52)
- TED MARCINIAK, Class of 1951: scored 5 touchdowns in football as WG defeated HORSEHEADS 52-6 in the Fall of 1948;
(GEORGE PALMER scored 5 touchdowns in a game 1971 & STEVE OLIVER scored 5 touchdowns in a game in 2001);
- "Century Club" wrestlers (those achieving 100+ career wins) are:
MATT MARCINIAK (189), MIKE ELLIOTT (167), DAN BOND (167), JOEL SKORUSA (148), SANDERS WATSON (114), AARON STANSFIELD (112) and NILS WATSON (100 wins)
- JASON RAPPLEYE: scored best/highest three-game total in Southern Tier history for a Junior Bowler with an overall 821 pins during the winter of 1999
- MIKE BEBER: in 1998 had a career year in Soccer besting STEVE TERRY'S record for career assists and JASON SABATINI'S record for career scoring with 56 goals/38 assists and 152 points
- CHRISSY TRUAX completed her Varsity Softball career (1995-1998) with a .520 batting average, 18 homeruns and 141 RBIs; in April of 1994, playing on the Varsity as an 8th grader, she combined with ALISSA NORMAN to turn a very rare TRIPLE PLAY.

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* February 9, 2002: Varsity GIRLS' CHEERLEADERS win IAC CHAMPIONSHIP ending Dryden's 16-year hold on the top spot. LYNN NORMAN, advisor: with Cheerleaders NICOLE BAKER, SARAH BIANCO, DENISE HOREIN, JAMIE KETTER, MEGAN LEE, ADAM BANKS, ALICIA BOYLES, KATELYN CORNELIUS, LINDSAY LAKOMY, CASEY MANZER, ALYSSA MARCH, KARI SMITH, CHRIS TURNER, RACHEL PORTER & ERIN SPENCER.

* COACH KATE LA MOREAUX & Girls VARSITY SWIMMING TEAM have the greatest dynasty in our District's history. Co-Ranked #1 in NYS Class C/D in 1994-95 and ranked #1 alone from 1995-1996 through 2002-2003, the girls were UNDEFEATED in dual meets from 1995-1996 through 2002-2003 (109 straight dual meets!!!) The TEAM was ranked nationally in the Top 10 since 1997 and were consistently named by the IAC as Scholar-Athlete teams. GIRLS also finished consistently in the top schools for SPORTSMANSHIP.

* COACH MICHELLE VENDITTO'S Varsity SOFTBALL and Varsity BASKETBALL Teams from 1989-2003 both won more than 100 games with 1996 SOFTBALL Team winning 20 games and Varsity BASKETBALL Teams exceeding 17 victories a season five times; her teams brought several IAC Championships to our school.

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More individual accolades.....

- TRACI LINCOLN: WG Class of 1998 had one of the best individual Basketball games ever as WG defeated previously undefeated Odessa-Montour (then ranked #5 in New York State) 55-50 as she scored 19 points with 10 rebounds, 10 assists (a triple-double!!!) and 5 steals; that
game improved WG's record to 16-3 overall and 15-1 in the IAC while O-M fell to 17-1 overall and 14-1 in the IAC

- ADAM ROBBS: WG Class of 1991 was our 1st "KIWANIS CLUB ATHLETE OF THE MONTH" (Club is no longer in existence). Adam was a stellar wrestler with 96 career wins;
--ANDY GARRETT: WG Class of 1996 scored a 3rd place and a 4th place finish in two trips to the NYS Swimming & Diving Championships;
-- JOHN YEAGER: WG Class of 1990 scored a career-high 36 points in a 67-64 Varsity Basketball Team victory over Newark Valley;
-- HOLLI KEEFER: WG Class of 1997 won the Class D Sectional Championship in Diving in 1995 and also was undefeated in both the IAC and Class C that same season;
-- PETER DUGO: WG Class of 1996 averaged three 1st place wins per meet and became the IAC Section IV Class C 100 Breaststroke Champion in 1996; and
--TAYLOR CHAFFEE: WG Class of 2012 (as an 8th Grade student) scored 32 points for the Varsity Girls Basketball Team in their 66-44 win over Edison on January 5, 2008.

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*

HALL OF FAME" - 2nd class - June 5, 1991 - presented again at the year-end ALL SPORTS AWARDS Banquet - official program noted the following:
- OUR Team of the Year: WRESTLERS at 12-0-2
- OUR Wrestler of the Year: MATT MARCINIAK
- OUR Coaches of the Year: COACH BOB LEE (Football), COACH MIKE WATSON (Wrestling)

* Special thanks was given to Faculty Manager BILL DAVIS:
- in title our Faculty Manager; in reality our Director of all Athletics
- through his efforts, each of our 29 athletic teams had comprehensive schedules, practice and game facilities, appropriate officials, transportation services, extensive publicity and so much more...
- for all of this, for his energy, dedication, organizational skills and countless hours of time we extended to BILL DAVIS grateful thanks and appreciation...

- Athletes competing in NYS Championships:
* MATT MARCINIAK - Wrestling - 1st place in NYS
* MIKE ELLIOTT - Wrestling - 8th place in NYS
* MICHELLE SEITHER - Swimming - 20th place in NYS
* KRISTEN BROWN - Swimming -17th place in NYS
* NEIL PLANTY - Diving - 17th place in NYS

Teams and COACHES:
Varsity & JV Football - BOB LEE
Varsity Girls' Basketball - BOB LEE
Varsity & JV Volleyball - MICHELE VENDITTO & LIBBY LICHT
Varsity Softball - MICHELE VENDITTO
JV Girls Basketball - MICHELE VENDITTO
Varsity Girls Swimming - KATE LA MOREAUX
JV Boys Basketball - JAMIE HARTER
Varsity Girls Track - KATE LA MOREAUX & KAZ ESTELOW
JV Girls Softball - JAMIE HARTER
Boys Volleyball - JAMIE HARTER
Modified Soccer - KAREN JOHN
Varsity Boys Soccer - BOB KING
JV Baseball - KAREN JOHN
Varsity Co-Ed Tennis - JOHN FAZZARY
Varsity Cheerleading - LIZ PARADISO
Varsity Boys Basketball - JERRY LOUGHLIN
JV Cheerleading - PEGGY VAN AMBURG
Varsity Golf - JERRY LOUGHLIN
Varsity Wrestling - MIKE WATSON
Varsity Baseball - BILL DAVIS
Varsity Boys Track - MIKE WATSON
Varsity Boys Swimming - ROB MICHEL

Modified/Junior High Coaches: ED LINDSAY (Wrestling), JANET SIMIELE (Gr. 7/8 Cheerleading), MICHELE VENDITTO (Gr. 7/8 Girls' Basketball) JAMIE HARTER (Gr. 7/8 Girls Swimming), ROB MICHEL (Gr. 7/8 Boys Swimming), and Gr. 7/8 Boys Basketball.

Additional: COACH JIM SCOTT: --- Gr. 3-6 Winter Basketball Program (Saturday mornings)
COACH FRED SEITHER: --- GLEN GATORS

1991 "HALL OF FAME" Inductions:
KATHY HATSELL presented by KATE LA MOREAUX
COACH GALATIS presented by BOB KING
ADAM MARCINIAK presented by MIKE WATSON
COACH BLAKE presented by BRIAN O'DONNELL

* COACH PETE GALATIS: see information found in January's column;

* COACH FRANCIS W. BLAKE: at Watkins Glen from 1930-1967 as Coach, Teacher and Vice Principal; coached 1932-33 Boys' Basketball Team to Section IV Class B Championship (defeated Cooperstown at Endicott)
- coached 1932-33 Football Team which only lost 1 game;
- during World War II years of 1941-1945:
* sports schedules were curtailed due to reduced numbers of students and gas rationing; Coach Blake made certain athletics continued in the best possible manner;
* he coached Boys Basketball Team playing an independent schedule as there was no Southern Counties League in operation;
* Varsity Football was dropped altogether and Basketball team played a very reduced-6 game schedule
* he increased intramural opportunities for ALL students;
* he instituted a Touch Football League and formed Boxing & Tumbling Clubs
* he coached a six-man Football Team in 1946/47 and brought back 11 man Football in 1948 and beyond;

* ADAM MARCINIAK: WG Class of 1985
- Section IV Class B wrestling Champion, WG Invitational Champion three times, EFA Tournament Wrestling Champion two times, Section IV Wrestling runner-up, WG "Most Improved" and "MVP" Wrestler;
- as Member of Varsity Football Team he was both a Southern Tier All Star and an IAC League All Star
- Member of Varsity Track Team
- at SUNY Brockport he was National Placewinner in Division III Wrestling, a Division III All American, All New England in Wrestling and SUNYAC Champion

* KATHY HATSELL - WG Class of 1983
- one of our very 1st Varsity Girl swimming champions, known for hard work, great talent, sportsmanship and overall success; established a number of pool records

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Hall of Fame BENEFACTORS category --- for those contributions of time and talent (much of which has happened behind the scenes) and tireless efforts on behalf of our athletic program:
LINCOLN WAGER 1994
TOM FRANK 1994
TRACIE MC ILROY 1995
WG SPORTS BOOSTERS 1995
DR. THOMAS J. LOVE 1996
DON MAAS 1996
MARY FRANZESE 1997
JOHN DILTS 1997
DON DRYDEN 1999
CHUCK BUTLER 2000
KATE BARTHOLOMEW 2001
FRED THORP 2002
MARIE KEEFER 2003

See you in March for more athletic coverage!

Through the hallways ...The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (56)

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (57)Former Watkins Glen High School Principal Brian J. O'Donnell, now a member of the Watkins Glen School Board, has delved into the past to provide us with some historical WGHS facts. The 55th in a continuing monthly series.

By Brian J. O'Donnell

Switching gears now and moving away from faculty/staff/student academic achievements to those athletic achievements and highlights that are such a great part
of our history and tradition. These will be presented in no particular order in year or prominence, but as a collection of accolades for many.

*

BOB LEE - WG Class of 1964...
- Inducted into Watkins Glen Athletic Hall of Fame on December 4, 1998 during halftime of varsity boys Basketball Game against Edison;
- remains as the only person inducted twice into the Hall of Fame - once as a player and once as a Coach;
- coached St. Mary's Basketball for 16 years; began coaching at Watkins Glen High School in 1975, going from Junior Varsity Coach to Defensive Coordinator to Head Coach;
- Coached Varsity Girls' Basketball for several years;
- helped JV and Varsity Football teams raise more than $3,000 for Alumni Field lights
- named Section IV Football Coach of the Year in 1990
- served as High School and College referee for 16 years;

*

JEAN LAWTON - Teacher & Coach - 36 year career at Watkins Glen
- Gr. K through Gr. 12 Physical Education teacher beginning in 1950
- Coach for our 1st Girls' Varsity Basketball Team in 1972-73; team won Divisional Championship
- Special Olympics Coach for 10 years and Tri-County Coordinator for Special Olympics;
- nominated for Athletic "Hall of Fame" by Linda McIntyre who said, "Jean laid the foundation of enthusiasm for the game...the fun of physical competition...the fairness and compassion of Sportsmanship"
- out of town at her "Hall of Fame" induction ceremony, accepting on her behalf was Cyndy Wood, Pool Director

*

PETER GALATIS - Physical Education Teacher & Coach
- career at Watkins Glen was 1955-1987; assisted Coach Lemak with Varsity Football and in 1962 began the 1st WGHS Golf Team;
- in 1956 he began a 14-year tenure as Varsity Boys' Basketball Coach ( in the Southern Counties League)
- coordinated Middle School Intramural program for a number of years;
- Coach Lemak said, "He was quiet, calm, dignified -- a good role model but a very private person. This man went about getting the job done in a highly competent but unspectacular manner."
- inducted into the "Hall of Fame" on June 5, 1991; induction speech given by HS Librarian Bob King

*

BARB HUGHEY - WG Class of 1962 - Physical Education Teacher & Coach
- Top Physically-Fit Senior and Female Athlete in Class of 1962; received "Arthur Jackson" Award and the "Physical Education" Oscar; held school records in Long Jump, Triple Jump and 50-Yard Dash
- Coached WG Varsity Girls' Swim Team in 1972-1977 and Girls' Tennis Team from 1978-1987; Swimming Team had several Sectional Champions while in Tennis the team had winning seasons 7 of 10 years along with Sec. IV Class B & C Champion Andrea Holmes;
- began "Lifetime Sports" program at WGHS and also coached a competitive Aqua-Dance Team;
- Guidance Counselor Nancy Loughlin researched Barb's 'history' calling her "...a most unassuming educator about who and what she is."
- Barb was inducted into the "Hall of Fame" in 1997

* SAMUEL SCHIMIZZI, SR, - late 1930's/early 1940's
- played football for Coach Blake when Watkins Glen was a member of the Southern Counties League and played home games at the "Fairgrounds"
- in 1940 many parents objected to their sons playing football and only 20 athletes came out for the team; the team dropped from the League for a while, then re-entered and completed a 3-2-0 season with wins over Waverly , Horseheads and Painted Post;
- played Left Guard and Left Tackle during his Senior year; team was often referred to as the "Lakesiders"
- also played on the Basketball and Baseball teams;

*

JAMES SCAPTURA - WG Class of 1953
- from written comments by Coach Joe Lemak: "...he was a priceless substitute player...never complained as he waited with spirit & vigor for me to call on him whenever needed as a substitute. Jim was a great teammate and player."
- Coach Lemak further commented, "In the early 1950's we had the Watkins Glen American Legion baseball team, playing home games at the Fairgrounds and away games at places like Elmira Heights, Hector, Odessa, Ovid and Montour. Jim's father, Nick, had a big station wagon used to make deliveries from his "Red and White" grocery store and for away games he would let us use that station wagon to transport our team."

*

MICHELE (MIKE) L. BARTONE - WG Class of 1934
- team member on Basketball (Right Forward), Football (Quarterback) and Track teams;
- in May of 1934 he received a 3rd Place Award Bronze Medal for a Foul Shooting contest held in Little Falls, NY (a NYSPHSAA Award)
- beyond high school was an avid bowler (1947 Singles' Championship in the Elmira Bowling Association) and golfer (consistently scored in the low 40's for 9 holes and had at least one hole-in-one);

* "Hall of Fame" inductions from October 16, 1998...
On a semi-warm and clear evening, during halftime of the Boys' Varsity Soccer Game vs. Odessa-Montour, former Health Teacher & Coach (and Inaugural Member of the "Hall of Fame" himself JOE LEMAK and I handed out plaques of membership to the newest "Hall" honorees. As Faculty Manager for Athletics JAMIE HARTER read their accomplishments over the public address system and Superintendent DON DRYDEN looked on, each honoree was greeted by
JOE and me as numerous faculty/staff, students/athletes and parents applauded. Former Board President DR. THOMAS J. LOVE ("Hall of Fame" Benefactor since 1996) was also present.

-

DOMINICK FRANZESE, Jr. - WG Class of 1955
....played 2nd Base with a career batting average in excess of .300 in Baseball;
....played Basketball for four years, once scoring 32 points in a game vs. Horseheads and was Senior Co-Captain & Honorable Mention All Southern Counties All Star;
....played Quarterback and did place-kicking for Football team for three years
....was Radio Announcer for Senecas sports for 14 years and instrumental in obtaining lights for original Alumni Field;

-

SHEILA SUITS CARNAHAN - WG Class of 1979
....1st female athlete to excel in team sports given Title IX and increased opportunities for female athletes in the 1970's;
....Member of Girls' Varsity Swim Team for 6 years (Gr. 7-12); played Varsity Basketball for 4 years; and was Member of Track & Field Team for 6 years (Gr. 7-12)
....Placed 1st in every IAC Track Meet she entered both in the Shot Put & Discus; in 1977 Sectionals she placed 4th in Shot and in the NYS Track Meet in 1977 she placed 6th overall in the Shot; her Shot Put record on our home track was 37 feet 10 1/2 inches;

-

KRIS NOBLE SEAMAN - WG Class of 1990
....IAC Swimming Champion in 1986-1987-1989 in the 200 Yard Medley Relay and in 1986-1987 in the 100 Yard Breaststroke as well; she was Section IV Class C Champion in 1986-1987-1988 in the 100 Yard Breaststroke and in 1986-1987 in the 200 Yard Medley Relay; she won the EFA Invitational in 1988 in the Breaststroke and in 1989 finished 13th at the NYS Championships again in the Breaststroke; she has held numerous pool records at our pool and throughout the IAC and in 1988 earned the distinction as "Southern Tier Athlete of the Week.

-

JOHN DILTS (Benefactor) -- John served as Head Groundskeeper for 26 1/2 years and always approached his job with energy, enthusiasm, dedication, great care and total professionalism; he accomplished all of his responsibilities cheerfully and with the prime priority of safety.

* "Hall of Fame" Inductions from October 15, 1999...

- TED MARCINIAK - WG Class of 1951
...four year veteran of Football, Basketball and Baseball Teams ....scored 5 touchdowns vs. Horseheads in WG's 52-6 victory; member of 1951 Class B Basketball Championship Team; scored 17 points in East-West ALL STAR Basketball Game; pitched 11-0 victory over Edison in May 1951 - struck out 13 and at the plate himself went 3 for 4; also scored 31 points in basketball victory over Edison.

-

TREVOR HOLLAND - WG Class of 1990
....Quarterback (Football), Point Guard (Basketball), Pitcher & Outfielder (Baseball); Junior Year passed for 850 yards & 7 touchdowns, Senior year passed for 1,028 yards and 11 touchdowns; 1st Quarterback in school history to pass for 1,000+ yards in a single season; Division VI All
Star/Twin Tiers All Star/MVP/Sportsmanship Award in Football; pitched in a game at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, NY

-

STEVE DECKER - WG Class of 1992
....Three sport star in Soccer, Baseball and Basketball; in Soccer - team MVP in Corning Cup Tournament, school record of 31 saves in goal vs. Notre Dame; IAC 2nd team All Star; in Basketball named IAC 1st Team All Star as a Senior; and in Baseball named to 1st Team IAC All Stars; named as Captain for Exceptional Seniors Game both in Soccer & Baseball

-

NATE VAN OSTRAND - WG Class of 1993
....Football and Basketball (Gr. 8-12) and Baseball (Gr. 10-11-12); 1992 ALL STATE Running Back (1,000+ yards rushing) and 1993 All TWIN TIERS running Back and ALL STATE Running Back (1,000+ yards rushing) - graduated as WG's all-time leading rusher in Football; went on to play football at Buffalo State (as Senior linebacker had 134 tackles - 5 solo - 13 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 11 pass breaks); March-September of 1998 Nathan played for the Hildeshem Invaders in the Germany Professional League and was voted BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER with 71 tackles - 27 solo - 10 sacks and 3 knockdowns;

-

DONALD A. DRYDEN - Superintendent of Schools (Benefactor category)
....Athletic Director 1996-2000; helped implement additional new teams of Varsity Girls' Soccer (1996-97), JV Soccer (1997-98) and Boys' & Girls' Bowling (1998-99).

* Hall of Fame inductions from September 28, 2001 --- 12th annual ceremony...

- DAVID POPOVICH - WG Class of 1979
....member of Football team for four years; Quarterback as a Senior; outstanding member of Junior High and Senior High Track Teams; ran the 440 & Relays; did the High Jump and was a Champion Pole Vaulter; held school record in Pole Vault at 13 feet 4 1/2 inches (don't know if that record is still current) ....loved to WIN but more importantly loved to compete & outperform himself and always with a SMILE; as an adult a most successful golfer and competitor in curling

-

ALLISON ISLEY MAJKA - WG Class of 1983
....Cheerleader: MVP Varsity Cheerleader in 1982-83; Member of IAC Championship Team 1981-82 AND 1982-83; Team Captain 1982-83; JV Team Captain 1980-81 and Member of IAC Championship Team in 1979-80 AND 1980-81; Top Ten Award U.S. Cheerleading Association National Championships in 1981;
....Swimming: Co-Captain Varsity Team 1982-83; Co MVP 1982-83; Most Improved Award 1981-82; 100 Yard Breaststroke IAC and WG Record 1981-82 and 200 Medley Relay WG Record Holder 1981-82;
....Track: MVP 1980-81, 1981-82, and 1982-83; Team Captain 1982-83; Ran 400, 800, and 1200 meters plus 400 and 3200 meter relay and did High Jump and Long Jump;

-

COLIN HATSELL: WG Class of 1988
.... Varsity Swim Team Gr. 8-9-10-11-12 .... 1st Swimmer in WG History to swim 100 Free in less than 50 seconds; held school record from 1988-2001; qualified for 1988 NYS Championships; helped team win Class C Section IV and IAC Championships from Gr. 8- Gr. 12; Team Captain 1988
....Varsity Golf Team Gr. 9-10-11; top WG Golfer at 1986 Corning Junior Invitational; Team Captain; qualified for 2nd round Sec. IV NYS Meet;
....Varsity Cross Country: Gr. 9-10-11; top WG runner in 1986 IAC Championship Meet; placed 13th in 1985 IAC Championships; team Captain;

-

KERI MC ILROY SCHUBMEHL: WG Class of 1996
....Swimming: 1992-93; Team Record of 12-2 for 2nd place in IAC and Section IV; Team won Fall Sportsmanship Award;
....Volleyball: 1995-96; Team won 1st place in Sportsmanship
....Basketball: Gr. 10-11-12; for JV Team in 1993-94 she won individual Sportsmanship Award; Varsity Team won IAC Southwest Large School Championship in 1994-95; she was individual winner of 1st ever 3 point shootout at Exceptional Seniors Game;
....Softball: Gr. 8-9-10-11-12; JV record as Pitcher was 11-5; Varsity record as a Pitcher was 33-13; career statistics were 95 runs scored, 45 hits and 50 RBI's; as a pitcher she was 15-1 in IAC and 20-3 overall in the 1995-96 season; 1995-96 team was IAC Large School Champion, won 2nd place in Sec. IV Class C playoffs and ranked #19 in all of New York State

-

KATE BARTHOLOMEW - BENEFACTOR category...
....donated countless hours of time and effort assisting the overall athletic program and always complimenting the athletes - great & small - on their achievements -- helping them feel good about themselves and their school community.

* for this 12th annual Induction: ALLISON ISLEY MAJKA couldn't be present due to being home with a child who was ill; accepting on her behalf was her dad CARL ISLEY; COLIN HATSELL flew in from Chicago to be there - celebrating his mom's birthday that same weekend - and joining him for his induction were his mom, his sister Kathy (herself a Hall of Fame member) and his brother Michael up from Florida; KERI MC ILROY SCHUBMEHL's mom TRACIE MC ILROY had the honor of presenting her plaque to her (TRACIE is also in the Hall of Fame for her efforts leading the Boosters' Club in 1995 financing the athletic program during an austerity year); this 12th Induction was dedicated to COACH PETE GALATIS (inducted in 1991) and COACH FRANCIS BLAKE (inducted also in 1991).

...Look for additional HALL OF FAMERS and other outstanding athletes in February! Through the hallways ...The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (58)

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (59)Former Watkins Glen High School Principal Brian J. O'Donnell, now a member of the Watkins Glen School Board, has delved into the past to provide us with some historical WGHS facts. The 54th in a continuing monthly series.

By Brian J. O'Donnell

2002-2003...

As this was the final year of my tenure in Watkins Glen, it may be a bit more comprehensive than previous installments - enjoy!

* Prior to the new school year, those members of the faculty/staff retiring, transferring, or resigning included the following:
- REETHA SHUMWAY (1971-2002) - Special Education Teaching Assistant and long-time aide to CAROL KUNZMANN; Reetha loved her job, helping students; NANCY RUDA arranged a wonderful party for Reetha as the new school year began;
- RAY KASCHALK (1998-2002) - Physics Teacher; you could often see RAY and his students out in the hallway conducting various Physics experiments in a truly authentic assessment manner; and who could forget RAY's Halloween celebration character? He also spent some time as our Assistant Wrestling Coach under Coach MIKE WATSON;
- RICK PETTET - former U.S. Navy Officer and local runner; RICK transferred to a Science position in our Middle School and he is still there today;
- DAVID SMITH resigned as Math Teacher at the High School; He had been involved at the BOCES - Teacher's Center prior to coming to Watkins Glen and we appreciated his time with us and our students;
- BARB HUGHEY - long-time High School Girls's Physical Education teacher and "founder' of our 'Lifetime Sports' program; Girls' Tennis Coach for a number of years (Athletic HALL OF FAME COACH Girls' Swim Team 1972-1977 with several Sectional Champions and Girls' Tennis Team 1978-1987 with seven of ten winning seasons and ANDREA HOLMES becoming Sectional and Intersectional CHAMPION on her way to "Hall of Fame" status too; Remember the gym class "dance" program and "Cross Country Ski" program (with her husband RICK helping cut trails in the State Park???)

New Faculty/staff included:
- NELSON BEEBE: a legend at Odessa-Montour as an extraordinary teacher of Mathematics; a regular summer school teacher for us and -- to our advantage - a half-time Math Teacher at the high school following his retirement from Odessa-Montour (Nelson and I went back a long way to our summers as teachers at the Elmira Correctional Facility in the early 1970's) --- what a great teacher; what a great guy!!! It was wonderful to again work with him!
- WAYNE O'BRIEN (Physics) and MATT YANINAS (Living Environment/Biology) were hired and rounded out our High School Science Department in a time of need;
- NAOMI ZUCKERMAN (Mathematics) and ERICK SCHNELL (Special Education) were hired for the High School;
- YVONNE AILING continued as long-term substitute in Vocal Music with JAMIE JOHNSON as long-term substitute in French;
- TRACY PRATT (Physical Education), one of my students when I was Middle School Principal, was hired to replace BARB HUGHEY; and ROSANNE DOANE became 1/2 time Main Office Assistant for Attendance and 1/2 time in our Guidance Office

*

Additional faculty/staff retirements following 2001-2002 school year were:
LINDA FAZZARY (Health Office Clerk for Elementary and then Middle School), JOAN GASCON (Teaching Assistant at the Middle School), MARILYN DENSON (Elementary then Middle School Teacher), LINDA GOULD (Elementary Teacher), KAREN SCHAMEL (Elementary Teacher), ED WESTBROOK (Elementary Teacher) and MARY ANN VAN AMBURG (Elementary School Main Office Secretary);
* DIANE SCHMIDT was employed as a Social Worker and TONIA ILLIG was Support Services Coordinator

* New staff at the Elementary & Middle Schools included:
JANELLE WHITWOOD (Special Education), TREVOR HOLLAND (Physical Education), BARBRA POWERS (Grade 4), NICOLE PERRY (Reading), CAROLYN YAW (Keyboard Specialist), AMY TAFT (Keyboard Clerk), JENNIFER JOHNSON (Special Education), AMY MILLER (Special Education), SUZANNE FINGLER (School Nurse), HOLLY JOHNSON (Gr. 5), & KIM LAZZARO (Gr. 5); and former Elementary School Principal MIKE YUHASZ was appointed Interim Elementary Principal in October and completed the 2002-03 year in that position.

* Foreign Exchange students for 2002-2003: FALKO RICHTER - Germany
MARKUS BUELOW - Germany
ANA NAVARO - Ecuador
MARILIA VILLELA - Brazil

* BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT: a new requirement under SAVE Legislation to inform parents of any new items (Attendance Policy, AIDS Education, and Guidance Information);

E-MAIL & VOICE MAIL: became communications vehicles for faculty/staff/parents;

SEXUAL HARASSMENT Training was held for all faculty/staff;

* HILARY DAVIS: scheduled to be a Sophomore, enrolled instead at Simon's Rock College of Bard in Barrington, Massachusetts;

* CLUB OFFICERS:

Art Club: President LAUREN WOOD, Vice President MICHELLE FRIESEN, Secretary TRENTON LOUGHLIN & SAMANTHA LONG, Treasurer STEPHANIE BLACKFORD

Library Council: President SUMMER LINDSAY, Vice President CARRIE LANGLEY, Secretary MEGAN GROLL & MARGARET KIRTON, Treasurer AUDRA BIEG

***************************************************

Iron-Man RICHARD MC INTYRE ----- Career Comes to a close.....
* Long-time English Teacher RICHARD MC INTYRE -- suffering from an illness that attacked his vocal cords finally made the decision that he could not perform his responsibilities according to his high standards and he called in "sick" --- ending an era of consistency and excellence --- he was replaced in the classroom first by JANICE MAHON for several weeks, then by certified English teacher JONATHAN MILLER from early March through June; the English Department had a 2nd major change as KELLY MUIR left on a child-care leave (Welcome JACK!) and ED PORTER was her long-term substitute from March 18-June 20th;

*High School Secretary LAURI MACRI took a leave for foot surgery and KATHY CRANS substituted for her;

* The High School schedule was revised somewhat so the Middle School could be dismissed first; JAMIE HARTER resigned from his position as Athletic Director in May and was replaced by KAZ ESTELOW as Faculty Manager for Athletics. New Business Official DOMENICK ALOISIO began working in July of 2002;

* Grade 9 students were no longer permitted to be part of the "Open Campus" policy as the plans were to phase-out the Open Campus tradition at lunchtime until all classes were restricted to campus throughout the school day.

* Graduation 2003:
- The Superintendent, DR. MARY ELLEN CORREA, called away due to a death in her family - sent CONGRATULATIONS to the Class of 2003; I - as usual - thanked the members of the Class of 2003 for all of their hard work/effort that brought them to our stage; and I also thanked all teachers and staff Grade K- 12 for being so supportive and caring and parents, grandparents, uncles/aunts, brothers/sisters, neighbors, etc. for all they had done; and specifically to: retiring faculty members for this year DONNA REIMELS in our Elementary School and DANNIE BROWN, DIANE MELVENEY and RICHARD MC INTYRE in the High School, and to
retiring Board of Education Member JIM O'BRIEN;

- as this was my 15th and final High School graduation ceremony as Principal I extended sincere thanks & appreciation to Senior Class Advisor NICK DUGO for organizing/implementing these fine ceremonies through the years!

* $36,150,000 renovation/construction project --- a three year project --- was fully completed with all areas slated to be fully operational for the 2003-2004 school year; generosity of our District Residents and taxpayers, and patience/flexibility/cooperation of faculty, staff, students and parents made this possible with little interruption to our program and with overall safety/security as the number one priority;

* 2002-2003 was the final year of Coaching for Girls' Varsity Swimming Coach KATE LA MOREAUX; KATE retired with an overall record of 223 wins, 17 losses and one tie, eight IAC Championships, nine Section IV Championships, five years as #1 Ranked Swimming Team in New York State (for our Class), and several team Sportsmanship and Scholar-Athlete awards; additionally KATE was honored nationally by recognition in Sports Illustrated's "Faces in
the Crowd" --- in 2003 KATE was honored by our school with selection to the Watkins Glen Athletic HALL OF FAME as a Coach.

* as we began the 2002-2003 school year we had a new Business Official: DOMINICK ALOISIO; GRADE 9 students were no longer permitted to participate in the 'Open Campus' program (with plans to phase out the Open Campus within four years), and our Central Office/Business Office and Guidance Office personnel moved into their newly renovated locations in the summer of 2002;

* there was a very special event held at NICK DUGO'S home on September 20, 2002 as the "Time Capsule" from the original cornerstone of the High School was opened -- thanks to the expertise of DAN TEED & NICK GIAMBO; no real surprises were found in the 'capsule' but it was a historical event nonetheless;

* the 1st High School "HOME" team victory in the new Fieldhouse happened on October 3, 2002 as Coach DANIELLE MAZZOLA's Varsity Volleyball Team won their event;

* Renovations of Science Classrooms (#743 and #737) took place over Christmas Vacation (and a bit beyond!) and in January of 2003 the new Music Education suite and Technology Computer Room opened for "business."

* 2002-2003 also saw Social Studies Teacher CRAIG CHEPLICK receive Board Certification from the Board of Directors of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards;

* the A-B-C-D schedule with 55-minute classes became a reality and two daily lunch periods soon became just one; AIS, PLATO and the 21st Century programs continued;

* HALLOWEEN DOOR DECORATING winners were: 1st Place: KATHY MEIERJURGEN and 2nd Place: RAY THOMAS

* Christmas Season DOOR DECORATING Contest winners:
1st: NICK DUGO & NANCY BAHNS (a tie)
2nd: KELLY MUIR (again!) - a regular happening for her!
3rd: MARIE FITZSIMMONS
(Honorable Mention went to: DENNIS BRADY, the MAIN OFFICE gang, and NAOMI ZUCKERMAN)

* Several babies were born during the 2002-2003 school year:
- 8/29/02 ADRIENNE SEARLES SOLOMON
- 9/01/02 SHEA ELIZABETH BOLAND (My Granddaughter)
- 10/22/02 RILEY MERILL HART (Sharidy Hart's daughter - Sharidy administrated the 21st Century Program)
- 10/24/02 ISAAC ALEXANDER MC ILROY (Tracie McIlroy's 1st grandchild)
- 12/23/02 PARKER THOMAS WADE
- 3/21/03 JOHN (JACK) MUIR
- 3/31/03 KENNEDY JACLYN LA MOREAUX

* TRACIE MC ILROY & MARIE KEEFER kept the Boosters' Club up and running; DIANA GROLL, YVONNE ALLING & SALLY MICHEL kept those wonderful Concerts coming; EILEEN MALANEY, DIANA GROLL, and GAIL BUTLER kept the "Senecan Scoop" coming, and MAGGIE FIELD & BOB FOOTE kept television Channel 5 up and running;

* EILEEN MALANEY (Channel 5 Bulletin Board), TERRY PATCHETT (Career Development), LAURA ASK (Choices Counselor), MARTHA EVANS (Instructional Support), ALICE LEARN (Curriculum and C-DEP) and TRACIE MC ILROY, KATE LA MOREAUX, KAZ ESTELOW, and LYNN NORMAN (Athletic Council) all gave of their time, energy and expertise.

* CRAIG CHEPLICK (Hugh O'Brien Leadership Coordinator), DEB SAVARD, TOM OMIATEK, TOM PLANTY, NANCY RUDA, LYNN NORMAN, JANICE KILBURN, NANCY LOUGHLIN, CHRIS OMIATEK, KAZ ESTELOW, JILL WINKKY-WADE, KATE BARTHOLOMEW & MARTY EVANS (CIM Team Members), and GAIL BUTLER (Jeans Fridays) also contributed much to our staff and students.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS.....

ROTARY STUDENTS OF THE MONTH:
CHRIS VAN AMBURG, CHRIS TAPPAN, EMILY MAC WILLIAMS, THERESA BIANCO, KELSEY WOOD, GEORGE WHITING, LINDSAY LAKOMY & DAVID MIZERAK

STUDENT COUNCIL: President BRANDON MATTHEWS, Vice President CHAD DERSHAM, Secretary KELSEY WOOD, Treasurer STEPHANIE BLACKFORD

CLASS OF 2003: President THERESA BIANCO & KEVIN MURPHY, Vice President LINDSAY SCHMIDT, Secretary LINDSAY LAKOMY, Treasurer KATHRYN OATES

Schuyler Leadership Trainees: ANDREW PIKE, MEGAN BAUCHLE, MEGAN NICHOLS, SHANNON THOMSON, AUDRA BIEG, LUKE HOLGATE, KELLY LARGO, MATT BOYCE, ALLISON DE DOMINICK & ERICH HERZIG

* 1st SENIOR CLASS PHOTOGRAPH for the Yearbook was taken in our new FIELDHOUSE on OCTOBER 2, 2002

* Homecoming Royalty: LINDSAY LAKOMY (Queen), DREW BUBB (King), Court: NATALIE BARTONE, MAGGIE NIVER-JOHNSON, TERESA LA FACE, ROB PARISE, DAVE MIZERAK & MATT BOYCE.
- CLASS Float competition: 1st: Seniors; 2nd: Sophomores; 3rd: Juniors; 4th: Freshmen

* Halloween Costume Winners: Most Original GABBY ROSIER, ANNA TESILLO, & JEN ARCANGELI; Scariest ROBERT CORNELIUS; Best Look Alikes KELSEY WOOD & THERESA BIANCO

* KRISTA CAMPBELL was HOBY Leadership student honoree; HOPE SULLIVAN represented BOCES-HOSA presenting information at BOCES BOARD Meeting in December;

* VFW Voice of America essay contest winners:
1st - $800.00 LUKE RIBAUDO; 2nd - $600.00 KEVIN MURPHY; 3rd - $400.00 JOSHUA LOWMASTER

* Semi-formal Dance ROYALTY: Queen LINDSAY LAKOMY; King GEORGE KELLOGG; Princess: DESIREE ELLISON; Prince: RYAN EVANS

* JESIKA CLINK: 3rd Place (Data Entry) BOCES VICA Competition at SUNY DELHI
* KYLE EDELE: Watkins Glen Public Library Student Ambassador for National Library Week

* PROM Royalty: Queen JENN ORR; King DREW BUBB; Princess MICHELLE AMISANO; Prince GEORGE WHITING

* JONATHAN WOOD: 2nd place - BOCES Envirothon
* MEGAN NICHOLS: won Scholastic Art Award
* KEVIN MURPHY: awarded appointment to U.S. Coast Guard Academy
* THERESA BIANCO & KELSEY WOOD: won NYS Attorney General "TRIPLE C" Award
* ASHLEY HOUSEKNECHT: received Xerox Humanities Award
* MEGAN GROLL: received the RYLA Award
* KRISTA MOORE: received Clarkson University Leadership Award
* EMILY HUBBELL: received Clarkson University Achievement Award

* AUDRY BIEG, KELLY LARGO, ASHLEY CROSS, ALLISON DE DOMINICK, NICOLE BAKER, EMILY HUBBELL, SAMANTHA LONG, ASHLEY HOUSEKNECHT, DENISE HOREIN, FELICIA FRANZESE, KRISTA MOORE & ADAM MATHEWS: received the Elmira College "KEY" Award

* MITCH SIMPSON: won the "Amber Brockway" Award
* BRETT DENSE: won the "Kitty Depew" Business Scholarship
* CASEY LEES: won the "Lenore Fenaughty" Award
* GABRIELLE ROSIER: won the "Lions Club Cook-Warner" award
* NATALIE BARTONE: won the "Melissa Wilson" Award
* MATT BOYCE: won the "Peter A. Pevo" Award
* ALYSSA MARCH: won Southern Tier Guidance Counselors Scholarship
* LAUREN ANDREWS: won the "Beth MacNamara" Art Award
* KELSEY WOOD: won the "Janet Andrews Simiele " History Award
* MEGAN NICHOLS: won the Student Council English Award

* New High School Cornerstone was set: Gr. 12 students THERESA BIANCO & GABRIELLE ROSIER were a major part in helping with the overall process; others who contributed items to be locked away in the Cornerstone were: KELSEY WOOD, ERIC HANSEN, KELLY LARGO, GEORGE WHITING, LUKE HOLGATE, MEGAN MATTHEWS, MICHELLE WARREN, JOSEPH BRADASCIO, TRENTON LOUGHLIN, TYLER LATTIN, MEGAN GROLL & DEVIN MACRI.

* Top 10 Seniors were: #1 - MEGAN NICHOLS; #2 - SHANNON THOMSON; #3 - THERESA BIANCO; #4 - DEBORAH PRUITT; #5 - EMILY MAC WILLIAMS; #6 - LAUREN WOOD; #7 - ALANA MALINA; #8 - KELSEY WOOD; # - KEVIN LEE;
#10- ERIC HANSEN

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KYLE GREGORY------------ SETH MARCELLUS ------------BRENNAN LOVE

On Sunday morning, May 4th, three of our students --- all Members of the Class of 2005 --- were killed in a horrific automobile accident just outside of Hector on Route 414. Almost immediately more than 150 students, faculty & staff assembled at the High School for comfort & familiarity, to share emotions and thoughts. In the days that followed "normalcy" took on a totally different meaning for all of us. A community-wide memorial service was held in our Fieldhouse on May 8th at which numerous cards, notes, pictures -- produced by students -- were available for the families. MICHELLE WARREN & MEGAN MATTHEWS sang a song written/composed by GEORGE WHITING: "Forever in My Heart." The Senior High Chorus sang"I'm With You" and "Only Time," and MITCHELL PEVO played and sang"Knocking on Heaven's Door."

MITCHELL also played the "National Anthem" along with the special talents of ERNIE WHITING, BRYANT MYERS, JAMES RUDA, JOHN WILKENS, and ANGELO PETERS. The Friends of the Watkins Library made a $1,000 donation to the Watkins Glen Public Library to purchase a permanent bookcase in memory of KYLE, SETH and BRENNAN. At a Track
Meet dozens and dozens of people made a memorial lap around the track in their honor ... and who can forget how the blazing sun broke through the dark storm clouds with brilliant rays streaming down on that rainy & dreary afternoon? There was also a large gathering of students along with many staff on a hilltop (the highest point in Schuyler County) to "remember & memorialize." Gone - but never forgotten!

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

It has been my pleasure to bring back these memories and achievements from years past. I hope you've enjoyed reading them as they ARE the history & tradition which is the Watkins Glen Central School District. Beginning in January our "Through the Hallways" will look at a variety of Athletic achievements and the outstanding young men and women behind them!

Best wishes for a very Merry Christmas to everyone --- see you again in January of 2012 !!!

Through the hallways ...The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (60)

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (61)Former Watkins Glen High School Principal Brian J. O'Donnell, now a member of the Watkins Glen School Board, has delved into the past to provide us with some historical WGHS facts. The 53rd in a continuing monthly series.

By Brian J. O'Donnell

* 2000-2001 continued from last month...

--EMILY HUBBELL was selected to attend 66th annual 4-H Capital Days Program in Albany, NY
--DAVID BOYLE (Silver Key) & CARL STANDISH (Merit Award) were Regional Winners in the Scholastic Art Award competition
--JOSH BUTLER prepared and taught a full Calculus Class (AP Level) to his peers
--KYLIE BURCHELL was student Ambassador for National Library Week for the Watkins Glen Public Library

-- Take Your Child to Work Day participants: NICK SORENSEN with Mom KELLY; SOPHIE PETERS with Mom MARIE; TAYLOR PETTET with Dad RICK; ASHLEY SAVARD with Mom DEB; SARAH KASCHALK with Dad RAY; and HANNAH ARMSTRONG with Mom KAREN

-- Schuyler County Envirothon Competition: 2nd Place - AMY CHAFFEE, SOPHIE GUBLO, TONY BANKS, TAREN LOUCKS and MELANIE BARNES; RJ RICHTMYER & LOGAN VOORHEIS were members of the SCT-BOCES 1st Place Envirothon Team;

-- RYAN BARR won SCT-BOCES Award as Member of 2nd Place Team in Wall Construction at the SUNY Delhi competition

-- Rotary Students of the Month were: JOSH BUTLER, MARK MATTHEWS, ASHLEY WOOD, LESLIE MILLER, MELANIE BARNES, JESSICA CONKLIN, DAVID BOYLE & ADAM KRESS

-- National Honor Society inductees: EMILY MAC WILLIAMS, RACHEL PORTER, KEVIN MURPHY, ERIC HANSEN, ASHLEY ROBERTS, ALANA MALINA, SHANNON LEWIS, APRIL BYERS, KYLIE BURCHELL, ELIZABETH HENRY, LESLIE MILLER, JOANNA JELLIFF, KRISTIN VAN HORN, MEGAN NICHOLS, SHANNON THOMPSON, JENNIFER SMALLEY, KELSEY WOOD, MEGAN BAUCHLE, KELLY SAVARD & THERESA BIANCO.

-- PROM Royalty: King - JOSH BUTLER; Queen - ASHLEY WOOD; Prince - SEAN HARNAS; Princess - KATIE CRIPPEN

-- Mark Twain Scholars: ELIZA ALBERT, DAWN THORP, ASHLEY FAZZARY, TRACY SAVARD, CHRISTY COOK, DAVID BOYLE, KATE VAN EMRIK & ADAM VAN BUREN

-- JOSH BUTLER, JEFF DILL, DAVID BOYLE & PHIL ST JULIEN played the "National Anthem" at Watkins Glen International on June 2nd for the Historic Races and were filmed for the television program "Speedvision."

-- JOEL WILBUR won the Lake Country Players Award; KELLY FIELD, KRISTIN FIELD & WILL CUMMINGS won the "AMBER BROCKWAY SCHOLARSHIP Award"; ADAM KRESS, DAVID BOYLE, & ANTHONY BANKS received Youth Court recognition;
BILL PRUITT, HOLLY CLAIRE, & JOSH BUTLER received the American Association of Physics Teachers Award; LIAM FITZSIMMONS and ADAM KRESS received the "Triple C" Award from the NYS Attorney General; ELIZA ALBERT, ASHLEY WOOD & ASHLEY FAZZARY won the Society of Women Engineers Award; LYDIA JOHNSON, RANA MORGAN, KEITH BUBB, HOLLY CLAIRE & NICK VAN AMBURG received the Diversified Cooperative Occupational Education Award; and TRACY SAVARD won the PTA Stanley Marcus Humanitarian Award.

****************************************

Some of the highlights and achievements from 2001 - 2002:

* Assisting with Summer Orientation were: PHIL ST JULIEN, JESSE RINGSMUTH, ANNA LONGBUCCO, BERIL ELGUN, JEFF DILL, ERIC HANSEN, LIZ AMISANO, MARGARET KIRTON, RYAN COON, LUKE DALECKI & graduate ADAM KRESS

* Class Officers:

SENIORS: President Chris Turner, Vice President Rachel Porter, Secretary Liz Henry, Treasurer Adam Hayes.

JUNIORS: President Drew Bubb, Vice President Lindsay Schmidt, Secretary Lindsay Lakomy, Treasurer Matt Boyce

SOPHOMORES: President George Whiting, Vice President Nicole Baker, Secretary Audra Bieg, Treasurer Ashley Houseknecht

FRESHMEN: President Tara Parish, Vice President Seth Marcellus, Secretary Sarah Bianco, Treasurer Margaret Henry

HOMECOMING: King: CHRIS TURNER Queen: JULIE MILLER Court: JESSE RINGSMUTH, RYAN COON, AMY CHAFFEE, ADAM HAYES, CASEY MANZER & SEAN HARNES

Top 10 Students - Class of 2002: RYAN COON, PHILIP ST JULIEN, ERIN SPENCER, JEFF DILL, LIZ HENRY, AMY CHAFFEE, HEATHER ANDREWS, TAREN LOUCKS, EMILY DAY & CRYSTAL LO VETTE
Valedictorian: RYAN A. COON
Salutatorian: PHILIP M. ST. JULIEN
Senior Orator: ERIN M. SPENCER
Closing Remarks: ADAM L. HAYES

* JULIE DILL: raised U.S. Flag on our flagpole on new entrance for the very 1st time; RYAN COON: won "Letter of Commendation" from National Merit Scholarship Program; KELLY SAVARD & JOHN DERRIG were dually enrolled at WGHS and Corning Community College;
KELLY LARGO: was Hugh O'Brien Leadership Program student representative

* Rotary Students of the Month were: DARCY WOOD, KYLIE BURCHALL, PHIL ST. JULIEN, JULIE MILLER, CHRIS DRAKE, AMY CHAFFEE, BRAD MATHEWS & JESSE RINGSMUTH

* Mark Twain Scholars: RYAN COON, LIZ HENRY, AMY CHAFFEE, PHIL ST. JULIEN, JEFF DILL, JENN SMALLEY, ERIN SPENCER & HEATHER ANDREWS

* 1st Pitch on new Softball Field was thrown by KERI MC ILROY (Class of 1996)

* EMILY DAY was Student Ambassador for Watkins Glen Public Library during National Library Week (raised more than $180 for the Library)

* VFW Voice of America Contest Winners:
1st Place - $800.00 ADAM HAYES
2nd Place- $600.00 STEPH RAPPLEYE
3rd Place - $400.00 LIZ HENRY

* JULIE MILLER: appeared in Sports Illustrated "Faces in the Crowd"; JORES PETERS won 1st place in "Mike Watson Memorial Wrestling Tournament"

* DARCY WOOD attended FBI National Academy Leadership Program July 22-27, 2001
* EMILY HUBBELL & TIM BALL attended 4H Capital Days Program in Albany
* DARCY WOOD was featured in "Next Step Magazine" as one of the 'Top NYS Teens'

* LYNN MARIE BENNETT, Gr. 9, had a poem published in "The International Library of Poetry"

* Chemung Youth Leadership participants:
- Gr. 10: ASHLEY CROSS, ERICH HERZIG, CHAD DERSHAM
- Gr. 11: MEGAN BAUCHLE, LUKE RIBAUDO, EMILY MAC WILLIAMS

* Boosters Club Athletes of the Month: JULIE MILLER, ASHLEY ROBERTS, EMILY MAC WILLIAMS, CHRIS DRAKE, KEVIN MURPHY, TODD LINCOLN, BEN WINSTEAD, SHANNON LEWIS, ERIN SPENCER & LIZ HENRY

* AMY CHAFFEE & KELLY LARGO were student reps on Building Shared Decision Making Team; ERICH HERZIG & KELLY LARGO were student reps on Open vs. Closed Campus Committee

* Boys' State: SEAN LOVE, MATT BOYCE, GEORGE KELLOGG, KYLLE EDELE & KEVIN LEE
* Girls' State: LAUREN WOOD, THERESA BIANCO & KELSEY WOOD.

See you in December for news/notes from the Class of 2003 - my final class. Following the December column I'll begin in January with some of the athletic history of our District.

Through the hallways ...The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (62)

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (63)Former Watkins Glen High School Principal Brian J. O'Donnell, now a member of the Watkins Glen School Board, has delved into the past to provide us with some historical WGHS facts. The 52nd in a continuing monthly series.

By Brian J. O'Donnell

I received a nice note from former High School Principal FRED LORENZ and his wife PEG (a former Elementary School Teacher) -- they're both doing well and enjoying their retirement in Florida!

-----------------------------------------------------------
Attended the wedding of KERI MC ILROY (Class of 1996) and JESSE SCHUBMEHL on Saturday, October 1st --- wishing them all the best!!!
------------------------------------------------------------
The decade of the 2000's.....

* 2000-2001:
- Superintendent DON DRYDEN retired; DR. MARY ELLEN CORREA was hired as the new Superintendent

- Former Librarian LOUISE STLIIMAN, former School Nurse-Teacher MYRTLE MILLER, former teacher "LU" WILLIAMS and Elementary School Reading Teacher PHYLLIS BOND all passed away.

- the District's $36,150,000 renovation & construction project began in earnest;
- APPR (annual professional performance review), PDP (professional development plan), AIS (academic intervention services), CDEP (comprehensive district educational plan), and SAVE all became part of our ever-increasing vocabulary of education
- Code of Conduct, Building Emergency Management Plans, Curriculum Mapping, Group Wise, Professional Development Logs and Dimensions of Learning also entered our world.

* 2001-2002:
- Middle School Principal MICHAEL O'LOUGHLIN resigned and he was replaced by former High School Math teacher DAVE WARREN;
- student and adult smoking on the "Island" was formally banned
- new terminology included rubrics (scoring tools that list criteria for assessment), best instructional practices (interdisciplinary team approaches to information) and the 21st Century Program (grant monies focusing on before & after school programs;
- September 11, 2001 changed our world forever as the "War on Terrorism" began

* 2002-2003:
- state mandated "Back to School" informational evening was held to present information on Attendance Policies, AIDS Education and Guidance services;
- voice mail and e-mail became a reality for most
- High School daily schedule was tweaked so the Middle School could be dismissed first
- Athletic Director JAMIE HARTER resigned and KAZ ESTELOW became our 1st female Faculty Manager for Athletics
- Freshmen students were no longer permitted to leave campus at lunch time as the Open Campus concept was being phased out
- cornerstone of the High School (set in 1967) was opened as that area of the structure underwent extensive renovation;
- a revised "A-B-C" daily schedule with 55-minute class periods was implemented in the high school

Faculty/Staff retirements/resignations:

2000-2001: BOB KING - HS Librarian, LARRY CLARK - School Board, CONNIE GOOLEY - MS Librarian, LINDA MOORE - ES Teacher, BILL HENDERSON - MS Science, JAY LA SCOLEA (resigned) - HS English, KILLEEN KANE (resigned) - HS Math, COLE LEE (resigned) - HS Special Education, JOANN AXTELL - MS English, PHYLLIS BOND - ES Reading.

2001-2002: LINN HENRY - School Board, VICKI SCHAMEL - School Board, BARB HUGHEY - HS Phys. Ed., KAREN SCHAMEL - ES Teacher, MARILYN DENSON - ES/MS Teacher, LINDA GOULD - ES Teacher, JOAN GASCON - Teacher Aide, JILL WINKKY-WADE - HS Guidance, ED WESTBROOK - ES Teacher, DONNA REIMELS - ES Teacher, REETHA SHUMWAY - Teacher Aide, MARY ANN VAN AMBURG - ES Secretary, LINDA FAZZARY - ES/MS Nurse's Aide, RAY KASCHALK (resigned) - HS Science

2002-2003: BRIAN O'DONNELL - HS Principal, DIANE MELVENEY - HS Math, DANNIE BROWN - HS English, JAMIE HARTER (resigned) - AD

*2000-2001:

- this year began on two tragic notes:
AMBER BROCKWAY (born: 9/19/1984) was killed on August 5, 2000; AMBER was noted by her teachers as "a pleasure to have in class," "a whiz at English and in Advanced Art," and "worked for and achieved Honors in Physical Education"; AMBER was a valuable member of the JV Volleyball Team and looked forward to Varsity Volleyball; her life-long dream was to become a model.

MIKE WATSON, long-time Health Teacher and Coach (Wrestling, Cross Country & Soccer) died in an accident on August 28, 2000. After a long and successful career as Teacher & Coach at Notre Dame High School, MIKE came to Watkins Glen for the 1985-86 school year. He was a real "pied piper" when it came to the recruitment and motivation of athletes, he edited the ever-popular "Mat Chat" and was simply the BEST leader for 'Simon Says' that Sports Day ever had.

- in the middle of the 2000-2001 school year we suffered a third major loss as Guidance Office Secretary NANCY CLEVELAND passed away on January 30th. NANCY was the 1st and only Secretary for Odessa-Montour's Alternative High School in the early 1980's and then our High School Guidance Office Secretary for more than 18 years. NANCY took a genuine and sincere interest in faculty/staff and students, came in early, stayed late and was involved in all facets of high school life. One of the founding members of "SLIC," she loved Happy Meal Toys, breakfasts at Chef's and celebrations of all kinds.

- Several personnel changes reflected 'take backs' from BOCES (employees originally employed by BOCES and now employed by the District)
------------------------------------------------------------

- among the Seniors highlighted in the 2001 SENECAN were:
* Best Eyes: DJ AMISANO & MOLLY SCHAMEL * Most Athletic: JOSH BUTLER & CATHY BROWN * Best Car: LESLIE MILLER
* Best Hair: LIAM FITZSIMMONS & TRACY SAVARD * Worst Drivers: NICK WEBER & JENNIE COOK * Best Car: ANTHONY DOANE
* Teacher's Pet: JOEL WILBUR & ELIZA ALBERT * Most Artistic: ELIZA ALBERT & CARL STANDISH
* Best Dressed: TJ LOVE & BETH VICKIO * Best Personality: JOSH BUTLER & MELANIE BARNES
* Best Smile: DJ AMISANO & ASHLEY WOOD * Class Big Mouths: JEFF ALLEN & JENNIE COOK
* Class Clowns: ANTHONY DOANE & JENNIE COOK * Best All Around: JOEL WILBUR & ASHLEY WOOD
* Most Likely to Succeed: DAVID BOYLE & ELIZA ALBERT.....

* Class Officers:
Freshmen: President: CHAD DERSHAM; Vice President: NICOLE BAKER; Secretary: ASHLEY HOUSEKNECHT; Treasurer: KRISTA MOORE

Sophomores: President: TERESA BIANCO; Vice President: LINDSAY SCHMIDT; Secretary: KATIE OATES; Treasurer: LINDSAY LAKOMY

Juniors: President: ERNIE WHITING; Vice President: APRIL BYERS; Secretary: KYLIE BURCHELL; Treasurer: ASHLEY ARCANGELI

Seniors: President: ASHLEY WOOD; Vice President: DAVID BOYLE; Secretary: JOSH BUTLER; Treasurer: JOSH BUTLER

* Student Council Officers: President - JEFF ALLEN; Vice President: STEVE COLE; Secretary: JOE ROBERTSON; Treasurer: DAVID BOYLE
* Interact Executive Board: KATE VAN EMRIK, CRAIG BARNES, JESSE RINGSMUTH, ALANA MALINA, MELANIE BARNES, LAUREN WOOD, JOEL WILBUR, TERESA BIANCO & DAVID BOYLE

*

Girls' State: ASHLEY FAZZARY & TRACY SAVARD
Boys' State: DJ AMISANO, JOSH BUTLER, MARK MATTHEWS , MATT JAYNES, STEVE LEE, DAVID BOYLE, & CARL STANDISH

-------------------------------------------------------
*

Alumni News: MELISSA KISSELL visited the high school as part of the requirements for Education 101 at Mansfield University (Now she is a teacher of Special Education in the Watkins Glen High School); HOLLY JOHNSON was recognized by Elmira College as an "Honors Student" (Now she is a Math Teacher at the Watkins Glen Middle School). CHRISTIN CHERKIS was in the high school fulfilling a requirement in Field Experience with the SUNY Brockport Delta Program (Now she is a Guidance Counselor at Ernie Davis Middle School in Elmira, NY).
------------------------------------------------------

*

Science Club Officers: President: TONY BANKS, Vice President: ASHLEY WOOD, Secretary: EMILY DAY, Treasurer: APRIL BYERS

Art Club Officers: President: LIZ HENRY, Secretary: AUDRA BIEG, Treasurer: CHRIS CHERKIS

*

Chemung Youth Leadership Trainees: KEVIN MURPHY, JULIE MILLER, KELSEY WOOD, JORES PETERS, ERIC HANSEN & DARCY WOOD

*** Watch for more news in November!!!

Through the hallways ...The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (64)

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (65)Former Watkins Glen High School Principal Brian J. O'Donnell, now a member of the Watkins Glen School Board, has delved into the past to provide us with some historical WGHS facts. The 51st in a continuing monthly series.

By Brian J. O'Donnell

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A look back --- thanks to MRS. WILLIAM (Patricia Suits) ELLISON, who sent me a Watkins Review clipping from July 10, 1935. We have the 4th quarter HONOR ROLL to share:..... the "TOP 15" in each Class...

2nd Grade: PATRICIA SUITS, JAS. BATES, ANTHONY FAZZARY, ANGELINE SCHIMIZZI, MERTON DAVENPORT, EARL HALL, CATHERINE SCHIMIZZI, ELENE VITALI, NICOLINE FRANZESE, HAROLD DIFFENBACK, RUTH DRAKE, ALBERT RAY ELLISON, SAM FAZZARY, JEAN OVERHISER, WALT OSTERHOUDT.

3rd Grade: MARGARET JAMES, DONALD ANDREWS, PATSY SCHIMIZZI, BILLIE LEFFINGWELL, ORLANDO BENNETT, HENRY SHULMAN, ALFRED SULLIVAN, BETTY SIMIELE, LUCILE PALMER, BILLY BALDWIN, ROBERT MICK, TONY PANGALLO, ROSEMARY PASTORE, CORALEE PRATT, MARGARET SEBRING.

4th Grade: JANE COOLICAN, CALVIN DRAKE, ROSE DEL ROSSO, MARTHA MORGAN, ANNE LEFFINGWELL, JEAN MARTINE, WARREN BAKER, JAMES GIVIN, FRANK MILLEN, CAROLINE DENSON, BARBARA BARILE, JOHN CHEROCK, BEVERLY WAITE, RUTH VOORHEES, DONALD KELLEY.

5th Grade: ELEANOR ROBERTS, P. HARAMIS, KEITH CARPENTER, JAMES BEARDSLEY, LAWRENCE CHASE, DANN WHITING, JOHN QUIRK, ALTON DOYLE, AUDREE KENT, WAYNE DUNBAR, RICHARD SMITH, JANICE MURPHY, BETTY WIGSTEN, NANCY WALSH, ANGELINE MAGAR.

6th Grade: MARY VALEANTE, DINA MURATORI, ESTHER FREUDENHEIM, ANN ODELL, FRANK BUTTERAZZI, SHIRLEY PALMER, WALTER TILLMAN, ROSALIND WAGER, BILLY BAIRD, ANN HAUGHEY, JOHN MARCELLINO, DOROTHY WAGER, ARTHUR CURRY, LENA DE DOMINICK, BARBARA KIERMAIER.

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STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS,,,,,

**ROTARY STUDENTS OF THE MONTH**

-----------

1998-1999

---------- 1999-2000

October: JESSE JOHNSON, CASSANDRA KEEFER
November: JEFF LEARN, ERIK DALECKI
December: CARTER MAY, JOEL WILBUR
January: ANDY CLARK, MARIAN SCHAMEL
February: ANNE BARTONE, KAYLA EVANS
March: TRACEY GREEN, CHARLIE CHICONE
April: BRIAN BAKER, JENN BILLS
May: BRANDON VAN HORN VAL MAHON

** HOMECOMING ROYALTY**

---------1998-1999-------1999-2000

Queen: CHRISTIN CHERKIS, C.C. HOLT
King: MIKE BEBER, TYSON VAN SKYVER

1998-99 Court: PATTI FRANZESE, TRACEY GREEN, MELISSA LAMBERTON, JESSICA O'BRIEN, DAVID CADY, JESSE JOHNSON, JEFF LEARN, GEOFF SMYDER.

1999-2000 Court: NICOLE CHAFFEE, CASSIE KEEFER, LINDSAY NICHOLS, MARYANN REISS, ALEX KELLY, ANDY CLARK, SASHA KUZNEZOV, MIKE MARGRENO

**STUDENT LEADERS**

------------Class of 1999---- Class of 2000

President: JESSE HAYES, LINDSAY NICHOLS
Vice. Pres: ASHLEIGH FOOTE, BRANDON MARGRENO
Secretary: CHRISTIN CHERKIS, MEGAN MC GROGAN
Treasurer: JESSE JOHNSON, KRISTY SMITH

**MARK TWAIN SCHOLARS**

Class of 1999: REBECCA ST. JULIEN, ASHLEIGH FOOTE, AMY VAN BUREN, MELISSA FRIESEN, CARTER MAY, AUDREY BYERS, WENDY BESLEY, NATE VOORHEIS.

Class of 2000: JOSH FISKE, MARIAN SCHAMEL, KAYLA EVANS, MELINDA RIBAUDO, ANDY CLARK, BREANA COPP, KELLY OSBORNE, MICHELLE McNANEY, EMER SMITH.

**INTERACT CLUB**

--------------1998-1999------------- 1999-2000

President: SHANNON CALLANAN, KAYLA EVANS
Vice. Pres.: JEFF LEARN, ANDY CLARK
Secretary: CASSANDRA KEEFER, MELANIE BARNES
Treasurer: JOEL WILBUR, DAVID BOYLE
Committee Chairs...
*Community: MELISSA KISSELL, CASSANDRA KEEFER
* International: NICOLE CHAFFEE, PHIL ST JULIEN
* Finance: JESSE JOHNSON, MARIAN SCHAMEL
* Club: MEGAN MC GROGAN, KATE VAN EMRIK

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* 1998-1999:

ART CLUB OFFICERS: President - AMY BINGHAM; Vice President - MELISSA FRIESEN; Secretary - JOEL WILBUR; Treasurer - ELIZA ALBERT;
Class of 2002 OFFICERS: President - RYAN COON; Vice President - AMY CHAFFEE; Secretary - SHANNON LEWIS; Treasurer - PHIL ST JULIEN
FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENTS: JULIA DAVID (Germany), VANIA DONOSA (Panama), ANDERS LARSEN (Denmark), MARINA MELO (Brazil), FRANZISKA GORLACH (Germany), BARB TRUSSEL (Switzerland)
BOCES HOSA COMPETITION: 1st Place: AMY VAN BUREN (Extemporaneous Writing); CHEMUNG YOUTH LEADERSHIP Graduates: KIM WARREN, MARIAN SCHAMEL, MELANIE BARNES & KAYLA EVANS

* CARTER MAY: won the AAA Driving Award
* TRACEY GREEN: was "Business Student of the Year"
* PHIL CUMMINGS: won "21st Century English Award"
* LIZ ROHMANN: won the "W.A.R.T." Award (Running Club)
* SHANNON CALLANAN: won "Burdett Ladies Wednesday Afternoon Club Award"
* BRIAN BAKER: won "Athletic Service Award" & "Water Safety Award"
* ANNE BARTONE: was "Watkins Glen Public Library AMBASSADOR" for National Library Week

Scholastic Art Award Winners: DAVID BOYLE, MICHELLE DORE and MELISSA FRIESEN
"Honorary Members of the Phys. Ed. Department": BRIAN BAKER & BRANDON VAN HORN by virtue of help and support with the Gr. K-12 Swimming Program
"Open Water SCUBA Certification": earned by DAN CAMPBELL, JONATHAN HENRY & RYAN COON

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Showcasing their SINGING TALENT at various athletic events were: MARY ROSE CHICONE, EMER SMITH & NIKKE CHAFFEE

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* NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP FINALISTS: CARTER MAY & REBECCA ST JULIEN.....

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ALUMNI IN THE NEWS DURING 1998-1999:

*APRIL MC FALL: earned AA Degree from SUNY @ MORRISVILLE (May 22)
* JESSICA COLON: graduated from Cornell University with BA in Government (May 30)
* JENNIFER SIMIELE: graduated with college degree in Psychology (May 16)
* MEGAN BAHNS: graduated from Ithaca College with degree in Sociology & Gender Studies (May 15)
* MICHELE BAHNS: graduated from Cornell University with degree in General Studies (May 30)

*****************************************************

1999 - 2000:

* Foreign Exchange Students: MARTIN HUTSCH (Germany), ANDREA BUNK (Germany), MARIA SOLEDAD MUSSOLINI (Argentina), KATHRYN THOMAS (Australia)

* Broadcast Studio/Channel 5: EMER SMITH, DANIELLE SCOTT, SASHA KUZNEZOV, LINDSAY NICHOLS, RONELLE WILLIAMS, KYLE BARNHART, JOYLIN SIMMONS, JAMIE LAPRIORE, ANDREA BUNK & ADAM KRESS.

* BOYS' STATE: MATT JAYNES, JOSH BUTLER, DAVID BOYLE, STEVEN LEE, CARL STANDISH, DENNIS AMISANO & MARK MATTHEWS.

* School Store Employees: SHELLI CONTI, KELLY FIELD, KELLY BAUMAN, EMILY BYERS, KRISTEN FIELD & CHRIS CHERKIS.

* PRESIDENTIAL LEADERSHIP COUNCIL - STUDENT LEADERS :
Gr. 9 President: THERESA BIANCO; Gr. 10 President: AMY CHAFFEE; Gr. 11 President: KEITH BUBB; Gr.12 President: LINDSAY NICHOLS; Student Council President: VAL MAHON; National Honor Society President: ANDY CLARK;
Interact Club President: KAYLA EVANS; SADD President: ANNE BARTONE; Art Club President: JEN HARTLEY; Foreign Language Club Co-Presidents: BREE COPP & JOEL WILBUR; HOBY Leadership Winner: BETH VICKIO.

Senior Editors for the Yearbook: KAYLA EVANS & NIKKI CHAFFEE; Environmental Leadership Council: ANDY CLARK; Shared Decision Making Team Members: VAL MAHON & JOEL WILBUR; Science Club President: JOEL FISKE; Library Council President: LISA CERVONI; Quality School Consortium: LINDSAY LAKOMY, THERESA BIANCO & JOEL WILBUR

* Biology REGENTS Award winner: DAVID BOYLE

* Ruth Warner Math Award: MARSHALL HAMMOND & TRACY FAUSEL

* ELIZABETH AMISANO: attended National Catholic Youth Conference in St. Louis, Missouri

* SCT-BOCES Awards: SUNY Cobbleskill competition: LOGAN VOORHEIS - 8th Place (Hydraulics/Light Construction); and RICHARD RICHTMYER - 4th Place (Tractor-Four Wheel)

* Top Academic MIDDLE SCHOOL students:
Grade 5: MARGARET BALL, BREANNA COON, & ILEA MALANEY
Grade 6: MEGAN GROLL, COURTNEY WARREN, & NATHANIEL DRIX
Grade 7: MARGARET HENRY, TIM BALL & HILIARY DAVIS
Grade 8: ASHLEY HOUSEKNECHT, KRISTA MOORE & BRIAN DOOLITTLE

* Middle School "HOOPS FOR HEART" competition: JONATHAN FAZZARY, COURTNEY WARREN, JOHN MICHAEL BIANCO, JARED PETERS, ASHLEY HOUSEKNECHT, and MATT MYCHACK

* Grade 8 TEEN TUTORS: JACKIE CANFIELD, STEPHANIE O'BRIEN, KATELYN CORNELIUS, MICHELLE AMISANO, AUDRA BIEG, JESSICA ECTOR, EMILY HUBBELL, STACIE BAUCHLE, CARY CLARK, DESIREE ELLISON & SAMANTHA LONG.

* AMANDA AHO & JENN SMALLEY: raised the Girl Scout flag on the High School flagpole in honor of Girl Scouts Week;
TAREN LOUCKS: went to Washington, DC to speak to 18 U.S. Senators as "NYS BEEF AMBASSADOR";
SHELLY CONTI: was WG Public Library Student Ambassador for National Library Week;
PHIL MC ILROY: won 15th place in NYS Skills Championship for "Precision Machining Technology";
ARLENE RUDA (mom Nancy), HANNAH ARMSTRONG (mom Karen), SOPHIE PETERS (mom Marie) and TAYLOR & SOMER PETTET (dad Rick) all were part of "Take Your Daughters to Work Day."

Through the hallways ...The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (66)

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (67)Former Watkins Glen High School Principal Brian J. O'Donnell, now a member of the Watkins Glen School Board, has delved into the past to provide us with some historical WGHS facts. The 50th in a continuing monthly series.

By Brian J. O'Donnell

ALUMNI BANQUET news from June 17, 1989:

* Purpose of the Alumni Association is ..."to carry on the dinner tradition each year so the graduates from all years may gather to honor the newest graduates and meet and reminisce of school days."
The ALUMNI ASSOCIATION dates back to 1904. Among the many highlights are the following:
* 1964: MISS BERTHA THOMPSON attended her 60th Banquet;
* 1926-1966: JACK THOMPSON served as Association Treasurer;
* 1958: ELIZABETH McANARNEY received 1st Citizenship Award
* 1961: Head table adorned by flowers sent in by a classmate from Hawaii
* 1968: Association voted $400.00 to the Schuyler Hospital Building Fund
* 1973: Class of 1948 presented a painting to the school in memory of "JAMES FRANZESE"

BANQUET Years and locations: 1926-1932, 1934 & 1935: held at the STEPHEN HOUSE (a local restaurant); 1933, 1936, 1943-1945: held at the JEFFERSON HOUSE; 1968-1969: held at the JEFFERSON MOTOR INN; 1937-1942: held at GLEN SPRINGS HOTEL; 1946-1953: held at the Watkins Glen High School CAFETERIA; 1954-1967: held at the Watkins Glen Elementary School; 1970, 1972 through 1978 - held at the Watkins Glen High School; 1971, 1979 - present -- held at Clute Memorial Park Community Center (thanks to JANET FITCH for researching this information for the "100 Years Book" in June of 1982.

PLANNING COMMITTEE for the Class of 1964 (for June 1989): DAVID BARTONE, DANIEL TEED, RAYMOND GRANSTON, KAREN BARTONE, JILL KENDALL and
ROSEANNE PARADISO.

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A Look Back..... DR. JOSEPH ROBERTS.....

* Born in New York City on April 6, 1911
* Graduated from Dartmouth College in 1932
* Received his Degree in Medicine from New York University in 1935
* Began private practice in Watkins Glen in 1938
* Served at U.S. Army Air Force Hospitals and as a Flight Surgeon during World War II
* Served as Chief of Medicine for 10 years and President for 3 years at Schuyler Hospital
* Served on Watkins Glen Board of Education from 1958/59 --- 1962/63
* Served as W.G. District Physician from 1963-1984
* Died January 4, 2007

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Highlights from 1998-1999 through 2001-02:

* 1998-1999 New Employees... LINDA HILLMAN (Curriculum Coordinator), ALICE LEARN (Peer Coach), PATTI SMITH (Peer Coach), MICHELLE ROSS (Technology Coach), SYLVIA BAILEY (Occupational Therapist), DENISE GLOWASKI (Special Education), KATRINA ECTOR (Teacher Aide), TOM PLANTY (Global Studies Teacher), KILLEEN KANE (Mathematics Teacher), KATHERINE MEIERJURGEN (Spanish Teacher), SANDRA BARTONE (1/2 time English Teacher), DEREK SELLECK (M.S. Math and Aide), GINGER QUINTELA (Resource Room/Special Education in Middle School), KIM FARROW (Long term sub, Instrumental Music - Middle School), LUANN ELIZABETH (Long Term Sub Home & Career Skills Middle School), BRIAN LE BARON (Disciplinarian in Middle School), BRIDGID COOPER (Gr. 4 - transfer from Middle School), WENDY DEAN (Kindergarten), DENISE HETTICH (Grade 1), ANGIE ROSELLEN (Kindergarten), LORI SWANSON (Physical Education - Elementary School). Additionally: LAURIE MACRI became High School Main Office Secretary, GAIL BUTLER transferred to High School Main Office, DEBRA BOND transferred to Middle School clerical job in Main Office 1/2-time and 1/2-time as Secretary for Mike DeNardo.

* 1999-2000 New Employees... CAMILLE MEEK (CSE Chair/Director for Special Education), ROSE CHEDZOY (Secretary for Special Education), LORI ZEBROWSKI
(Special Educ. - Elementary School), CYNTHIA PODELL (Consultant - Spec. Educ.), MARGARET CLEARY (Spec. Ed. Consultant), LUCILLE LUCKY (Middle School Spec. Educ.), PAUL RHUDY (Social Worker), PAM DE BOLT (Teacher Aide), RONDA GIRARDI (Teacher Aide), NANCH BRADASCIO (Teacher Aide), BRANDI JOHNSON (Spec. Educ.), JILL WINKKY-WADE (Transferred from Middle School to High School Guidance), NANCY RUDA (Spec. Educ. Teacher in High School), JAMIE JOHNSON (Long term sub in French), KRISTA WRIGHT (Special Educ.- HS), MICHELLE GONZALEZ (Middle School Guidance Counselor), SUSAN KIRTON (Middle School Science), CHRISTIE SMITH (Middle School Math), JACK TELECH (to 1/2 time Computer Support and 1/2 time Math), RON PIERCE (Middle School In School Suspension Monitor), ELLEN STEVENS (Middle School Nurse), KELLY ROBARDS (Middle School Reading), SARAJANE HARRIGAN (Elementary School Music), CONNIE SARGENT (Middle School Home & Career Skills), PATRICIA GOTSCHAL (Elementary Music), SUNSHINE MILLER (Elementary Music), KIM BALLIET (Gr. 4 Teacher), MARY MINOR (Kindergarten Teacher), MARY IANDOLI (Middle School Technology), WENDY MANGENE (Gr. 2 Teacher), and JENNIFER TITUS (Gr. 1 Teacher).

* 2000-2001 New Employees... DR. MARY ELLEN CORREA (Superintendent), CONNIE LUCIA (Occupational Therapist), MELISSA HOUSEKNECHT (Speech Therapist), JARED WEBSTER (Gr. 4 Teacher), KRYSTINA WESTERVELT (Gr. 3 Teacher), SCOTT MORSE (Gr. 7 Social Studies Teacher), JAY LA SCOLEA (1/2 time English/Technology Teacher), MARGARET SWINNERTON (High School Health Teacher), ALICE LEARN (as Curriculum Coordinator), and ANN MARIE BATES (Goals 2000 Peer Coach).

* 2001-2002 New Employees... MAGGIE EDGLEY (High School Librarian), DANIELLE MAZZOLA (HS Spec. Educ. Teacher), DENNIS BRADY (HS Spec. Educ. Teacher),
SAM BRUBAKER (HS Phys. Educ. Teacher), LAURA BRACE (HS - Long term sub Social Studies), DAVID SMITH (HS Math Teacher), YVONNE ALLING (Long term sub - Vocal Music Teacher), CHRISTIE COOLICAN (Long term sub Health Teacher), AMY LAKOMY (HS Library Clerk - transferred from Elementary School), ANDY PATROS (District Technology Coordinator), JAMIE HARTER (Athletic Director - former HS Phys. Ed. teacher), WENDY GRINOLDS (Gr. 1 teacher), TRACY LA PENNA (Gr. 1 Teacher), SUZANNE YORK (Reading Teacher), DIIONE FOX MURCH (Spec. Educ. Teacher - Elementary School), JIM SCOTT (1/2 time Elementary School Phys. Educ. Teacher), TRISH ERVAY (Instructional Support - Elementary School), ANN MARIE BATES (Middle School Keyboard Specialist) COLIN PRITCHARD (Middle School Librarian), and two promoted from Teacher Aide to Teaching Assistant: KELLY STERNER (Computer Room) and DIANE JOHNSON (Discipline Room - both at the High School) and DAVID WARREN as new Middle School Principal. PEGGY RICHARDSON came to the High School in October as Special Education Teacher Aide.

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YEARBOOK DEDICATION:

1998-99: LIZ PARADISO

1999-2000: BARB COON

2000-01: KATE BARTHOLOMEW

2001-02: VICTIMS OF 9/11

HOMECOMING QUEEN:

1998-99: CHRISTIN CHERKIS

1999-2000: C.C. HOLT

2000-01: ASHLEY WOOD

2001-02: JULIE MILLER

STUDENT COUNCIL PRESIDENT:

1998-99: MATT MADORSKY

1999-2000: VALERIE MAHON

2000-01; JEFF ALLEN

2001-02: JORES PETERS

VALEDICTORIAN:

1998-99: REBECCA ST. JULIEN

1999-2000: JOSHUA FISKE

2000-01: DAVID BOYLE

2001-02: RYAN COON

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* 1998 - 1999:

- KAREN ARMSTRONG and DIANA GROLL both secured $500 grants from the Teacher Center; KATHERINE MEIERJURGEN received a grant of $2,944 from the TWIN TIERS COALITION;

- KAZ ESTELOW coordinated "Red Ribbon Week" and "Spring Recruitment Day."

*********************************

Probably the biggest news of the year was RICHARD MC INTYRE taking a sick day. The "STREAK" ended at 2,907 consecutive days without an absence (a record never to be
broken ) --- Cal Ripken's baseball streak was ONLY 2,632.

**********************************

- among teachers elected to "Who's Who Among American Teachers" were: DANNIE BROWN, KATHLEEN (KAZ) ESTELOW, RICHARD MC INTYRE & PAT TAMMARO.

- MARIE FITZSIMMONS & JOE REYNOLDS competed in the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC

- KATE LA MOREAUX was named "BPW PROFESSIONAL WOMAN OF THE YEAR" and also Kiwanis Club "FEMALE COACH OF THE YEAR."

- REETHA SHUMWAY was honored with the WGFA Leadership Award

- BOB KING retired after 13 years as our 1st and only Boys' Soccer Coach

- BARB COON & CYNDY WOOD completed requirements for Open Water Scuba Diver Certification

- MARIE FITZSIMMONS & NANCY BAHNS coordinated the Womens' History Club

- in an 'informal' 50 mile walk: CHRIS OMIATEK walked all fifty miles; TOM OMIATEK walked 40.5 miles; and GAIL BUTLER walked 27 miles

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For the very 1st time - May 13, 1999 - Band Director DIANA GROLL, Choral Director DEBRA PATTERSON and the High School Band & Chorus introduced "STAND WE IN SPIRIT" - a new school song for a new millennium --- not a new Alma Mater but a new school song. WILL WICKHAM, Class of 1974 was the song's composer and the words of the song were based upon the poetry of students: IRIS CHAMBERLAIN, RANA MORGAN, STEVE POST, JACKIE SIMIELE, NIKKI SIMIELE, BRIAN SMITH, DAVID TERRY, LOGAN VOORHEIS, and MAURA WILLOCK.

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A LOOK WAY, WAY BACK.....

The Honorable William N. Ellison recently donated his father's Commencement Program to the school archives. This 26th annual COMMENCEMENT, for Wednesday morning, June 24th at 10:00 a.m. was for the CLASS OF 1908 and listed the following:

* Class roll in order of standing in scholarship "beginning with the highest":
- RALPH H. GABRIEL ("Gabriel's Junction" is named after him)
- ARTHUR RAY ELLISON
- ALBERTA JANE SMITH
- ETHEL MAY WILSON
- LA FAYETTE WILLIAM ARGETSINGER

* Class Motto: A SINU IN MARE
* Class Colors: RED & WHITE
* Class Flower: RED ROSE
* Class Vine: IVY

* Class Officers: LA FAYETTE W. ARGETSINGER --- President
ARTHUR E. ELLISON --- Vice President
ALBERTA J. SMITH --- Secretary
ETHEL M. WILSON --- Treasurer

RALPH H. GABRIEL --- Editor in Chief for the Oracle

* Commencement Program:

- Prayer: Reverend S.L. Haynes
- Chorus Glee Club
(The Heavens are Telling)
- Oration & Salutatory: RALPH H. GABRIEL
(The Nobleness of service)
- Oration: LA FAYETTE ARGETSINGER
( Westward the course of empire)
- Class History: ETHEL M. WILSON
- Class Prophecy: ALBERTA J. SMITH
- Double Quartet Glee Club
( Water Lilies)
- Oration & Valedictory: ARTHUR R. ELLISON
(Our Natural Resources)
- Awarding of Diplomas: Principal S.S. JOHNSON
- Presentation of Regent Diplomas by Honorable DANIEL BEACH, Regent of the University

* The High School Orchestra played several selections

---------------------------------------------------------

1999-2000:

* TILT TEAM (to coordinate the integration of New York State Learning Standards & Assessments along with new teaching & learning strategies:
KATHERINE MEIERJURGEN, EILEEN MALANEY, DIANE WOOD, NANCY BAHNS, TOM PLANTY, KAREN ARMSTRONG...

* CORD Distance Learning Team - trained over the summer in Washington, D.C.
KELLY SORENSEN, KILLEEN KANE, KATHLEEN ESTELOW, RAY KASCHALK, KATHERINE MEIERJURGEN

* CISCO Networking Program - summer training at Alfred University to learn how to teach and build educational networks:
KAREN ARMSTRONG

* District-wide: MARTY EVANS was "Goals 2000 Coach" and ALICE LEARN was "Instructional Support Teacher"

* Career Development Office: MARY JO SNOPEK (Shadowing & Speakers), DEBBIE MINIER (Community Service) and CAROLYN CONNELLY (Faculty Support)

* NICK DUGO named by West Virginia University (by student nomination) as "Educator Who Made A Difference"

* CRAIG CHEPLICK continued coordinating the "Hugh O'Brien Award"; JILL WINKKY-WADE coordinated Tech Prep Program, and NANCY LOUGHLIN coordinated
the Parent Academy; LINDA HILLMAN was Curriculum Coordinator, JANICE KILBURN was an additional Psychologist & KIM ROSEKRANS was a Social Worker. NICK DUGO was responsible for "SUNDAE TUESDAY"; BOB KING received the Faculty Association's Leadership Award, NANCY RUDA directed the SADD Club and JANICE LEARN, MARIE KEEFER, DIANE JOHNSON & TRACIE MC ILROY kept the Boosters Club up and running.

* Senior All-Night Party organizers were SHARON CLARK & MARIE KEEFER with chaperones NICK DUGO, SHARON & LARRY CLARK, MARIE & GREG KEEFER, HAROLD CHAFFEE, KATE BARTHOLOMEW, NANCY BAHNS, NEIL DE RAICHE, KILLEEN KANE, JAMIE HARTER, DIANE WOOD, JEFF MYER, DIANE MELVENEY, TRACIE MC ILROY and JAN LEARN.

* KATE LA MOREAUX and DAVE WARREN supplemented their teaching duties by serving as High School Disciplinarians. KATHERINE MEIERJURGEN and her Girl Scout group did a district-wide clean up for "Make A Difference Day." KATE BARTHOLOMEW donated six ORACLES (1941-1946) from her Mom's collection to our archives. Taking a "Pie in the Face" at a PEP RALLY were: DON DRYDEN, KAZ ESTELOW, DAVE WARREN, RAY RASCHALK and STEVE SHYMKIW. Substitute Teacher MARLENE LUM donated her grandfather's Report Cards for 1891, 1894 and 1895 to our archives. Coach of the Year was STEVE SHYMKIW, and Fan of the Year was KATE BARTHOLOMEW.

See you in September with student achievements from 1998-99 and 1999-2000.

Through the hallways ...The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (68)

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (69)Former Watkins Glen High School Principal Brian J. O'Donnell, now a member of the Watkins Glen School Board, has delved into the past to provide us with some historical WGHS facts. The 49th in a continuing monthly series.

By Brian J. O'Donnell

Thank you HONORABLE WILLIAM N. ELLISON...

A few weeks ago, The Honorable William N. Ellison donated his father's High School diploma to the school archives. The diploma -- measuring about 15 inches by 19 inches with a nice picture of the "old" High School (with "tower uprearing" as the Alma Mater states) --- is embossed with a large Gold Seal which reads: "BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR THE VILLAGE OF WATKINS 1863". The main section of the diploma reads as follows:

"The Board of Education Watkins High School Watkins, N.Y." (notice the word Glen does not appear, as the name Watkins Glen did not become legalized until the 1920's).....
"This certifies that ARTHUR R. ELLISON having completed the course of study prescribed by
this Institution and having passed Satisfactory Examinations, in the same, is entitled to receive
its Highest Honors; In Testimony whereof this DIPLOMA is confirmed upon him and we have
caused our corporate seal, and the signatures of the President and the Faculty to be hereunto
affixed. Given this twenty-fourth day of June, 1908."

The signatures on the diploma were: Board of Education President GEORGE C. WAIT, Principal
SAMUEL S. JOHNSON, Vice Principal JOHN A. BEERS, and Teachers: CAROLINE F. BARNES (Mathematics), NINA M. GANUNG (Science) and KATHARINE BROWN (English & History).

_______________________________________

Thank You LINDA MC INTYRE...

The Class of 1935 published a little booklet called, "The CHEER LEADER - To Spread School Spirit." JANE GANUNG saved her copy and her daughter CATHY gave it to LINDA who, in turn, has now donated it back to the school for our archives. Thank you LINDA for your thoughtfulness.

The booklet contains the Alma Mater along with several cheers and yells set to "Central Will Shine," "Notre Dame Hike Song," "Auld Lang Syne," and others.

One of the cheers follows:

"The march is on, No brain or brawn
Can stop the charges of fighting men!
Loud rings the cry! A grim defy!
Of hard attack let loose again.
Oh, it's a hike! hike! hike! for victory,
The call to rise and strike!
For Watkins High men are winning
When Watkins High hears
HIKE! HIKE! HIKE!"

One of the "Yells" was:

"Eeen dicka, deen dicka,
Fetta dicka fa,
Eeen bibba, bo ba,
Eeen bibba bo ba,
Eeen dicka, deen dicka
Fetta dicka fa,
Watkins High School!
RAH! RAH! RAH!"

I couldn't resist one more "Yell" -

"Boom-a-lacka Boom-a-lacka
Bow, wow, wow...
Ching-a-lacka Ching-a-lacka
Chow, chow, chow...
Boom-a-lacka Ching-a-lacka
Sis-boom-ba
Watkins High School
RAH! RAH! RAH!"

* NOTE TO OUR READERS: if you have items of yore you'd like to donate to the Watkins Glen Central School District archives, please contact me at bodonnell@stny.rr.com

---------------------------------------------------

The 1997-1998 school year...

* School District Calendar was dedicated to former Supervising Principal JOHN R. COOK, District Principal from 1953-1964; under his leadership both the STUDENT COUNCIL
and NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY began, the ORACLE was replaced by the SENECAN as the Yearbook, the LIBRARY, LETTERMEN'S, PHOTOGRAPHY and FUTURE NURSE'S
CLUBS began and the Wrestling Program was re-established.

* the cover for the District Calendar features pictures of PROFESSOR S.S. JOHNSON (1874-1909 years of service to WG), PROFESSOR JOHN A. BEERS (1909-1941 years
of service to WG), MR. WARREN HERTENSTEIN (1941-1953), MR. JOHN R. COOK (1953-1964) and County Superintendent of Schools MR. IRVING GOODRICH, SR.

* SUPERINTENDENT DON DRYDEN'S summer letter to faculty/staff mentioned the following new personnel:

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: FIONA GIBSON, Grade 1; THOMAS WOOD, pre-kindergarten; LYNN VONA (BOCES), Special Ed.; KATHY ECTOR (BOCES), Teacher Aide; JEANNIE ANDREWS, Teacher Aide; NANCY RAMSDELL (BOCES), Library Clerk; PATRISIA FENNER (BOCES), Student Support; PEG RICHARDSON, Volunteer Assistant.

MIDDLE SCHOOL: JILL WINKKY, guidance counselor; ZACH BROWN, from 1/2 time to full time Math; BRENDA TRAVIS, 1/2 time Math.

HIGH SCHOOL: DEBBIE NILSON, Teacher Assistant; MARIE FITZSIMMONS, Social Studies; KELLY SORENSEN, English. (Fitzsimmons and Sorensen were previously 1/2 time.)

DISTRICT: RENEE HETTICH, grant writer; JAMIE HARTER, faculty manager.

* Additionally the High School welcomed: DEBBIE SAVARD - Reading/Writing Resource Room Teacher; SHARON CROSS - 1/2 time Main Office Clerical until November; transferred to Middle School Main Office in November; CAROLYN EMMICK - School to Work Coordinator; CONNIE LAZORATION - Home Ec./Food Prep Class Teacher

* KARYN SABARA was welcomed back to the HS Computer Lab; (she resigned Jan. 5th with GAYLE SEDLACK filling in;) LARRY JAYNES would now be shared with Odessa-Montour.

* MARIANNE AARONS resigned from the Business Office in August and JACKIE CLARK filled in until a new person could be hired.

* DORIS DE NARDO & ANNABELLE YAW retired from the cafeteria and LORI GEZZI & JANET RIBAUDO were hired.

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

* INTERACT began its 3rd year of operation with the following officers: President: COVENEY FITZSIMMONS; Vice President: HOLLY JOHNSON; Secretary: JESSICA SEDLACK;
Treasurer: DERYCK HONG.

************************************

September 16, 1997: RICHARD ELLISON, Member of the Class of 1998, passed away after a courageous battle against the effects of a devastating illness.

*************************************

* ROTARY STUDENTS OF THE MONTH:

- October: HOLLY JOHNSON; November: MELISSA KISSELL; December: JASON BARRY; January: JULIE DILL; February: JESSICA SEDLACK, March: JESSICA O'BRIEN;
April: JON EVANS; May: AUDREY BYERS.

*

HOBY Student Leader -- Hugh O'Brien Youth leadership program - MICHELLE McNANEY selected by school committee led by CRAIG CHEPLICK

*

The HS "501" Team: TOM OMIATEK, COLE LEE, NANCY LOUGHLIN & BRIAN O'DONNELL

*

HELPLINE MEMBERS: NANCY LOUGHLIN, DANNIE BROWN, KATE LaMOREAUX, LIZ PARADISO, NANCY CLEVELAND, KAZ ESTELOW, CYNDY WOOD, MARIE FITZSIMMONS, BRIAN O'DONNELL, DEBBIE NILSONc TRACI McILROY, EILEEN MALANEY

*

Chemung Youth Leadership Trainees selected:

Grade 10: VAL MAHON, PHIL McILROY
Grade 11: JESSE JOHNSON, AUDREY BYERS

* CHARLES BUTLER, SR: returned as High School Hall Monitor

* Newspaper Club Officers:

President: SAMANTHA LEWIS & MARGUERITE PERSONIUS
Vice Pres.: NICHOLE COVERT
Secretary: KELLY NEY
Treasurer: NICOLE SIMIELE
Historian: JOEL WILBUR

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

DISTRICT-WIDE STUDENT ENROLLMENT: Elementary: 515; Middle School 438, High School 447. Total: 1,400.

Turn Back the Clock: September 11, 1963: HS had 801 students (Gr. 7-12); Elementary School had 941 students (Gr. K-6) Burdett School had 161 students to equal 1,903 students...

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

21st Century Skills/Student Outcomes: what our District wanted for our students upon graduation:

EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING IN SOCIETY, GROUP DYNAMICS, PROBLEM SOLVING, WELLNESS & HEALTHY LIFESTYLE, COMMUNICATION SKILLS

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

* Rare Books donated to HS Library by GERRY RICHTMYER:
- "Lady of the Lake" 1903 - "Beginning Reader" 1905 - "Julius Caesar" 1919 - "Anthony & Cleopatra" 1897 - "The Choice Gift" 1853

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

* HOMECOMING NEWS: QUEEN: ALISSA NORMAN; KING: IRA CADY; COURT: Traci Lincoln & Steve Terry; Betsy Westervelt & Ryan Cherock, Anita Scuteri & Nate Weber, and Samantha Lewis & Matt Schamel

Class Floats: 1st Place Grade 12; 2nd Place Grade 10; 3rd Place Grade 11; 4th Place Gr. 9

Judges: KAZ ESTELOW, DANNIE BROWN & BRIAN O'DONNELL

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

* Math Teacher DIANE MELVENEY was awarded a Teacher Center grant of $500 to purchase TI-92 Calculators for our students.

* BUS TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT news:
- "WALTER JENNINGS AWARD" - given to entire transportation staff for safe and consistent driving record;
- LAIDLAW challenged all of its terminals statewide (18-20 terminals) in a Food Drive which ultimately collected 6800 pounds of food for the needy; our Watkins Glen terminal finished in 1st place statewide with more than 1100 pounds of food collected;

* Thank you DIANE & NEAL MELVENEY: There used to be a large display board in the "old" Main Lobby which displayed each quarter's High Honor and Honor Roll students thanks to the efforts of DIANE & NEAL

*

Classroom Door Decorating Contest winners: 1st Place: MRS. SORENSEN; 2nd Place: MS. ESTELOW; 3rd Place: MS. WOJTUS; Honorable Mention: MR. THOMAS, MRS. DIANE WOOD, MR. KING

*

Foreign Language Club Christmas Semi-Formal: King: CHRIS SCHONEMAN; Queen: HOLLY JOHNSON; Prince: BRIAN BAKER; Princess: TRACEY GREEN; Duke: MIKE MARGRENO; Dutchess: CASSIE KEEFER; Count: ERIC THORPE; Countess: KIM WARREN/JENNY COOK

* MARY ROSE CHICONE & NICHOLE CHAFFEE: often sang "The National Anthem" at a variety of school events.

*

Science Olympiad Winners: 1st: JASON BARRY & CHRIS SCHONEMAN; 2nd: DERYCK HONG; 3rd: SARAH HOPPE & MELISSA FRIESEN

* March 17, 1998: "UP WITH PEOPLE" performed in the HS Auditorium to a packed house. ADAM FOSTER made the large welcoming banner for our Main Lobby.

* ANDY CLARK volunteered to be the Student Representative to the County Environmental Management Council

*****************************************

*

Mark Twain Scholars were: KRISTEN RAPPLEYE, JULIE DILL, HOLLY JOHNSON, STEPHEN TERRY, CHRIS SCHONEMAN, JASON BARRY & COVENEY FITZSIMMONS

*

Girls' State: AUDREY BYERS & DENISE DE TORRE
* Boys' State: JEFF LEARN, CARTER MAY, JESSE JOHNSON, JAY SULLIVAN and JESSE VOORHEIS

* COVENEY FITZSIMMONS won the NYS Attorney General's "Triple C Award" (Courage - Commitment-Character)

* CYNDY WOOD was honored with the Red Cross' "American Red Cross Health & Safety Line of Service Award" for her supervision of our District K-12 Swimming Program
and for training hundreds of Lifeguards through the years.

* NANCY LOUGHLIN was awarded a Rotary "PAUL HARRIS FELLOW" -- Rotary's highest honor.

* STEVE LO PRESTI was named "Phoebe Apperson Hearst PTA Educator of the Year" for our District.

****************************************

* SARAH RICHTMYER resigned as HS Main Office Secretary effective May 1, 1998; SARAH formerly worked in our Business Office and for over 10 years SARAH and her
husband CHUCK organized our All-Night Senior Party; SARAH was also Central Treasurer for all Extracurricular Activity Accounts during 1995-1996; for May and June TRACIE McILROY served as Main Office Secretary and GAYLE SEDLACK substituted for TRACIE in the HS Computer Lab.

*

District Chemical Awareness Team: TRACEY GREEN, MARK MATHEWS, MARIAN SCHAMEL & CHARLIE CHICONE. Advisor was MARIE FITZSIMMONS

*

Prom Royalty: Queen - COVENEY FITZSIMMONS; King: COLE BUBB; Princess: TRACEY GREEN; Prince: JESSE HAYES; Court: HOLLY JOHNSON, JON EVANS, TRACI LINCOLN, STEVE TERRY, ANITA SCUTERI & NATE LaMOREAUX

* LARRY CLARK (462 Votes) and TOM LOVE (417 Votes) were elected to the Board of Education

* RYAN COON won 1st Place in Memorial Day essay contest

* JULIE DILL: named a "ROBERT C. BYRD Honors Scholarship Winner" - our 1st since BRIAN THOMAS back in 1991 - for students who have demonstrated excellence and
achievement and who show promise of continued excellence - only 412 awarded in New York State and only one from Schuyler County

*

National Honor Society Induction:

JESSE MILLER, MARGUERITE PERSONIUS, CASSANDRA KEEFER, JILL KASPRZYK, JESSICA HINES, BREANA COPP, SHELLY CONTI, JENN BILLS, NICHOLE CHAFFEE, KAYLA EVANS, MELINDA RIBAUDO, EMILY DAVIS,
TAMMI LINCOLN, KRISTEN RAPPLEYE, MEGAN McGROGAN, VAL MAHON, VICTORIA PIERCE, ANDY CLARK, MARION SCHAMEL, JOSH FISKE, LINDSAY DRAKE, EMER SMITH

* Senior Day - Darien Lake - Chaperones: NICK DUGO, NANCY BAHNS, SARAH RICHTMYER, STEVE SHYMKIW, EILEEN MALANEY, DIANE WOOD

*

BOCES HONORS:

NYS VICA AWARDS: KRISTIN RAPPLEYE, 1st Place - Data Entry
HOSA Awards: AMY VAN BUREN, 2nd Place- Nurse Assisting; JEAN HINES 2nd Place- Extemporaneous Writing
Voc./Tech Honor Society: JEREMY PIERCE, Auto Tech.; KRISTIN RAPPLEYE, Office Automation
Cobleskill HS Days: JOSHUA MILLER, 10th Place - Forest Fire ID
Achievement Award: JOSHUA MILLER, Wildlife

* ALICE LEARN -- named PEER COACH for 1998-1999; this BOCES' GOALS 2000 position was shared between Watkins Glen and Elmira Heights...

* Congratulations to KAREN ARMSTRONG: awarded grant of $2,800 from Twin Tiers Coalition for her Solar Kiln Project.

* BERN GOOSEN: Foreign Exchange student from South Africa, here in 1993, visited in June!!!

* RICHARD McINTYRE: has now worked 2,437 consecutive school days (including summer school) without an absence for a sick day!

**********************************

The 1997-1998 school year was the final year of service for many people. Those who retired included:
* MARYLOU THOMPSON - Elementary School Teacher; * LOIS CUTTON - Middle School Math Teacher; * WILLIAM DAVIS - Elementary School Teacher & Faculty Manager; * PAT TAMMARO - High School Social Studies Teacher; * BETTY FERRI - High School Main Office Receptionist; * JUNE IRMISCHER - High School Science Teacher; * JUANITA TOMASSI - long time cafeteria employee; * KATE DISCENZA - District Payroll Clerk;
* SHIRLEY THOMPSON - Tax Collector; * EDITH EMMONS - Board of Education Clerk

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

See you in August!!!

-----------------------

Other Scenes from the past The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (70)

For a look at some early 20th century photos of downtown Odessa and other nearby locales, try the website http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyschuyl/phalbum.htm.

Looking for historical accounts The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (71)

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (72)We're seeking historical accounts of Schuyler County on this page -- both an overview of the area's settlement and development, and side stories related to the county's past that are informative and entertaining.

Any historians out there are welcome to try their hand at such efforts -- either through fresh writing or through previous essays or stories you might have composed and would like to see in electronic print for awhile.

Some of what appears here will remain for an extended period, while some will take turns with newer entries. I've included a photo of the fairly recent past -- the demolition one clear day a couple of years ago of the R House 2 building on Main Street in Odessa, a building with a rich history. In fact, anyone with details of that structure's long existence could tackle that as a subject.

In addition to the writing, this would be a good place for photos of historical interest. Anyone with old photos of Odessa, Montour Falls and Watkins Glen are welcome to lend them to this website for possible publication, or scan them and send them by e-mail.

If you are interested, you can e-mail the address at the bottom of this page or to chaeffner@stny.rr.com, write to The Odessa File, P.O. Box 365, Odessa, NY, or call 594-3594 and ask for Charlie.

----------------

For earlier Brian O'Donnell history columns and other historical items, click here.

The Odessa File: History of Schuyler County (2024)

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