HOF ceremonies highlighted special weekend for Mercer
What a weekend for Mercer County athletics.
It started on Saturday evening with the Mercer County Soccer Hall of Fame induction ceremonies and what a great event this has become hosted by Harold “Bird” Fink and Charlie Inverso.
Then on Sunday afternoon the Trenton Select held its final gathering and honored longtime president, Rick Freeman, who certainly is deserving.
Receiving the Nicholas F. Gusz Memorial Special Recognition Award was Terry McCarty. McCarty has been volunteering and serving the area in many ways and for many years.
Later Sunday afternoon, the Mercer County Basketball Hall of Fame inducted nine members in John ‘Mincey” Manczak, Connie White, Don Hess, L’Keisha Sutton, Bridgette Mitchell, John Simone, Sandy Orapel, Denise Craig and Ray Clark.
There were a lot of great names in Mercer County sports mentioned over the two days.
Being inducted in the Soccer Hall were Kylee Rossi Flynn, Al Leister, Gary Hindley, Saskia Webber, Red Birch and the 1975 State Championship teams from Steinert, Lawrence, Ewing and Notre Dame.
I cannot think of another county in the state that can boast having four schools winning a state championship. It only goes to show the amazing soccer talent that exists in the county.
Congratulations to Trentonian colleague Red Birch on being inducted. Red has been on the high school soccer beat for years and truly deserving of the honor.
Always a fun affair, Bird and Charlie keep the one-liners coming.
Over the years those recognized by the Trenton Select Committee reads as a Who’s Who in Mercer County athletics.
It was always another event proved to be a great time for all.
The Basketball Hall of Fame is the new kid on the block and really got started through the hard work of Gary Bushelli and the committee he put together of Linda Weise, Kristin Jacobs,
Bill Quirk, Bob Pugh, Ann DeMille, Shelly Dearden and Harold Hall.
The inductees this year were L’Keisha Sutton, John Simone, Don Hess, Bridgette Mitchell, Connie White, Sandy Orapel, Ray Clark, Denise Craig and John ‘Mincey” Manczak.
One of the things that all three of the organizations do is present scholarships to worthy high school students.
The words on the bridge still ring true, “Trenton Makes and the World Takes.”
Congratulations to Joe
My son, Joe, recently was honored at the Trenton Catholic Preparatory Academy Gala receiving the Alumni Serving The Youth Award.
It certainly was a proud moment for our family and an honor that we know was very deserved.
Over the years, he has given a lot to the school and has always been a person willing to help anyone at any time.
I am so proud of him and the wonderful young man he has become.
TCPA also honored the Reverend Alphonse Stephenson (Partners in Faith Award), Philip and Carol Besler (Alumni Making a Difference Award), Edward Dietzler (Community Partnership Award) and Sherika Salmon (Making a Difference Award).
There’s a lot of positive history from St. Anthony’s to Trenton Preparatory Academy, and it no doubt has Msgr. Michael McCorristin looking down proudly.
Chuck Giambelluca Memorial Golf Outing
Chuck Giambelluca was a giant in Mercer County athletic circles and the longtime manager of the American Legion Broad Street Park Post 313, and for the second year there will be a golf tournament in his memory.
The date is June 1 at Mercer Oaks and the cost is $150.00 per golfer.
Further information can be obtained by contacting Jerry Thompson (JerryT19@gmail.com), Mike Giambelluca (mjgiamb@yahoo.com), Tom Dolan (Btownpost26@aol.com) and Pat Papero (pvpapero@aol.com).
Last year was a major success, and everyone is expecting this season’s event to be just as successful.