Rockville High School to Feature an Athletic Hall of Fame

Rockville High School's athletic history is full of contributions from administrators, coaches, athletes and contributors.

Beginning this summer, those contributions will be honored through the newly created Rockville High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

Under the direction of RHS Athletic Director Steven Phelps and committee chairman Scott Smith (Class of 1988), the inaugural RHS Athletic Hall of Fame induction reception and ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, June 16 at 1 p.m. at the high school.

The Hall of Fame is the brainchild of Phelps, now in his eighth year in charge of the 25 RHS interscholastic programs. Smith, a former captain and four-year football player under former head coach Tom Dunn and captain and three-year baseball player under head coach Art Wheelock in the mid 1980s, has served as a committee member of the Eastern Connecticut State University Athletic Hall of Fame since 1998, the last six years as its chairman.

A committee comprised of former and current RHS administrators, coaches and former RHS athletes was organized in the summer of 2011 and has been meeting regularly and researching possible candidates through interviews and utilizing yearbooks, statistical records and media archives.

Former RHS athletes, administrators, coaches and contributors are eligible for induction, Smith said. An individual’s accomplishments and contributions to the RHS athletic program are the primary criteria for induction. The charter induction Class of 2013 will be announced later this month.

“It is an honor to help lay the foundation for the Rockville High School Athletic Hall of Fame,” Smith said. “We are looking forward to the opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of the individuals that have helped build the rich tradition of athletics at Rockville High School. It is our hope that members of the community will get involved in an effort to make the RHS Athletic Hall of Fame an annual event that everyone can look forward to.”

Current committee members include former RHS athlete Don Berger (‘46); former athlete, teacher and girls basketball coach Jim Martello (’65); former athlete and current Vernon Parks and Recreation Assistant Director Steve Krajewski (’73); current girls and boys volleyball coach and former junior varsity softball coach and current RHS Director of School Counseling Kimberly Marinan; teacher, current head baseball and former athlete, assistant football and girls basketball coach Art Wheelock (’68), Vernon resident and Booster Club member Bob O’Gara; Vernon resident Dean R. Scinto; and Eastern Connecticut State University Sports Information Director Bob Molta.

Anyone familiar with the history of the RHS athletic program who is interested in either joining the committee, volunteering research assistance, providing historical documentation of the RHS athletic program from any era or requesting a Hall of Fame nomination form should contact Smith at smithsc@easternct.edu.