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SARATOGA
SPORTS
Friday, September 2, 2011
TODAY
Blue Streaks to Honor 11 Inductees in Hall of Fame Ceremony SARATOGA SPRINGS - The Saratoga Springs City School District will honor 11 outstanding individuals for their extraordinary contributions to athletics during the 2011 Blue Streak Athletic Hall of Fame induction at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, September 9, in the Meade Auditorium at Saratoga Springs High School. The program was established to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of outstanding athletes, coaches, administrators and supporters. This year's inductees are Keith Cummings, Kevin Cummings, William Dalrymple, Erin Davis, Ed Meixler, John Nichols, Don Pepper, George Perkins, Scott Perkins, and Katherine and Ralph Stacey. The program recognizes individuals whose support has played a critical role in the strength of school and community athletic programs, according to Peter Sheehan, the school district's director of athletics and physical education. "Over the course of the past three years, we have worked hard to establish the guidelines for the establishment of our Athletic Hall of Fame," Sheehan said. "The nominating process was open to the public and we received many nominations for former student-athletes, coaches, administrators and contributors. Our selection committee chose these 11 individuals for induction into our 2011 class, and we are looking forward to celebrating their accomplishments as members of the Saratoga athletic community." A committee composed of current and former coaches, high school administrators, community members and current and retired athletic directors reviewed the nominations and selected the honorees, who will also be recognized during the high school's first home football game on September 9. A trophy case in the lobby of the "blue gym" will hold plaques in honor of the inductees. The Hall of Fame is self-supporting, with financial support generated through the efforts of patrons, sponsors, booster clubs and targeted fundraising efforts.
The 2011 Hall of Fame Inductees: Keith Cummings: Saratoga Springs High School, Class of 1974 Baseball three years Basketball three years Soccer two years Football one year 1974: Foothills Council First Team, basketball 1974: Times Union Honorable Mention Player of the Year 1974: Captain Varsity Basketball 1972 & 1974: Foothills Champions, baseball Received nine varsity letters Basketball: three-year starting player, 19.6 points per game, 20.0 rebounds per game Baseball: 13-2 pitching record, 0.17 ERA over 45 innings (record still stands). Played three varsity sports - football, basketball & baseball at Norwich University - graduating in 1978.
Kevin Cummings: Saratoga Springs High School, Class of 1974 Baseball three years Football three years Basketball three years Received nine varsity Letters 1973 & 1974: All Foothills First Team Receiver 1974: Troy Record First Team Receiver 1974: All State - Second Team Receiver 1975: All American Receiver 1974: Captain Varsity Baseball Played Football at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst Played for Hall of Fame Coach Dick Mac Phearson 1976: All Yankee & All New England Division II - First Team Wide Receiver 1976: All ECAC Division II Second Team Wide Receiver 1977: All Yankee Conference/All ECAC Division II, All American and Pepsi Cola
Division II - First Team Tight End
William Dalrymple: Former Coach Coached High School basketball from 1948-1978. As the Saratoga Springs High School basketball coach, he guided the Blue Streaks to four sectional championships and numerous league titles in 10 years before moving across town to coach at St. Peter's. Under his leadership, the Saints won the 1973 Class-B State Championship. He was also the line coach for the football team and coached junior varsity baseball.
Erin Davis: Saratoga Springs High School, Class of 1997 1992-’94, ‘96: NYS Federation cross-country champion 1992-’94, ‘96: NYSPHSAA ClassA cross-country champion (third in 1995) 1992-’94, ‘96: Section 2 Class-A cross-country champion (runner-up 1995), 1993-’94, ‘96: Foot Locker National cross-country champion (fourth in 1994, seventh in 1996) 1997: cross-country/indoor & out door track) Second fastest Class-A time ever at graduation, second all-time Saratoga State Park (1994), 16:44 second best time in Section 2 indoor 3,000 All-time best at graduation Third best time in Section 2 out door 3,000 (1993, second at graduation), ran at Penn State University.
Ed Meixler: Saratoga Springs High School, Class of 1961 Varsity Football three years Basketball one year Track one year 1964: Captain of Football team at Boston University 1964: Recipient of the Harry Agannis Memorial Award as BU's MVP Named to New York Times Eastern Major College first team UPI & AP All East recognition All New England - first team Following a successful career at Saratoga Springs High School, Meixler attended Boston University from 1961 - 1965 on a four-year football scholarship. A linebacker for the Boston Patriots in 1965 (the same draft class as Joe Namath and Dick Butkus), he was possibly the first player from the high school to get drafted and play pro ball. His career was cut short due to recurrent concussions.
John Nichols: Saratoga Springs High School, Class of 1962
Scott Perkins: Saratoga Springs High School, Class of 1972
Junior varsity football one year Varsity football two years Wrestling three years Track three years Nichols went to the U.S. Naval Academy and graduated in 1966. While there, he continued to wrestle at the heavyweight class. In 1966, he finished second at Nationals. After attending flight school, he flew search and rescue missions for three years as a Navy helicopter pilot in Vietnam, and received the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1968. In 1973, Nichols became a commercial airline pilot for Northwest/Delta Airline. He died in 1999 of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Wrestling four years Football three years Baseball three years Soccer one year Tennis one year 1971-’72: Saratoga Springs High School Team Captain, wrestling 1972: Northern Conference Champion, wrestling 1972: NYSPHSAA Section 2 Class-A Champion, wrestling 1970-’72: Two undefeated high school dual meet seasons, 1970-1971, 1971-1972: wrestling 1972: Member-undefeated Northern A Conference Team Champions, wrestling 1972: Participant in U.S. Olympic Team wrestling trials 1973: Junior World District Freestyle Champion, Outstanding Wrestler Award 1973: AAU Eastern Wrestling Championships, All East, 1973-’77: Four year Varsity Letter winner in wrestling; Three times elected team captain 1974-1977 1975-’76: Two-time New York State Intercollegiate Champion & East-West College All Star Wrestling Team 1976: Participant in 1976 U.S. Olympic Team wrestling trials-training camp invitee Nationally ranked by Amateur Wrestling News in top 12 in weight class in 1975; Mid-Season AllAmerican (Honorable Mention) in 1975; Named Colgate University's Most Outstanding Wrestler (1975, 1976, 1977); Participant in 1980 U.S. Olympic Team wrestling trials 1968 - 1991: Won over 30 individual wrestling championship titles
Don Pepper: Saratoga Springs High School, Class of 1961 Pepper played first base for the Detroit Tigers in 1966, and also played in the minor leagues from 1962 - 1968. In March 1968, he was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated with Johnny Bench and Mike Torrez as "Some Hot Rookies for a New Season." He retired after being sold to the Montreal Expos in 1968. In the minor leagues, Pepper hit .265 with 78 home runs (66 in the final four years).
George S. Perkins: Saratoga Springs High School, Class of 1969 Football four years Wrestling four years Baseball four years 1967: Section II Baseball Champion 1968-’69: Captain of football, wrestling and baseball teams 1969: Saratoga Springs High School Northern Conference Wrestling Champion 1971: West Point Brigade Open Wrestling Champion 1972: Eastern Lightweight Football League 1972: U.S. Military Academy Undefeated Eastern Lightweight Football League Champions 1st Team all League - Defensive Tackle in the ELFL 1973: Graduated U.S. Military Academy at West Point 1982: MBA Harvard University George Perkins passed away in 1984 while playing in an athletic contest at West Point.
Katherine & Ralph Stacey Katherine Stacey made all of the championship banners that were displayed in the old gym. Both Katherine and Ralph Stacey were members and presidents of the allsports booster club, with involvement from the late 60s to the early 80s. They worked with community businesses to support the awards ceremonies and the purchases of jackets for the basketball and football teams. Both were huge supporters of their three sons, who played baseball, basketball and football.