By Patricia Keller
WEST MILFORD ‑‑ The West Milford Athletic Hall of Fame Chairman Tim Gillen announced the Inaugural Class of 2018 inductees following a vote by the Athletic Hall of Fame General Committee earlier this month.
Principal Paul Gorski said it was a "big day" for the high school. Eight student athletes, two teams, two coaches, one special contributor, and one recipient of the “Highlander Legacy Award” were named, making up the first group of inductees.
Among those selected for the prestigious honor include an Olympic gold medalist and world champion skier, two NFL football players, a Passaic County "Athlete of the Year," a Montclair University Hall of Fame inductee, a College Football star, and standouts with exceptional West MIlfrod High School achievements and records in basketball, wrestling, football and ice hockey.
Last year, the Board of Education established the Hall of Farm.
The originators of the idea were Joe Trentacosta, the school's district's athletic director and former athletic director Tim Gilling.
The idea, the pair said, was to "honor excellence in those who generated greater visibility for the high school, its academics, and who maintained pride in the athletic traditions of the community and inspired others through outstanding athletic achievements” and “in recognition of the need to perpetuate the memory of those exceptional people who brought honor to West Milford High School and who can serve as role models for present and future generations.”
Schools Superintendent Dr. Alex Anemone noted when the idea was first floated that it wouldn't cost the district, or taxpayers, anything because it would be completely funded by the organization itself through fundraising events.
New inductees or inductee representatives will be honored each year at an induction ceremony determined by the Executive Committee.
On Wednesday, Dec. 13, committee members were greeted by current students in the Media Center of the West Milford High School, where they received final instructions. Votes were cast via secret ballot. The votes were then counted and recorded by members of the West Milford Math Honor Society and Athletic Director Joe Trentacosta, who did not vote.
Of the 12 nominees in the indivuals category, eight were selected by the committee.
Members of the Highlander Pipes and Drums Corps performed, and students from the high school's TV Science class were on hand to record the historical moment.
A video of the announcement can be seen on the Hall of Fame website at www.wmhof.com or on its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/westmilfordhof.
Athletes: Donna Weinbrecht, Kevin Walker,, Bill Bailey, Robyn Baron, Lennie Friedman, Meghan Renna, Jenn Millward, Phil Mosser
Coaches: Bob Dondero, Elmer Zimmerman
Teams: 1994-95 Girls Basketball, 1989 Baseball
Special Contributor: Michael Deering
Highlander Legacy Award: Brian Parrello” (posthumous)
2018 West Milford High School Hall of Fame Inaugural Inductees
Athletes:
Name: Bill Bailey
Year: 1989
Sport(s): Football, Wrestling, Track
Notes:
WMHS: 2x 1st Team All Passaic Football, 1st Team NHC Skyline Conference (87,88) , 3rd Team All State Associated Press (‘88) 4,034 Yards Total Offense, 188 Points Scored, 30 Touchdowns, 2555 Yards rushing, 502 Yards Receiving 2x 1st Team All Passaic Wrestling (88,89) Passaic County Champion (88,89) 1st Team NHC Skyline (89), NJSIAA Region 4 Champion (89), NJSIAA District XII Champion (88,89) NJSIAA 3rd Place State Finisher, 3rd Team All State Star Ledger (89)
Post WMHS: Full Scholarship , Rutgers University Football. Scored 1st TD in Big East Conference History. Serves currently as Academic Advisor to Rutgers University student-athletes
Name: Robyn Baron
Year: 1991
Sport(s) Softball
Notes:
WMHS: Bergen Record All Century Team (2000), Bergen Record Athlete of the Week (4/89) All Conference, County, All State Selection. 4 Career Perfect Games, 19 Career No Hitters, Part of 4 straight NHC Conference Champion Teams and 3 Straight Sectional Title Teams, 4 Year Varsity Starter
Post WMHS: Elected to Montclair State University Hall of Fame (only one of 200 athletes in MSU Hall of Fame) 3 -Time National Fast Pitch Coaches Assoc. D-3 All American, 3 -Time All Region Selection, 2-Time 1st All NJAC Selection, 2-Time NJAC Pitcher of Year, Part of 3 NCAA Tournament teams at MSU, Recorded 337 Strikeouts in 490 innings, 3rd on MSU All-Time Victory list, Career Record of 56-22 with 2.44 ERA, 11 Shutouts, 1 No Hitter. MSU Junior Athlete of the Year (1995) MSU Athlete of The Year (1996)
Name: Lennie Friedman
Year: 1995
Sport(s): Football, Track
Notes:
WMHS: Co-Captain Football & Track Team, MVP of Football & Track Team, All NHC Conference & All Passaic County Football, National Football Foundation Hall of Fame, Part of Track team that went undefeated for 4 years.
Post WMHS: Full Scholarship Duke University for Football. Drafted in 2nd Round (61st overall) of 1999 NFL Draft by Denver Broncos. Had 10 Year NFL Career with Broncos, Redskins, Bears, & Browns. Inducted into National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2004. Number 70 jersey is one of only two football numbers retired at WMHS.
Name: Jenn Millward Romeo
Year: 1995
Sport(s): Soccer, Basketball, Softball
Notes:
WMHS: 4 year Letter Winner in Soccer, Basketball, and Softball. Only female athlete in WMHS history to win Passaic County Athlete of the Year Award. Part of Passaic County Champion Soccer Team (93, 94) Passaic County Champion Basketball Team (93, 95) Group 4 State Champions (1995) TOC Finalist (1995) Passaic County Champions Softball (93, 95) Group 4 State Finalist (94) 4-Time 1st Team All County Softball, 3-Time 1st Team All County Soccer, 3-Time 1st Team All County Basketball, County Champion in 3 sports Senior Year 1995, 1000 Point Scorer, 1000 rebounds in basketball, MVP in Softball, Soccer, and Basketball Senior Year, , 1st Female in WMHS History to make All County 4 straight years in softball. NJSIAA Scholar Athlete Winner, Athlete of Week in all 3 Area Newspapers. Ranked 7th in class Senior Year. Full Scholarship to Boston University for Basketball.
Post WMHS: Head Girls Basketball Coach at North Warren HS, Teacher at North Warren Middle School
Name: Phil Mosser
Year: 1967
Sport(s): Football, Baseball, Basketball, Wrestling
Notes:
WMHS: 8 overall Varsity letters, Led WMHS Football team to first winning season going 8-0 in final game before losing NHC Championship to Pequannock. 1st Team All NHC Suburban Shortstop
Post WMHS: 1968, Ferrum College played on undefeated team as starting running back and led team in rushing. Played in Shrine Bowl (National Junior College Championship). 1969 Captain of Ferrum College Football Team and led team in rushing. Received scholarship offers from Marshall University and College of William and Mary. Chose WIlliam & Mary due to academics, athletics and Coach Lou Holtz. 1970 Starting RB for William & Mary and part of Southern Conference Championship Team that played in Tangerine Bowl. Set Southern Conference Record for rushing in season (1386 yards) and single game (257 yards). Was 9th in Nation in Rushing, 3rd in Nation in all-purpose yards. 1970 Southern Conference Player of the Year, 1970 2nd Team All American, 1971 Southern Conference Athlete of the Year, Named Captain of 1971 football team. Averaged 100 yards rushing for career. Still holds many William & Mary records. Coach Lou Holtz was later quoted as saying Mossser was one of the best all around players he’s ever coached. Played professionally with the Montreal Alouettes in Canadian Football League from 1972-1973. Played on three National Championship teams for the Norfolk Blues Rugby Union from 1973-81. Currently owns Shadowchase Farm in Newport, VA.
Name: Meghan Renna
Year: 1996
Sport(s): Soccer, Basketball, Track
Notes:
WMHS: All-Tme Leading Scorer in girls basketball history, 3 -Time 1st Team All County Soccer (93, 94, 95) All-County, All Area, All-Conference Basketball (94, 95, 96) 1st Team Group 4 (95) 2nd Team All State Soccer, 1st Team Group 4, 1st Team All State, USA Today Honorable Mention All American for Basketball. In Top 15 of All-Time Leading Scorers in Passaic County. Trends Athlete of the Week, Passaic County 3-Point Champion 1994, Record Athlete of the Week in 1995. Was part of Sectional Champion Soccer Team (95), County Champions in Soccer (93,94) Tournament of Champions Finalist and Group 4 State Champion 1995, County Champions in Basketball (93, 95) Conference Champions in Basketball (95, 96).
Post WMHS:Played Soccer and Basketball at William Paterson University. Inducted into William Paterson Hall of Fame in 2006. ECAC Player of the Year in 1999-2000. NJCBCA First Team All State in 1999-2000. NJAC First Team 1999-2000. MId Atlantic Region First Team 1999-2000, 1051 career points in basketball. 1st Team NJAC for Soccer (97, 99, 2000) NJAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2000 for Soccer. NSCAA Mid Atlantic Region First Team 2000.
Name: Kevin Walker
Year: 1984
Sport(s): Football, Basketball, Baseball
Notes:
WMHS: 3 year letter winner in Football and Baseball, 2 Year letter winner in basketball. All Conference, All County & All State and Team MVP in Football in senior season 1983. All Conference, All County, and All State in Baseball senior season 1984. Ranks in top 5 in single season football records in seven offensive categories. Is ranked in top 5 in six career offense records including 2nd All Time at WMHS in career rushing yards at 1,895 yards, 3rd in touchdowns with 18, and 3rd in receptions with 52.
Post WMHS:
Received full scholarship to University of Maryland where he played linebacker. Was Maryland team MVP in 1987. Named to 1st Team All ACC Linebacker in 1987. Named 2nd Team All American Linebacker in 1987. Named Annapolis TD Player of the Year in 1987. Drafted by Cincinnati Bengals in 1988 in 3rd Round of NFL Draft, 57th overall. Played in NFL from 1988-1992 where career was cut short by knee injury.Football Number 44 was retired at WMHS.
Name: Donna Weinbrecht
Year: 1983
Sport(s): Skiing
Notes:
WMHS: Was influential in petitioning BOE to start a ski team program at WMHS. Was part of the 1st girls ski team at WMHS. All Conference skier and lettered all years in HS.
Post WMHS: 5-Time FIS World Cup Title Winner, 46 Individual World Cup Mogul Event Wins, 7 US National Championship Titles. 3-Time US Olympian (‘92 Albertville, France ‘94 Lillehammer, Norway ‘98 Nagano, Japan) Gold Medalist in 1991 World Championships in Lake Placid, Olympic Gold Medalist in Women’s Moguls - ‘92 Albertville. Two Time Silver Medalist in 1989 and 1997 World Championships, Named to US National Ski Hall of Fame in 2004 and Vermont Ski Hall of Fame in 2007. Member of the Passaic County Old Timers Hall of Fame.Currently does alumni and fundraising work with US Ski Team. Coaches at Killington Mountain School and runs a two day women’s camp at Killington Mt. Vermont and is Ambassador for Killington Mt.
Teams:
Team: Baseball
Year: 1989
Notes: North 1, Group 4 Sectional Champions 1989, NHC Skyline Champions, County Finalist, Group 4 State Finalist. Overall Record of 22-3. Ranked #2 in Final Star Ledger Top 20 in 1989. Was only baseball team to reach State Final and first to reach county final. Best single season record in WM Baseball History. First baseball team in WMHS History to win Sectional Title.
Team: Girls Basketball
Year: 1994-95
Notes: Group 4 State Champions 1995, TOC Finalist 1995, Conference Champions 14-0, 29-2 Final Record, Passaic County Champions. Had four 1,000 point scorers. Was only WMHS team to get to TOC in any sport.
Coach Nominations:
Name: Bob Dondero
Years: 35+
Sport(s): Softball, Basketball, Cross Country
Notes:
WMHS: Won Passaic County Honor Award in 1982, NJ Interscholastic Coaches Hall of Fame in 1986, Paterson Old Timers Hall of Fame. Overall Passaic County Coach of the Year in 2008, Passaic County Coaches 20 and 30 Year Service Award. 6 Time Coach of the Year Awards. Won 2 Conference Titles and 1 State Sectional Title in Softball. Won 3 County, 2 Conference, and 1 State Sectional Title in Cross Country.
Name: Elmer Zimmerman
Years: 37 years
Sport(s): Basketball, Tennis
Notes:
WMHS: Had 227 Career Wins in Girls Basketball, 518 career wins in Girls Tennis, and 502 wins in Boys Tennis, Most overall wins of any coach in WMHS History. Won two Passaic County Titles in basketball and nine Passaic County Titles in Tennis. Won numerous county and conference Coach of the Year Awards. Won Group 4 State Title in Basketball in 1995 and TOC Final in 1995 where team finished 29-2. Named to NJ State Basketball Coaches and NJ State Tennis Coaches Hall of Fame. 39 years of service overall to WMHS. Tennis Director for WM Parks and Recreation for 50 years. State certified tennis official.
Special Contributor:
Name: Michael Deering
Notes: Began involvement with West Milford Athletics as a team manager for the football, basketball, and baseball team while a student at West Milford High School. After graduation, continued to volunteer and expanded his role from manager to coaches assistant to many sports and was named Assistant Athletic Director in 2013.. Has served WMHS and it’s athletic department for over 30 years. His number 1 baseball number was retired in May of 2014 recognizing his service and dedication to the baseball program.
Highlander Legacy Award:
Brian Parrello
This category is named the Highlander Legacy Award.
The first recipient of this high honor embodies the spirit of this enshrinement like no one else could and is so appropriate that this person is the first and part of our inaugural class of the West Milford High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Sadly and unfortunately this person is no longer with us as they made the ultimate sacrifice for our county. Lance Corporal Brian Patrick Parrello was a member of the West Milford High School class of 2003. Brian was passionate about sports and West Milford High School. Brian was an accomplished athlete in his own right playing football and Ice Hockey. Brian was a 4 year letter winner in Ice Hockey. Brian’s
fearless drive, determination and dedication forged by his family and parents and practiced in the athletic arena of West Milford High School gave Brian the call to service. Brian was a United State Marine and very sadly was killed in combat on January 1, 2005. Although only 19 years old Brian has left behind a legacy that will echo in eternity. Brian has received the Medal of Valor for his missions in Iraq. His #13 West Milford High School Ice Hockey Jersey is on display in the Prudential Center, The West Milford Post Office is named in his memory, and A monument under the flagpole on McCormick Field stands honoring Brian. Brian’s family annually awards a scholarship to a West Milford High School Senior Student. Brian has certainly left a Legacy of Service and Sacrifice and now that Legacy will be forever enshrined as an inaugural member of the West Milford High School Athletic Hall of Fame.