Wayne Valley Football Drawing Inspiration from Recent Hall of Fame Inductees

WAYNE, NJ - Wayne Valley football’s proud tradition was on display August 21st at the North Jersey Country Club in Wayne when four past greats were inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame.

The group included former players Rick Wardle, Troy Sherin, Kyle Schroeder and former assistant coach John Zisa.

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“The men we enshrined helped lay the foundation for the success we have enjoyed recently,” head coach Roger Kotlarz said. “I considered it an honor to present them with this well-deserved honor.”

Wardle, a wide receiver and defensive back from 1965 to 1967, helped lead the Indians to a 9-0 record and to a State Sectional championship his senior year. His three Wayne Valley teams went a combined 24-2-1.

Sherin, a two-way lineman from 1982 to 1984, helped lead the Indians to an 11-0 record and to a State Sectional championship his senior year. As a junior, he helped the Indians go 8-3 and went to the State Sectional finals, where they lost to Ramapo, 13-7.

Schroeder, a two-way lineman from 1993 to 1995, helped lead the Indians to a 9-1 record his junior year, with the lone loss coming to Ramsey in the State Sectional Semifinal, 17-10. He earned 1 ^st team All County at two different positions – as a defensive lineman his junior year and as an offensive lineman his senior season.

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Zisa, an assistant coach from 2014 to 2018, was inducted posthumously. He was a standout lineman as a sophomore and a junior for Fair Lawn in 1978 and 1979 and was considered a Division I college prospect. A tragic swimming pool accident after practice just before his senior year in 1980 rendered him a quadriplegic. His enthusiasm for football never waned as he coached for many years.  He was a highly regarded offensive and defensive line coach for Paterson Catholic, Paramus Catholic, Elmwood Park, Rutherford, Westwood and Wayne Valley.

“We recognize that the program is what it is today because of our former players and coaches,” Kotlarz said. “With everything we do in practice and in the games, we strive to preserve the tradition that they built. One way that we will keep that success going is by making sure our current players, coaches and fans are aware of the team’s past.”

The Wayne Valley Football Hall of Fame exists to honor elite players, coaches and administrators who have left an unforgettable mark on the program. Enshrinement represents the pinnacle of recognition – the highest honor the team can bestow. It celebrates those who have achieved extraordinary greatness and shaped the very fabric of the team. Selections for the Hall of Fame are made based on athletic contribution, honors, awards, length of affiliation, records, leadership and community involvement.

Nominations can be made by a variety of people, including teammates, coaches, community members, alumni, and teachers. To nominate a past great, email skiffodrake@yahoo.com

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