HONESDALE — The main purpose of the Wayne Area Sports Hall of Fame ever since its inception in 1994 has been to recognize greatness on the local athletics scene.
The organization goes about achieving that goal in two ways. First, by holding an induction dinner each year that honors individuals for their achievements, and second, by awarding grants to local groups focused on exposing youngsters to all the positive aspects of sports.
On Monday afternoon, longtime Selection Committee Chairman Greg Frigoletto welcomed representatives of three such groups to the Wayne Highlands School District Office. There he presented three checks in the amount of $500 each for 2024.
“For a very long time now, it's been the mission of the Wayne Area Sports Hall of Fame to give back to the community,” said Frigoletto. “One of the main ways we do that is by offering monetary grants to local youth sports groups to help perpetuate all the positive aspects of team and individual sports.”
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This year's recipients of the Hall of Fame grants are Honesdale Friends of Football, Wallenpaupack Area Youth Lacrosse, and Western Wayne 'Cat Pack Games.
“These grants represent a nice cross section of different sports all around the county,” said Frigoletto. “There are so many great things for kids going on locally covering a lot of different bases and we're very happy to be able to help them out.”
Around the horn
Honesdale varsity coach Paul Russick was on hand Monday to accept a Hall of Fame grant on behalf of the Friends of Football.
According to Russick, the money will be used for educational purposes, specifically three themed presentations aimed at developing and honing leadership traits.
“We are planning on using Edge Leadership Academy as a learning tool,” Russick said. “This should be a great experience for our next generation of student-athletes.”
Rory O'Fee is president of Wallenpaupack Youth Lacrosse, a fledgling organization hoping to instill a love of the sport with boys and girls in Wayne and Pike counties.
According to O'Fee, the grant money provided by the Hall of Fame will be used to purchase protective playing gear to be utilized as loaner equipment.
“We believe in an equitable playing experience,” said O'Fee. "No one should be prohibited from participating in this great sport due to financial restrictions.”
Wallenpaupack Youth Lacrosse is a recreation level group comprised of boys and girls from kindergarten through eighth grade. There are players involved from all three local school districts, along with homeschoolers.
'Cat Pack Games was conceived at Western Wayne as an alternative to Special Olympics, which were canceled locally in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.
The fourth annual 'Cat Pack Games took place on May 21 and featured many traditional track & field events such as running, long jump, javelin toss and softball throw.
According to organizer Alyssa Wesley, this year's Hall of Fame grant money will be used for all sorts of supplies including potato sacks, parachutes, spring balls and hula hoops.
“The 'Cat Pack Games provides an opportunity for more of our students to participate,” Wesley said. “It also allows them the flexibility to do what they're most comfortable with, when they are comfortable doing it.”
A bit of history
The Wayne County Sports Hall of Fame was founded in 1994, the brainchild of General Dan O’Neill, Dr. Walter Barbe and Leroy Spoor.
The inaugural induction dinner took place in 1995. Included among that first class of honorees were legendary local heroes Christy Mathewson, Virginia Lobb Gentile, V. Keith Sutton, Jimmy Heller, Ruth McGinnis and Edwin “Snoz” Miller.
Since then, many of the area’s biggest names have been added to this prestigious honor roll. In the introductory pages of the annual banquet program, members of the selection committee wrote:
“The purpose of establishing the Wayne County Sports Hall of Fame is to recognize the many outstanding athletes and sports promoters in our area. The benefits of athletics, both to the individual and to the community itself, cannot be overstated.”
For more information on the Wayne Area Sports Hall of Fame, to nominate someone, or to make a donation to support the cause, please contact Greg Frigoletto at 570-253-4661.
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