ALLENTOWN — Sportsmanship is a journey and not a destination.

Allentown High School's athletic program tries to instill this philosophy in all of its student athletes. The program, which began in the early 1950s with two sports, male basketball and male baseball, helps guide students in their sports ventures while continuing on a journey of its own.

The school's athletic program started with two teams, but has slowly grown over the past five decades. After the implementation of football, Allentown High School started offering sports for female students in the 1970s. However, girls' soccer did not begin until 1998. The most recent additions were male and female lacrosse and winter track, which started in 2001-02.

Currently, the school offers 22 varsity sports that 80 percent of the student body participates in, according to Athletic Director Brian Irwin.

Irwin said sports help teach students life skills such as dedication, teamwork, time management and responsibility. Each year since 1981, the school has honored one male and one female student athlete who excel in these qualities, and place name plaques on its athletic wall of fame. The school also honors winning sports teams with banners in its two gymnasiums and by showcasing trophies and other sports memorabilia throughout the hallways.

While many high schools have developed athletic halls of fame to honor alumni, teams, coaches and others who have made special contributions to sports and athletic programs, Allentown High School has never had one until now.

Irwin started to develop a conceptual plan for the Allentown High School Athletic Hall of Fame two years ago.

"This is a great way to honor people from the past," Irwin said. "I always talk to students and coaches about giving back to the community. This is a great way to give back to those who helped mold our athletic programs."

The hall of fame will promote the achievements of exemplary student athletes, coaches, teams and contributors to the school's athletic program. The school plans to unveil the hall and induct its first 10 members in the fall of 2009. The first induction will take place Oct. 10.

The inductions will be governed by a selection committee that consists of Irwin, Principal Chris Nagy, Assistant Athletic Director Douglas Hunt, coach Mary Ellen McCarthy, Board of Education member Howard Krieger, Public Information Officer Louise San Nicola, Millstone Pop Warner board member Mike Turner, and Allentown resident and former Board of Education member Brad Barlow.

The committee will select inductees through a nomination process. The nomination application is available at www.ufrsd.net.

Anyone can nominate a female athlete, a male athlete, a team, a coach or a special contributor for recognition in the athletic hall of fame. There are criteria for each category, which are listed on the school district's website.

Those bestowed with the honor of being inducted into the hall of fame will receive an award at a banquet and have a professional photograph displayed in the hall, which will be located in the athletic lobby outside the school's new gymnasium. Inductees will receive a tour of the school, VIP treatment for halftime of a home varsity game.

The hall of fame will have a continuing code of ethics, which gives the selection committee the opportunity to void any inductees who fall out of favor with the high school or the community with regard to the laws, regulations and policies governing the town, state and nation. Inductees who demonstrate behavior unbecoming for a community member or alumnus and anyone who causes public embarrassment to the school district could also be expelled.

The first 60-day nomination period will end June 1.

Community members have a host of people to nominate, since the school has seen a number of its student athletes go on to play sports or coach at the college level.

"Eleven have gone on to the Division 1 level," Irwin said. "Three have gone on to coach at the college level."

Since the new gym opened in 2004, the school has celebrated having three 1,000- point scorers in basketball, winning a baseball state championship and a softball state championship, and going on to six state sectional championships in various sports thanks to the efforts of students, coaches and school district staff.

Some of the top teams include the 1997 field hockey team that won the school's firstever

state championship, and last year's baseball team, which ranked No. 1 in the state out of more than 400 public school baseball teams. Allentown High School is also the alma mater of Kyle Hartshorn, who graduated in 1982 and went on to play for the New York Mets as a Class A player. The school also has a photograph of Katie Nicholson hanging in one of its hallways, noting that she made the All American Field Hockey

Team in 1998-99.

 

After the first 10 individuals are inducted into the new hall of fame in October, the selection committee will evaluate the process, the ceremony and the number of inductees it plans to honor in future years.

For more information, contact Brian Irwin at irwinb@ufrsd.net. Nomination forms can be sent via e-mail or fax to 609-259-0126.