OCHS Announces Inductees to the 2019 Athletic Hall of Fame |
| OCEAN CITY, NJ (October 8, 2019) – Ocean City High School is delighted to announce the 2019 inductees to the Athletic Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame 2019 Class will honor ten individuals, one coach, and one entire team who have made a meaningful and never-ending impact on Ocean City High School and the world of Red Raider athletics.
The event is planned for Sunday, October 20th at Ocean City High School. This is the same weekend as the homecoming football game against Triton which is Friday, October 18th at 6:00pm and the Homecoming Dance Saturday, October 19th. The Induction Class of 2019 will be: Casey Beyel: (Class of 2007) was an all-star in field hockey, a key starter in basketball and an all-star in lacrosse. Robyn Fortsch: (Class of 1983) scored more than 1,000 points in basketball and was a key player in softball, despite missing action with knee surgery. Joi Johnson: (Class of 1993) scored more than 1,000 points in basketball and was a state champion in the high jump during track season. Jill Kozakowski: (Class of 1998) was an outstanding swimmer for the Raiders when the swim team was co-ed. She currently holds the only school record by a girl set before 2000. Scott Lipford: (Class of 1997) still holds school records for football, was a starter in basketball and holds two school records in track. Lauren McHale: (Class of 1998) is the second highest goal scorer in Ocean City girls soccer history and the all-time leader in assists. She also was a Meet of Champions winner in track. Joe Myers: (Class of 1977) a three-sport athlete who set pitching records in baseball that have lasted 40 years, including one that will likely never be broken – 12 complete games in a season. He was also a key starter in basketball and on both offense and defense in football. Miles Schoedler: (Class of 2011) a two-time South Jersey cross country champion, holds OCHS course records in cross country and the school track record for 3200 meters. Melody Sye: (Class of 1984) was the first OCHS girl to win a South Jersey championship in cross country and was a championship runner on the track team. Don Tarves: (Class of 1960) one of the few four-sport stars at Ocean City High School. He was an all-star in football (some of his school records are still active more than 50 years later), an all-star in baseball and a champion in both track and swimming. Coach Gary Degenhardt: Degenhardt’s football teams won 101 games including three South Jersey titles and six Cape-Atlantic League championships. His 1996 team, inducted into the OCHS Hall of Fame two years ago, was ranked No. 8 in the East by USA Today. 2010 Baseball Team: coached by Craig Mensinger, was 21-9 and was the first Raider baseball team to win a South Jersey title on the field. The 21 wins was a school record and six individual school records were broken. “The preservation of the Ocean City High School’s long-standing athletic history and accomplishments is important as it connects our current student athletes with the former ones. The promotion of former athletic greats through the Ocean City Athletic Hall of Fame Induction will recognize and celebrate these outstanding athletes and give our students and families a blueprint for a successful athletic career in high school,” said Dr. Kathleen Taylor, Superintendent of Schools. The Ocean City High School Athletic Hall of Fame is of the utmost importance because it develops pride in these athletic traditions, creates role models in our community, and preserves our rich history of achievements. “The Hall of Fame is such a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the successes of those who had great achievements not only in the classroom, but also on our playing fields, setting examples for our current and future student-athletes. These individuals, coaches, and team members contributed to the greater community and exemplified what it means to be a team,” said Geoff Haines, Ocean City School District K-12 Athletic Director. The induction ceremony is open to all and will be held at 11:30am in the Ocean City High School auditorium. A reception will follow in the High School cafeteria. Tickets to join the Hall of Fame Inductees at the reception luncheon are $20.00 a person. Checks can be made payable to Ocean City High School Athletic Hall of Fame and may be sent to: Ocean City High School Athletic Hall of Fame or (OCHSAHF) at 501 Atlantic Ave., Ocean City, NJ c/o Geoff Haines, K-12 Athletic Director. |
