2015 Inductees
Athletes inducted into the North East Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015
-
image
LikeUnlike
-
Bill Ramsdell excelled both on the track and basketball court at North East High School. As a two-time State Champion in 1962 and 1963 in the Mile Run at the PIAA Class B State Championships, he was an integral part of the NEHS 1962 and 1963 PIAA Class B State Championship Track Teams. Bill also medaled in the 880 Yard Run and was the NEHS school record holder in both events, in addition to the Mile Relay team. As a basketball player, Bill earned 1st Team All-County honors for three years and All-State recognition his senior year. He was the Erie County Record Holder for most points scored in a game (62) which was also at one time a Pennsylvania State Record. For his accomplishments as a senior, he was voted the Erie County High School Athlete of the Year in 1963. His success as a runner earned him a full track scholarship to Syracuse University where he also competed as the starting point guard on the Syracuse Freshman basketball team (as Freshman could not play on the Varsity team). In 2009, Bill was inducted into the Metropolitan Erie Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.
-
Bill was a two-time District 10 Champion in the Javelin. He was PIAA State Champion his Senior Year and set a state record of 206 feet and 8 1/2 inches. He was named a high school “All American” in the javelin. His throw was in the top five in the nation. Bill was also starting quarterback for North East when he was a sophomore. He was selected All-County running back as a Junior and Senior. He was second in the league scoring both years. He is in the top five of all-time scorers in football for NEHS. He was a 3-year letter winner in Basketball. He received a full four-year track scholarship to the University of Tennessee. Bill also coached track and football for ten years in California.
-
Dr. Don Bliss started his fame as a contributing member of the 1963 and 1964 Class B State Championship Teams. He placed in the Discus his junior year and returned as a senior to become PIAA State Discus Champ while earning a 3rd place in the Shot Put. In football, he was Awarded WWYN Most Valuable Lineman and 1st Team All (Erie) County. His efforts at NEHS earned him a joint Track and Football scholarship at the University of Wisconsin. At Wisconsin, Don was a four-time medalist in the Shot Put in Big Ten Championships. In 1967, his 3rd place and in 1968 his 5th place finish in the shot helped Wisconsin win back to back Big Ten Indoor Championships. He was a three-year letterman in football at Wisconsin and received the Savage Award (plus Game Ball) vs. Northwestern University for 9 solo tackles plus 2 assists including 3 sacks. Don signed as a free agent for the Green Bay Packers and made the squad in 1970 but broke his wrist at the start of the season. He had surgery and returned to UW graduate school where he received an M.S. and PhD. in Veterinary Parasitology
-
Frank lettered both in football and basketball at St. Greg's in all four years. In his freshman year in basketball, he tied the school’s single-game scoring record with 34 points. As a sophomore, he broke that record with 36 points. Also, that same year he broke his own record with 49 points. In 1959 he captured the scoring Championship with 332 points. He was named to the All Diocese Team in both his sophomore and junior year. Also, he was the first player from St. Gregory’s to be named to the All Diocese football team at quarterback in 1960. An injury ended Frank's basketball career in his senior year. He ended his basketball career with 1233 league points and a grand total of 1385 points with a 24 point per game scoring average.
-
“Gregg Hamilton was one of the most outstanding basketball players to ever play in the ECL and District 10.” -Coach Ted Miller Gregg held the NEHS career scoring record (1414 Points) for many years after graduation. He was 1st Team All-County his Sophomore, Junior, and Senior years. Gregg holds the highest points-per-game average of 20.0 ppg. over three years. Freshmen were not allowed to play varsity at that time or Gregg would have had more as he would have seen playing time. He scored 350 points as a freshman in 19 games. He was granted a four-year basketball scholarship at Penn State University. He was also heavily recruited by Bobby Knight who was coaching for West Point at that time. Gregg also played football as a Sophomore, starred on the tennis team, and graduated fifth in his class.
-
Jim Concilla’s career started in 1949 at St. Gregory’s Grade School as the first year they fielded a team in Erie Parochial League, they went undefeated, untied, and unscored upon. Jim’s quarterbacking skills, which began with this team, went all the way to his leading North East High School in 1953, to their first undefeated Erie County Championship. Jim was selected to play in the Save-an-Eye All-Star Game. Jim also played NE Summer baseball and was selected for the PA East-West All-Star teams in 1953 and 1954. He was a four-year football letterman at Edinboro University where three of his runs remain in the Edinboro record book after 50 years. One of which was a 95-yard kickoff return on the opening play of a Homecoming game. After College, Jim started coaching in Silver Creek, NY, and then returned to North East. In his second year of coaching, his team was undefeated ECL Champions. After retiring from high school coaching to work with his own children, he started the North East Little Gridders. In 2013 Jim was inducted into the Metropolitan Erie Chapter Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.
-
Jim “Pancho” Villa was a graduate of North East High School. He led Allegheny College in scoring in 1955, 1956, and 1957. He also played linebacker and safety for the Gators, rarely leaving the field. Two-year All-District. All-State and Methodist All-American. Named to the Division III All-American team in 1956. Jim ranks in the top five in the Allegheny offensive record book, including rushing yards in a game (259) vs. Bethany when he ran for four touchdowns. He ranks fourth in season rushing yards (1,073) in 1958), 5th in career rushing yards (2,537 from 1955-1957), and 7th in points in a season (96 in 1956) and career (206). Villa’s 34 career touchdowns is good for 5th place on the Gators' record books. He is only one of two Gators to have consecutive 200-yard rushing games. He was drafted by the Baltimore Colts in the 11th round in 1957, where injuries ended his career. Jim was named to the Allegheny College All-Century Team in 1978 and honored as a charter member in the Gator Hall of Fame in 1981. Jim was inducted into the Metropolitan Erie Chapter Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.
-
Robert (Bob) Stockman Wall was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and grew up in the city of Erie. He attended Strong Vincent High School where he earned all-city honors in football and track. After service in the United States Army, he attended Slippery Rock College on the GI Bill where he continued to participate in track. After graduation, Bob was hired by Earle C. Davis, Supervising Principal of the North East School District, as teacher and coach. During the 1960s, Wall and his friend and fellow NEHS Coach Ted Miller dominated Erie County and District 10 Track and Field with many county and district champions and team titles. This reign included NEHS winning the Pennsylvania State Track and Field Championships three times in 1962, 1963, and 1964. During this time, he coached Bill Wilkins, Don Bliss, and Dwayne Dye to first place state titles. Bob was a pioneer in weight training for track and field athletes and published several articles in Scholastic Coach Magazine and the Athletic Journal. Wall left North East in the late 1960s but stayed in education. He continued to help athletes from many schools including North East achieve their personal bests up to his death in 2014.
-
Roberta Raszkowski was a three-time PIAA Gold Medal winner with 2 Championships in Cross Country and one in the 3200 meter run. She has a total of 10 state medals in 1600, 3200, and the 3200 relay. She placed 16th overall in the National Cross Country Foot Locker Race in 1987 and placed 8th overall in 1988. She won four consecutive District 10 titles in Cross Country and the 3200 meter run in track. She was also a member of the 3200 meter relay that won District 10 and set the record that held for more than twenty years. Roberta also won consecutive titles in the 1600 and 3200 races in the ECL championships and was selected MVP in those championships twice. She was also awarded the most outstanding female athlete of the year of the entire Metro and County area in 1988. She ran Cross Country for Edinboro in 1991 and '92, earning all PSAC and All-Region honors both seasons. She earned All-American status in 1991. She was also inducted into the Erie Metropolitan Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.
-
Coach Ted Miller coached for NEHS from 1958 to 2013, mostly as head coach of Cross Country and Track and a few years as Basketball Coach and Assistant Cross Country and Track Coach. His first achievements were the three successive PIAA Class B State Championship teams in Track and Field with coach Bob Wall in 1962,63 and 64. He was responsible for coaching 8 PIAA State Championships as Head Coach. (Two in Track, Four in Girls Cross Country, Two in Boys Cross Country). He had Eight 3200 Meter Relay teams that were State Champions. He also had forty-two District 10 Championships in Cross-Country, Track, and Basketball combined. During his tenure, there were 26 individual State Champions. During that time, he had two different individuals that were two-time State Champions in the mile (Bill Ramsdell-1962-63) and in the 1600 (Ryan Smathers 2012-13). He coached Gary Murray who was a three-time PIAA gold medalist in Track. He also coached Roberta Raszkowski, who was a three-time gold medalist in PIAA Cross Country and Track. Coach Miller also had numerous ECL and Region Championships. Ted as a coach was very inspiring and motivating to his athletes throughout his career. He is a member of the Erie Chapter Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the Pennsylvania High School Track and Field Hall of Fame.
-
Tony Sanfilippo excelled at football, basketball, and track at North East High School, but football was his love. His football records still stand after 60 years. On offense, he had 12.7 yards per rush (on 100 attempts). He shares the longest run from scrimmage (99 yards). He holds the single-game rushing record of 331 yards. Also, all purpose yard in a game of 381 yards. From 1952-1955, he had career points of 344 and 55 rushing TD’s. He shares 5 TD;s in a game and 30 points in a game. On defense, Tony’s records include 4 interceptions in a game, 3 defensive TD’s in a game, 4 Defensive TD's in a season, 5 career defensive TD’s, and the longest interception return of 105 yards. Tony was an integral part of the 1954 undefeated Erie County Championship team. He received a full football scholarship to Notre Dame, where his football career ended prematurely due to injury. He became a beloved high school teacher and head football coach who led the Harbor Creek Huskies to victory, winning the County Championship. He received numerous awards, including Teacher of the Year. Tony was also a lover of poetry and literature, inspiring students and bringing a positive impact to many lives.
RSS Link Items