Archive: Sports

The Lansing Central School Athletic Hall of Fame is getting ready to choose new inductees. The program has honored Lansing players since 1998. The Hall of Fame is an actual Hallway in Lansing High School. If you go in the main entrance and take a right, then go past the gymnasium and take a left you will find the plaques honoring the players beautifully displayed on the wall. "It's really become something," says Marty Christopher, current chair of the committee that administers the program.

The program was begun about seven years ago by Athletic Director Ed Redmond. He led the Hall of Fame committee until three years ago when he asked Mr. Christopher to take on the leadership role. Most years about four new players are honored. There are currently 36 inductees on the wall.

Mr. Christopher's father is the well known sports writer Matt Christopher, author of about 125 books on sports and players, so he grew up in a sports oriented family. He lettered in three sports himself, including football, basketball and baseball, and was the captain of all three teams in his Senior year. He graduated in 1960. In fact he (inducted in 2000) and his Dad (inducted in 1999) are the only father/son pair currently in the Hall of Fame. He also currently serves on the Lansing Town Board.

Anyone can nominate an individual or a team. Forms are available from Mr. Christopher, at the High School, at the Lansing Recreation Department office in the town hall, and available for download on the Sports page of the Lansing Star (look to the right of this article). Nominations may be sent to the Athletic Director's office in the High School at any time of year to be considered each September. The committee also makes nominations going as far back as the 1960s.

September 15 is the final date for accepting nominations each year. The committee meets shortly after that to consider nominees. Once nominated a player remains in contention to be inducted at a future time. The mission/standards statement (also downloadable from this page) lays out the specific criteria a nominee must meet. A player must have graduated a minimum of ten years before he or she can be considered. Categories include outstanding players, teams, former coaches and administrators and outstanding contributors to the Athletic Program.

The committee chooses the finalists in September. They meet again in October to vote on the final candidates. "In the past we have just had individuals," says Mr. Christopher. "The difference this year is that we decided to start putting in teams. This year so far we've had seven teams nominated, so that is a good foundation for selection." Teams are nominated for a specific year, such as a football team in 1988. The Hall of Fame is funded by the Lansing Booster Club.

Each plaque has a picture of the player and a synopsis of their accomplishments

Inductees get a copy of the plaque that goes on the wall that includes a picture of the person or team and a short write-up of the accomplishments that got them into the Hall of Fame. Team members will receive a certificate, but a plaque will be added to the wall for the whole team. The awards ceremony is typically in January. It has been held at the half time between the JV and Varsity games for the past three years. The actual date will be announced in October.

"The best Master of Ceremonies in the entire county is doing this, Geoff Wright. Geoff is fantastic. He's an insurance man in Ithaca. Former coach, he graduated from Ithaca College, a terrific ball player himself. He announces the basketball games. He makes the program. We have to have Geoff for this, because his backup is me!" says Mr. Christopher with a laugh.

There is still a week left this year to make new nominations. Once nominees are elected Mr. Christopher has some detective work to do to locate them and invite them to the awards ceremony. We have January's ceremony to look forward to, but in the meantime it's well worth having a look at the outstanding Lansing athletes who are on the wall now.

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