- By Dan Veaner
- Sports
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Saturday marked the eleventh year the Lansing Athletic Hall Of Fame inducted members since the first ten athletes were inducted in 1998. This year three individuals -- Beverly {Longhouse} Hartz (athlete), Jason Eade (coach), and Ron "Rock Salt" Eastman (contributor) -- were awarded the honor along with three football teams. The football teams from 1956, 1957, and 1958 represented what Geoff Wright called an an 'era of football in Lansing athletic history'. The induction was held at Lansing High School gym between girls junior varsity and varsity basketball games."I encourage you to check out the plaques," Hall Of Fame Selection Committee Chairman Marty Christopher told the standing-room-only crowd. "Regardless of how long you have lived in Lansing, either forever or just the past two years, I'm certain the names and faces will stir memories."
 Geoff 'Hawk' Wright |  Jason Eade |
 Ron Eastman |  Beverly Longhouse Hartz |
| Lansing Athletic Hall of Fame Selection Committee Chairman Marty Christopher hands out awards as Geoff Wright announces the inductees. | |
Ron Eastman and John Kotmel Sr. view their plaques
in the Lansing Athletic Hall Of Fame
Christopher asked existing Hall Of Fame members to stand to help welcome the new inductees. Then, departing from tradition he presented a plaque to a current coach. The plaque commemorates Stuart Dean's 400th career win as girls basketball coach (click here for story).
Christopher turned the program over to "The extremely popular voice of Lansing Bobcats sports, a Hall Of Fame Member himself, Geoffrey 'Hawk' Wright," who read tributes to the recipients before Christopher presented them with a copy of the plaque that hangs in the actual Hall Of Fame.
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Hartz was inducted for her contributions as an athlete in hockey, volleyball, and baseball. She graduated in 1979. Eade coached Track & Field from 1996 thru 2005. Eastman has acted as scorekeeper for the Bobcats since 1995. The 1956, 1957, and 1958 football teams were undefeated.
"We hope that this evening's ceremony will encourage and motivate Lansing's current and future athletes who aspire to hard work, play fair, and develop both individual and team accomplishments that may someday warrant their consideration for induction into the Lansing Athletic Hall Of Fame," Christopher told the crowd.
 Beverly Longhouse Hartz - Athlete {1979}Being a standout female athlete in the early years of high school girl's sports was not a recognizable commodity. Most young women toiled before empty gymnasiums, were given little recognition in the press, and more often than not, found little appreciation of their achievements from their own classmates. As a 1979 graduate, Bev preceded the era where women's sports began to display more prominence and public awareness. Bev's accomplishments, by comparison, could surpass those of many of her male counterparts during that era. She excelled in four sports at an exceptionally high level. She starred in field hockey for (4) years being named team MVP twice, and captained the squad three of the years. In volleyball she was a varsity member for (2) years, both as team captain. Bev led the Bobcat girls basketball team as captain for two of her three varsity seasons, and was named as Honorable Mention on the Conference All-Star Team all three seasons. In the spring Bev played softball (4) years, excelling at both pitcher and second base. Upon graduation Bev was named as the Lansing "Outstanding Female Senior Athlete" for 1979, and was the first Lansing female scholar / athlete to receive an "Outstanding Young Americans National Foundation Certificate". |
Hall Of Fame Members stand to welcome new inductees
 Jason I. Eade - CoachIn the short time from 1996 thru 2005, few high school coaches have been able to put together the winning spirit, attitude, and tradition that Jason brought to Track & Field, and Cross Country in Lansing. A young coach who related to his student athletes at a high level throughout his coaching years at Lansing, Jason's teams put together numbers and titles that may never be surpassed. The Varsity Boys & Girls "Outdoor Track & Field" teams combined for 8 NYS Champions, 10 Section IV Titles, 9 Conference Titles, 109 NYS Championship meet participants, and 5 National Championship meet participants. His Boys & Girls "Cross Country" teams from 1998 thru 2004 won 3 NYS Section IV & 11 Division Titles, and combined to have 37 NYS Championship meet participants during that era. Boys & Girls "Indoor Track & Field" teams earned 11 NYS Section IV Titles, and there were over 80 participants from Lansing in NYS Championship meets. Jason led the modified programs to tremendous success early in his career, and also was the Lansing Recreation Aquatics Coordinator during his time in Lansing. Those programs Jason was part of during his short time in Lansing continue to benefit from his knowledge, leadership, teaching, and dedication to the students. |
 Ronald "Ron" Eastman - ContributorSometimes doing a really good job can lead to something more than one could ever expect, and that's what happened in the spring of 1995 when Ron was beckoned to replace the scorekeeper at a varsity baseball game by head coach Ed Redmond. Coach Redmond was taken by the extra care, accuracy and detail Ron put into keeping stats, he recruited him to keep the job for the remainder of that season. His belief in detail and accuracy with statistics spread to the football field, and he became a fixture on the sideline for Coach Redmond as statistician and play charter. He added a dimension to data formerly gathered, and his work became an integral part of the football team meetings. It wasn't long before the skill level Ron exhibited and his pronounced detailed statistics made him a natural fit for the hardwood where both the boys & girls coaches asked him to join them, and Ron could not refuse. He began working all three major sports as well as his daytime job. But Ron enjoys what he does, feels a part of each team and has never looked for a thank you for spending hours doing something he loves. Now retired from Cayuga Rock Salt after 40 years, expect to see Ron for years to come, pacing the football sidelines, keeping stats on the hardwood, and scoring near the diamond. |
 1956 Football Team The 1956 football season not only will be remembered as the final year of 8-Man football, but as the start of a 3 year dynasty under Hall of Fame Coach Stan Sobus. This 1956 team rode the power running of Don Worsell & Dave Wickham to a 6 & 0 record, encountering only one close win, that over arch-rival Groton 7 to 0. A rugged defense led by seniors Dick Bennett, John Moravec, Carl Zifchock, & Worsell , as well as a strong junior contingent of Harry Frazier, Roger Sherman, Dick Ross, John Varga, Ron Burke, & Wickham, held opponents to only 7.5 pts./gm. while the high powered offense averaged 30.5 pts./gm. Senior Don Worsell alone scored 130 points, 114 via TD's and 16 extra points. He twice accounted for 5 TD's against Dryden & Fabius. Worsell finished a brilliant football career breaking the former season scoring record of 99 pts. from 1952, held by John Marchell. Lansing - 33 Odessa - 14 Lansing - 47 Dryden - 0 Lansing - 7 Groton - 0 Lansing - 27 Dryden - 12 Lansing - 29 Groton - 13 Lansing - 40 Fabius - 6 1957 Football Team  Former Assistant Football Coach John Kotmel Sr. The 1957 squad was lead by Sr. QB Ron Burke and the running back duo of Dave Wickham and Herb Milliman. Milliman, a junior, accounted for 17 TD's running and passing. The defense allowed 19 points the entire season and was led by seniors Roger Sherman, Butch Isenbargar, Jim Banfield, Dick Krizek, Harry Frazier, Dick Ross, John Varga, Burke and Wickham, as well as junior standout linemen Dale Nichols, Charlie Barnhart, John Malley, and backs Ralph Rose, and Milliman. Lansing - 33 Lafayette - 0 Lansing - 13 Auburn (JV's) - 6 Lansing - 34 St. Mary's - 13 Lansing - 24 Groton - 0 Lansing - 33 Newark - Valley - 0 Lansing - 38 Dryden - 0  1958 Football Team The 1958 team had returning veterans on both offense and defense, and riding a 12 game win streak coach Stan Sobus' powerhouse opened the season trouncing a strong Ithaca High junior varsity squad mixed with varsity players 34 to 0. Hall of Fame member Herb Milliman began the year scoring 3 TD's & 3 conversions, just the beginning of his incredible senior year. The 1958 juggernaut demolished opponents, with only one close game, a 7 to 0 win over Groton. Averaging 29 pts/gm., they allowed less than 4.5 pts/gm. The senior backfield was composed of QB Fred Caliel, blocking back Ralph Rose, wingback Jim Philip, and multi-talented tailback Milliman, who scored 119 points, 67% of the team total in the 6 wins. The line consisted of senior ends Dale Nichols & Dan Cameron, senior interior linemen Charlie Barnhart, Richard Cameron, & John Malley, with juniors Gary Snyder & Steve Farkas. Most played both offense & defense. Lansing - 34 Ithaca (JV's) - 0 Lansing - 25 Port Byron - 6 Lansing - 32 Dryden - 7 Lansing - 39 St. Mary's - 13 Lansing - 7 Groton - 0 Lansing - 39 Trumansburg - 0 |
Inductee writeups provided by Marty Christopher
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