Adriana Festa-D'Alessio (Class of 1987) - Adriana Festa was a 4 year member of the basketball team - the last two years as the starting center. It was as a member of the track team that she made her major contributions to Glen Ridge athletic history. As a student of the sport and as a tireless worker with an unrelenting work ethic she mastered the nuances of the three throwing events that comprise the field aspect of track and field. Each event - the shot, discus, and javelin - required many hours of diligent practice to achieve mastery. By the time she graduated Glen Ridge High School she has earned 14 medals in conference, county and state competitions. In 1986 she swept to first place discus wins in the conference and state section meet as well as earning the title as state champion. She also placed 2nd and 5th in the shot and javelin in the state section meet. 1987 also was a year filled with honors as she started it by earning the silver medal in the discus at the Rutgers Invitational Meet. She repeated as conference discus champ and backed it up with a 2nd place win in the Essex County meet. At the state section meet she earned the honor of winning all three throwing events and returning to the state meet where she won the 2nd place medal in the discus and 3rd in the javelin. She represented Glen Ridge at the Meet of Champions in both 1986 and 1987. After graduation she attended the University of Delaware where she earned Academic All American status for her athletic and academic accomplishments.

Bill Cartmill - Bill Cartmill began his teaching career at Glen Ridge High School in 1919 after graduating from Springfield College and serving in the U.S. Army. The first great coach in school history, he began coaching in 1922 and served as the head coach for the football, basketball, baseball and track and field teams in his tenure. While leading the young men of Glen Ridge, Cartmill found the time to serve as president of the Interscholastic Athletic Association (a forerunner of the NJSIAA), and was a charter founder of the Suburban Conference. He took his 1926 boys' basketball team to the semifinal and steered his track and field teams to state championships in 1924, 1950, and 1952. He became athletic director in 1954 and had the yearbook dedicated to him by the class of 1945. Cartmill led the 1934 football team to the first of three state championships. In 1936, his second state championship campaign, the team finished 7-0-1 and the only points they allowed were to Montclair in a 7-7 tie. In 1944 The Newark Sunday Call awarded Coach Cartmill's team the annual state championship trophy naming the first undefeated and untied football team in Glen Ridge High School history as the best team in the state of New Jersey. Bill Cartmill's strength of character can be summed up in the story of the 1932 football season. With a week to go before the biggest game of the year against mighty Montclair, Cartmill was forced to expel 10 members of his football team for team rule infractions. He guided a squad of only 14 players to a 6-0 victory.

Bill Kennedy (Class of 1985) - Bill Kennedy was a starting player in basketball and baseball for three years and was voted outstanding male athlete in the GRHS Class of 1985. As a basketball player, he led the team in scoring all three years he was on the varsity, and amassed 1,052 points to join the exclusive Glen Ridge 1,000-point club. As the captain and only returning starter his senior year, he sparked the Ridgers to a Colonial Hills Conference championship with a 20-4 record. He was named third team All Essex County in his senior year and All State Group I second team in his junior and senior seasons. Kennedy went to Muhlenberg College where he was a three-year men's basketball team starter, and finished his career as captain and leading scorer in the 1988-89 season. In baseball, Kennedy batted .305 while playing second base and designated hitter as a sophomore on the 1983 Group I state championship team. As a junior, he set a school batting record by hitting .446 and in that season he went 6-for-6, batting for the cycle against Whippany Park, which remains a school record, and for which he was named Star-Ledger Athlete of the Week. As a senior he batted .380 for the Ridgers and hit three home runs in a game against Chatham Township, a record which still stands. Playing shortstop, he was an All-Essex County second team selection in his junior and senior years, in addition to being picked for the All-State Group I second team.

Bill Stableford (Class of 1965) - Bill Stableford was a tremendous three sport athlete at Glen Ridge High School during a golden era for school sports. He earned a total of ten varsity letters, two in football, four in track and field, and four in basketball. As an offensive and defensive end, Stableford helped lead the football team to North Jersey Conference championships and state championships in 1963 and 1964 and a perfect 16-0 record. In track and field Stableford competed in the high jump and high hurdles, and helped the team to North Jersey Conference championships and state championships in 1963, 1964, and 1965. As accomplished as he was on the gridiron and on the track team, it was on the hardwood that Stableford's star shone the brightest. He was the first player to score 1,000 points at Glen Ridge High School. As of his enshrinement, his 1,075 points rank him as the third highest scorer in school history. Stableford led the 1964 and 1965 boys' basketball teams to North Jersey Conference championships, and as captain, led the 1965 team to the sectional final. All totaled, Bill Stableford's teams won eight conference championships and six state titles. An outstanding student, he went on to play Ivy League basketball at Dartmouth.

Bob Courter (Class of 1965) - The first of the three Courter brothers to quarterback their respective teams, Bob earned 10 varsity letters at Glen Ridge High School, three each in football and basketball and four in baseball. As a football co-captain his senior year he guided the Ridgers to an undefeated season and a third consecutive Group 1 State Championship, and was named 1st team All-Conference, All-County, and All-State Group 1. He also received 1st team All-State Group 1 recognition his junior year. In his three varsity football seasons the football team compiled a perfect 24 - 0 record. Bob Courter's basketball teams won the North Jersey Conference championship his junior and senior years and he led the 1965 team to the sectional final. A three year starter at guard he averaged over 10 points per game for his career with his teams winning 50 games while losing only 11. Competing on the baseball diamond, Courter's teams won the North Jersey Conference championship his sophomore and junior years with 13 - 3 and 14 - 1 records. During his senior year with the team in need of pitching, Courter, the consummate team player, took to the mound for the first time since little league and threw a 1 hitter with 12 strikeouts in his first start for the club. Named 1st team All-Conference at first base, he continued his baseball career at Hofstra University after graduating from GRHS.

Bob Gerard (Class of 1978) - Bob Gerard's tremendous will is legendary at Glen Ridge High School. He received eight varsity letters in football, basketball and baseball. As a sophomore, he played centerfield on the 1975 and 1976 NJ Group I Section II State Championship Baseball teams and earned All-Conference and All-State Group I honors his senior year. Gerard's finest hours as a GRHS athlete came on the gridiron. The quarterback led his team to a 9 and 1 record and NJ Group I Section II State Championship in his senior season. In the semifinal game that year he rallied Glen Ridge back from a 17 point halftime deficit, throwing the winning touchdown pass with nine seconds on the clock to defeat Belvidere 20 - 17. In the championship game against Brearley Regional at Kenilworth, down by two touchdowns at halftime, Gerard took over the game in the second half, passed for one score and ran in for two more capping the comeback with a 23 yard run. He was named to 1977 All-Conference, All-Essex County and All-State Group I football teams. GRHS Hall of Fame coach Bill Horey called Bob Gerard a "great leader", and it was with his leadership abilities that he earned tremendous respect from his coaches and teammates.

Cecilia Szakacs - Considered one of the earliest advocates for girl's athletics at Glen Ridge High School, Cecilia Szakacs was instrumental in fostering a competitive atmosphere for females and implemented numerous programs. Considered an excellent athlete herself, Szakacs came to the United States from Hungary before the revolution in that country. While teaching in Glen Ridge for 26 years she ran virtually all of the girl's athletic programs, including field hockey, gymnastics and basketball, all by herself. Without a pioneer like Cecilia Szakacs, we would not know girl's high school athletics as we know them today and each and every young female that competes for Glen Ridge High School owes her a debt of gratitude.

Clem Tennaro - Clem Tennaro coached his boys basketball teams to a 431-222 record including 10 conference championships, 5 sectional championships and in 1988, the Group I State championship. He coached five 1,000 point scorers at GRHS. Tennaro earned respect from his players, his fellow coaches, and the coaches and players on rival teams by conducting himself with class and dignity at all times. He holds the record for most points scored in a game (47) while playing at Montclair State College and was inducted into the Montclair Sate University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1977.

Danny Williams (Class of 1961) - Danny Williams was an outstanding three sport athlete accumulating nine varsity letters while at GRHS. He earned three in football, two in basketball, and four in baseball, the sport he was best at. In three years of varsity football Williams scored 22 touchdowns as a half-back and was voted first team All-Essex/Union county all-stars (all groups). As a sophomore letter winner he helped the team to a state championship. An Outstanding basketball player, he was selected first team all conference his senior year. But it was on the baseball diamond that Danny Williams made his mark. With Williams at third base the team won the state sectional championship his sophomore year. His junior year he led the team and conference in hitting by batting .409. His senior year he once again led the team and conference with a .453 average. Williams was named first team All-State Group I in his junior and senior years. After high school Williams attended the University of Miami on a baseball scholarship and was a three year starter there, helping the team to qualify for the College World Series. As a testament to his versatility, he was also an intercollegiate boxing champion at Miami for three years as a middleweight.

David Kennedy (Class of 1988) - David Kennedy, considered by many to be the greatest all-around baseball player in Glen Ridge High School history, won four varsity baseball letters, was a member of three Colonial Hills Conference championship teams in 1986-88, was the winning pitcher on the Glen Ridge Greater Newark Tournament championship team of 1987 and the winning pitcher on the Glen Ridge 1988 Group I state championship team (27-1), ranked No. 2 in the state. He set Glen Ridge season records for victories (10), batting average (.546), runs (47), hits (55), triples (11) and home runs (7) and was selected as All State, All Groups in 1988. In basketball he was a three-year starter on teams which were Group I state runner-up in 1986, and state champion in 1988, being named MVP of the 1988 state championship game. Glen Ridge basketball teams were 60-16 with him in the lineup. Kennedy went on to play baseball at the collegiate level and played professionally for ten years.

Devon Kapler (Class of 2000) - Devon Kapler was an outstanding member of the girls' basketball and track teams in both stature and accomplishments. During her four years on the basketball court she amassed 963 points while blocking 232 shots and pulled down 797 rebounds. She earned 1st Team All-Conference honors in her junior and senior Years and was the conference player of the year in her senior year while also being named to gaining All-County and All State recognition. As a stellar four year member of the track team her versatility led to her mastering four events and setting school records in three of them, (100 hurdles, 400 hurdles and high jump) while leading the girls' team to a four year dual meet record of 26 wins and 9 losses. She won 12 medals in conference championship meets in her career, five of which were gold, (1999-100 and 400 hurdles and long jump, 2000- 400 hurdles and high jump) and earned five medals in Essex County championship meets. At state sectional meets her four year total was 13 medals - eight of which were gold,(1998- 400 hurdles and high jump, 1999-100 and 400 hurdles and long jump, 2000-100 and 400 hurdles and high jump). She led the team to a second place showing in the state sectional meet in 2000. At the State Championships she won 10 medals and in her senior year won the coveted title of State Champion in the high jump. Devon earned the right to participate in the track and field Meet of Champions for three years, (1998-99-2000) in an unprecedented 10 events. In her senior year she was named 1st Team All Area in the 100 Hurdles, 1st Team All Essex County in the high jump and 1st Team All State in the high jump.

Don McCormick (Class of 1982) - Don McCormick was one of the greatest basketball players in Glen Ridge High School history. An outstanding all around athlete McCormick also excelled in track & field earning three letters and was named All-Conference, All-Essex County and All-State Group I while participating in the high jump, long jump and javelin events. He earned four varsity letters in basketball and stands at his time of induction as the all time leading scorer with 1,552 points and the all time leading rebounder with 1,223. These records have remained unmatched for decades. During his junior and senior season's, McCormick's teams compiled an astounding 40-8 record, and he earned All-Conference, All-Essex County and All-State Group I honors. He led his teams to two consecutive sectional finals in 1981 and 1982. McCormick's intensity and all-out hustling mentality served as a model for GRHS basketball players for years and his achievements continue to be benchmarks for players today. After high school he went on to a very successful collegiate basketball career at Fordham University. In 1986, McCormick was drafted by the New Jersey Nets and played professionally in Europe.

Fred Alworth (Class of 1959) - Fred Alworth only spent two years on the playing fields of Glen Ridge, but he accomplished an incredible amount in such a short period of time. He entered Glen Ridge High School in his junior year and earned varsity letters in football, and baseball, and was the sixth man on the 1957-58 Glen Ridge State Group I championship basketball team. In his senior year, he was the starting fullback on the football team which was undefeated and North Jersey, Group I, Section 2 State Champion. That winter, he was a starting guard/forward on the Glen Ridge team which was runner-up in the State Group I tournament. During Alworth's senior baseball season he staked a claim to the title of the greatest pitcher in Glen Ridge High School history. He posted a 10-0 record and a 0.03 ERA with 133 strikeouts including two no-hitters and five one-hitters for a 19-2 team which won conference and North Jersey, Group I, Section 2 championships. He was named first team All State (all groups), something few Glen Ridge athletes in any sport have ever accomplished. After high school, he attended Villanova University for a year after which he signed a pro contract and pitched five seasons of pro ball, advancing as high as the Double-A level.

Gary Cuozzo (Class of 1959) - Gary Cuozzo is considered one of the greatest names in Glen Ridge High School athletic history because of his three-sport accomplishments in high school and for playing 11 seasons in the National Football League. He was the quarterback of the 1957 and 1958 North Jersey, Group I, Section 2 state champion football teams. Cuozzo put together a senior year the likes of which may never be equaled, receiving all-state recognition in football and basketball while leading both teams to state championships and winning the Group I state shot put and discus champion. Cuozzo graduated as the all-time leading scorer in basketball with 779 points and went on to co-captain the University of Virginia football team.

George H. (Nick) Van Tassel (Class of 1963) - Despite being small in stature at 5-foot-7, 150 pounds, Nick Van Tassel often stood head and shoulders above all others on the baseball diamond and basketball hardwood. A gifted athlete with exceptional hand-eye coordination, Van Tassel was ambidextrous. He threw a baseball left handed, batted right handed, and in basketball, could go to the hoop left-handed or right-handed. He played golf right-handed and scored in the high seventies. A four year starter in baseball as a pitcher/outfielder, Nick was elected Co-Captain his junior and senior years. He led the team in most offensive categories while also serving as the team's go-to pitcher. A highlight of his senior season was his two homeruns over the left field fence at Hurrell Field in a game vs. Park Ridge. For his efforts in baseball his senior year he was a 2nd Team All State All Groups outfield selection, as well as being named 1st Team All State Group 1, 1st Team All Essex County, and 1st Team All Conference. In basketball, his senior year, he led an inexperienced starting lineup which included three sophomores and a junior to a 13-6 record. It was the first winning record in three seasons for the squad. A co-captain as a senior, Van Tassel scored 294 points for a 15.4 points-per-game average. Van Tassel could have scored more points, but as a point guard, and being the complete player, he led the team in assists, enabling his teammates to contribute to the scoring as well. Describing Van Tassel's quickness on the court, coach Jack Curtis remarked, He sucks 'em in with a feint, the defender gives him half a step and Nick's gone. His basketball honors include being selected 1st Team All State Group 1 (Star-Ledger), 3rd Team All State Group 1 (Newark News), and garnering All Conference recognition as well. While attending the University of Vermont, Nick Van Tassel died tragically in an automobile accident at the age of 21. Those who knew him will never forget him.

Greg Ortman (Class of 1983) - Greg Ortman's athletic tenure at Glen Ridge is captured best by two words: Leader and Winner. He was the kind of leader that played big in big games, made the players around him better and practically willed the teams he played for to win. In both baseball and football, he went from being a standout contributor as a sophomore to an excellent player as a junior and a star athlete as a senior. As a starter for three years in baseball and football, Ortman earned six varsity letters. He garnered all conference recognition two times in both baseball and football, all country honors in baseball, and as a senior, was the leading scorer in Essex County football scoring 19 touchdowns, and all state Group I in both baseball and football. He led the baseball team in batting his junior year and as a captain was invited to the play in the NJ All-Star game his senior year. Greg Ortman started and was a key component on four state championship teams, two in baseball and football in both his sophomore and senior years. He capped his senior football season by scoring four touchdowns in the state championship victory over a favored New Providence team. In three years playing at the varsity level he led his teams to a 19-6 record in football and an astounding 74-15 record in baseball. After high school Ortman went on to play football and star at the University of New Haven where he set and the single season pass reception record and was elected sole captain of the team as a senior.

Jack Chichester (Class of 1959) - Jack Chichester played on championship teams in three sports. In two of them he was a pivotal player, who made the team run. He may have been small in physical stature, but he possessed big-time leadership skills. Although he played just one year of football, he helped the team to a 9-0 record and the North Jersey Conference championship in its first year. A point guard in basketball, he averaged 11 points per game and earned All-State Group I mention his junior year as Glen Ridge won the state Group I championship. He averaged 15 points per game as a senior and led the team to the Group I Tournament final. Once again he earned All-State Group I recognition. Chichester's real value to his basketball teams was his ability to read and adapt to defenses. He was like a coach on the floor and possessed tremendous basketball aptitude. In baseball, he was a letter-winner four consecutive years, and batted over .300 each year. In his first three seasons, he was the starting second baseman. As a senior, the team needed a catcher to handle All-State pitcher and GRHS Hall of Famer Fred Alworth, so Jack became the catcher and made third team All-Essex at his new position for a 19-1, Group I sectional championship team, which also won the North Jersey Conference. Jack Chichester was one of the greatest athletes, pound for pound, in Glen Ridge history.

Jessica King (Class of 1994) - One of the most prolific Track and Field athletes in GRHS history, Jessica King started her career by winning the Essex County Indoor and Outdoor 3200 Meter Run and the Colonial Hills Conference 1600 Meter Run as a sophomore. She repeated this feat the following year and added a 1st place finish in the Group I 3200 Meter Run. The Star-Ledger selected her 1st team All-State in her senior year as King was the Indoor Meet of Champions winner in the 3200 Meter Run, and again won the Essex County Indoor and Outdoor 3200 and the Colonial Hills Conference 1600 as well as the 3200. In addition to her incredible athletic achievements, she was also outstanding academically and graduated from Dartmouth University.

Jim Studwell (Class of 1945) - Jim Studwell is regarded by many as one of the greatest leaders ever to play at Glen Ridge High School. In his senior year he co-captained, and called all the plays on the field on both offense and defense for the 1944 football team that won the conference championship and the State Group I championship while outscoring their opponents 224 - 26. The Newark Sunday Call awarded the 1944 team the annual state championship trophy naming the first undefeated and untied football team in Glen Ridge High School history as the best team in the state of New Jersey. Studwell recorded 19 touchdowns in his senior year, but, to a man, his teammates claim that his extraordinary leadership qualities overshadowed his impressive statistics.

Joan Page Hayes (Class of 1953) - Joan Page competed in field hockey, basketball, tennis, and volleyball, baseball and modern dance during her distinguished scholastic athletic career. In her senior year she was the captain of volleyball team and she co-captained the 1952-53 undefeated basketball team. Page went on to Skidmore College where she served as president for the class of 1957. Joan Page Hayes has devoted herself to numerous community service projects and organizations over the years. She helped to create the Glen Ridge Historical Society and serving as its president from 1980-1984. She was president of the Glen Ridge Women's Club from 1984-1988 and has been on its board ever since. In 1988 she and her husband Bob co-chaired the Glen Ridge Congregational Church Centennial year celebration. She has served on the Church council and is currently co-chair of its Garden of Memory. In the 1990's she and her husband co-chaired the Glen Ridge Public Library's expansion campaign and has served on the Library Board of Trustees for 14 years, six as president. She and Bob co-chaired the 2007 Glen Ridge Gala.

John T. Curtis - Jack Curtis was first and foremost a leader, who served as the long time vice principal as well as a head coach. He coached boys tennis, golf and boys basketball to 280 victories during his tenure at GRHS. In 1958, Curtis led the boys basketball team to a come from behind victory in the Group I state championship. Curtis is a man for the rest of us to emulate, a man for us to respect, and a man for us to honor.

Joseph Dubuque (Class of 2001) - Joseph Dubuque is considered to be one of the finest athletes and fiercest competitors to graduate from Glen Ridge High School. He earned nine varsity letters; four in football, four in wrestling and one in baseball. Joe was powerful, quick, and fearless. In football, Joe played running back and defensive back and was named first team on the conference, county, and state teams. As accomplished he was in football, it was wrestling where Joe is deemed the greatest Glen Ridge wrestler and one of the state's all time best. He compiled a 134 - 7 record, the most wins ever by a Glen Ridge wrestler. He won four county titles, four district titles, three region titles, a fourth place finish in states, two state titles, and a national high school championship. Joe was electric from the neutral position. He currently holds state records for takedowns in a season and in a career. More importantly, Joe was a leader who made those around him better athletes. The wrestling team won more matches in his four year tenure than any other era. The team won three conference championships and qualified for team states during all of his four years. In his senior year, Joe led Glen Ridge to its one and only district wrestling title. Joe was honored that spring when he was named the New Jersey Male Athlete of the Year. He has also been named by the Star Ledger to the first team All-Decade Wrestling Team. After graduation, Joe went on to wrestle for the University of Indiana. He was a three time All-American capturing two individual NCAA titles.

Joseph Galioto (Class of 1981) - It is fitting that the first wrestler in Glen Ridge High School history to place in the NJSIAA State Tournament is the school's first wrestler to be inducted into the Glen Ridge High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Galioto, a four-year varsity letter-winner in the sport posted a career record of 69-18-1, including a 29-3 mark in 1981, when he was District 7 champion, Region II champion and fourth in the state tournament. He was a 1981 first-team All-Area selection by the North Jersey Herald-News. A heavyweight grappler, Galioto also was a member of the All-Colonial Hills Conference team in 1980 and 1981, and a star performer on teams which compiled records of 14-4-1 in 1980 and 18-1-1 in 1981, which included winning back-to-back conference championships and second place finishes in the state sectional wrestling tournament. In addition to his outstanding wrestling accomplishments, Galioto was a three-year varsity letter winner in football, and anchored the offensive line as the starting center on the 1980 Group I, Section 2, state championship team. Joe Galioto competed with great heart and enthusiasm. He was a leader and favorite among his many teammates.

Kathy Mueller Rohan (Class of 1974) - When Kathy Mueller graduated from Glen Ridge High School in 1974, Title IX was in its infancy and state and county championship tournaments were not held in girls sports. While Kathy was a four year starting guard and top performer on the girls varsity basketball team, her greatest impact came on the tennis courts. Kathy culminated an outstanding four year varsity tennis career with a perfect 18-0 first singles record in her senior year, which still stands as a school record. Kathy used her perfect senior season at GRHS as a springboard to collegiate tennis at Trenton State College (now the College of New Jersey), where she competed against all divisions and compiled a perfect 96-0 record over four years at first singles during team match play. Kathy was the Eastern Collegiate Champion in 1977 and 1978. She was named an All-American in all divisions in 1977 and 1978 and awarded the Broderick Cup (now the Honda Award) as the top women's collegiate player in the United States in 1977. After completing her collegiate career, Kathy went on to play in the Women's Professional Tour in 1979 and 1980 and was ranked 150th in the world. She was inducted into the Trenton State College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993. Kathy is a girls' sports pioneer for Glen Ridge High, being the only graduate to have received collegiate All American Honors and played professional tennis.

Lou Calderone - Lou Calderone is the all-time winningest coach in GRHS history, as well as one of the most successful baseball coaches in New Jersey high school history. He gave 100 percent of himself at all times whether on the practice field or the game field and demanded the same from his players. Calderone piloted his squads to a 507-203 record, including 5 NJ State Championships, 7 sectional championships, 2 county championships and 12 conference championships.

Mark Melito (Class of 1990) - As an individual, Mark Melito excelled in two sports. His records show that. But if you were able to get him to brag about anything, which is very difficult, he would tell you how proud he was to play on such great teams. As a four-year starting shortstop and pitcher for Glen Ridge High, Melito was a member of two Greater Newark Tournament championship squads and one Group I state championship nine. That means he was a member of a significant championship team in three of his four years at Glen Ridge High. Melito never lost a pitching decision for the Ridgers, having compiled a 26-0 record over four years. In addition, he was named All State, All Groups shortstop in 1990, his final season in a Glen Ridge uniform. After high school, he was a four-year starting shortstop for Wake Forest University and played three seasons of minor league professional baseball. Baseball was his best, but not his only sport. He was a three-year starter and two-season captain for the Glen Ridge basketball team. In his sophomore year, Melito was a member of the Ridgers' 1988 Group I state championship team, something the school has accomplished just twice. Melito finished his outstanding basketball career just a few points shy of the 1,000-point plateau. Mark Melito was not just a great athlete. He was voted by his 1990 classmates as its scholar-athlete. He also was a very good student at Wake Forest.

Michael Dalhausser (Class of 1984) - Michael Dalhausser is a soccer pioneer. In 1980 he joined the Glen Ridge High School soccer program in its inception, and after starting every varsity game for four years was instrumental in turning the program into a well respected contender. Dalhausser played with outstanding character and the patience to encourage others to be better. He played with great vision and an uncanny knowledge of the game which he communicated to his teammates. He played with such control and confidence that the game seemed to slow down when he touched the ball. In 1983, his senior year, Dalhausser, the team captain, earned first team all-conference honors as well as all-county and all-state recognition. In the opinion of long time, well respected coach Steve Reitberger, at the time of his enshrinement, Michael Dalhausser stands alone as the greatest soccer player in Glen Ridge High School history. He continued his soccer career at Clark University and was named team MVP and to the NCAA All New England Team in 1987. Dalhausser lead Clark to a four year winning percentage of over .800.

Michael Stanisci (Class of 1983) - One of the greatest two way football players in school history, Michael Stanisci started on offense and defense for three years (28 games), never missed a game, and led the team to a 22-5-1 record and two state championships in that span. As a captain his senior year, he amassed 1,450 passing yards and 13 TD passes, 535 rushing yards and five rushing TDs on offense and directed the team to Group I sectional state championship and a 9 - 1 record and was named first team All State Group I, first team All Essex County and first team All Colonial Hills Conference quarterback. Stanisci could just as easily received the same honors as a linebacker that season as he recorded 78 tackles, 50 of which were unassisted, three interceptions one returned for a TD. In the 1982 Group I sectional state championship game, Glen Ridge was an underdog against a powerful New Providence team, and to make matter worse, Stanisci was injured the previous week and practiced only once during the week of preparation for the game. He went on to complete 14 passes in 20 attempts for 220 yards and three TDs passes and led the team to a convincing 28 - 14 victory. His head coach, Rich SanFillipo, claimed that Stanisci was the most talented quarterback in terms of overall athletic ability and pure passing skill that he coached in 19 years as a head coach. Stanisci was also a three-year starter for the baseball team and a captain his senior year. The clean-up hitter batted .356 with four HRs and 20 RBI and a 6 - 2 pitching record his junior year for the 21 - 5 team and hit .300 with three HRs and 17 RBI for the 23-5, Group I state champion team. Overall, the team played to a 72 - 15 record in Stanisci's career. During a golden age of GRHS athletics, Michael Stanisci stood out as one of the school's most versatile and accomplished competitors.

Miriam 'Mimi' Jones Page (Class of 1953) - One of the most prolific and diverse student/athletes of her time, Mimi Jones set a record by earning seven varsity letters. She competed in archery, softball, tennis, badminton, volleyball, and basketball, and field hockey. In 1952, her senior year, she co-captained the undefeated field hockey team and basketball teams and was named to the All-State Field Hockey Team. Jones was the co-valedictorian of her class and went on to the Pennsylvania State University where she played field hockey and participated in intramural sports. After graduating from Penn State she earned her master's degree from Columbia University.

Paul Perna - Paul Perna was the head girls' tennis coach at Glen Ridge High School from 1978 until 1993. During his tenure as the head coach, his teams appeared in three North Jersey Section 2 Group 1 finals. Paul Perna spent his fall and spring seasons piloting Glen Ridge High School girls' and boys' tennis teams for just short of twenty years. As head boys tennis coach from 1976 until 1994, he guided the boys' teams to three Colonial Hills Conference Championships, three North Jersey Section II Championships, two North Jersey Group I Championships, and the Group I State title in 1978 and 1979. His 1979 team reached the New Jersey Tournament of Champions Finals. That team lost in the final 3-2 to Cherry Hill East and finished the season ranked #4 in the state of New Jersey by the Star Ledger. In 1980, Coach Perna guided Ron Erskine (GRHS Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2005) to the New Jersey High School State Singles Title. During his coaching tenure Paul Perna won over 350 matches. He was named Colonial Hills Conference Coach of the Year several times during his coaching career. In 1990, he was named the Star-Ledger Girls Tennis Coach of the Year.

Peter Anderson (Class of 1981) - Championships, Peter Anderson was all about championships. All totaled Anderson won fourteen individual or team championships as an outstanding three sport star at Glen Ridge High School while competing in football, wrestling and track & field. On the wrestling mat, Anderson was a district champion at 188 lbs. in 1980 and earned All- Conference status in 1979 and 1980. In Track and Field, Anderson was a three time conference discuss champion, and in 1981 he won not only the conference championship, but the district, sectional and NJ Group I championship as well. As if that was not enough, he also won the district, sectional and NJ Group I Championships in the shot put that year. On the gridiron Anderson was a tremendous leader, and his combination of size and quickness made him a dominating two way lineman. In 1980 the co-captain led the football team to the NJ Group I Section II State Championship garnering All-Conference and All-Essex County recognition. Anderson went on to a superb football career at the University of Georgia. As a captain, he was named all-conference and Kodak, Sporting News, and AP 1st team all-American in 1985.

Rawley Brown (Class of 1928) - Rawley Brown was the first mulit-sport star in school history and ranks among the best athletes of all-time at GRHS. Brown earned 4 letters in football, 4 letters in basketball, 3 letters in baseball, and 1 letter in track. In Brown's junior football season he finished 12th in the state in scoring, and as a captain his senior year he earned all-state recognition. He was also the captain of the basketball team as a senior. In 1934 Rawley Brown returned to Glen Ridge High School as a teacher and assistant coach, and worked under Bill Cartmill during the legendary campaigns of 1935 (7-0-1) and 1944 (8-0). He took over as head football coach from 1947 - 1955, and also served as head baseball coach, guiding his teams to five sectional championships. Brown's strong sense of morals and his ability to influence young men is legendary among his former players.

Rich SanFillipo - Coach 1971 - 1984 After serving as an assistant to legendary coach Bill Horey for eight years, Rich SanFillipo took over the GRHS football program for the retired Horey in 1979. Coming off a .500 season the year before, SanFillipo returned the program to glory through discipline, simple effective execution, and unmatched conditioning. SanFillipo introduced the modern 'I' backfield and added multiple sets to the offense that allowed for a balanced run/pass attack with the flexibility to adapt to strengths of his personnel. In just his second year at the helm he led the team to the Group I Section 2 state championship. In his six years as head football coach, SanFillipo guided the team to four playoff appearances, two state championships (1980 and 1982) and a 42-14 record. He was a consummate teacher with very high standards who truly hated to lose. A great athlete himself, SanFillipo was a players' coach that never allowed himself to get too close to the players. He brought out the best in his players by making it clear that he would accept nothing less than 100% effort each and every day. SanFillipo was able to strike the perfect balance between being extremely demanding and extremely fair. He believed that tough fundamental football was the key to winning and that the team should always come before the individual. These beliefs helped foster a team and school spirit that is still felt in the hearts of the players he coached. SanFillipo was a firm, no-nonsense leader who did things the right way and his hard work, ability to motivate young men, and the way he handled himself in all situations set an outstanding example for his players. Rich SanFillipo taught his players the positives of the commitment to team, self-sacrifice, and poise under pressure. Rich SanFillipo set a standard of what it takes and what it means to compete on the athletic fields of Glen Ridge High School and is one of the greatest coaches in school history.

Rita Massot (Class of 2003) - Rita Massot's influence on female athletes in Glen Ridge cannot be understated. Her athleticism and infectious energy inspired countless young girls to play sports, which began a golden era of girls' athletics for Glen Ridge High School. Massot played point guard for the basketball team and help lead the Ridgers to a record of 78-18 during her four years. She garnered 3rd team all-state Group I honors in her junior year. She finished her career with 730 points, 362 steals (a school record), and 265 assists. Coach Maria DiCondina says of Massot, She is without a doubt the best, one of the quickest and most outstanding female athletes in Glen Ridge High School history. On the soccer field, Massot made history. She scored two goals in the final and led the soccer team to its first State Group I title in 2001 by beating Pennsville 3-1. She led Glen Ridge to its first Essex County Tournament final 2002, in which the Ridgers lost 2-0 to Millburn. Massot is the school record-holder with 165 career goals, a number which ranks second all-time in Essex County and sixth all-time in the state. In 2001, she led the state in scoring with 51 goals and, and she followed that by leading state in goals in 2002 with 45. A three-time 1st team all Essex County team selection, she also earned All-State Group I first team honors in 2000, 2001 and 2002. In 2001 and 2002, Massot was voted by the Colonial Hills Conference as its player of the year and by The Star-Ledger as its Essex County player of the year. After graduating from GRHS, Massot went on to play for Seton Hall University. Her accomplishments at the collegiate level included leading the Pirates in points (12) and goals (5) as a freshman, being selected to the All-Big East Rookie Team, and being named a Big East Academic All-Star.

Robert Zeuner (Class of 1983) - Rob Zeuner was a tremendous all around athlete for Glen Ridge High School and gained a reputation for excelling in pressure situations. On the football field he returned punts on the 1980 Group I Section II state championship team as a sophomore. In his junior year he started at tight end and cornerback for the 1981 Group I sectional semi final team that finished 7 - 2, and had 42 receptions for 875 yards and 5 TDs and 3 interceptions. For those accomplishments, Zeuner was named 2nd team All-Essex County and 2nd team All-State Group I. He was a captain for the 9 - 1, 1982 Group I Section II championship team his senior year, had 39 receptions for 650 yards and 5 TDs and was among the team leaders in tackles from his cornerback spot on defense. He had six receptions for 130 yards (each of them big, game changing plays) vs. New Providence in the state championship game and also had 10 tackles in the game. Zeuner was named 2nd team All-Essex County and 1st team All-State Group I that year. In baseball his sophomore year Zeuner started as part of a platoon in the outfield and batted .333 for the 1981 Group I Section II state championship team that finished 28 - 5. An extremely versatile player who could have played any position on the diamond, he was the starting catcher on the 1982 Group I sectional semi final team and once again batted .333 for the club that finished 21 - 5. He played catcher and in the outfield and was a captain for the 1983 Group I Section II championship team his senior year. He led the 23 - 5 team with a .398 batting average and had 30 RBI and 6 game winning hits, and was named 3rd team All-Essex County, and 2nd team All-State Group I. Robert Zeuner was an outstanding leader, who when the game got tight, was at his best. He refused to consider losing as a possibility and was very much a team player who would do anything asked of him.

Roger Nelson - Roger Nelson earned nine varsity letters in football, basketball, track & field during his outstanding career at Glen Ridge High School. As a football co-captain, Nelson garnered All-Essex County honors his senior year. He also co-captained the track & field team and won the NJ Group I 100 yard dash State Championship in 1952. After graduating from GRHS, he went on to participate in football, basketball and track & field at Wesleyan University and later received his law degree from Cornell Law School. Nelson's history of devotion to the community of Glen Ridge is unmatched and his civic achievements are almost too numerous to mention. He has served as a member of both the board of education and the town council and was a founding member of the Freeman Gardens Association and the Historic Preservation Committee. Roger Nelson is truly a treasure to the Borough of Glen Ridge.

Ron Erskine (Class of 1980) - As of his enshrinement, Ron Erskine stands alone as the most accomplished tennis player in GRHS history. While leading his team to Sectional Championships in 1977, 1978 and 1979, the Group I State Championship in 1978 and 1979 and to the All Group Tournament of Champions Finals in 1980, Erskine was a two time Essex County Singles Champion (1979,1980), the NJ High School State Singles Champion in 1980 (32-0 record). He was named The Star-Ledger All-State first team in the 1st singles position in both 1979 and 1980. Erskine was the first schoolboy to win over 100 matches at the first singles position in state history finishing his brilliant career with a record of 105-8. Erskine went on to co-captain the University of North Carolina Tennis team and won the ACC Champion at second singles in 1983.

Sal D'Alessio (Class of 1979) - A three year starter and star for the football team, Sal D'Alessio is among the best to ever play football at Glen Ridge. In his junior year, Sal D'Alessio was one of only two two-way players on the 1977, 9 win, state championship team, starting at defensive end and running back. He led that team with 15 quarterback sacks. As a senior captain, D'Alessio was again a defensive force as he again recorded 15 sacks, as well as leading the team in tackles. For his accomplishments his senior year he was named 1st team all Colonial Hills Conference; 1st Team All State Group 1; and a Daily News and Italian Tribune All Star. D'Alessio was the first Glen Ridge football player ever selected to the New Jersey North-South All Star game. After graduating from GRHS, he went on to Wagner College where he was a four year starter at linebacker and a captain his senior year. As of his GRHS Athletic Hall of Fame induction D'Alessio holds four Wagner records: most career tackles; most season tackles; most game tackles; and most career starts. He was twice named 1st team All ECAC; twice first team CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) All American; and a Second Team Associated Press Division III All American. Wagner was 33-6-2 during his tenure there and he was inducted into Wagner College Hall of Fame in 1995. He was signed by the USFL New Jersey Generals, and had numerous NFL, USFL, and CFL tryouts. Sal D'Alessio made his mark with at Glen Ridge High School as an outstanding leader, sportsman, and role model.

Sam Delaney (Class of 1993) - Sam Delaney earned 12 varsity letters in three sports (football, wrestling, baseball) and ranks among the best all around athletes in Glen Ridge High School history. In his senior year the versatile Delany captained the football team and earned 1st team all -state group 1, 1st team all Essex County, and 1st team all conference honors. He and played quarterback, running back, defensive back, and linebacker. He recorded 116 tackles on defense and 640 rushing yards with 10 touchdowns, and 680 passing yards with 5 touchdown passes on the offensive side of the ball. On the wrestling mat as a junior captain, Delaney was a district runner up and qualified for the New Jersey state wrestling tournament. In his senior season, Delaney, again the team captain, fashioned a 25-2 record, was a district champion, and qualified for the New Jersey state wrestling tournament. At the time of his induction Delaney's 21 pins in a season rank him second in school history and his 71 takedowns in one season rank 9th all time. Delaney hit .300 and platooned in leftfield as a freshman and then moved over to patrol centerfield for the rest of his baseball career. As a senior captain, the outstanding outfielder batted .350 led his team to a 23-2 record and the New Jersey State Group 1 Championship. Sam Delaney was a gifted athlete and fierce competitor, and he represented Glen Ridge High School with class and dignity on and off the field. Following graduation Delaney played collegiate hockey at Denison University and currently owns his own business.

Stephen Ortman (Class of 1981) - The multi-sport accomplishments of the Ortman family are legendary in Glen Ridge. Stephen Ortman captained both the GRHS football and baseball teams to State Championships in his senior year ('80-'81). As of his enshrinement, he holds multiple baseball records including the record for stolen bases in a season (31). Ortman hit in the leadoff spot for the 1981 baseball team that finished the year with a school record 28 wins and a top 5 finish in the Star-Ledger rankings. He was the focal point of the offense for the 1980 football team and led all of Essex County in scoring. Ortman holds the distinction of being named 1st team All-County and 1st team All State (Group I) in two different sports (football and baseball) his senior year. The epitome of a student-athlete, Ortman was as outstanding academically as he was athletically and went on to star on the football field and in the class room at the University of Pennsylvania.

The 1944 Football Team - The 1944 football team is one of the greatest team in GRHS history - in any sport. They won the conference championship and the group I state championship and they shut out five of their eight opponents. In front of a crowd of 7,500 at Hurrell Field, Glen Ridge defeated previously undefeated (and eventual group IV champs) Montclair HS 14 - 7. This was a monumental small school vs. big school victory. With out a doubt this is one of the single greatest victories in school history. The Newark Sunday Call awarded the 1944 team the annual State Championship Trophy naming Glen Ridge as the best team in the state of New Jersey.

The Glen Ridge Athletic Association - (Meritorius Service) Founded in 1956, 2006 marked the 50-year anniversary of the Glen Ridge Athletic Association (GRAA). For 50 years, the GRAA has been the training ground for the majority of the outstanding athletes that have passed through the Glen Ridge High School athletic program. This all volunteer program has worked hand-in-hand with the high school coaches to ensure that the youth of Glen Ridge is prepared for high school competition and has had a dramatic impact on the quality of all Glen Ridge High School athletic programs. The GRAA has been a driving force behind the creation of new programs such as soccer and lacrosse at the high school level, and perhaps most importantly, this organization has been at the forefront of the advancement of athletic opportunities for females. The success of the GRAA is both unique and unmatched in the field of local youth athletics.

Tom Murphy (Class of 1981) - A key player of every team he was on, Tom Murphy led by example and inspired his teammates by delivering his best with determination and a level-headed sense of cool. He never criticized anyone, and was always there to pick up a player who needed a boost. People gravitated toward Tom Murphy because of his sincere kindness, and with a quick comment and smile, he could calm any tense situation. A three-year starter for the basketball team at point guard, Murphy was the team leader in assists each year and directed the team to a record of 39 wins and 11 losses in his junior and senior years. As a junior, Murphy spurred the team to the Group I, Section 2 semifinal. As a senior he guided the team to the Group I, Section 2 final. Murphy was not only a tremendously skilled player, but generally was the smartest guy on the court, because he was one of the best passers the school has ever seen. He easily could have scored more but took great pride and enjoyment in sending a no-look pass to a teammate for an easy basket. With Murphy at second base and on the mound, the baseball team was 48-10 during his two years as a starter. Despite battling a back injury, Murphy helped the team to its first-ever Colonial Hills Conference championship and the Group I, Section 2 final his junior year in 1980. Then, everything came together for Murphy and the baseball team in 1981. Murphy pitched to a 6-1 record with an ERA of 0.45 and played a solid second base. The team won the Group I state championship and finished the year ranked second in Essex County and No. 10 in New Jersey. After graduating from GRHS, Murphy continued his basketball career at Trenton State College where he was a four-year letter winner and captain of the 1985 team which won the NJSAC and advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament. He recorded more than 100 assists for three consecutive years and was inducted into the Trenton State Hall of Fame as a member of the 1985 team.

Victor See (Class of 1976) - Victor See earned six varsity letters in baseball and football during an outstanding career at Glen Ridge High School. He honed his leadership skills as the co-captain of the football and baseball teams his senior year. In football, See lettered three times as a defensive back, running back, kick returner, and punter. In his junior year, See was played a key role by making several long runs, as the Ridgers defeated Mountain Lakes, 19-13, to end their rival's 23-game winning streak. The headline the next day read, The Herd Finally Halted. As the starting left fielder in his junior year he was pivotal in leading the team to a 23-4 record and coach Lou Calderone's first Group I state championship. See finished the season with a .460 batting average, set the record for stolen bases in a season, and was named 2nd team all-state all groups, 1st team all-state Group I, 1st team all-county, 1st team all-conference, and was named a 1st team all-metropolitan all-star by the New York Daily News. See played centerfield his senior year and broke his own stolen base record, swiping 25 bags. He was named 1st team all-state Group I, 1st team all-county, 1st team all-conference, and was a repeat member of the New York Daily News 1st team all-metropolitan all-stars. That team won the Group I sectional state championship. After graduation, See attended the United States Naval Academy and led its baseball team to the 1979 Eastern Intercollegiate League championship and the NCAA Tournament Northeast Regional. Upon graduation from the Naval Academy in 1980, See became a helicopter pilot and an Aerospace Engineering Duty Officer for the U.S. Navy. He was the first member of hiss class to be promoted to Rear Admiral (One Star and Two Star) and became the leader of Navy Space during his last five years of service.

William F. Vesterman (Class of 1937) - Bill Vesterman was quarterback and sole captain of Football for both the 1935 and 1936 GRHS football teams. His 1936 team won the first Suburban Conference championship (his son, William R., would be on the 1957 team that took the championship in the last year that Glen Ridge played in the Suburban Conference.) Vesterman played on the Ridgers' offensive and defensive units, and was selected first team All-Essex County in his senior year and second team all-state. As might be expected of someone who was elected captain by his teammates after his sophomore season, Vesterman was a born leader and an inspiring player, and though he weighed only 135 pounds, he was known as a fierce tackler. Bill Vesterman later served for many, many years as a firefighter in the borough and was the last chief of the now extinct Glen Ridge Fire Department. All eight of Vesterman's children were educated in the Glen Ridge school system.

William Horey - Bill Horey molded young people into adults and left an indelible mark on all that he coached. He directed his football teams to a 147-35-3 record that included 8 undefeated seasons and 8 sectional championships. Horey also guided his track and field teams to 10 Group I championships. But for more than won and loss records, this legendary coach will always be remembered for valuing and instilling the virtues of discipline, obedience, loyalty, character, and teamwork.

William Indek - Bill Indek was GRHS Outdoor Track Coach from 1981-2003 and the Indoor Coach from 1991-2001. He was named Essex County Coach of Year in 1993 and was twice named All- Area Coach. The girls' track teams under his tutelage won the 1993 Colonial Hills Conference Championship and won over 100 dual meets. He coached 6 individual county champions and coached 22 individual Conference Champs for the girls. During his career, he coached 27 Sectional Winners and 8 Group I State Champions and had 2 girls place in the top 6 at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions. He had 3 outdoor teams win county titles: javelin in 1987, 4 mile relay in 1991 and distance medley in 1992. The Girl's Team in 1993 also placed 5th in the State Group I Meet. While coaching indoor track the girls Distance Medley won the Indoor State Group I Title in 1992 and set the meet record. The Boys' teams under Bill Indek's direction won the 2002 Dual Meet CHC Division Title. He coached 6 Conference Champions and 3 State Sectional Winners for the boys. At the 2001 Indoor Meet of Champions, he coached a 6th place finisher in the 55 meter dash. In 2002, he coached a 5th place finisher at the Meet of Champions in the 100 meter dash. Bill Indek served as guidance counselor at GRHS for 36 years until his retirement in June of 2008.