Maroon Through and Through: The Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2017

The Episcopal High School Athletics Hall of Fame welcomed one coach, five alumni, and four teams into its ranks over Sprit Weekend in November.
More than 200 alumni and guests were on hand in the Hershey Athletics Center to celebrate the occasion.

Coach Jim Seidule, who coached football and track and field at EHS for 28 years, and in whose honor the history floor of Townsend Hall is named, was honored for his dedication and influence on generations of Episcopal men. The five individual alumni honored for their outstanding athletic careers were Carlie Hooff Casella ’00, Darius Gilbert ’92, Tim Hightower ’00, “Jelly” Richardson ’22, and David Wysong ’59.

The 1966 baseball team, considered one of the school’s best ever, finished their season 14-2, amassing 73 runs while allowing only 17. One of the team’s co-captains, John Hooff ’67, is a cousin of individual honoree Carlie Hooff Casella.

The three-year run of basketball dominance from 1997 through 1999 was also recognized, as members of all three teams were on hand for the evening’s events.

“Coming to Episcopal was one of the best decisions I ever made,” said Hightower. “I came here thinking I could do everything by myself, and I was determined to do everything by myself. I kind of had a chip on my shoulder. But this school taught me the importance of community and what can happen when somebody who had the dream, who had the purpose, receives an opportunity, and has a community that backs him with support.”

In her introductory remarks, Girls Athletic Director Jen Fitzpatrick observed what makes “the Spirit of the High School” such a powerful force. She concluded, “Perhaps the Spirit of the High School was most evident this season in the moments when our fall teams paused to connect with the legacy of alumnae that have come before them. When our girls’ soccer team walked the hallowed halls of Old Centennial’s basement and paid tribute to the First 48 the night before the Seminary Hill Cup, when our boys’ soccer team connected with Dominique Badji of the MLS’ Colorado Rapids to find inspiration mid-season, or when Carlie Hooff Casella returned alongside 21 alumnae to speak at the annual Seminary Hill Cup dinner.”

Biographies for all of the 2017 inductees and their acceptance speeches are available on the 2017 Hall of Fame page, and a complete listing of all past inductees, including links to biographies for each, can be found on the EHS website.

A full gallery of photos from the ceremony can be found on the Maroon & Black Flickr site or viewed below.

2017 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
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