Welcome The Corning-Painted Post Sports Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit service organization dedicated to the promotion of sports in the Corning-Painted Post area. As such, the purpose of the organization is to recognize outstanding sports accomplishments of individuals and/or groups of individuals by inducting them into the Corning-Painted Post sports Hall of Fame. The annual induction dinner for the Hall of Fame is always held during the month of March. It generally features a very prominent guest speaker, but the highlight of the evening is always the introduction of the new inductees. Advertise If you wish to advertise in the Banquet program, please submit the advertising application (posted under Nominations and Advertising) to: Corning - Painted Post Sports Hall of Fame PO Box 881 Corning, NY 14830 Donate to the Hall of Fame Donations to the Hall of Fame are welcomed and should be sent to the C-PP Sports Hall of Fame, PO Box 881, Corning, NY 14830. 2007 Bacalles Award Winners The 2007 George Bacalles Memorial Award winners were recently announced. This years winners are Clarence Onyiriuka (WHS), Michelle Kirk (WHS), Coleman Flory (EHS) and Kathryn Early (EHS). 2007 Inductees The following were honored at the Induction Dinner on Saturday, March 17, 2007 at the Holiday Inn in Painted Post: SOCCER Alan Magee & James Sa'Pereira LACROSSE Colleen Crane, Chris Scanlon, Kevin Scanlon & John Olmstead BASEBALL Mike Brown SWIMMING Amanda Mathey, Matt Gilchrist & Andrew Jackson CROSS COUNTRY Paul Nessle FOOTBALL Carmen Puccio & Matt Dupuis VOLLEYBALL Tricia Jones WRESTLING Joe Hunt MOTORSPORTS James Harris SPECIAL James Brown CONTRIBUTOR Bill Steele Despite some glitches caused by an untimely snow storm that blanketed the east coast, the induction of 18 people into the Corning-Painted Post Sports Hall of Fame went on as the Board of Directors presided over its 33rd annual induction dinner Saturday, March 17. The massive storm prevented two of the inductees from attending the dinner and up to a half dozen special guests were also unable to make the affair. But none of that prevented the inductees, special guests and close to 250 family members and friends from making the induction dinner another memorable event. Board President Oystein (Sandy) Ostebo set the stage for the night when his welcoming speech was geared towards sportsmanship and how special an evening it is for those in attendance. Special guest speaker Randy Holden, head coach of the Corning East state championship football team and 2005 Hall of Fame inductee, took that theme a step further in his speech and told of how important sportsmanship was to him and everyone involved with his football program. He also told the crowd of how sports can be compared with war and the competitive aspect of it with examples of the two entities. He explained how they compete, use uniforms and how some sports have helmets as part of the uniform. He concluded his speech with a couple of helmets, one for football and one for an infantryman. Holden told of how his dad, a World War II veteran, would speak of his playing days with a smile and his army days with a grim expression. His utmost respect of veterans was very evident. Holden also seized the opportunity to publicly thank his coaches and team captains, who were in attendance as his guests, and let everyone know it was truly a complete team effort to bring home that state title. "We head coaches get a lot of publicity and maybe too much credit for winning and we also may get criticized a little too much for losing. But, let me tell you, without guys like Nick Kapral, Geoff Waksmunski, Tim Hughes and Matt Rhodes and the great kids that have come through this program over the past 20 years, this doesn't happen. What a great staff," said Holden. One of the players that came through that system was football inductee Matt Dupuis. He was unable to attend the dinner due to a canceled flight in the Washington D.C. area, but his father Al Dupuis was on hand to accept for his son and he spoke of that football championship. �While Matt wanted me to express to everyone his disappointment at not being able to be here tonight, he also wanted me to relay to coach Holden a sincere congratulations. He also wanted Randy to know that the state football crown was a title that was shared by all the players who played for him through the years,� said Dupuis. The veteran theme was appropriate for two of the inductees, both former members of the U.S. Navy. Matt Gilchrist was inducted for his accomplishments in the swimming pool but was snowed in in Connecticut. Fellow swimming inductee and lifelong friend Andrew Jackson accepted for the godfather of his son and told the audience Gilchrist was not only a Hall of Fame swimmer but also had a brilliant nine-year military career that included a Bronze Star. James Sa'Pareira, a native of Brazil who moved to Corning with his family in 1995, was inducted for his exploits on the soccer field and it was noted by Ostebo that he was also a member of the U.S. Navy having served on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Truman. During an evening of long range emotions, a number of inductees reflected on the influences that their coaches and parents had on their careers in each given sport, but also told of how important it was to have their support off the field of competition as well. Volleyball inductee Patricia Jones was extremely grateful that her middle school, high school and college coaches were all able to attend the dinner. Heading the list of four lacrosse inductees was Colleen Crane, who is one of the pioneers of girls lacrosse. She a member of the very first Corning East lacrosse team and was instrumental in the growth of that program becoming a state power. Crane then took her talents to St. Bonaventure and helped that school build a solid program in the Atlantic Ten Conference . She is currently a physical education teacher in the Bath School District, coaching girls lacrosse at four different levels. Her goal is to have a competitive varsity lacrosse program in the next couple of years. Joining Crane in the lacrosse wing of the local Hall was John Olmstead, a former Corning West player who was named to the University of Notre Dame's All-Decade team of the 1980s along with brothers Kevin and Chris Scanlon. They join sister Rebecca, a 2005 inductee. Mike Rarrick accepted the induction of his late brother-in-law Michael Brown for baseball by the telling the story of how Brown decided to leave home in Delaware to try life in Painted Post with his sister Holly, who is married to Rarrick. That �semester' turned into seven and a half years of �delight�, according to Rarrick. Rarrick told of how Brown had such a positive influence on so many people during his too short life. Big burly Bill Steele Jr. was inducted as a contributor for his 25 years of involvement with the Corning Legion baseball program. He showed a lot of emotion when talking about many of his former players and the parents who have supported the program over the years. He also gave most of the credit for the success of the Legion program to his wife Jane. Other inductees included Amanda Mathey (swimming), Paul Nessle (cross country), Joe Hunt (wrestling), James Brown (skeet shooting), Alan C. Magee (soccer) and Carmen Puccio for football. During the evening the C-PP Sports Hall of Fame also recognized state champions with specially designed awards. Kenyan Hicks received his for being a State Champion in the 400m hurdles while A.J. Johnson was honored for his recent long jump title in the Indoor State Track & Field meet, and the Corning East football team - represented by captains Coleman Flory, Cameron Flory and Shawn Roe � was honored for winning the NY State Class A Championship. Four senior student-athletes were also honored with the George Bacalles Memorial Awards. They were Michele Kirk and Clarence Onyiriuka from Corning West along with Kathryn Early and Coleman Flory from Corning East. Two former charter board members were also honored with the Bob Box Director's Award. Frank Watts and Don Bonnell were both presented the awards for their contributions to the Hall of Fame over the years. Notes: Swimming inductees Matt Gilchrist and Andrew Jackson are godfathers to each others children . . . Matt Dupuis and Chris Scanlon were previous Bacalles Award winners . . . William Steele Jr. joins his son Bill Steele III (basketball 2000) in the hall . . . James Brown joins his uncle Bob Brown (softball 1994) in the hall . . . Kevin Scanlon and Chris Scanlon join their sister Rebecca Scanlon in the hall making for three siblings from the same family in the hall of fame for the same sport . . . Hall of Fame Board Member Bill Suhr was unable to make the dinner do to surgery a few days prior to the dinner. His surgeon was lacrosse inductee Dr. John Olmstead. Board of Directors Nominations The Corning-Painted Post Sports Hall of Fame normally holds its annual induction dinner the 3rd Saturday of March. Nominations for new inductees are to be submitted by November 20 of each year to PO Box 881, Corning, NY 14830 by November 19 or by email by clicking on "contact us" on the top of this page. Use the nomination form posted on this website and attach all supporting documentation.