While 27 former athletes of Oxford High School have been inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame since 2010, Oxford’s Athletic Director Mike Watson said they are seeking nominations for 2013.
According to the school’s hall of fame website nominees must essentially come from four different categories: student athletes, coaches or administrators, distinguished alumini letter winners, or special contributors.
For a nomination form and a list of criteria check out www.oxfordschools.org/wildcats and click on the ‘Athletic Hall of Fame? link.
Those chosen for the hall of fame must go through a selection committee.
The committee consists of: Watson,Board of Education Member Bill Keenist,former Varsity Boys Basketball Head Coach Steve Laidlaw,Township Treasurer Joe Ferrari,Booster Club President JR Lafnear,longtime booster Helen Smith, longtime school district employee Corky Hallead,Boys Soccer Coach John Thaler and Athletic Trainer Andrew McDonald
Twenty people were selected in the first two years, which are considered the hall’s charter class and seven were inducted this year. According to Watson, a person can remain on the ballot for seven years and if they are not inducted, their name drops off the ballot, but they can be renominated at that point.
‘It’s been an incredible addition to our athletic department certainly, but I think also to our school community,? he said. ‘I think it’s allowed us to make a better connection for the current students. Really, the whole goal is to inspire the current students and show them that people from their very own community have done great things, not necessarily just in athletics, but also in their careers as well.?
Watson said it also gives alumni a connection with current students and gives them a current view of what Oxford High School is like.
‘It’s always good that we can kind of give them a current view of what our school is like. For many of them this is a fairly new school,? he said. ‘They didn’t go to this school, they’re not connected to this school and if they’re not connected to this school, they’re not necessarily connected to our school community.?
The Hall of Fame has also been used as a tool for conversation to not only say it’s possible to play sports at the college and professional level coming from Oxford Schools, but also as an example of the type of character that can be developed from sports.
‘Your athletic experience is great but you should use it so far as building who you are as a person because some day you’re going to be a mother, wife, husband and father,? Watson said. ‘Having those qualities that you learned in sports, no matter how successful you were, are going to be the most important things going forward in life.?