The Hammond Sports Hall of Fame will honor six individuals from the city’s proud athletic past during its annual induction dinner program, Tuesday, March 10 at the Hammond Civic Center.
Also, in this 100th anniversary year of the establishment of the American Professional Football Association, subsequently renamed the National Football League in 1922, the Hammond Sports Hall of Fame will pay homage to the Hammond Pros, a 1920 APFA/NFL charter member.
The inductees are:
- 1950s/60s Hammond High and Drake University track sprinter Richard Barnes
- 30-year Hammond High boys track & field coach James (Chief) Brown
- Bishop Noll boys basketball & baseball coach Jack Gabor
- Clark 2000s 3-sporter and Purdue North Central volleyball standout Brittany Piaseczny
- 1940s Hammond High & University of Illinois football lineman Robert Prymuski
- 1980s Morton 3-sporter and Indiana University baseball MVP David R. Snedden
Anderson-Peterson Family Distinguished Athlete Award recipients
Also during the induction program, the Hammond Sports Hall of Fame’s 29th annual Anderson-Peterson Family Distinguished Athlete Award will be presented to two 2019 high school graduates who depict the qualities for which the Hammond Sports Hall of Fame was established: athletic and academic achievement, dedication, citizenship, and school and community service.
The recipients are Dawn Pawlak and Noah Maravilla, both from Gavit.
Pawlak earned eight varsity letters in softball and cross country and was all-conference in seven of her eight seasons of competition. She graduated with a 4.39 grade point average and was active in Gavit’s Natural Helpers mentorship program in service to underclass students, Key Club, Principals Leadership Committee, Student Council and Rainbow Staff. She received a softball scholarship to attend the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, where she is majoring in mechanical engineering.
Maravilla was a football, wrestling and baseball standout, earning 11 varsity letters and all-conference recognition in all three sports. His 3.78 grade point average complemented his service outside the classroom in Natural Helpers, Key Club, Principals Leadership Committee, Student Council and Rainbow Staff. He attends Indiana University and is studying social services
Time/Schedule
Hall of Fame festivities begin at 5 p.m. with a social time. Dinner is at 6:30 p.m.; the induction program follows at 7:30.
Ticket availability
Single tickets can be purchased in advance for $25; tables of eight seats for $200 are on sale at the Hammond Civic Center. Single admission tickets also can be purchased at Rich’s Barber Shop (Hammond), Cheers (Munster), House of Pizza (Hammond), and the Cavalier Inn (Hammond). Any remaining tickets the night of the induction dinner will go on sale at the door for $35 each.
