VERO BEACH — Saint Edward’s School’s Athletic Director, Jeffrey Lamscha, announced the formation of the Saint Edward’s Athletic Hall of Fame to recognize and honor past achievement by Saint Edward’s finest student athletes and coaches. Sports have been considered an essential component of the Saint Edward’s experience since the School’s founding in 1965. According to Lamscha, “we have always valued our athletes at every level and treasured our triumphs on the athletic field. We established the Saint Edward’s Hall of Fame so that all who follow will know of our rich tradition of athletic achievement and the important role sports play in the fabric of Saint Edward’s School. Athletics have long been an integral part of the Saint Edward’s advantage and many of our outstanding athletes have gone on to distinguished university careers in their chosen sports.”
“The Hall of Fame gives us the opportunity to recognize the accomplishments and contributions of our many outstanding student-athletes,” said Head of School Michael J. Mersky.
Seven accomplished athletes and coaches will be inducted into the inaugural class at the School’s Homecoming on October 8, 2010. The inductees are: Patricia Bailey ’76, James Denmark ’76, Stephanie Keating ’99, Rosemary Sherry ’99, Sal Spallone ’96, Michele Sternberg, and, Bruce Wachter.
Patricia Bailey attended Saint Edward’s from 5th grade through 12th grade and graduated with the class of 1976. Patricia played Varsity Volleyball, Women’s Varsity Soccer and Varsity Softball for four years and captained these teams in her Junior and Senior years. She also was the student manager for the Men’s Varsity Football, Baseball and Soccer teams and served as President of the Saint Edward’s Buccaneers Pep Club in her Junior and Senior years. Patricia went on to play first string Volleyball at Virginia Intermont College, captained the team for two years and was President of the Virginia Intermont College Athletic Association in her senior year. Patricia Bailey now lives in Bristol, Connecticut.
James Denmark attended Saint Edward’s from 5th grade through 12th grade and graduated with the class of 1976. He distinguished himself in Football, Soccer and Baseball, captaining the teams in all three sports, and was named All Region and All State in Baseball. Jim was the Pirate’s Quarterback and Defensive Back in Men’s Varsity Football, the Goalie for the Men’s Varsity Soccer team and pitcher for the Men’s Varsity Baseball Team. Jim went on to play on the United States Naval Academy’s Soccer team and was the starting goalie freshman year. Jim lives in Vero Beach with his family.
Stephanie Keating attended Saint Edward’s School from 4th through 12th grade and is a graduate of the class of 1999. She played on the Saint Edward’s Women’s Varsity Soccer Team, Women’s Varsity Golf, the Varsity Softball Team and Women’s Varsity Lacrosse. Stephanie was the leading Soccer scorer for six straight years on the Varsity Soccer Team beginning with her 7th grade year. She scored 173 goals, was awarded the Most Valuable Player Award 5 times, played three years on the All-Start First Team, was given the Coach’s Award, was recognized by the Press Journal and Channel 12 and was named one of the Top 100 Athletes of the Century in Vero Beach. Stephanie went on to play Soccer for University of Tampa, University of Florida and Louisiana State University. She has played for two Semi-Pro Teams, the Western Mass Lady Pioneers and the Vermont Voltage. Stephanie is currently Assistant Coach for Women’s Soccer at Keene State College in Keene, New Hampshire.
Rosemary Sherry attended Saint Edward’s from kindergarten through grade 12 and is a graduate of the class of 1999. While at Saint Edward’s she distinguished herself in cross-country, basketball and lacrosse. She was a six-year Varsity runner and received the most valuable player award. She was named All State by the Vero Beach Press Journal and holds the School’s 2 and 3 mile cross-country records. Rosemary captained the Women’s Varsity Lacrosse Team in her Junior and Senior years, led Saint Edward’s to win the first State women’s lacrosse championship in 1998 and was selected to participate in Florida’s first national lacrosse team. Rosemary went on to play at Lehigh University where she was honored with the Outstanding Athlete Award, selected for First Team All Patriot League and Second Team Mid-Atlantic Region and was ranked seventh in the nation for caused turnovers per game in 2003. Her team was named the biggest turnaround team in 2003 by Sports Illustrated. Rosemary and her husband now live in New Jersey.
Sal Spallone attended Saint Edward’s School from 6th grade through 12th grade and is a graduate of the class of 1996. Sal was part of two Saint Edward’s district Championship golf teams in 1995 and 1996 and was the Florida State High School golf champion in 1996, his senior year. He is a former American Junior Golf Association star, and went on to play golf at Texas Christian University from 1996 to 2001. Sal turned pro in 2001, played in his first PGA Tour event in March 2003 and qualified to play in the U.S. Golf Association Open in Pinehurst, North Carolina in 2005. He is now a professional golfer on the nationwide tour where he has competed since 2007 and when not traveling, Sal lives in Vero Beach.
Michele Sternberg was Head Coach of Varsity Women’s Lacrosse at Saint Edward’s School from 1995 to 2002, bringing the lacrosse team to State Championships in 1998, 1999 and 2000 and 2001 and cinching the State title in 1998, 1999 and 2000. Michele has been recognized by Sports Illustrated Magazine for winning 63 straight games, was selected as the South Florida Chapter US Lacrosse Coach of the Year and was a national team coach for three years. In college Michelle played lacrosse for the University of Virginia, played all four years on a collegiate conference championship team and won the national collegiate title with her team twice. She was inducted into the South Florida Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2009. Michelle is now Director of College Guidance at Saint Edward’s School and lives with her family in Vero Beach.
Bruce Wachter has been the Head of Saint Edward’s Upper School for 17 years and Associate Head of School for 13 years. Previous to that Bruce was Head of the Middle School and was appointed Assistant Head of School in 1990. He has left his imprint on every facet of the Saint Edward’s School Athletic program since 1973. Bruce was Athletic Director at Saint Edward’s for nine years, from 1975 to 1984, Head Varsity Football Coach for seven years and Assistant Varsity Football Coach for four years. He has also coached Junior Varsity Football, Men’s Varsity Soccer, Men’s and Women’s Junior Varsity Soccer and Women’s Junior Varsity Softball. In his many athletic roles he has inspired and mentored countless Saint Edward’s athletes.
Inductees were selected from a pool of nominations submitted throughout the year and were limited to Saint Edward’s School graduates of more than 10 years who received a varsity letter and coaches, administrators or friends who have served the athletic program for more than 5 years. The Selection Committee was composed of teachers, coaches, administrators, former student athletes, and parents.