The 2018 Columbia High School Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony and dinner will take place Thursday, May 10, at Orange Lawn Tennis Club in South Orange.
Cocktails begin 6 p.m. Dinner is at 7 p.m.
The 2018 inductees are:
- Doug Richardson, 1974, Track
- Ed Lewis, 1980, Lacrosse
- Lenny Armuth, 1981, Soccer
- John Mairo, 1986, Soccer
- Hope Wright, 1986, Track
- Jon Brothers, 1991, Lacrosse
- Per Chilstrom, 1993, Track
- Jackie Borrone Behrens, 2000, Lacrosse
- Al Farah, Peter Cross Award
- Jack Fletcher, Coach Award
- Phil Marvel, Coach Award
- 1978 and 1979 Baseball, Team Award
For more information, contact Ed Manigan at 973-650-1731, emanigan@gmail.com
Here are the inductees’ bios:
DOUG RICHARDSON: One of the most outstanding jumpers in school history, his high jump of 6’3” in 1973 broke a school record that had stood for 30 years. Among other notable achievements, he was the state Group 4 indoor high jump champ in 1974.
ED LEWIS: The defenseman was an All-State and All-America as a senior. He was also a three-year member of the football team.
LENNY ARMUTH: Possibly the greatest defender in the history of the Cougars’ soccer program, he was chosen New Jersey Player of the Year by the state coaches association as a senior. The team went 67-6-6 during his career, winning one state title, reaching another state final and also capturing three Essex County Tournament championships. He’s also been the highly-successful men’s soccer coach at Drew University since 1994.
JOHN MAIRO: Despite standing just 5-6, Mairo had career totals of 63 goals and 29 assists. He’s the school’s second-leading goal scorer, trailing only 1970s legend Elson Seale. Columbia also went 56-5-3 during his career, with two Essex County Tournament championships. He was also an All-State first-team selection as a senior.
HOPE WRIGHT: After getting involved in track as a way to stay in shape after her freshman field hockey season, Wright became one of the school’s greatest hurdlers. Among many accomplishments, she was an individual state champion and part of a shuttle hurdles relay team that set a national record.
JON BROTHERS: A three-sport athlete, he was a standout in soccer, wrestling and especially lacrosse, where he overcame persistent knee problems to become an All-State and All-America midfielder.
PER CHILSTROM: A four-year member of the indoor and outdoor track team and three-year participant on the cross-country team, Chilstrom is one of the school’s all-time great distance runners. He was a sectional champion in cross-country and also specialized in the 1,600, where he won multiple Essex County championships, and 3,200-meter run, where he won the state Group 4 and Meet of Champions titles.
JACKIE BORRONE BEHRENS: She was All-Conference, All-State and All-America selection throughout her three years lettering in lacrosse. She was also a four-year letterwinner on the soccer team.
PHIL MARVEL: He was one of the original legendary coaches at the school. He was the football and baseball coach from 1926 through 1945, and most of his teams in both sports were highly successful.
JACK FLETCHER: The baseball coach led the Cougars from 1960 through 1985. His teams won Big Ten Conference championships in 1971 and 1977 and Greater Newark Tournament titles in 1978 and 1979.
The Peter Cross Award (for service to the Columbia athletics community) will be going to Al Farah of the Cougar Boosters.
Team Award: This year’s award will be going to the 1978 and 1979 baseball teams, who won the first two Greater Newark Tournament championships in school history.
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