Lyndonville High will induct its first Athletic Hall of Fame class on Sunday

Contributed Photos – Lyndonville’s 2011 baseball team will be among the first inductees into the Tigers new Athletic Hall of Fame. Team members included, in front, Joey Sukackas, Josh Brabon, Tanner Helsdon, Alex Rodriguez, Joe Burgess and Cody Buckland. In the second row are Coach Shane Price, Andy Hydock, Corey Nicholson, Brooks Boyle, Jared Preedom, Ryan Lilley, Travis Hall, Jimmy White, Ken Urbanik and Coach Mark Hughes.

Sunday will be a special day as some of the school’s outstanding sports accomplishments over the past seven decades will be honored as Lyndonville High will induct its first class into the Tigers new Athletic Hall of Fame.

The initial class includes one team, the 2011 baseball squad;three coaches – Arnie Hartsen, Fred Large and John Hayes; seven former student/athletes – Ron Mapes (Class of 1955), Jill Eppolito (Class of 1979), Tim Riemer (Class of 1985), Chris Hayes (Class of 1989, Sam Recco (Class of 2012) and Tony Recco (Class of 2015) along with a Special Contributor Maria Quintern (Class of 1986).

The 2011 Baseball Team

The 2011 Tigers diamond squad made history by becoming the school’s first team to reach the state semifinals.

In route to reaching the Final Four, the Tigers defeated Notre Dame 7-4 for the Section V Class DD title, Webster Christian 10-4 for the Section V Class D berth to the state playoffs and Pine Valley 12-6 in the Far West Regional. The Tigers bid for a spot in the finals was ended via a narrow 7-4 loss to Livingston Manor in the state semifinals.

Five members of the Tigers squad – Josh Brabon, Brooks Boyle, Andy Hydock, Ryan Lilley and Joe Burgess – earned Genesee Region League All-Star honors and Coach Shane Price was honored as both G-R and Section V Coach of the Year.

Coaches Fred Large, left, Arnie Hartsen and John Hayes

Coach Arnie Hartsen

Hartsen served the school district as a Physical Education teacher, Coach and Athletic Director from 1941-43 and 1946-1976) as he served in the Navy from 1943-46.

He guided the Tigers baseball squad to 13 Genesee-Orleans League titles and four Section V championships (1951, 1953, 1955 and 1959) compiling a career record of 326-147-2.

In the sectional finals his Tiger teams shared the crown with Clyde in 1951 after a 2-2 tie, defeated Naples 2-1 in 1953, Cuba 3-0 in 1955 and Belmont 14-1 in 1959.

Coach Fred Large

Large organized the Lyndonville wrestling program in 1963 and guided the Tigers to 14 Genesee Region League titles and five Section V Class championships (1975, 1984, 1987, 1993 and 1994). His 1975 squad had five individual Section V champions.

His Tigers squads at one stretch had a 46 match winning streak and overall he had a career record of over 250 wins.

He was inducted into the Section V Hall of Fame in 2005.

The gymnasium in which the Tigers wrestling teams now hold their matches is named in his honor.

Coach John Hayes

Hayes guided the Tigers baseball teams for 24 years (1979-2001) during which his teams compiled a record of 365-262 and won four Section V championships (1982, 1983, 1994 and 1996) and nine G-R titles (1982, ’83. ’83, ’88. ’89, ’95, ’96, 99 and 2000).

His 1982 team downed Cuba 2-0 to end Lyndonville’s 23 year long sectional title drought. The Tigers other three title wins were 10-0 over Pavilion in 1983, 2-0 over Hammondsport in 1994 and 1-0 over Fillmore in 1996.

The Tigers main gymnasium is named in honor of Hayes who also served as varsity basketball coach and Athletic Director.

Sam and Tony Recco

Sam and Tony Recco

The Recco brothers, Sam and Tony, made history when they both earned state wrestling titles on the same day in 2012.

Tony, then a freshman scored a narrow 1-0 win to capture the state 99 lb. title and then minutes later Sam, a senior, completed the brothers sweep with a 2-0 victory to capture the 120 lb. title.

Both five year varsity wrestlers for the Tigers, Sam compiled a career record of 188-34 and Tony a mark of 196-17.

Sam, who also placed sixth at the state championships in 2011, was a two-time Section V champ in 2011 and 2012.

Tony, who also placed third at the state championships in 2014 and sixth in 2015, was a three time Section V champion in 2012, 2014 and 2015.

They both went on to wrestle at Edinboro University.

Maria Quintern, left, and Jill Eppolito

Jill Eppolito

Eppolito likewise was a multi sport athlete in soccer, basketball and track during the early years of the Lady Tigers sports program.

In soccer she scored a school record 35 goals in 1978 and went on to become a Gold Medalist at the 1978 Empire State Games.

In basketball she was a three-time G-R and two-time Section V All-Star. She holds the school records for most points in a game (45 vs. Notre Dame in 1979), most points in a season (411 during the 1977-78 season) and most career points 1,037). She also had a school record 28.8 career scoring average.

In track she won the Section V Class D title in the 100 Hurdles in 1979.

Maria Quintern

Maria has served as shot clock operator and scorekeeper for over 35 years. She has been a volunteer scorekeeper for soccer, volleyball, basketball and baseball.

Lyndonville Athletic Director Jim Zeliff states that Maria “epitomizes the category of “Supporter” as she has attended almost every athletic event and volunteered her time for 30+ years. Her contributions are invaluable to the district athletic programs.”

Chris Hayes, left, Ron Mapes and Tim Riemer

Ron Mapes

Mapes was a multi sport athlete in football (1953-54), basketball (1952-53, 1953-54, 1954-55) and baseball (1952-1955).

He compiled a 30-3 career record on the mound for the Tigers including a Section V and state record 8 no hitters as well as 19 shutouts and 9 one hitters. He registered 441 strikeouts and offensively had a career batting average of .392.

He hurled the Tigers to three playoff wins in both the  1953 and 1955 Section V title campaigns.

He went on to play professional baseball in the New York Yankees organization.

Tim Riemer

Riemer also was a multi sport athlete in soccer, basketball and baseball.

In soccer he scored a school record 39 goals his senior year and finished with a career total of 46.

In basketball he set a Tigers single game scoring record of 46 against Wyoming during the 1984-85 season. He scored 394 points that season and finished with a career total of 975.

In baseball he hit .462 his senior year with 12 RBIs and no strikeouts and .400 with 10 RBIs his junior year earning G-R All-Star honors both seasons as a catcher. He went on to play professional baseball in the Cleveland Indians organization.

Chris Hayes

Chris Hayes was likewise was a three sport standout in soccer, basketball and baseball.

He was a two-time G-R Al-Star in both soccer and basketball.

On the basketball court he had then school record totals of 478 points in his senior year and 1.012 for his career.

On the baseball diamond he was a four time G-R All-Star who had three no hitters, seven career shutouts and 32 career victories. He went on to play baseball at the University of Connecticut.