BCL to establish Hall of Fame
Jack Degele, Commissioner, Baltimore Catholic League (BCL), a highly competitive high school boys’ basketball league currently comprising seven private schools, has announced the establishment of the Baltimore Catholic League Hall of Fame to honor past players, coaches and administrators beginning with the first year of the league in 1971-72.
Fans of the BCL can nominate candidates for the inaugural class of 15 inductees from Nov. 13 through Dec.31 by logging onto http://www.baltimorecatholicleague.com/. The class will be announced at the annual BCL luncheon on Feb. 24, and will be honored at a banquet on March 13.
Criteria for nomination includes:
--The student athlete must have completed two years on the varsity team.
--The student athlete must have graduated from the same BCL school.
--The student athlete must have exhibited a high degree of community commitment and
citizenship qualities up to and including the present.
--Student athletes will be eligible for induction five years after their respective graduation.
--The point of emphasis for selection will focus on the quality of the student athlete during his high school career -- college/professional accomplishments will not be considered.
--Inductions will take place annually, beginning in 2010.
After the inaugural induction, the maximum number of inductees thereafter will be five.
The number of first-year inductees is to be determined by the number of nominated candidates and is still to be determined.
The selection of inductees will be made by the BCL Hall of Fame committee, which presently consists of former coaches and commissioners.
There is no limit to the number of student athletes who can be nominated each year.
The committee will consider each nominee based on individual accomplishments in the BCL before voting for induction.
An awards dinner will initiate the first induction of student athletes.
The BCL currently consists of Archbishop Spalding, Calvert Hall, Cardinal Gibbons, Loyola Blakefield, Mount St. Joseph, St. Frances Academy and St. Maria Goretti. Archbishop Curley and Towson Catholic were charter members, but do not currently compete in the league.
The Hall of Fame committee includes former coaches Mark Amatucci (Calvert Hall), Dan Popera (Archbishop Curley), Cokey Robertson (St. Maria Goretti), Jerry Savage (Loyola Blakefield) and William Wells (St. Frances Academy) and commissioners Degele (Current) and Jim "Snuffy" Smith (Former).
Additional information about the league and Hall of Fame nominations can be found by logging onto http://www.baltimorecatholicleague.com/ or by contacting Degele at (410) 719-7526. Details about the banquet and tickets will be announced in January 2010.
