Recent Years
Click on the links below to download the WTAAA Hall of Fame Induction book for 2015-2018:
- WTAAA Hall of Fame Induction 2015
- WTAAA Hall of Fame Induction 2016
- WTAAA Hall of Fame Induction 2017
- WTAAA Hall of Fame Induction 2018
Following a fourteen year absence, the WTAAA re-organized in 2015. The dinners have been held yearly at the Woodbridge Community Center on Main Street with the valued assistance and support of Mr. Vito Cimilluca and his entire staff at the Woodbridge Recreation Department.
Since 2015, Nick Sardone has served as president of the WTAAA. Sandra Schmidtke (H) has served as vice president. Greg Ficarra was the first treasurer. Patrick Muller is the current treasurer. Jennifer Sheedy and Ann Cyrana were the first secretaries. Ann holds the title alone beginning in 2017. Current trustees are Nick Sardone , Sandra Schmidtke, Vito Cimilluca, and Greg Ficarra .The following committee members have been serving since 2015.They include Jim Anderson (H) , Kyle Anderson, Tom Chmiel (H), Vito Cimilluca, Nancy Cuntala (H), Sharon Couch DiLonardo(H), Norma Arnesen Grasso (H), Clark Payne Jr. , and Ellen Baureis Pisano (H). Mike Yannazzo (H) joined the committee in 2016. Michael Kaelber and Patrick Muller joined in 2018. Tina Sabunas (H) and Rich Duda joined in 2019. Judi Martino (H) served in 2016. Alex Bosch (H) served in 2017. Bob Kasko (H) served on the committee for the first four years and retired this year. Joe Ward served for the first two years. Several committee members are WTAAA Hall of Famers (H) and participation on the committee is their way of giving back to the community they love so much.
The thirteenth HoF induction dinner was held on September 17, 2015. The Special Guest of Honor was Mayor John E. McCormac for the generous support he has provided to Woodbridge Township athletic facilities and youth sports/ recreation. There were thirty one individual inductees and one championship team including eleven inductees from Colonia High , ten inductees from JFK Memorial , and ten inductees from Woodbridge High. The championship team was Joan Wataha’s 1978 Woodbridge State Group 1V softball winners at 24-4.
The fourteenth HoF induction dinner was held on October 30, 2016. The Special Guest of Honor was Harding William “Pete ”Peterson, a former WHS all stater in baseball, a Rutgers All American catcher in 1950 , and Pittsburgh Pirate as a player from 1955- 1959, and VP/ General Manager of the 1979 “ we are family” World Champion Pirates. His son , Rick Peterson , represented his father. A Special Achievement Award was presented to Dagmara Wozniak ,a 2016 Olympic Bronze medal winner on the USA fencing sabre team. There were twenty seven individual inductees and three championship teams. There were ten inductees from Colonia High , nine inductees from JFK Memorial, and eight inductees from Woodbridge High. The championship teams were Lou Gabriel’s 1957 Woodbridge boys track mile relay winners; Harry Brett’s and Mike Murphy’s 1970 Colonia boys track relay winners ; and Ken Pace’s 1990 JFK Memorial MCT championship basketball team and Central Jersey Group 111 State Sectional winners.
The fifteenth HoF induction dinner was held on October 8, 2017. The Special Guest of Honor was Mr. William “Bill” Kovacs, a retired long time Woodbridge Township teacher, assistant coach in several sports especially football , and the very first varsity wrestling coach at JFK Memorial. There were twenty one individual inductees and three championship teams. Colonia , JFK Memorial , and Woodbridge each had seven individual inductees. The championship teams were Bob Tisdale’s 1972- 1973 Colonia boys basketball squad for winning the first Central Jersey Group 1V state sectional title in school history at 23-5; Cary Hamrah’s 1978 JFK Memorial football team for winning the first Central Jersey Group 111 sectional playoff title at 8-3 in school history; and Ellen Baureis Pisano’s 1984 Woodbridge girls tennis team at 21-1 for winning the first Central Jersey state sectional title in school history.
The sixteenth HoF induction dinner was held on October 14, 2018. The Special Guests of Honor were Mr. Frank Capraro , a former WHS athlete , head varsity football coach for fifteen years at WHS, head varsity baseball coach for ten years at WHS, and finally athletic director at JFK Memorial , WHS , and JPS high schools. Dr. Vincent Capraro was also Special Guest of Honor . Vince was a former football player at WHS. He eventually became the head football coach at Edison High School and Upsala College , and ultimately Superintendent of Schools in Edison , N.J. There were fifteen individual inductees including five each from Colonia , JFK Memorial , and Woodbridge. The WTAAA also honored three championship teams . They were Frank Capraro’s 1957 baseball team for winning the Tri County Invitational Tournament and qualifying for the Greater Newark Invitational statewide sixteen team tournament at 15-7; Bob McLaughlin’s 1988 JFK Memorial softball team for winning the State Group 111 championship at 19-3; and Stew Jago’s 1990 Colonia softball team for winning the Central Jersey Group 11 state sectional tournament at 21-1.