RHS Athletic Hall of Fame
Members of the Ridgewood High School Athletic Hall of Fame are those that have made a lasting impact on the school’s sports program as either student players, coaches, or supporters. Often the student players have continued to influence their chosen sports after high school by ongoing participation in athletics.
Donna O’Connell, 2006 Inductee
Recognized as an All-State athlete in two sports, O’Connell Skettini figured in several of RHS’s all-time girls sports achievements. A two-time All-NNJIL, All-County and All-State selection in softball, she pitched coach Debbie Paul’s Maroons to a undefeated (29-0 state championship in 1983 and a school and state record of 43 straight victories. The three-year varsity performer was selected All-State in 1983 and 1984 and was voted to The Record’s All-Century Team in 1999.
Her sister, Debbie O’Connell, who was the catcher on those team, was inducted into the RHS Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004. O’Connell Skettini bowled for the Maroons from 1981 to 1984 and received first team All-County and All-State honors all four seasons for coach Art Rispoli’s pinspillers, coming from Ben Franklin Junior High her freshman year. She did this while playing varsity basketball in 1983 and 1984 for coach Dick Bennett. O’Connell Skettini continued her superb softball pitching at Trenton State College with an overall record in college of 73-9 from 1985 to 1988. The 1985 team as second in the Division 3 Nationals, losing to Eastern Connecticut State, 1-0. She pitched Trenton State to the national championship in 1987, hurling two of the four games in the championship series and defeating Eastern Connecticut twice.
She was honored as a Division 3 All-American in 1987 and was picked on the All-New Jersey Conference All-Star team in 1987 and 1988. Donna and her husband Craig have three children and she continues to compete in Women’s International Bowling Congress tournaments individually.
Download: 2006 Banquet Book!
2022
Patti Auger, Eric Benedict, Eunae Jo, Peter McGinley, Karla Mixon, Clair Nowakowski, 1983 Softball Team, Joe Pedone, Julia Rappa
2020
Carlos Peay, Louis Edward “Eddie” Peay, Kelly Conheeney, Samantha Cermack, Chris Rae, Chelsea Steinberg, Mark Strittmatter, Andrew Clarke, Jim Dee, Phil Ross Sr.
2018
2016
Maureen Greico, Larry Coyle, Jacob Brown, Richard Bennett, Toshiko D’Elia
2014
John Marshall, Jim Bruni, Mark Romeo, Jean Hughes, Chris Van Note, Nancy Hogan, RHS Football Team 1913, Don Taylor, Rachel Grygiel, John Cerf, Paul Tornatore, Michele Marangi, RHS Boys’ Lacrosse 1990-92
2012
Craig Halyard, Tom Flatt, Tricia Pappalardo, Mike Henderson, Kandie Latham, Leigh Jester, Tom Dusel, Roger Sweeney, Linda Zabielski, Patty Capasso, Dennis Sullivan, Nick & Dottie Capasso, Track and Field (Bain-Daley-Oliver Era)
2010
Primo “Duke” DeRochi, Debbie Paul, George Monro, Bill Dunne, Amy Lyons, James Sullivan, Michael Culver, Keith O’Connor, Josh Kauke, Patti Mileski, Mary Ellen Mileski
2008
Kitty Batterson, Henry Blauvelt, Frank L. Bradley, Jr., Lucia Cancelmo, Chris DuFlocq, Renee DuFlon, RHS Girls’ Basketball 1922-1923, Harry Grundy, Jim Jones, Joe LeMay, Jen McDermott, Shannon McGarrigle, Tony Napier, Margaret Niemann, Vince Robertiello (Jamie Roberts), Damian Ross, Mike Springer
2006
Mario Ferraro, Paul Ferraro, Don Haldane, Wendy Hartwig, Tom Hopper, Bob Keino, Frank Mozeleski, Tim Mullen, Jenna Rogers, Donna O’Connell, Carin Cone, Charles Yennie
2004
Paul Arrigoni, Pete Campbell, Doug Cook, Becky Deetz, Otis Grendler, Jodi Hartwig, Gene Links, Debbie O’Connell, Aimee McGuire, Walt Perdue, Tom Simos, Kazbek Tambi, Jack Van Yperen, Bob Whitaker, Margaret Scutro