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.
Mike Henderson, 2012 Inductee
Mike Henderson graduated from Ridgewood High School in the spring of 1961 honored not only as the outstanding Athlete of his class with the 1961 “Ridgewood High School Award For Excellence in Athletics” Award but also as one of the pre-eminent “Three Sport Athletes” in Ridgewood High School history. His accomplishments which were news worthy and outstanding in their own right in 1961 and beyond are even more significant and extraordinary when compared to today’s era of one sport “specialists.” Perhaps the most impressive aspect of his athletic achievements is the fact that he was so successful in all three of his chosen sports; football, basketball, and track and field. Many athletes have a dominant or primary sport followed by other sports that they may have also played but Mike Henderson excelled in all three of his chosen sports. He was also the epitome of a true “student athlete” who achieved in the class room as well as on the fields, courts, and cinders for the Maroons. Upon graduation from Ridgewood High School Henderson went on to the Ivy League at Brown University and from there to New York Medical College for a degree in medicine and then on to a long career as a Radiologist before retiring recently.
A two time varsity letter winner on the gridiron for the Maroons, Henderson was a First Team All-Suburban and Second Team All-State tight end for the 1960 State Champion squad. In basketball he earned two more varsity letters averaging 12 points a game for the NNJIL Champion RHS hoopers his senior year, shooting 81% from the free throw line and was chosen for the All-Bergen County team. When the spring rolled around and the weather got warm Henderson really showed what he could do as a competitor. A three time varsity letter winner and two time Captain of the Ridgewood High School Track and Field team, Henderson won NNJIL Championships in the 440 yard dash his Junior year and NNJIL Championships in the 100 and 220 yard dashes his Senior year including running a blistering 9.8 seconds in the 100 yard dash at Glen Rock High School. He finished 5th in the New Jersey State Championships in the 100 yard dash and second in the State in the 220 yard dash. He also finished 5th in the 220 yard dash in the Mid-Atlantic Championships. Cementing his legacy as one of the best all-around athletes in Ridgewood High School history Henderson won the first ever Bergen County Decathlon Championship in the spring of 1961.
He went on to compete in track at Brown University where he captained the undefeated 1964-1965 indoor and outdoor track and field teams while setting the Brown school record in the 440 yard dash (48.1) Henderson finished 2nd in the New England Championships and 3rd in the prestigious Heptagonal Championships in the 440 yard dash. Mike Henderson enters the Ridgewood High School Athletic Hall of Fame having competed in an era where competition was fierce and deep. His records, accomplishments and his legacy have stood the test of time. A truly special three sport student athlete, Henderson rightfully takes his place in the Hall of Fame as another contributor to Ridgewood High School’s Tradition of Excellence.
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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