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.
Brett Sowers 2024 Inductee
LACROSSE
In the early 1990’s Ridgewood High School Lacrosse began its ascent to becoming the nationally know program it remains today. That rise didn’t happen by accident. It came about as a result of great coaching, hard work, and dedication, combined with athletictalent. Brett Sowers’ outstanding lacrosse career was a result of all of those factors coming together. He became not only one of the best players ever to wear Maroon and White but a foundational player whose achievements have stood the test of time. He was also a standout football player who was a member of the 1992 Group IV State Sectional Championship team and a team Captain as a senior.
A four year varsity lacrosse player for the Maroons, Brett set the varsity scoring record for a freshman with 23 points on the undefeated 19-0 1991 State Championship team. His sophomore year he helped the Maroons to a 18-3 record and a spot in the 1992 State Championship game. After that season Sowers was recognized with Second Team All-League, and Honorable Mention All-State for his play. His junior year saw more success not only for him but the Maroons as well as the team finished 17-3 and Brett was voted Second Team All-League and Second Team All-State at the conclusion of the season.
After three outstanding seasons, Brett took things to another level his senior year. He Captained the Maroons to another 17-3 record and a third appearance in the State Championship game during his career.. For his efforts he was chosen First Team All-League, First Team All-State, The New Jersey Player of the Year and All-American.
He graduated in 1994 as RHS’s record holder for total career points, (215) career goals, (139) goals in a season, (51) and total points in a season. (85). Sowers was chosen to play in the New Jersey HS North/South game as well as the National HS North/South game in Baltimore, MD.
After graduating from RHS as another in a long line of outstanding student athletes, Brett followed fellow RHS Alums and Hall of Fame members Eric Benedict and Dennis Sullivan to Brown University where he was a three year starter for the Bears. During his time in Providence he played on the 1995 Ivy League Championship team, played in two NCAA tournaments, was elected Captain his senior year, voted Second Team All-New England, and was chosen to play in the New England North/South game.
Years after graduating from Brown, he was chosen for the NJ Star Ledger’s 1990’s All Decade Team and in 2020 he was inducted into the New Jersey Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
It can be very telling to look back at the early years of a successful athletic program to see who the people were that helped build the culture and traditions that make continued success sustainable. It’s not easy being not just good, but great, year in and year out. A program like Ridgewood Lacrosse, that continues to put out championship teams and All-America players on an almost yearly basis, can look back at the past and see the effect that Brett Sowers had, not only leaving his mark all over the record books but also his legacy as one of the foundational players for a storied program. He was a Champion and All-American at RHS and an All-New England player at Brown. His individual records speak for themselves and are the main reason he is being inducted into the RHS Hall of Fame.
But as impressive as his individual accomplishments are, his role on some of the most successful teams in RHS history is just as note worthy. Those teams set the standard for Ridgewood High School Lacrosse, a standard that remains today. In recognition of hie outstanding individual accomplishments as well as his role in building the foundation for Ridgewood High School Lacrosse the Ridgewood High School Hall of Fame welcomes Brett Sowers as a member of the 2024 Hall of Fame class.
Download: 2022 Banquet Book!
Lynne Collazo, Chuck Johnson, Patricia Putnoky Piotrowski, Tyler Roten, Kelci Smesko, Brett Sowers,
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