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.
Kelci Smesko 2024 Inductee
LACROSSE, BASKETBALL
The Ridgewood High School Athletic Hall of Fame proudly elects Kelci Smesko, a 2012 graduate, as a member of the 2024 induction class. Selected for both girls lacrosse and girls basketball, Kelci’s achievements on the field and in the gym are testimony to her worthiness for entry into the Hall of Fame.
Sports and competition have always been valued in the Smesko family, with all three Smesko daughters participating year round in soccer, basketball and lacrosse. Kelci, at an early age, showed signs of being a special athlete, particularly in lacrosse and basketball. She started in the village’s youth programs and during the middle school years started playing on travel clubs. These experiences prepared her well for her RHS years, with her winters spent indoors on the hoops court and her springs spent outside on the lacrosse field.
In basketball for RHS, Kelci was a 4 year letter winner, breaking into the starting lineup as a freshman. Totaling 1,158 career points, Kelci earned recognition over her last three years as first team All-Suburban, first team All-League, 1 third team All-County her junior year, and a second team All-County selection her senior year.
As spring would approach, Kelci would take her athletic prowess up a notch as a 4 year letter winner and starter for Karla Mixon’s girls lacrosse team, which won back to back TOC state championships in 2010 and 2011, Kelci’s sophomore and junior years. As a freshman, Kelci garnered All-League second team recognition, as well as All-Suburban Freshman of the year honors. Her career statistics are unworldly, with a total of 293 goals, 110 assists, 102 ground balls, and 112 draw controls. These individual and team accomplishments led to her being named to the following her last three high school campaigns: 3 time All-Suburban first team, 3 time All-League first team, a second team and 2 first team All-County awards, 2 time All-State first team, 2 time North Jersey Girls Lacrosse Player of the Year, 2 time Academic All-American, 2 time All-American, and 2 time Under Armour All-American recognition.
Post high school, Kelci continued her lacrosse career at Duke, following in the footsteps of fellow Hall of Famer Leigh Jester, playing for renowned coach Kerstin Kimel and immediately became a starting freshman for this highly regarded D1 program. Her freshman year she totaled 48 points, with 30 goals and 18 assists. Her sophomore year saw Kelci notch 38 points, over 16 starts with 25 goals and 13 assists. Injury forced her to miss her junior season, but her return for her senior year yielded her career best of 63 points on 43 goals and 20 assists as team Captain. While at Duke, Kelci’s teams made the NCAA tournament 3 times, advancing to the semi-finals in 2015. Kelci also was committed to her studies, making the ACC Academic Honor Roll her entire 4 year tenure at Duke.
The RHSAHOF is thrilled to properly recognize Kelci Smesko for her achievement in both basketball and lacrosse, and warmly welcomes her as a Class of 2024 inductee.
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