PHS Athletic Hall of Fame Welcomes New Members

The Paramus High School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee held their third bi-annual Hall of Fame Induction Dinner on Thursday evening. 

Eleven student athletes, three championship teams and one coach were inducted in the third class.

Here are some quick bios of the inductees: 

Student Athletes

Jeffery Perry – Class of 1964: Jeff lettered in soccer three times, basketball twice and baseball twice. Jeff played point guard for the 1963-64 basketball teams. The 1963 team was the only in school history to win the N.N.J.I.L., Bergen County Jamboree, State Sectional Championships and reach the State finals in Atlantic City. Jeff went on to Princeton University and hearned a Ph.D. from Columbia.

Richard Criner – Class of 1965: Rich earned three varsity letters in track and field and one in football. His long jump of 24’1½’’ was a Bergen County record. In 1965 Rich was the N.N.J. I.L. champion in the low hurdles and long jump.  Rich received an athletic scholarship to the University o Maryland where he won the ACC long jump championship.

John Favero – Class of 1966: Hall of Fame coach John DeGasperis called John the best he ever coached at the linebacker position. Jon earned the honor of first team All-N.N.J.I.L., All-Metropolitan, second team All-County ands second team Group 4 All-State. Favero went to the University of Delaware where he was named to All-Mid-America Conference and All-East teams. John and his wife Bonnie have four children and live in Virginia.

Glen Morschauser – Class of 1967: Glen was a standout in both football and track, earning three letters in each sport. He was a starter at defensive back,  a punter and a place kicker. At the end of his football career at PHS, Jeff held the record for career rushing yards. Glen attended Arizona State Unversity on a football scholarship. He left ASU for Montclair State University where he was named Most Valuable Player.  Glenn is a member of the Montclair State University Athletic Hall of Fame.

Douglas Cinnella – Class of 1982: Doug earned three varsity letters in football and baseball and two in wrestling. A 9-4 record and a 1.94 ERA earned Doug a seletion for the first team All-N.N.J.I.L and second team all county. Doug graduated from Seton Hall University where he played varsity baseball for four years. Doug is president and CEO of Professional Baseball Instruction, Mahwah High School pitching coach and has been a scout of the Cincinnati Reds.

Kevin Ralph – Class of 1990: Kevin earned three varsity letters in basketball and four in golf. The Spartans basketball made the State tournament and Bergen County Jamboree in two seasons while Kevin played forward. In 1990, Kevin led the team in scoring when he averaged 21.6 points per game. Kevin went on to Drew University where he was named team captain in 1993 and ’94. Kevin lives in Lawrenceville with his wife and young son Sawyer.

Joseph Cervino – Class of 1996: Joseph earned ten varsity letters between football, wrestling and baseball. He was captain of the wrestling teams in 1995 and ’96. He was the school record holder for career wins (87) and career pins (54). Joe also finished his baseball career as the all-time leader in base hits (104). Joe attended Southern Connecticut State University and played varsity baseball for two season. Joe and his wife live in Hillsdale and are parents of two daughters.

Michelle Walker – Class of 1999: Michelle was a four year letter in both basketball and softball. She was captain of her softball teams in her junior and senior years. Michelle led the 1998 team to a N.N.J.I.L. championship with a final record of 24-4. Michelle graduated magna cum laude from Sacred Heart University in 2003 where she was a starting varsity pitcher for four years. Walker is expecting to earn her Ph. D. next year.

Russell “Rocco” Rinaldi – Class of 1999: Rocco received eight letters in football, basketball and baseball. He was known for his speed and agility. In baseball, Rocco ranks among career leaders in base hits, runs scored and stolen bases. Rocco played varsity baseball for two seasons at St. Peter’s where he was named a NJ Division I All-Star in 2002. Russell lives in Maywood with his wife and three sons.

Scott Barchetto – Class of 2001: Scott earned four varsity letters in wrestiling, three in baseball and one in football. Scott wrestled in the 160 point weight class where he racked up 85 career wins and was chosen as captain in his senior year. He was also a two-time District champion, took third place in the Regions and helped lead the Spartans to two State Sectional championships. Scott went on to Rutgers and currently lives in Fair Lawn with his wife.

Brittany Schillizzi – Class of 2007: Brittany was a groundbreaker. Not only did she earn four varsity letters in softball, she became the first female to play on the ice hockey team, lettering in her junior and senior year. Brittany was a forward on the ice and received the Coaches Award her senior year. Brittany went on to Seton Hall University where she irankes in the top ten players of all-time for career games, hits, doubles, home runs and runs batted in. Brittany is a resident in Paramus and is employed by the firm KPMG.

Championship Teams

1964 Varsity Baseball – The team won the Bergen County Championships, N.N.J.I.L. Championship and Sectional State Champions. They played their season and ended with at 25-2 record.

Team Members: Jerry Dyrsten, Jerry Giampetruzzi, Bob Cortese, Frank Rulli, Lou Sette, Jack Weaver, John Deane, Dennis Moore, Bob Mulcahey, Jim Finch, John Arbucho, Dave West, Mike Boffalo, Mike Bernstein, Jeff Perry, Harry Behnke. 

1965 Track Team – The team won the N.N.J.I.L. Championship, Bergen County Championship, State Champions Group IV and Eastern Regional Championship.

Team Members: John Van Saun, Frank Glausen, Walt Vreeland, Mike Collins, John O’Carroll, George Van Vladriken, John Holdefehr, Bill Stack, Ed Denton, Frank Marino, Bill Pflugh, Steve Coghlan, Clay Hall, Dan Cronin, Bill Jackob, Steve Petouvis, Dean Effler, Bruce Colby, George Theos, Phil Totolom, Neil Katine, Bob Oranchak, Larry Preston, Gerry Sherman, Bob Moore, Richard Wesp, Greg Kern, Bruce Lutz, Greg Hartwick, Joe Piccirilli, Neal Nolan, John Piccinini, Kevin Coghlan, Jim DeMarinis, Charles Souzzo, Charles LoBue, Glen Morschauser, Steve Lattanzi, Steve Baxter, Howie Seigelman, Mark Trezza, Gene Breslin, Terry Boyle, Don Mylies, Don Suterm Mr. L. Lanzalotto, Mike Mullane, Bruce Hedendal, Jim Davis, Paul Wallach, Mike Frankel, Ron Hille, George Kupfrian, Fred Hoogland, Bob Levy, Don Turnerm Bob Groham, Mr. P. LaBarbiera, Neal Socha, Rob Raab, Bud St. Onge, Don North, Joe Grisafi, Don Smith, Art Hansen, Ken Kolln, Hal Klegman, John Shermanm Ralph De Geeter, Larry Suter, William McCallum, Rob Kahn, Lawren Dingman, Rich Citner, Vic Canzani, Bob Lucklow, Joe McCallum, Bob Courtwright, Frank Schmaus.

1981 Girls Volleyball Team – The team won N.N.J.I.L. Championship, Bergen County Championship and State Champions Group III. They played an undefeated, 25-0, season.

Team Members: Nancy Brupbacher, Gwen Masel, Stacy Wilters, Cheryl Siero, Karja, Tamulevicz, Kelly Grove, Coach Connie Bengeyfield, Lori Arbeit, Kim Bianco, Laura Cullinan, Jackie Albino, Jeanne Slifko, Denine Perricelli, Jeanine Gilsdorf.

Coach Inductee

Joseph W. Cervino – Joe grew up in New Milford and earned varsity letters in soccer, wrestling and baseball at New Milford High School. Cervino began his career in Paramus in 1971 as a physical education teacher at East Brook Junior High School where he coached freshman football, wrestling and baseball. His 1973 baseball team won the Bergen County Freshman Tournament. As a head wrestling coach at PHS, Joe coached his guys to a record of 311 wins and 74 losses in dual meet competition. His teams won ten N.N.J.I.L. titles, fourteen District championships, three state sectional championships and was voted the No. 1 coach in Bergen County three times. Joe retired in 2011 and lives in Paramus with his wife. All three of their children went on to be multi-sport varsity letters at PHS.

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** Credit PHS High School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee for biographical information.