Other inductees were Curt Bristol, Craig Conroy, Dan Prahl and Potsdam Elks’ Lodge for its Community Service. NCNow photo

POTSDAM — Several individual athletes, coaches, and swim, golf and basketball teams were inducted into the Potsdam Athletic Hall of Fame Sept. 29 at the Potsdam Elks’ Lodge.

Joe Stark and Jim Allott were inducted in the 16th awards ceremony as the class of 2023 Outstanding Coaches.

Joe Stark coached soccer, hockey, baseball, golf and track at various times over his 36-year coaching career with the Potsdam Sandstoners. He compiled a 226-56-19 record coaching Girls Varsity Hockey, and a record of 385 wins and only 161 losses in Girls’ Varsity Soccer.

Jim Allott served as coach of high school track and swimming, youth soccer and at Clarkson University’s Nordic ski team, for a total of 52 varsity teams over his career. Allott and Coach Michelle Garrow brought the Potsdam swim team to an undefeated year in 1997 and again in 2002 and 2003.

Bob LaRue was awarded “Outstanding Contribution to Potsdam Central School Athletics” for his 50 years of providing sports coverage as sportscaster, cameraman, journalist, and with his local web-design company, NorthCountrySportsnet.

Potsdam’s Elks’ Lodge was this year’s recipient of The Gertie LaBaff Memorial Community Service Award. Since 1958, Potsdam Elks’ has donated over $1.4 million to local charities and organizations.

Outstanding individual athletes  inducted into the class of 2023 were Curt Bristol (1965-67) for football and wrestling; Craig Conroy (1986-1989) for hockey, then playing at Clarkson and the NHL; Rob Ames(1997-2001) for cross-country, indoor and outdoor track and field; Dan Prahl (2003-2006) for cross country and outdoor track; Kristin Shumway (2003-2006) for indoor track and outdoor track and field; Ryan Williams (2004-2007) for golf and hockey; Nick Miller (2005-2008) for golf and hockey; John Coleman (2007-2011) for football, basketball and baseball.

Outstanding teams inducted were Golf (1999-2000), (2004-2005) and (2005-2006); Girls Swimming (2002-2003) and (2003-2004); and Boys’ Basketball (2009-2010) and (2010-2011).

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The 2009-10 and 2010-11 Boys Basketball teams were inducted in the Hall of Fame, coached by Steve Kmack, and assistant coaches Bill Karis, Bill Mitchell, Brooks Bigwarfe, Geoff Coleman  and Tony Vaccaro. Players in attendance, from left, John Coleman, Scott Bartenstein, Zac Adams, Mike Chambers, Chris Whispell and Lee Buchanan. Absent: Josh Adams, Konnor Bigwarfge, Will Coleman, Lawrence Hazen, Tom Hobbs, Owen Mitchell, Ifem Ononye,  Todd Sharlow, and Cameron Waters. Photo courtesy of Jill Adams

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 The 2002-03 and 2003-04 Girls’ Swim Teams were inducted into the Hall of Fame. Front row, from left: Coach Michelle Garrow, Casandra (Miller) Dodds, Kallie (Olmstead) Whalen, Alicia (Flint) Jones, Allison Bradshaw, and Coach Jim Allott. Back row: Nicole (Scott) Wenzel, Sommer Giordano, Katie (Hayes) Geidel, Tommiann (Olmstead) Russell.  Absent: Lindsey Belt, Kelly Benvenuto, Susanna Bridgman, Kursten Brown, Cassie Burkum, Bida Clark-Bouchard, Chelsea Chambers, Dawn Collette, Erin Cubley, Alanna Dowman, Ashley Fitzgerald, Colleen Fitzgerald, Caroline Foisy,  Claudette Foisy, Meggie Fronczek, Karen Graves-Forget, Rachel Jenack, Hannah Kaskey, Katie Leuthauser, Debbie Lewis, Marissa Marqusee, Rebekah McCluskey, Niki Mullen, Surika Pillay, Laura Powell, Lauren Reed, Mallory Reed, Christa Sherburne, Robyn Stone, Elysia Taylor, Megan Whalen, and Sayuri Yapa. Photo courtesy of Michelle Garrow

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Bob LaRue was awarded “Outstanding Contribution for Potsdam Central School Athletics” for his 50 years of providing sports coverage as sportscaster, cameraman, journalist, and his local web-design company, NorthCountrySportsnet. Photo courtesy of Christine Reichhart

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Potsdam’s Elks’ Lodge #2074 is this year’s recipient of the Gertie LaBaff Memorial Community Service Award. Since 1958,  Potsdam Elks’ has donated over $1.4 million to local charities and organizations.  Receiving the award from Board President Jim Mason is Ernie Charleston. Photo courtesy of Christine Reichhart

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Marianne Conroy Stone receives an award for her son, Craig Conroy, who was unable to attend Potsdam’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony to receive his Outstanding Individual Athlete award. A former Potsdam High School from 1986-1989 and Clarkson University hockey player, Conroy played 18 seasons with the NHL and is now manager of the Calgary Flames. Photo courtesy of Christine Reichhart.

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 Jim Allott was awarded “Outstanding Coach.”  He  served as coach of high school track and swimming, youth soccer and at Clarkson University’s Nordic ski team, for a total of 52 varsity teams over his career. Allott and Coach Michelle Garrow brought the Potsdam swim team to an undefeated year in 1997 and again in 2002 and 2003.Photo courtesy of Christine Reichhart.

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Rob Ames receives an award for “Outstanding Individual Athlete” for cross-country, indoor and outdoor track and field from 1997-2001 at Potsdam.  Ames was a Section X First Team All-Northern  and Section X MVP. At the NYS Outdoor Track and Field meets he placed in the pentathlon, 110 M hurtles and triple jump. He holds school records in the 55 M Hurdles, 110 M Hurdles, and the Pentathlon. Photo courtesy of Christine Reichhart.

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Joe Stark receives an “Outstanding Coach Award.” Stark began his 36-year coaching career with the Potsdam Sandstoners in 1987, having coached several sports at various times: soccer, hockey, baseball, golf and track. “Joe Stark devoted his working life to the athletes of Potsdam Central School,”said the Hall of Fame Committee. Photo courtesy of Christine Reichhart.

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Kristin Shumway was inducted as “Outstanding Individual Athlete” for indoor and outdoor track and field at Potsdam High School from 2003-2006. Kristin was a State qualifier four years. She broke the school record for high jump, triple jump, and was part of the 4x200 relay team that set the Section X record. Photo courtesy of Christine Reichhart.

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John Coleman receives an award for “Outstanding Individual Athlete” for football, basketball and baseball during his 2007-2011 years at Potsdam. In 2011 he received the Jukowski Award for basketball and All NAC first teams for baseball. He continued playing basketball and baseball at Clarkson.  He now teaches sixth grade at AAK and is a volunteer coach for varsity football, modified baseball and JV basketball. Photo courtesy of Christine Reichhart.

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Nick Miller receives an award for “Outstanding Individual Athlete” for golf and hockey from 2005-2008. In golf, he was the Individual Golf Medalist for the 2006-2008 seasons and a state qualifier all four years. He was chosen as an All-State hockey player in 2007 and 2008, and received a Division I scholarship to play golf at Siena College. Photo courtesy of Christine Reichhart.

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Ryan Williams was inducted for “Outstanding Individual Athlete” for golf, hockey and soccer at Potsdam High School from 2004-2007.  He was a 1st team All-Northern Section X golfer for 3 years and placed second in the Federation Cup Tournament. He was an All-Northern hockey team member. Williams in now head coach of of the Central Michigan Women’s Golf Team. Photo courtesy of Christine Reichhart.

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The family of Curt Bristol receive an award for “Outstanding Individual Athlete” at the induction ceremony into Potsdam Athletic Hall of Fame. Bristol was an outstanding athlete during his  1965-67 Potsdam school career in both football land wrestling, receiving football’s All-Northern Guard and All-Northern recognition in wrestling as one of the finest heavyweights in the Northern League. Photo courtesy of Christine Reichhart.

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Lindsay LaSala congratulates Joe Stark in receiving the “Outstanding Coach Award” as Board President Jim Mason looks on. Stark began his 36-year coaching career with the Potsdam Sandstoners in 1987, having coached several sports at various times: soccer, hockey, baseball, golf and track. Photo courtesy of Christine Reichhart.

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Golfers viewing the newest plaques for the 2023 Potsdam Athletics Hall of Fame are, from left, James Robert Williams, James A.Williams, Ryan Williams and Nick Miller. Golf teams coached by Steve Kmack elected as outstanding were: 1999-2000 - Cam Brown, Mike Butler, Scott Butler, Dan Johnson, Jeremy Melchior, Mike Morris and James Williams; 2004-2005 - Mike Hayes, Chad Hazen, John Jones, Nick Miller, Isaiah Patterson, Chris Taylor, Mark Williams, Ryan Williams and Cody Willmart; 2005-2006 -  Mike Hayes, Chad Hazen, John Jones, Nick Miller, Isaiah Patterson, Chris Taylor, Ryan Thompson and Ryan Williams. Photo courtesy of Christine Reichhart.