HALL OF FAME 2004

ATHLETES

Skip Shear (1962)
Soccer, Basketball & Baseball

Skip Shear was a multiple varsity letter winner at Hopewell Valley. He received two for basketball, two for baseball and three letters for soccer. Skip was a member of the 1961-'62 soccer team that posted a record of 10-2-3 which was the best season ever by a Bulldog soccer team. As captain of the basketball team, Skip led the Bulldogs to the Delaware Valley League Championship. He was the top scorer in the greater PA/NJ area with 25.9 ppg (a Hopewell Valley CHS record) and broke Hopewell's individual season scoring record with 415 points. His accomplishments earned his a 1st team position on the mighty All-Delaware Valley League Squad. During Skip's junior year, the baseball team posted a record of 15-2 and won the league championship. The team just missed the State Championship on a bunt in the 14th inning of a tremendous game with Jamesburg. During his senior season, the team posted a 16-2 record for a 2nd place finish in the Delaware Valley League and 2nd in the Central Jersey Group II Tournament. For all of Skip's tremendous accomplishments, he was named the Hopewell Valley CHS Athlete of the Year in 1962. Upon graduation, Skip went to Tarkio College where he continued with his basketball career and was named NAIA Honorable Mention All-American.

Tom Van Hise (1972)
Cross Country, Track & Field

Tom received seven varsity letters as a runner for the Hopewell Valley Bulldogs. He ran on the varsity cross country team for three years and was on the varsity track team all four of his years at Hopewell. As a sophomore, Tom was a member of the varsity cross country team that had a 13-0 record and was ranked as the best team in the sport's nine year history. The team won the Delaware Valley League Championship and the Mercer County Championship. In his junior year, the team finished at 12-1 and was once again Delaware Valley League Champs. As a senior, Tom placed 5th in the States as the team went 12-4 and won the Delaware Valley League Championship for the 3rd consecutive year.

On the varsity track and field team, Tom competed in the mile. He broke the school record with a time of 4:36.5. Tom's record run of 4:20.3 in the 1600 meters still holds first place in the Hopewell Valley record books, almost 30 years later. Tom also holds a school record as an integral member of the 1972 Distance Medley Relay Team (800, 400, 1200, 1600) with a time of 10:49.3. 

Kathy Strang Ertel (1970)
Field Hockey, Basketball & Softball

Kathy Strang was a multi-sport athlete at Hopewell Valley. She received two varsity letters for field hockey playing both her junior and senior year. She led the team in scoring both of those years as the team's center forward and was captain during her senior year. On the basketball court, Kathy played varsity all four years, was captain of the team during her junior and senior years and led the team in scoring as well. There was also a softball team that played on the varsity level and Kathy played 1-2 years on this team as well. In addition to her interscholastic involvement, Kathy was also the Vice President of the Girl's Athletic League (G.A.L.) during her junior year and President her senior year. She also found time to be on the Gymnastics Club for four years. During her senior year, Kathy was the recipient of the of the award for the female with the highest proficiency in athletics.

Paul Shivers (1977)
Cross Country, Winter Track & Spring Track

Paul received 11 varsity letters at Hopewell Valley; four for cross country, four for winter track and three for spring track. As a junior member of the cross country team, Paul placed 2nd in the Delaware Valley meet, 4th in the Shore Invitational and 5th in the County Meet. He was on the All-Mercer County Cross Country 1st Team. As a senior Co-Captain, Paul led the team to a record of 17-2; good for first place in the Colonial Valley Conference and winners of the Central Jersey Group II Championships. Individually, Paul set nine course records on the 12 courses he ran during his senior year and won the League, Mercer County and Central Jersey Group II Championships. He had 226 career points and was named MVP of Hopewell's cross country team during his junior and senior years. He led the team to a two year dual meet record of 33 wins against only three losses. In track, Paul's time of 4:25 in the 1600 meters ranks 2nd on the Hopewell Valley record books. He also holds the second place mark in the 3200 meter with a time of 9:40.6. Upon graduation, Paul attended West Chester State where he received three varsity letters in cross country and three varsity letters each in winter and spring track.

Dave Ryan (1987)
Soccer, Basketball & Baseball

Graduating in 1987, Dave Ryan was an active participant in many sports as he earned nine varsity letters during his athletic career at Hopewell Valley CHS. As a soccer player, Dave lettered two times. During his senior year, he was a Team Captain, the teams MVP and was named to the Mercer County Soccer Coaches Select Team. In addition to these honors, he was also selected to play in the New Jersey Soccer Coaches Association North/South All-Star Game.

On the basketball court, Dave earned three varsity letters and was the Bulldog Captain during his junior and senior years. As a baseball player, Dave was a varsity starter for all four years, received Honorable Mention status on the All-County team as a sophomore, made the first team All-County during his junior and senior years and was also named to the All-Area Team for these two seasons as well. Dave's recognition was well deserved as he led the county in batting during his junior year with a .544 average and went 12 for 12 in stolen bases. During his senior year he was sixth in batting for the county with a .430 average. He topped off his career by being named the team's MVP, the 1986-'87 Hopewell Valley CHS Male Athlete of the Year and the 1986-'87 Packet/Ledger Male Athlete of the Year Award.

Dave received a partial baseball/academic scholarship at the College of William and Mary where he was a four year letterman, All Conference Team Player and ended his career with a .327 batting average.

Shelley Pennington (1974)
Field Hockey, Basketball & Spring Track

Shelley Pennington received 11 varsity letters during her athletic career at Hopewell Valley. She competed on the varsity level for four years as a goalkeeper on the field hockey team. As team captain during her senior year, Shelley led the Bulldogs on the defensive end of the field as Hopewell Valley posted its best season ever at 11-3. As Hopewell's netminder, Shelley allowed only eight goals to be scored for two consecutive seasons. Shelley also received four varsity letters on the basketball court. She had an 8 ppg scoring average as a junior and led the team during her senior year with a 13 ppg average. Shelley also was on the varsity track and field team for three years, competing in several running events.

Upon graduation, Shelley attended Rice University where she played varsity basketball for three years, intramural flag football for four years and intramural track and field for three years. She was the college champion in the 800 meter, one mile and high jump during her senior year.   

Colleen Farrell Kamrad (1995)
Swimming, Soccer & Lacrosse

Colleen received eight varsity letters at Hopewell Valley CHS. As a freshman, Colleen received a varsity letter while competing on the swim team, becoming a finalist in the 500 meter free style event. She also received one varsity letter in winter track during her senior year. Colleen's most prolific athletic accomplishments came on the lacrosse and soccer fields. As a member of the varsity soccer team for four years, Colleen led the team in scoring her first three seasons before being sidelined with a season-ending injury during the third game of her senior campaign. As a freshman, Colleen was named to the 1st team All-CVC and the 3rd team All-State squads. During her sophomore year, Colleen once again led the Bulldogs in scoring and was named to the 1st team All-CVC, 1st team All-State by the National Soccer Coaches Association, 1st team All Eastern US, 2nd team All State by the AP and was Trenton Times Player of the Year. On the lacrosse field, Colleen received two varsity letters. As a junior, she scored 25 goals and had 17 assists and as a senior scored 22 goals and assisted 31 times.

Upon graduation, Colleen attended SUNY on an athletic scholarship where she too up her position as the team's leading scorer once again. She transferred to the University of Vermont and played her remaining three years on their varsity soccer team leading the team in assists and receiving the Coaches Award for Leadership in 1998.

COACH

Bill Montagna 1948-1976

After graduating from Rutgers University and serving as a Major in the Armed Forces during WWII, Bill Montagna began teaching at Hopewell Valley Central High School in 1948, before it was part of the regional school district. Bill coached varsity and JV basketball from 1948 to 1951 as well as varsity soccer, a sport he coached from 27 years. It was the 1969 team with a record of 10-3-3 that gave Coach Montagna his best record to date. In addition to coaching and teaching at Hopewell, Bill was also the advisor to the Leader's Club and Varsity Club. He was the Physical Education Department Chairman for eight years, taught driver's education for nearly 20 years and was the school's Athletic Director for eight years as well.

SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR

Warren Lewis

Warren Lewis was born in Irvington, New Jersey and moved to Hopewell when he was four years old. He went to elementary school in Hopewell and graduated from Princeton High School. Warren began his involvement in youth sports in the Hopewell Valley area when he became an assistant soccer coach for his son's team in Hopewell Valley's first recreational soccer league. He also served for eight years as the manager of a Little League team. Warren was instrumental in building Chamberlain Field. At the time, Gilbert Field (now known as Quarry Field) was in existence and the league was in desperate need of a new ball field. Warren went door to door to collect funds to raise money for the construction of Chamberlain Field.

Warren has also been involved in the Hopewell American Legion for over 50 years. He has served in many capacities for this organization such as Bingo Chairman, Membership Chairman and Administrative Officer. He began his involvement with the Legion's baseball team in 1968, served as Commissioner of the Mercer County American Legion Baseball League for 16 years. As a member of the Legion, Warren headed up many fundraisers with money being raised to directly serve the youth of Hopewell Valley.

Along with his involvement in the above activities, Warren has also served his community by being a member of the Hopewell Valley Regional School Board, Co-Chair of the Facilities Referendum Committee for Timberlane Middle School and as a member of the Back Timberlane Referendum Committee, just to name a few.

With all of Warren's involvement in sports, coaching and serving his community, he always still found time to be perhaps the biggest supporter of the athletic program at Hopewell Valley CHS. He could be seen during any given season, on any given day, cheering on any team that happened to have a game that day. 

TEAM

1989 Boys Soccer

The 1989 squad had an overall record of 15-2-1 and was the first Bulldog soccer team to win a State Championship. They had a very exciting run to win the NJSIAA State Group II Championship defeating Millburn High School 3-2 at the College of New Jersey. This team was described as cohesive; they didn't have one dominant player; everyone played their role exceptionally well. This was a team with no superior strength but no weaknesses. They were a big game team; they won three consecutive Conference Championships and had five players that were named All-CVC, All-Area or All-State; Dave Maly, Mark Gola, Dave Tuch, Patrick Cane and M. Szalzck. Other members included Vince Casano, Rich Reading, Todd Glasson, Tom Reger, Bill Hutnik, Matt Nalbone, Hunter Grossman, Erik Morland, Matt Gibble, Brian Kroll, Jordan Melik, Mike Clayton, Kevin Kraemer, Anthonly Filadore and Rob Landolino.