AGAWAM — The 2025 inductees into the Agawam High School Athletic Hall of Fame have been announced by the Hall of Fame’s committee.
This year’s field includes players from a range of eras that span as far as back as 1938 and as recent as 2013.
According to the committee, this year’s inductees are lacrosse and All-American soccer player Riley Hellstein from class of 2013; 1959 graduate Anthony Klenakis for his efforts in football, hockey and baseball; 1995 graduate Kristen Schmaelzle Lavelle for her legacy in soccer, basketball and softball; and 1966 graduate Bill Polopek for his efforts in football, basketball and baseball.
The field also features class of 1938 baseball, football and hockey athlete and coach Francis Rosso; as well as Rielly Wieners, a multi-award-winning softball catcher who graduated in 2013.
According to the committee, the 2003 Western Mass. champion baseball team will also be inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
“Agawam has a sports history that goes back to the 1930s,” said committee member Joanne Brown. “Recognizing the accomplishments of those who impacted the strong legacy of its sports programs brings great memories that help keep Agawam’s long sports history alive and serves to inspire current and future young athletes to do their best to continue to bring pride to themselves and to the town.”
According to Brown, the hall of fame was created in 2016 by longtime AHS teachers and residents to recognize outstanding athletes, coaches and contributors at the high school level.
In order to be inducted, athletes must have graduated from AHS at least 10 years prior to consideration, exemplified the highest level of achievement by leading his/her team to a championship and received extraordinary individual honors such as All Western Mass or All State.
Coaches, meanwhile, are eligible one year after they retire from coaching at AHS and must have coached at least three years at the high school. According to Brown, the coach must also have “made outstanding contributions to the sports program by leading his/her team to regional or state recognition or by introducing and building a particular sport program.”
Teams are eligible after at least 10 years and must have earned noteworthy achievements such as a sectional or state championship.
“The committee accepts nominations from any member of the public and then reviews the nominee’s statistics before voting on entry into the Hall of Fame on any given year,” Brown said.
To celebrate the inductees, the committee is hosting a luncheon and induction ceremony on Oct. 18 at AHS at noon. Following the luncheon, Brown said each inductee will be introduced, and a short biography of their achievements will be read. Each is given an individual plaque, and their names are inscribed on a large plaque that exhibits the names of inductees from all previous years and is displayed in a showcase at the school.
Brown said that program booklets featuring biographies of each inductee, and letters of congratulations from local and state officials will be administered during the event.
Tickets are $30 each and can be purchased by sending a check with the number of tickets wanted to Rosemary Stratton, 120 Pineview Cir., Agawam, MA 01001, calling 413-786-7692 or by contacting the AHS Athletic Department.
