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1940 - 1949
WHS Hall of Fame Members
Bob Sawyer
Class: 1936-1940
Sports Played:
Football 4 Years
Basketball 4 Years
Baseball 4 Years
Track 4 Years
Military Service: U.S. Navy- Held the high jump record in track at Wellsville for 37 years.
- A true leader of men as he was selected team captain of the 1940 track team and baseball teams.
- First Team All Livingston County All-Star in football his Junior and senior year.
- Excelled in four sports of football, basketball, baseball, and track his junior and senior year.
- After high school he was an outstanding basketball player for the old Air PreHeater Team that dominated the Wellsville Community League.
Ted Thoren
Class: 1937-1940
Sports Played:
Football 4 Years
Baseball 4 Years
Basketball 3 Years
Track 3 Years
College: Ithaca University- Won 14 varsity letters in his high school career
- Inducted as a member of Cornell University's Athletic Hall of Fame
- Inducted as a member of the Austrian and Croation National Baseball Hall of Fame
- Inducted as a member of the Ithaca College Hall of Fame
- Inducted as a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame
Steve Cretekos
Class: 1938-1943
Sports Played:
Football 4 Years
Basketball 4 Years
Track 2 Years
Baseball 3 Years
Military Service: Air Force- Star athlete in four sports his junior year and senior year in high school
- Known for his toughness in football, basketball, and as a catcher in baseball
- Made the All Section V Class “A” Basketball All Star Team in 1941
- First Team All County in football and co-captain in 1941
John Rigas
Class of 1939-1943
Sports Played:
Track 4 Years
Football 1 Year
Baseball 3 Years
Basketball 2 Years
College: R.P.I.- Only Wellsville athlete to ever own a professional sports team - The Buffalo Sabres Hockey Team.
- All round athlete, earning his 20 point letter in his high school career.
- Known for his enthusiasm and dedication to the sports he played on. Captain for three teams his senior year in high school.
- Presented the first ever lifetime achievement award from Renesselear Polytechnic Institute for his contributions to the hockey world.
Earl Robbins
Class: 1940-1943
Sports Played:
Football 4 Years
Baseball 3 Years
Track 3 Years
Basketball 2 Years
College: Alfred University- Star athlete in four sports during his high school career 1942
- All Conference selection and captain of his team
- Leading scorer in football, batted over 400 in baseball, and won consistently in the 100 & 220 yard dash in track
- Went on to be a starting running back at Alfred University
Jim Fulmer
Class: 1941-1944Sports Played:
Football 3 Years
Basketball 3 Years
Baseball 3 YearsCollege: Dickenson College
- Started on the varsity for three years in three different sports
- One of the original organizers of the Wellsville Small Court Basketball Program where he served for over 40 years
- Umpired Wellsville Little League for over 40 years
- Worked with the Wellsville Midget Football Program for over 15 years
Max Grossman
Class: 1941-1945
Sports Played:
Baseball 4 Years
Track 4 Years
Basketball 1 Year
College: RBI and Bryant & Stratton- In high School he was awarded the very prestigious 20 Point Letter Award as well as The Man of the Year Award in 1945.
- He played shortstop on his high school baseball teams where he was chosen to play in the County All Star Game, and he was recognized as a brilliant glove man.
- After graduation he went on to have a wonderful career in softball. In 2000 he was selected as the best all around player in Irondequoit Senior Softball League.
- In 2005 he was inducted into the Rochester Jewish Athletes Hall of Fame. In 2006 he was inducted into the Rochester Senior Slow Pitch Hall of Fame.
- A leader of men he served as commissioner of the Irondequoit Softball League for 1992-1997.
Howard Underwood
Class: 1941-1945
Sports Played:
Basketball 4 Years
Football 4 Years
Track 4 Years
Baseball 3 Years
Military: US Army- He was recognized as a three sport star in the sports of football, basketball, and track.
- In 1945 he led his varsity basketball team in scoring with a total of 151 points in 17 games.
- In football he will always be remembered as one of the best running backs to play at WHS during this era.
- In the sport of track he seldom was beat in the events of broad jump and high jump winning three consecutive county championships in both events.
John Giopulos
Class: 1942-1946Sports Played:
Baseball 4 Years
Track 4 Years
Basketball 3 Years
College: University of Buffalo- Earned his 20 point letter in his sophomore year
- Set the high school record in track for the 100 yard dash, his senior year 10.2 seconds. This record stood for 31 years before broken by his son Dean.
- Selected as the MVP in the sectional quarterfinals in basketball his senior year
- High school varsity baseball - started 4 years; varsity track - started 4 years; varsity basketball - started 3 years
Chuck Reuning
Class of 1946
Sports Played:
Football 3 Years
Basketball 3 Years
Baseball 4 Years
Track 3 Years
College: Alfred University- He split time between quarterback and running back for the undefeated football teams of 1943 and 1945.
- In 1946, he was selected as the Man of the Year, representing the top athlete in the school.
- Upon graduation he received the very prestigious 20 point letter, which only a few achieved during their careers.
- A leader of men, he was chosen as team captain in three sports his senior year. Reuning went on to attend Alfred University.
Dennis Wood
Class: 1943-1947
Sports Played:
Football 3 Years
Basketball 3 Years
Baseball 3 Years
Track 3 Years
Served in the Military- Recognized by many that had the pleasure to see him play as the best athlete of his era.
- Was a starter on 4 sports teams for 3 years (football, basketball, baseball, and track).
- In 1947 he was chosen by the School Faculty Council to be inducted into the Sportsmanship Brotherhood Club. A tremendous honor for an athlete at that time.
- Was chosen for several Allegany County all star teams in the sports he played, and was a member of 880 yard relay team that broke the county record in 1946. This record had stood since 1934.
- In the military he was the star running back on his football team while stationed in Japan. This team featured several pro players.
- A great athlete that was admired by those that had the pleasure to call him a teammate.
Paul Gavit
Class: 1945-1949
Sports Played:
Football 4 Years
Baseball 4 Years
Basketball 3 Years
Wrestling 1 Year
Colleges: Alfred, Cornell, St. Bonaventure & SUNY Oswego- He was an outstanding athlete in high school playing four different sports and excelling in them all.
- He won a Section V championship in wrestling at the 175 pound weight class.
- He was so good in baseball that he had several looks from such teams as Detroit, St. Louis, and Washington.
- In football he played 2 years at Alfred University for legendary Alex Yunevich and 3 years at Cornell for famous coach Lefty James.
- In town team baseball he once had 16 strike outs in a nine inning game.
- He coached football at LeRoy and Portville.
Bob McEnroe
Class: 1945-1949
Sports Played:
Football 4 Years
Basketball 4 Years
Baseball 3 Years
Track 3 YearsCollege: Alfred University
- Recognized by many as one of the finest male athletes ever to graduate from Wellsville High School
- In 1949 he was the last athlete to letter in four varsity sports
- Won several county and Spring Day Meets in track, and made Sectionals in both the pole vault and high jump
- Started at halfback for the undefeated 1956 Alfred University football team, honored as the #1 Small College Team in the nation