Sernoffsky talks about Tom Miller

If you might remember, a month or so ago I did a special insert in our print edition commemorating the 2008 inductees of the EASD Athletic Wall of Honor. One of those inductees was Tommy Miller, E-town's only state wrestling champion. I interviewed E-town wrestling coach Mike Sernoffsky about Miller, but unfortunately, we didn't catch up until after deadline and I couldn't get Mike's quotes into the story in time. But he had some very nice things to say about Tommy, and I wanted to pass them along. Here's what Sernoffsky had to say about his state champ:

Tom Miller is definitely a special person. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to coach him as an outstanding high school athlete.

Tom qualified for districts in three sports his senior year – football, wrestling and track. He also ran cross country one year. Tom was also a top student. Tom did all the extras, running on his own, putting in extra practice, staying late for more repetitions.

It was great to coach someone who believed in his coaches and himself. He never put himself above the team. I started at E-town Tom's freshman year. It was easy to recognize he was a special kind of kid. I never saw Tom lose twice to the same wrestler in high school. His sophomore year was the only time he did not win the sectional tournament (he finished second). The following week at districts, he pinned the lad who had beaten him. His last two years in high school, he was 61-1, losing only in the state finals as a junior.

I was very fortunate to have a wrestler in the state finals three times in my first four years at E-town. (Dennis Rosenberry in 1984, Tom Miller in 1986 and 1987.) Tom's senior year at the state meet, a reporter asked me if something was wrong with Tom after his first match because he "only" majored his first round opponent in the state meet (his opponent's record was 35-2). After Tom's semifinal victory in overtime (I think he was watching the other semi match most of the time he was wrestling), we went to eat and I knew no one would touch him in the finals because he was so relaxed.

He told me, 'well at least no I can't do any worse than last year.' He never showed it, but he put a lot of pressure on himself to excel. My only concern during dinner before the finals was that he might receive a forfeit in the finals and be robbed of the opportunity to wrestle for the medal. His finals opponent won in the semis by injury default via a slam. He did wrestle and Tom pinned him in the second period.

Tom is definitely a special person. My wife still refers to him as our 'first' son.

Wall of Honor induction tonight

Elizabethtown will hold its second Athletic Wall of Honor inductions tonight. A reception with light refreshments will be held from 6:30 to 7 p.m. in Daubert Gymnasium at Elizabethtown Area High School, with the induction ceremony slated to being at 7 p.m. in the gym. The induction is open to the public free of charge, so go out and check it out tonight.

As a reminder, here is the second class to be inducted:

Gene Garber, baseball. Garber was a standout pitcher for E-town and went on to play for a very long time in Major League Baseball.

David Whitmore, soccer. Whitmore was an all-state and All-American selection back in 1980.

Charlie Jackson, wrestling. Jackson is considered the father of the E-town wrestling program and was its first coach.

Tommy Miller, wrestling. Miller remains the only individual state champion in program history.

Jennifer (Williams) Mitchell, track, field hockey and basketball. Williams was a three-sport star for the Bears.

Richard D. Miller, athletic director. Miller was one of the first athletic directors for the district and also was a coach on Phil Daubert's staff.

The 1975 field hockey team. The very first PIAA state champions in Pennsylvania history.

The 1993 baseball team. This team also won a state title.

The inductees will also be honored tomorrow night at halftime of the E-town football game. The Chronicle will be printing a special insert highlighting all of the inductees individually on Thursday, Oct. 23, so be on the lookout for that as well.

The 2008 EASD Athletic Wall of Honor inductees

It's time for E-town to hold its second induction into district's Athletic Wall of Honor, and this year's class is filled with big names from E-town's past. Here are your inductees. When I get more information on their accomplishments, I'll pass that along. But for now, here are the names, which were just released to the public.

Gene Garber, baseball. Garber was a standout pitcher for E-town and went on to play for a very long time in Major League Baseball.

David Whitmore, soccer. Whitmore was an all-state and All-American selection back in 1980.

Charlie Jackson, wrestling. Jackson is considered the father of the E-town wrestling program and was its first coach.

Tommy Miller, wrestling. Miller remains the only individual state champion in program history.

Jennifer (Williams) Mitchell, track, field hockey and basketball. Williams was a three-sport star for the Bears.

Richard D. Miller, athletic director. Miller was one of the first athletic directors for the district and also was a coach on Phil Daubert's staff.

The 1975 field hockey team. The very first PIAA state champions in Pennsylvania history.

The 1993 baseball team. This team also won a state title.

The school district is still working on getting in touch with members of both the '75 field hockey team and the '93 baseball team. If anyone out there knows of any of these player and how the district can get in touch with them, please call high school athletic office and speak to either Linda O'Connor, athletic secretary, or Shane Piper, athletic director. The number is (717) 367-1533, ext. 7.

The induction ceremony will take place on Thursday, Sept. 11 at the high school auditorium, 600 E. High St., E-town. At 6:30 p.m. there will be reception with light refreshments and the induction ceremony will begin at 7 p.m.

The inductees will also be honored at halftime of the Bears' football game on Friday, Sept. 12. The game begins at 7 p.m.

E-town Athletic Hall of Fame

Hello out there in cyberspace. I wanted to try something a little different today, and that is to stir up a conversation with you, my awesome readers. I know the comments section of the blog hasn't really caught fire too much (except during basketball season when a few people chimed in to let me know how much of an idiot I am...good times), but I figured this topic might elicit a few responses from you.

As you all probably know, EASD started an Athletic Wall of Honor last year, inducting its inaugural class at halftime of an EAHS football game in October. The members of that inaugural class were: Randy Lokey, Eric Clair, Jane Hoover, the 1957 football team, Dr. Troy Thompson and Phil Daubert. All of these people were very deserving of the honor, but let's look at who you think should get in in the future. Remember, inductees can be players, coaches, teams, or supporters of the athletic department.

Now, I've only been here for four years, so I'm not exactly an encyclopedia of E-town sports history, but here are a few names I can come up with off of the top of my head that deserve consideration.

Andy Breault: outstanding quarterback, still holds most of the passing records at Kutztown University.

Tom Miller: the only state champion in E-town wrestling history.

The 1975 Field Hockey team: won states, still the only championship in program history.

Bill Frantz: One of the most successful football coaches in E-town history. From 1958 to 1968, Frantz had a 68-39-3 record, including a 9-1 mark in '65.

Jack Cassebaum: Most of us already know Jack. A tremendous coach (52-32-5) record and remains one of the biggest supporters of E-town athletics around.

Charlie Jackson: considered the "founding father" of Elizabethtown wrestling.

OK, that's enough from me. I want to hear what you guys think. So, who should be in the Wall of Honor?