2019 Skipper Hall of Fame Inductees
Penny Cauzillo
Penny Kroll excelled in basketball and softball during her prep career at Anchor Bay High School.
The 1986 graduate was in no hurry to give up either sport at the collegiate level.
“Coming out of high school, I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do education-wise, but I knew I still wanted to play basketball and softball,” Kroll said. “I felt that SC4 was a great opportunity for me to continue to play sports and explore my educational options.
“I lived in an apartment with two other Anchor Bay grads who also played basketball and softball. Our team was like a family. Everyone would come over to the apartment after class and study together before practice. We all got along so great and had so much fun together.”
Kroll went on to enjoy a successful career on the court and softball diamond — she was an All-Conference selection in both sports.
The talented guard earned NJCAA Second Team All-American honors during the 1987-88 season.
Kroll said the women’s game on both the high school and collegiate level underwent a major change. The smaller basketball was put into the game. She said her shooting and ball-handling improved right away her freshman year at the college.
“My first year was a rebuilding year at SC4 as they did not have a women’s program for a few years prior, so we struggled a bit but still had fun,” Kroll said. “I still laugh when thinking about playing in that old gym that had a stage with workout equipment on it.
“I never imagined that I would be so successful and receive all the honors that I did in both sports. It was a great time in my life and gave me the opportunity to play (NCAA) Division I basketball at the University of Detroit.”
Andrea Charbonneau
Andrea Gass said she was part of something special during her days as an SC4 student-athlete.
The 2000 Imlay City High School graduate had a major impact on the SC4 volleyball program, which went 137-9 with an NJCAA Division II national title and a third-place finish in back-to-back seasons. She earned First Team All-American honors in 2001.
Gass, a four-year letter winner in volleyball and basketball at Imlay City, grew up in the SC4 gym, playing in coach Terry Gamble’s Blue Water Volleyball Club since she was 14.
“I was interested in staying close to home,” Gass said. “I have three younger sisters and wanted to support them in their athletics and academics, while also wanting to play both sports in college. Terry presented me with a great opportunity to do that.
“When I committed to SC4 for both volleyball and basketball, I was excited to play with some of my best competition from the area. Ladies from surrounding high schools who were my biggest competition were now going to be my teammates.
“The 2000 team chemistry was something special that I value even today. It was hard for my basketball season to compare to such a successful volleyball season. And, at the end of my first year, I decided to concentrate on volleyball. I forwent a second year on the basketball team to focus on my studies and the possibility of a collegiate volleyball experience beyond SC4.”
Gass played middle hitter and outside hitter her sophomore year on a team that was inexperienced with only two returning players from the previous championship season.
“I truly enjoyed the closeness of me and my teammates,” Gass said. “Many of them also chose to play here for the proximity to hometowns and family. I am grateful for the opportunity I had to grow as a teammate and as an individual during my time as a Skipper and part of the Skipper family. SC4 life!”
Gass, who had dozens of offers to play at four-year universities, elected to have rotator cuff surgery. She now lives with her husband, Aaron, and their two daughters in Bristow, Virginia.
Brian Hadley
Brian Hadley was a contender in the McDonald’s Amateur Golf Tournament for years growing up in Sarnia.
The event, which consisted of players from the Blue Water Area and Ontario, was a good recruiting venue for the SC4 golf program. Coach Dale Vos knew of Hadley’s success in the event and talked him into playing collegiately.
“Playing golf at SC4 was a great experience,” Hadley said. “The coaching staff was awesome and made it very enjoyable. I got to meet a lot of people from around the state at events and play on some great golf courses.
“When it comes to attending class at SC4, the faculty made learning easy and kept it entertaining. It was an all-around great atmosphere.”
The Sarnia native qualified for back-to-back trips to the NJCAA Nationals in 2002 and 2003. He finished fifth at the national tournament during his sophomore season at Palm Valley Golf Club in Goodyear, Arizona.
Hadley, who shot 2 under par for the event with rounds of 75, 66, 75 and 70, earned NJCAA First Team All-American honors in 2003.
Hadley has played in tournaments throughout Canada since the late 1990s. He was the PGA of Ontario champion in 2012, 2013 and 2016. He also was the PGA of Ontario Summer Challenge Club Pro champion in 2015.
Following teaching stints at Huron Oaks Golf Club and Highland Country Club, Hadley has been the PGA of Canada Associate Professional since 2011 at Thames Valley Golf Club in London, Ontario.
Al Hairston
Veteran coach Robert “Sam” Kromer, who turned out many outstanding teams and individuals during his career, called Al Hairston “one of the best to ever put on a Skipper uniform.”
Hairston, who played the 1964-65 and 1965-66 seasons, started a great winning tradition at Port Huron Junior College, leading the Skippers to a 21-1 season and a Michigan Community College Athletic Conference Championship. Hairston, who also played baseball at SC4, was an all-conference selection both years and scored a record 1,147 points during his career. He averaged 29.8 points per game during his sophomore year, which was the fifth-best in the nation.
“Two of my most outstanding memories were how supportive and welcoming the City of Port Huron and Port Huron Junior College faculty and staff were to me,” Hairston said. “First time away from home in a new and somewhat strange environment (East Detroit to Port Huron) was somewhat stressful at times.
“Secondly, participating in one of the most challenging and competitive community college basketball programs in the country. PHJC gave me an opportunity to develop and test my skills, hoping that the opportunity would prepare me to be successful at the next level.”
Hairston moved on to Bowling Green State University, leading the Falcons to the Mid-American Conference title. He led the team in assists and played outstanding defense.
The 6-foot-1 guard was selected by the Seattle SuperSonics in the fifth round of the 1968 NBA draft and by the Kentucky Colonels in the 1968 ABA draft. Hairston appeared in two seasons for the Sonics.
Hairston remained in the Seattle area following his professional career. He is widely regarded as one of the best prep hoops coaches in Washington state history, Hairston achieved great success as head coach at Garfield High School in Seattle, including guiding the program to five state titles from 1980 through 1991 and two more state runner-up appearances during the same period.
Hairston, a member of the Port Huron Sports Hall of Fame, also served as head coach of the Seattle University men’s basketball team and was an assistant with the University of Washington.
James Harris
From the first time he stepped onto the basketball court, James “Bubbles” Harris had a knack for scoring.
Harris was a scoring machine during his two seasons – 1967-68 and 1968-69 — for the Skippers. He finished his career with 1,311 points. His 995 points in one season and 48 points in a game were among the many SC4 records he established.
The 6-foot, 175-pound guard made his way to SC4 from Lorain, Ohio. He graduated from Admiral King High School, where he was voted the Ohio High School Player of the Year and considered one of the top 40 players in the country.
While playing for coach Robert “Sam” Kromer, the Skippers post a 54-6 record with two conference championships. He also was selected All-Conference, All-Region XII and NJCAA First Team All-American.
Harris went on to Indiana University, where he received the Governor’s Award as the Most Valuable Player his junior year. He led the team in scoring with 434 points (18.1 points per game average).
As a senior, Harris was selected as a team captain and earned a spot on the Big Ten all-star team, paired with George McGinnis, who went on to play professional basketball.
The Cleveland Cavaliers drafted Harris in the 1971 draft. He passed the rookie camp but was released before the start of the regular season.
Jackie Jeffery
It didn’t take Jacqueline “Jackie” Jeffery long to have an impact on the SC4 women’s basketball program.
The Detroit native and Richmond resident was the coach of the first women’s team at SC4 in the fall of 1975. And Jeffery and the Skippers enjoyed quite a run for eight years.
SC4 captured five Michigan Junior College Athletic Association Eastern Conference titles and co-championship, a regional crown and an appearance in the NJCAA National Tournament under Jeffery.
In their second season of competition, the Skippers claimed the league, state and regional titles. They earned a trip to the 1977 nationals, where they placed eighth.
Jeffery was selected the MJCAA and NJCAA Regional Coach of the Year during the 1976-77 season.
The string of four consecutive league championships ended during the 1980-81 season, when the team suffered numerous injuries. The Skippers bounced back with another title in the 1981-82 season before the college dropped its sports programs for three years.
Jeffery compiled a 164-84 record in eight seasons. Many of the Skippers’ non-conference losses during that stretch were to four-year programs like the University of Michigan, Central Michigan University and the University of Detroit.
SC4 had two All-Americans, Nancy DeNardin and Penny Kroll, during Jeffery’s coaching stint, along with one All-National Tournament Team member, Laurie Nolan.
Matt Joseph
It’s always been about family, mentors and role models for Matt Joseph during his playing and coaching days.
One of the first experiences for Joseph as far as family and coaching mentors was in 1982 with the SC4 baseball team. He played for veteran coach and major league scout Dick Groch.
“I came to SC4 from Eastern Michigan University and immediately fell in love with the school,” Joseph said. “The biggest thing that always stood out to me was the great tradition of the baseball program. It became very apparent to me early on how successful the program was and the tradition it had built.
“I remember moving in with other baseball players and we developed an immediate bond. Some of my greatest memories are of the time spent with those guys … both on and off the baseball diamond.
“Going to classes at SC4 was a lot different than at Eastern, as the professors all got to know you on a personal level. They knew if you played a sport and seemed to take an interest in all of their students.”
Joseph’s play on the diamond did not go unnoticed, as he earned NJCAA First Team All-American honors.
Following his playing career, Joseph, who lives in Sterling Heights with his wife, Darlene, got involved in coaching. He has coached varsity girls basketball at Utica Ford since 2004 and varsity softball since 2011. He is also a counselor at the high school.
Joseph’s daughters, Emily and Teresa, both worked on his staff for a time after graduating from college. His son, Ryan, currently serves as one of Joseph’s assistants with Ford girls basketball. Joseph also coached each of his children at some point.
This past September, Joseph was inducted into the Michigan High School Athletic Association Coaches Hall of Fame.
Alicia Kollmorgen
Whether it was pulling down a rebound, diving on the floor for a loose ball or hitting a big shot, Alicia Kollmorgen found a way to win basketball games throughout her career.
And the St. Clair High School grad was a winner on and off the court.
The 6-foot-1 center was part of a memorable 1994-95 season for the SC4 women’s basketball team with 29 wins, conference and regional titles and a trip to the NJCAA Division II tournament.
But the Skippers’ bid for a national title came up short following a 94-89 triple-overtime loss to Kankakee Community College (Ill.) in Hagerstown, Maryland. SC4 finished with a 29-4 record. The 29 wins were a school record before the SC4 women’s squad surpassed the mark during the 2012-13 season.
“In the fall of 1993 to 1995, I received a scholarship to St. Clair County Community College,” Kollmorgen said. “It was an amazing adventure. For a young student-athlete who only wanted to major in basketball, the general associate degree helped me reach my educational goals. I remember teachers who helped me along the way: Mr. Snyder, Mr. Tansky and Mrs. Lambert. The teachers and staff inspired me to believe in myself and become an educator.
“Staying close to home while attending college benefitted me because all the hometown support I received in high school followed me to college. It was wonderful to have fans at every game who were so dedicated to watching your team succeed.
“SC4 was a phenomenal place to start my educational path. I recommend that all students start their education with SC4.”
Kollmorgen, whose sisters, Gwen and Georgette, also played at SC4, continued her education and basketball career at the University at Buffalo. She also was invited to a WNBA training camp.
Kollmorgen teaches and coaches volleyball at General John Stricker Middle School in Baltimore, Maryland.
Allison Mattox
There have been many talented volleyball players who have worn the Skipper uniform over
the years, but few accomplished what Allison Mattox did in her career.
How about being a two-time All-American, winning regional and national player of the year honors and leading her squad to a national championship?
“My experience playing volleyball and studying at SC4 was truly amazing,” Mattox said. “The relationships that were formed with teammates and the coaches are ones that will last a lifetime.
“For me, staying close to home those two years and working with some of the best coaches and players in the nation are what has shaped me into the person I am today.
“Thanks to all the coaches – Terry (Gamble), Ray (Cornwell), Becky (Romberg) — for giving me the push I needed sometimes to be better than I thought I could ever be as a player and a person.”
Mattox, a Marysville High School graduate, earned NJCAA First Team All-American honors in 2003 and 2004. The 2004 team won the national title and has been inducted into the SC4 and Port Huron Sports Hall of Fames.
The dominating hitter continued her playing career at Middle Tennessee State University.
Mattox currently lives in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Steve McCalmon
Whether it was his days as a student-athlete, a coach or a recreation player, Steve McCalmon felt right at home on the tennis court.
And his playing career and academic goals were put in motion when he enrolled in SC4 in the early 1970s.
“As a former SC4 student-athlete, I have much to be grateful for,” McCalmon said. “SC4 afforded me the opportunity to further develop the academic and athletic skills required to be successful in both disciplines at Eastern Michigan University.
“The academic and student support services at SC4 were exceptional. My professors were outstanding in their abilities to convey subject matter, tempered with compassion and awareness of the guidance needs of their students. Coaches Ruth Foley and Frank Sharp both deserve medals for their efforts in successfully coaching and managing a team of diverse young men in search of themselves and their respective futures.
“Thank you to the coaches, staff and administration of SC4, for the pivotal role you all played in assisting myself and so many others with our young personal development.”
The 1973 Port Huron Northern High School graduate played No. 1 singles and doubles for the Skippers during the 1974 and 1975 seasons.
Following his career at the college, McCalmon transferred to Eastern Michigan and played tennis for two more seasons. He held down the No. 3 singles position, along with No. 1 doubles.
McCalmon, who retired from the Port Huron Area School District in 2011, coached high school boys’ tennis at Port Huron Northern for a number of years and was an instructor at the Port Huron Tennis House for many years. He was a fixture in both singles and doubles at the annual Francis J. Robinson Memorial International Tennis Tournament, winning numerous titles throughout his career. McCalmon and his wife, Julie, live in Fort Gratiot.
Jim Paajanen
Tennis has been a way of life for Jim Paajanen since his days growing up in St. Clair.
The 1968 St. Clair High School graduate took his tennis skills to the collegiate level for the 1968-69 and 1969-70 seasons at SC4.
“Since attending SC4, I have forgotten the names of instructors, but I remember learning about Michigan history, the nervousness of going to speech class, and biology, which prepared me for classes in my major field of study,” said Paajanen, who also played basketball for SC4 coach Robert “Sam” Kromer. “What comes to my mind about athletics are basketball road trips loaded into a three-seat station wagon, a spring tennis trip to Arizona by car, and friendships that still exist with teammates and coaches.
“As I look back at my two years at SC4, I realize how much school and athletics influenced and prepared me for my career in teaching and coaching. SC4 did in fact serve me very well.”
Paajanen, who started at No. 1 singles and doubles for two years, continued his education and tennis career at Grand Canyon University, where he earned a bachelor’s in physical education. He earned a master’s degree from Nova Southeastern University, also in physical education.
Tennis remains a big part of Paajanen’s life as he begins his 13th year coaching men’s tennis at Paradise Valley Community College in Phoenix, Arizona. His son, Aaron, is the men’s tennis coach at the University of Detroit Mercy.
Paajanen returned to the Blue Water Area for many summers to play in the annual Francis J. Robinson Memorial International Tennis Tournament.
Dennis Queen
Whenever Dennis Queen took the mound, the SC4 baseball team had a good chance to come away with a victory.
The 5-foot-11, 170-pound left-hander from Elyria, Ohio, pitched two no-hitters during his sophomore season, including a 20-strikeout gem in the regional tournament.
“It is said that going to college can open many doors, and for me that is true,” Queen said. “Attending SC4 gave me the opportunity to meet exceptional coaches, faculty members and make lifelong friends.
“A special thank you to Dick Groch for his outstanding baseball coaching skills that led us to the Junior College World Series.”
Queen helped the Skippers qualify for the National Junior College Athletic Association World Series for the first time in school history. The team (28-9) finished fifth in the event.
As a sophomore, Queen compiled a 10-1 record with an 0.58 ERA. He allowed seven earned runs with 158 strikeouts in 85 innings pitched. His accomplishments earned him NJCAA First Team All-American honors in 1970.
Queen, who posted a 4-3 record and 1.03 ERA as a freshman, was drafted in January of his sophomore year by the Cleveland Indians.
In preparation for his sophomore season at SC4, Queen pitched in a summer league in Cleveland. He struck out 133 batters in 80 innings, which was a Cleveland record at the time.
Queen now lives in Naples, Florida, with his wife, Valorie, a former Skipper and Deckerville graduate.
Taylor Rutledge
Taylor (Twite) Rutledge enjoyed a brief but very memorable volleyball career at SC4.
The 2001 Lapeer East High School graduate played a major role in the Skippers’ success during the 2001 season. Her play at the net attracted the attention of many NCAA Division I coaches. Bowling Green State University scooped up the talented hitter, who competed the next three seasons in the Mid-American Conference.
“Starting out my college career at SC4 was an amazing experience,” Twite said. “Being part of sports made the transition to college very simple. Our first experience as a team was a strength training and conditioning camp at Houghton Lake during the summer before classes started.
“We worked out from morning until night, and it took all of us coming together to cheer each other to make it through this exhausting camp. This created an instant bond that brought us close together. The team became a family.
“A winning season also helped to make it a great year. By the time classes started, I had already spent some time on campus and college life felt natural. I liked the feel of the small campus with small class sizes and exceptional professors.”
At SC4, Twite earned First Team NJCAA All-American honors during the 2001 season and helped the Skippers finish third at the national tournament.
Twite sparked the Skippers, who posted a 64-7 record along with MCCAA Eastern Conference, state and regional titles. SC4 was ranked No. 1 in the national poll throughout most of the season.
Twite returned to her hometown and now teaches at Lapeer High School.
Ashley Valle
Ashley Valle placed a bit of fear into opposing pitchers every time she stepped to the plate.
The 6-foot-1 right-handed power hitter was a tough out for two seasons with the SC4 women’s softball program.
Coach Ron Matthews said Valle led the Skippers in home runs both her freshman and sophomore seasons.
Valle, a 2010 Algonac High School graduate, also excelled in basketball during her high school career.
On the softball diamond, the first baseman earned All-MCCAA Eastern Conference honors and was an NJCAA Third Team All-American in 2011.
“I really enjoyed playing at SC4 because it was my first time playing with a group of girls where most of us were strangers to one another,” Valle said. “It was a cool process watching us all get closer and really playing as a team.
“Classes at SC4 had a high school feeling to them because they were smaller classes. You weren’t just a seat in an auditorium. The teachers were very helpful.”
After a couple of years away from the game, Valle finished up her education and softball career in 2015 and 2016 at Cleary University.
1970 Baseball Team
Coach Richard “Dick” Groch entered the 1970 baseball season optimistic about the Skippers based on two important areas of the game: pitching and defense.
Groch was right, as the Skippers posted a 28-9 record with divisional, state and district championships. SC4 qualified for the NJCAA National Tournament in Grand Junction, Colorado, for the first time in school history. The Skippers finished fifth at the tournament.
The Skippers relied on the 1-2 pitching punch of sophomores Dennis Queen, who was drafted by the Cleveland Indians, and Brian Lieckfelt.
Queen compiled a 10-1 record with an 0.58 ERA. He allowed seven earned runs with 158 strikeouts in 85 innings pitched. His accomplishments earned him NJCAA First Team All-American honors. Lieckfelt, an All-Division and All-District selection, went on to play at Michigan State University.
Defensively, the experienced infield was solid behind sophomores Bruce Mierkowicz (first base), Dennis Primeau (shortstop), Butch Kapp (third) and Joe Rembisz (second).
Primeau, who went on to play for the Oakland Athletics, was the team’s leading hitter with a .415 average. Mierkowicz (Western Michigan University) and Kapp were second and third in batting average at .352 and .333, respectively.
Tom Kuzava, the son of former major league pitcher Bob Kuzava, and freshman Rick Horstman handled a majority of the time behind the plate.
Freshmen Bruce Vida, Mike Roberts and Dale Bullocks provided pitching depth. Others who contributed to the Skippers’ success were freshmen Jack Plas, Larry Swick, Tom Wilkins — a Port Huron High School grad (.309 batting average), Chuck Sanzone and Andy Switanek.
2001 Women’s Volleyball Team
The Skippers dominated opponents through the first three months of the 2001 season.
Coach Terry Gamble’s squad captured numerous invitational titles. The Skippers won the MCCAA Eastern Conference title, along with the state and regional championships. With the regional crown, SC4 qualified for the NJCAA Division II National Tournament.
The Skippers, who compiled a 64-7 record, were two wins away from a national title. They lost a five-set heartbreaker in the semifinals but bounced back to win the consolation match for a third-place finish.
“First, on behalf of the players and my assistants, I want to thank the SC4 HOF selection committee for this wonderful honor,” Gamble said. “The only goal this team did not achieve that season was winning the national championship.
“This is a group of wonderful young ladies who were ranked No. 1 in the country for most of the season. When we lost in the semis it went five sets and the ref made some calls against Amber (Mareski) that were not called all season. So I kind of felt like the New Orleans Saints do right now.
“But with the character this team had, they bounced back and won the consolation match. I’m proud and honored to have coached this team.”
Taylor Twite and Andrea Gass were selected as NJCAA First Team All-Americans.
2012-13 Women’s Basketball Team
The Skippers’ full-court tenacious defense and solid team depth wore down opponents for 40 minutes a night.
Coach Michael Groulx’s squad steamrolled their way through the regular-season schedule, winning 30 of 31 contests. The Skippers captured the MCCAA Eastern Conference title, along with winning state and regional championships.
SC4 featured an abundance of talented guards, including Sheyna Deans, Lariah Stevens, Destiny Spinner, Cianna Peterson and Andranay Beverly. The frontline standouts were Teisha Knott, Rachel Kehoe and Heidi Highstreet.
At the nationals, the Skippers (32-3) won their first two games to reach the semifinals. But they came up short in the semis and the consolation contest for a fourth-place finish.
“Mental toughness and grit is what these girls were about,” Groulx said. “They had a love and passion for each other and for representing our school that was unparalleled.
“Their character and style of play brought great community support — true examples of the word student-athlete.”
Following their Skipper careers, Deans and Kehoe played two more seasons at Eastern Michigan University. Highstreet continued her playing career at Ferris State University. Peterson played at Vaughn College (New York), while Spinner and Beverly played at an NAIA Division 1 school in Iowa.
