Meet the trailblazers and former high school stars: Greater Utica Sports Hall of Fame 2022
Formal wear, food and some of the best talent in recent years packed the inside of the Delta Hotel in Utica on Sunday afternoon as the Greater Utica Sports Hall of Fame inducted eight members to its Class of 2022.
The inductees included Steve Babiarz, David Brown, Sean Burton, Diane Hobin, Jim Jackson, Antonio Mauro, Tom Myslinski Jr. and Dominica Paladino.
Brown, Mauro and Myslinski were unable to attend.
Brown was a star defender at Ohio State in the late 80s, Mauro excelled in baseball at Navy in the late 90s after playing at Notre Dame HS.
Myslinski was a stud offensive lineman on the legendary RFA teams of 1984-85, before a standout career with the Tennessee Volunteers, and a fourth-round draft selection of the Dallas Cowboys in 1992. After a seven-team career, he became a coach for 20 years.
Diane Hobin
Diane Hobin died in 2020 at the age of 46. Her brother, current West Canada Valley football coach Todd Hobin, attended the induction on her behalf.
Hobin thrived at Holland Patent, where he was nicknamed “Queen of the Knights” and at Hofstra. She then embarked on a coaching career before her passing.
Todd Hobin said Diane’s work ethic was instilled at an early age due to their upbringing on a dairy farm.
He also noted that even though Diane lived in multiple states throughout her coaching career, the Mohawk Valley was always her home.
“When it came time for her passing, she asked to bring her home,” he said. “She wanted to lay rest here, so that’s how important this community was to her.”
Jim Jackson
Jim Jackson’s career has brought him to the top of NHL play-by-play as the voice of the Philadelphia Flyers since 1995, but his career began in Utica.
The New York Mills and Syracuse graduate started his announcing career with the then-Utica Devils.
Jackson said he landed a job with WIBX in Utica after college and called many events in the area, such as Utica College and the Blue Sox.
“This is where my dream emerged when I was young. This was my training ground,” he said. “Every morning, when my feet hit the ground and I have a game to do, it’s a good day.”
Jackson also mentioned this accomplishment is at the top of his long list.
“There’s one award I’m going to get from my hometown, and this is it,” he said. “This is it for me from my roots.”
Sean Burton
Sean Burton recently moved back to Utica. Burton led Notre Dame to two Section III titles and is viewed as Ithaca College’s greatest basketball player. He was the school’s only three-time All-American.
He now runs a youth development camp in the area.
“It has been awesome to see these individuals and youth grow over the last six months,” he said.
He added this honor feels like a big welcome back to the area.
Dominica Paladino
Dominica Paladino has remained active in Utica and at Notre Dame, where she was the 2001 NYS Class C Player of the Year. Now she runs the Coliseum Soccer Club.
She said she didn’t expect this since her soccer career was long over.
“There’s something about your hometown recognition, it’s all about the love,” she said. “It’s amazing that people today still come forward and say, ‘Dominica we still support you.”’
Steve Babiarz
Steve Babiarz is still considered one of the best players in Notre Dame basketball history, despite graduating nearly 40 years ago. Syracuse.com has named Babiarz as one of the 75 greatest basketball players in Central NY.
After a successful collegiate career at SUNY Potsdam, he set down roots in Yorkville.
“The people here make it a great community,” he said. “It’s a comfort zone.”
He said it was a surreal feeling to see people he hadn’t witnessed in 30 years.
Noah Ram is a sports reporter for the Observer-Dispatch. Email Noah Ram at nram@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Greater Utica Sports Hall of Fame 2022 inductees: Trailblazers, stars
