Monroe adds 10 members to Athletic Hall of Fame
The Monroe High School Athletic Hall of Fame underwent a major expansion Friday night.
Ten Trojan greats joined the Hall during ceremonies during halftime of the boys basketball game against Ann Arbor Skyline.
Included on the list of new inductees are Tony Giarmo, David Johnson, Jamie Turner Mathena, Thomas Malik, Corey Nowitzke, Bradley Ruman, Molly Spalding Rusch, Paul Showers, Robert Showers and Sue Sieler Vitale.
Malik is the only coach on the list. He had a 206-117 record with Monroe’s baseball team from 1993-2002, winning six league championships, three District titles and two Regional crowns. His 2001 squad set a school record with 30 wins. He also coached 16 seasons at the middle school and junior varsity levels.
Giarmo was a state champion in the pole vault in 1961 and was an outstanding punter for the football team.
Johnson excelled in football, basketball and baseball from 1979-1982.
Mathena was a softball star from 1987-1990 who earned a scholarship to Ball State University.
Nowitzke stood out in cross country, wrestling and track from 1998-2002. He went 155-29 in wrestling and placed at state three times. He also was eighth at state in the 3,200 meters his senior year and went on to run at Eastern Michigan and twice in the United States Olympic Trials in the steeplechase.
Ruman set school records for completions in a game and passing yards in a season (1,421).
Rusch was the MVP of Monroe’s golf team three times from 1999-2002 and earned a scholarship to the University of Michigan. She also was her class valedictorian.
Paul Showers played No. 1 singles in tennis for three years and helped the 1977 and 1979 teams go undefeated. He went on to play at Kalamazoo College.
Robert Showers also was a tennis star, helping the Trojans place seventh in the state as a senior in 1971. He went on to play at Western Michigan.
Vitale was a standout on the softball diamond from 1984 to 1987, earning a scholarship to the University of Michigan.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Monroe adds 10 members to Athletic Hall of Fame
