WnyHSAA
Athletic Hall of Fame
1940’s
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
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: 1941-1944
Sports Played:
Football 3 Years
Basketball 3 Years
Baseball 3 Years
College: 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: 1942-1946
Sports 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 100yard 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
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 four sports teams for thee 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.
He 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.
Bob McEnroe
Class: 1945-1949
Sports Played:
Football 4 Years
Basketball 4 Years
Baseball 3 Years
Track 3 Years
College: 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 varisty 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
Paul Gavitt
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.