Nazareth Academy will induct seven school legends into their Hall of Fame on Saturday, Feb. 7. The induction ceremony will take place during halftime of the varsity boys basketball game at around 8 p.m.
There will be a reception prior to the game from 6 to 7:15 p.m. to honor Dan Chopp (1981), Quinn Cook (friend of Nazareth), Tony Manfre (coach), Philip Reed (1999), Mary Geraghty Sableski (1994), Cara Kokenes Samson (1993) and Sister Jackie Schmitz (1964, coach/administrator).
The new Hall of Fame, located in the athletic foyer, is a designated area to honor athletes, coaches, administrators and friends of the school’s athletic endeavors, who made an indelible mark on Nazareth.
Chopp (’81) was one of the school’s first top male athletes when the school went coed in 1977. As Male Athlete of the Year in 1981, he lettered in three sports (basketball, baseball and football), was football team captain and made all conference in 1980.
He was a founding member of the H Foundation, which benefits the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, an organization that has in just eight years has raised almost $2.5 million for cancer research.
Cook is a self professed “gym rat” and true Nazareth “super fan.” On any given day, you can sit with Quinn at a girls volleyball, basketball, softball or soccer game or a boys football, basketball or baseball game.
Quinn and his wife, Donna, put four of their five children through Nazareth (Kathleen ’80, Christine ’81, Charlie ’86 and Colleen ’88).
Manfre is being honored posthumously as the first head football coach at Nazareth Academy with a record in the first two years of 17-0. After coaching at Nazareth for six years he went on to coach another 28 years at St. Joseph and Carmel in Mundelein.
Reed (’99) played three sports, football, basketball and baseball at Nazareth Academy. As a football star, he was awarded All-State and All-Conference in 1996 through 1998, conference MVP in 1997 and 1998, Player of the Year in 1998, and set school records in rushing, points and touchdowns scored.
After leaving Nazareth, Reed earned three varsity letters playing football as a team captain for Western Michigan. He was Offensive Player of the Year in 2002, awarded the Iron Bronco Award and MAC Player of the Week.
Geraghty Sableski graduated from Nazareth in 1994 as the first girl in school history to be a cross country state qualifier in 1993, as well as conference champ. She was the Female Athlete of the Year in 1994, Roadrunner Award winner in ’92 and ’93 in cross country and track winner in ’93. She went on to University of Dayton where she ran cross country for three years, track for one and was the captain of her team two of the three years and MVP in 1994.
After graduating from Dayton, she completed her Ph.D. and is a part-time faculty member of University of Dayton in the School of Education.
Samson (’93) is being inducted into the Nazareth Hall of Fame as a gifted athlete while at Nazareth and for her significant accomplishments post-Nazareth. She was a state gymnastics finalist in 1993 and was a cheerleader, a member of the pom and dance team and ran track. She won the national title of Ms. Fitness USA in 2007, as well as numerous other national and international competitions.
Schmitz (’64) served as head volleyball coach, twice winning the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference (GCAC) volleyball championship in 1975 and 1978, moderated the Girls Athletic Association and sports activities at Nazareth and was in charge of intramurals for four sports. She was a co-founder of the GCAC.