VERMONT SPORTS HALL OF FAME

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(Photo credit: Vermont Sports Images)

Vermont Sports Hall of Fame Inducts its 2026 Class 

Thirteen new members were inducted into the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame at its annual induction dinner and celebration in front of a capacity crowd on April 25, 2026 at the Delta Marriott Burlington hotel in South Burlington. As he has since the first dinner, Vermont Governor Phil Scott was on hand to present the induction plaques.

The inductees were lacrosse standout Sarah Dalton Graddock of Cornwall; Susan Dunklee of Barton who was a three-time Olympic biathlete and a multi- sport standout in high school and college; Saint Michael’s College basketball star and longtime high school coach Dick Falkenbush of South Burlington; the first-ever wrestler inducted, Steven Forrest of Bennington, a champion and national team member; track and field star Mary Heitkamp of Orwell; Olympic moguls skiing medalist Hannah Kearney of Norwich, Vt.; Swanton’s Matt Raleigh, a standout player and successful coach at all levels of baseball; and legendary collegiate coaches Mickey Heinecken of Cornwall and Middlebury College and Mike McShane of Norwich University;  Veteran award-winning sportswriter Tom Haley of Proctor is this year’s Mal Boright Media Inductee.  Jake Agna of South Burlington, an inspirational tennis coach, is the 2026 David Hakins Inductee for exceptional promotion of sports, athletics and recreation in the state. The late Fenwick Watkins of Burlington, who had several racial firsts as an athlete and a coach in the early 1900s, is the 2026 Historical Inductee. Also inducted was football and track standout Bill Looker of Rutland, a member of the 2025 class who defered his induction to 2026.

Click HERE for information and bios of the 2026 class.

Click HERE then click on the 2026 Vermont Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony for a link to a free photo gallery of the event courtesy of Vermont Sports Images.

The Vermont Sports Hall of Fame and its designated charity Prevent Child Abuse Vermont would like to thank those who attended, those who made donations and the dinner’s sponsors.

 

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Dozen Inducted into Vermont Sports Hall of Fame In 2025

(Photo credit: Vermont Sports Images)

The 12 newest members of the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame were inducted on April 26. 2025 at the Delta Marriott Burlington Hotel in South Burlington. Vermont Governor Phil Scott, a regular at the induction events since the start, was on hand to present the inductees plaques.

Inducted were gymnastics champion Nini Wuensch Anger of St. Albans and Colchester; world and national champion horseshoe pitcher Debra Brown of Bristol; record-setting high school and collegiate soccer scorer Kyle Dezotell of Derby; high school and collegiate ice hockey standout Lou DiMasi III of Burlington; Olympic rowing medalist Carlie Geer of West Fairlee and South Burlington; U.S. National Champion and two-time Olympic ski jumper Jim Holland of Norwich; Basketball sharp shooter Tony Orciari of East Burke; three-sport high school star Mike Rochford of South Burlington who went on to pitch for the Boston Red Sox; and legendary coaches Connie LaRose of Bristol and Mount Abraham Union, and Frank Pecora of Northfield and Norwich University. Award-winning sports broadcaster Jack Healey of Rutland is the 2025 Mal Boright Media Inductee and the late Leo Papineau of Swanton, St. Albans and Richford is the VSHOF Historical Inductee. Also recognized was 2024 inductee Dr. Kim Silloway, a basketball standout from St. Johnsbury. Multi-sport athlete Bill Looker of Rutland deferred his induction until 2025. Click HERE for bios of the 2025 Inductees!

Click HERE for a free photo gallery from the event courtesy of Paul Lamontagne of Vermont Sports Images.

Proceeds from the event go to Prevent Child Abuse Vermont, the designated charity of the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame. The past dinners and other fundraisers have raised over $37,000 to support PCAVT’s work state- wide. For more information on PCAVT, please click HERE .

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Grab a copy of the book "Green Mountain Gold'!

 

 

Get something for the sports fan on your list and order a copy of 'Green Mountain Gold,' a compilation of biographies of the first eight inductions classes of the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame.

Learn more about the book and order your copy here >>

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The Vermont Sports Hall of Fame is a 501 (c)(3) non- profit organization.