Hillman High School Sports Hall of Fame to induct 2022 class

HILLMAN -- The Hillman High School Sports Hall of Fame announces the ninth class to be inducted into the High School Sports Hall of Fame.

This year's class consists of an All-State basketball player, the coach who put Hillman baseball on the map in the 90s, and the last team to capture a state championship.

∫ Andrew Smith graduated in 2010 and was an AP, BCAM, Free-Press, and Bankhoops All-State Class D basketball player. Andrew scored 1,168 points, No. 4 all-time for a career. He also ranks fourth in rebounds and steals as well ranking second in blocks and career three-pointers. Andrew made nine three-pointers in one game and is 14th All-Time in MHSAA history for career three pointers. During his high school career, he earned All-NSL conference honors in baseball, basketball, and football. He was a member of seven conference and two district championship teams. Andrew earned 12 varsity letters and a basketball scholarship from Alpena Community College.

∫ Dave Checkley coached baseball in Hillman from 1989-1997 during its greatest era over his eight seasons at the helm. Dave was 169-36-1, winning 82% of his games. During Checkley's years as coach, the program accumulated five league championships, six districts, five regionals, five Final Fours, a state runner-up and three state championships. During his tenure he coached multiple all-state players and was a district, regional, and state Coach of the Year as well.

∫ The 1997 baseball team was Hillman's last state championship team, capping an amazing run in the 90s. The team defeated Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart in the final 5-0, winning the program's third state championship of the decade. Team members were Lucas Shepherd, Todd Dodge, Matt Oswald, Cory Davis, Chris Kennard, Dustin Goossens, Mike Kennard, Mike Oswald, Jeff Kenyon, James Vanderveer, Jeff Timm, Kyle Rider, Jason Barrie, Jamie Weiland, Jerry Schaefer, and Geoff Selesky. The head Coach was Dave Checkley and the assistant coach was Dan Kennard. Michael Golombeski was the team manager.

The Hall of Fame will also have a pause for recipients of The Richard Brown Trailblazer Award this year in memory of Richard who passed away this year at the age of 102. His presence and passion for Hillman athletics will be dearly missed. The Richard Brown Trailblazer Award honors athletes from a distant generation that helped blaze the trail for our past and present athletes at Hillman High School.

The Hall of Fame would like to invite all who would like to attend the induction ceremony on Oct. 1, 2022 at Hillman High School at 2 p.m. The new inductees will also be honored at halftime of the Tiger football game to go along with the other homecoming activities on Sept. 30 vs. Hale.