One of our very own – Eugene Carmichael – has been selected as one of just 15 CHS athletes to be inducted into the newly founded Carteret High School Sports Hall of Fame. Below is an excerpt published in the Home News Tribune.
Carteret H.S. inducts 15 into Hall of Fame
Home News Tribune Online 10/25/07
Joe "Ducky" Medwick, who made a name for himself as a Hall of Fame baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals, will head the list of inductees into the inaugural Carteret High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
The inductees will be announced at halftime of Carteret's Homecoming football game vs. Colonia on Friday. The celebration dinner will be held at the Carteret Holiday Inn on Saturday at 6 p.m. The inductees are:
Joseph Michael Medwick (Class of 1930): Medwick, better known as "Ducky," was an All-State performer in football, basketball and baseball at Carteret. He went on to make his mark in baseball as he led the St. Louis Cardinals to the 1934 World Series title. Medwick still holds many club and league records, and he remains the last National League player to win the Triple Crown award. Medwick, who once scored 47 points in a basketball game for Carteret, was chosen as one of major league baseball's top 100 players. Medwick passed away in 1975 while in spring training as the Cardinals' hitting instructor.
Susan Cackowski (1988): Some of Cackowski's achievements included: winning 12 varsity letters; first female to be awarded All-State honors for a sport (softball 1986); MVP in softball, basketball and tennis multiple times. A graduate of Bloomfield College, Cackowski played in the Women's Professional Football League as quarterback for the Atlanta XPlosion (2001-2004). As a child, she was the first female to play Boys Little League Baseball in Carteret. Cackowski lives in Atlanta.
Eugene Carmichael (1957): In Carmichael's bio he sent back to the Hall of Fame committee, he said he was a "contributing member" of the football, basketball and track teams at Carteret. In reality, Carmichael is regarded as one of the best all-around athletes to come out of Carteret. He was good enough to earn a football scholarship to Virginia State University where he also ran track. Carmichael and his wife Connie of 42 years, live in Houston.
John Comba (1935): Among Comba's achievements include: Member of the 1932 state championship basketball team; All-State football for the 1932 state championship team; All-County baseball in 1935. Comba went on to play sports at Albright College. Following college, Comba was a coach, teacher and administrator in the Long Island, N.Y., school district for 35 years. He also officiated football and basketball in New York for 25 years.
Timothy Fedroff (1977): Fedroff was the quarterback for the 1976 Group III State Championship team at Carteret. Fedroff said in his response to the HOF committee: "I played for a great coach in Jim Gilrain and alongside many talented teammates in those years. We were always proud of the fact that we won 10 games that year, and most wins were against Group IV teams, while we were Group III." Fedroff resides in Hillsborough.
Walter "Moe" Gasior (1947): Covering six decades, Gasior was an athlete, teacher, coach and administrator at Carteret. Gasior played football and basketball at Carteret, then went on to Rutgers University (Class of 1951) where he played freshman football, varsity Lacrosse and three years of lightweight football (captain, 1950). Gasior was the track coach at Carteret and assisant football coach for several years before taking over as athletics director. He was chosen as the AD of the Year in 1981. Gasior was a track & field official for close to 40 years before retiring in 2004. Gasior still lives in Carteret.
Ronald Helley (1955): A multisport athlete, Helley earned 10 varsity letters in basketball, football and baseball at Carteret. He played on four different championship teams at Carteret and earned All-State and All-County Honors in football and basketball. Helley was the first player to score over 1,000 career points in Carteret basketball history and was the second player to score over 1,000 career points in state history. Helley attended the University of Delaware on a football scholarship and later became the head football coach at Madison Central High School (now Old Bridge) for 16 seasons. Helley served as an assistant football coach at Rutgers University for seven seasons under head coach Frank Burns.
Keith Hughes (1977): All-County and All-State, Hughes is recognized as Carteret's best basketball player of all time. For three years, Hughes was a big-time scorer and rebounder. In the 1985-86 Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament Championship game, Hughes scored 40 points in a 2-point win over New Brunswick at Rutgers University. Hughes is the Ramblers' all-time leading scorer with 1,742 points. Hughes went on to an outstanding college career at Rutgers, earning Atlantic-10 Conference Player of the Year honors in 1991 and NCAA Honorable Mention All-America. He was the 47th pick in the 1991 NBA draft. Hughes has played professionally overseas for 14 years and is playing in Europe for Team Alvina BC in the Bulgarian League.
Douglas King (1939): For more than six decades, King was an athlete, teacher, coach and administrator in Carteret. As an athlete, he collected 13 varsity letters in football, basketball, baseball and track. He played on several Central Jersey championship teams in the various spots and was chosen to many All-County and All-State teams. King was the Middlesex County scoring champion in football with 63 points in 1939 and 54 points in 1938. He received a scholarship to Seton Hall University. At Seton Hall, King played varsity baseball and basketball and participated in several NIT championship basketball games. King went on to coach football, basketball and baseball at Carteret, then later became the principal at the high school before retiring in 1981. King resides in Edison.
Nick "Kosty" Kosciowiat (1958): Kosciowiat was a standout in football, basketball, baseball and track. After high school, he attended Monmouth College and Temple University and also served in the United States Army. Nick worked at and retired from GATX in Carteret after 36 years. Nick actively plays softball in three separate leagues and also enjoys oil painting.
Jane Lawlor (1977): A standout basketball player earning All-County and Team MVP honors, Lawlor played on the varsity team for four years and held the all-time record for most career points — 1,205 — until 2000. Lawlor also held records for most points in a season with 475 and most points in a game with 47. In Lawlow's senior year, she played on Carteret's first ever softball team. She played shortstop and was chosen team captain. Lawlow played basketball and softball at Middlesex County College and was selected captain for both teams. She went on receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Science from Kean University and then went to get her master's degree in Business Administration. Lawlor resides in Monmouth County and enjoys traveling, gardening, skiing, and golf.
Ed Mantie (1964): One of Carteret's all-time, all-around great athletes, Mantie went on to an outstanding baseball career at Syracuse (where he earned both bachelor's and master's degrees). He went on to sign with the San Francisco Giants baseball team where he pitched in the minors. Mantie went on to become a teacher and coach in Westchester County, New York, for 32 years. He led his football and basketball teams to several league championships and was named Coach of the Year multiple times.
William Warren Matthews (1944): An all-around athlete at Carteret, Matthews went into the service and wound up earning his diploma going to night school. Matthews went on to Delaware State University and NYU where he participated in football and track. Matthews went on to teach special education and coached football, track and wrestling. Matthews is retired and living in New York state and stays active playing tennis.
Arthur McMahon (1964): McMahon's sports resume is big-time. In high school, he played football, basketball and baseball at Carteret and was naned to several All-County and All-State teams in football and basketball, while serving as captain in both sports. In college, McMahon played football at North Carolina State University. He started as a defensive back for the Wolfpack for three years and was co-captain of the highly rated team in 1967 (No. 3 in the country). Professionally, McMahon played defensive back for the New England Patriots and was captain of the special teams. After a five-year career with the Pats, McMahon shattered his ankle, ending his career. McMahon is vice president of Human Resources with a biopharmaceutical company in Lexington, Mass.
John Spoganetz (1969): As a freshman at Carteret, Spoganetz started as quarterback for the varsity football team. He is one of a few freshmen to score a touchdown in a varsity football game. Spoganetz started at quarterback for the next three years. In his senior year, the team was ranked ninth in the state and scored over 34 points per game. Spoganetz was named All Middlesex County, Most Valuable Player and Honorable Mention All-State. Spoganetz also lettered four years in track and one year in baseball. Spoganetz received a football scholarship to Duke University where he graduated in 1973. After college, Spoganetz received a law degree from Seton Hall Law School and is a practicing attorney in New Jersey.
Frank McCarthy: A South Amboy resident, McCarthy made his mark as a long-time football, basketball and baseball coach at Carteret. McCarthy, who came to Carteret in 1926, coached the football team for 22 years, winning 98 games. His teams won titles in 1927, '34, '40 and '41. His 1940 team finished 8-0-1 and gave up just 18 points all season. The only blemish was a 0-0 tie vs. Woodbridge. As the baseball coach from 1927-48, McCarthy compiled a record of 172-101-4. In basketball, McCarthy led the Ramblers to state titles in 1932 and '34. McCarthy went on to become the Athletics Director, retiring in 1964. McCarthy passed away in 1985.