Ruklick night brings history to life at PHS

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Always having his teaching shoes on, Princeton High School history teacher Eric Tinley was trying to teach his freshmen boys’ basketball team a little school history when he brought up the name of PHS’ most famous player, Joe Ruklick.

They said, “Who?”

To make Ruklick more noteworthy, Tinley told them Ruklick got the assist on Wilt Chamberlain’s famous 100-point basket in 1962.

“Wilt who?”

It was amazing to Tinley and me these kids didn’t know that great name in the game and made us both feel old.

This is why Friday’s recognition night for Ruklick at PHS was so important. These kids today have no clue about their forefathers at PHS. It’s sad, but that’s just the way it is.

PHS and other area schools were encouraged in this column a few years back to reach back into its rich history and share the stories of its alumni from yesteryear. Many of the schools are doing a fine job getting there.

PHS has spruced up the Prouty Gym walls with placards noting each sport’s championships over the years. The new Corridor of Champions lining the Prouty Gym lobby is eye-catching and informative.

And now recognizing Ruklick with replica jerseys of the teams he played for — PHS, Northwestern and the Philadelphia Warrors — is fantastic. I’d like to see PHS showcase some pictures from champion teams from the past, like Ruklick’s 1954 and 1955 state teams, the 1989 state runner-up Tiger Style Running Wild football team and the 1990 state champion volleyball team, to start.

I was just examining the big team pictures Bureau Valley has mounted on the walls of its weight room of its past champions in football, basketball and track, among others, and it’s impressive. That wall of fame is enough to make the Storm athletes work a little harder in the weightroom to get their team on the wall one day.

BV also has done an outstanding job displaying pictures of its state athletes and all of its many trophies and plaques in its commons area.

St. Bede has established a fine Hall of Fame, and Hall High School is just launching one of its own. Perhaps a Hall of Fame for PHS and Bureau Valley would be nice additions as well.

Think of all the great athletes at PHS, the oldest township high school in the state, has had. And Bureau Valley, in its short history, has certainly already had its share as well.

When we started up the Bureau County Sports Hall of Fame in 1995, we took the approach of starting with the old-time athletes first and work our way up to the present. I always wanted to recognize these individuals while they were still living to make it more meaningful. I hope to re-establish the County Hall of Fame one day to continue to keep the history of the many great athletes and coaches from the past alive.

I know Hall High School has formed a committee to establish its charter Hall of Fame Class. It won’t be an easy task, when you think of such noteworthy candidates over time.

There are outstanding coaches like Richard Nesti, Gary Vicini, Rollie Morris and Eric Bryant to consider, and athletes like hoop stars like Bill McDonald, Rollie Himes and Shawn Jeppson; football legend Jim Troglio; track star D.J. Glynn; and many others. Hall required a five-year eligibility period, which is good, so hoop great Kailey Klein will be knocking on the Hall Hall of Fame soon. Longtime athletic director Frank Colmone certainly left his mark at Hall High School.

Welcome Back to the Jungle: Speaking of Hall legends, the Hall Athletic Parents Club (HAPC), is sponsoring an alumni basketball game on March 6 featuring the state runners-up Red Devils from the mid-’90s including Jeppson, Eric Bryant Jr., Craig Olson, Joey Reed, Ryan Anderes, Nick Sterling, Adam “the Worm” Curran, Derek Baird and Tony Orlandi vs. the gang of Korby Kasperski, Jason Burkiewicz, Chase Thomas, Brett Olson, Gregg Fanning, Beau Bezely, Matt Bezely, Brad Foster, Brad Pinter and Ben Micklavic.

Jeff Janusick of the HAPC says he’s been told the old guys can still make it up and down the court. We shall see. Doors will open at 4 p.m. with tip-off at 5 p.m. The teams will be coached by former Hall coaches Eric Bryant Sr. and Bob Jiles, both of whom coached Sweet 16 teams. All proceeds will benefit the HAPC.

• From the rink: Jeff Martin, son of Princeton native Craig Martin (Class of 1980), is a sophomore member for the Libertyville/Vernon Hills Icecats hockey team. He had seven goals and 16 assists through the first 20 Metro National League games.

He is the grandson of Ralph and Nellie Martin of Princeton.

• Coach of the Year: Kevin Skibinski, 1985 Princeton High School graduate, was named as the 2009 Youth Coach of the Year by Winning Youth Football. He is head coach for the Tri-City Gold Chargers from the St. Charles, Geneva and Batavia area. His team won its second straight “Super Bowl” title with a 12-0 record.

Former PHS head coach Randy Swinford, who was an assistant at the time, said Skibinski was “crazy about the game, small of stature yet big of heart, a kid you just could not like being around. He worked hard every second of every practice and game.”

Kevin Hieronymus is the BCR Sports Editor. Contact him at khieronymus@bcrnews.com.