Whitefish Bay honors first Hall of Fame class

There were a lot of good and kind words that came out of the mouths of the honored eight at the first Whitefish Bay Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremonies Friday.

As the T-shirt they received said: "Once a Blue Duke always a Blue Duke."

On hand were proud children grateful for the opportunity to represent their long-serving parents (Clark and Ron Wangerin for their track coach father, Chet).

There was also a proud parent and inductee good-naturedly calling out his children for behaving so well (Craig Counsell, whose four toddlers were all with him).

There was even a twin who tried to horn in on his brother's honors (Rob Dean, who laughingly got up to go to the podium when his brother, Randy, was introduced). Randy later honored his own older brothers for setting the proper tone and then happily pointed to his 94-year old mother, who was gratefully in attendance at the event.

There was even a son (Bill Nagle) who had the chutzpah to approach legendary basketball coach Pat Reilly (who had a bodyguard in tow) for some words of wisdom as Nagle was preparing his speech for his father and inductee, the late, great basketball coach Jack Nagle.

Reilly happily obliged, noting that "It's about people and how you treat them."

And heaven forbid, there was even a Blue Duke who once lived in Mequon but is happy to wear that aforementioned T-shirt (all-around athlete Mary Manning, who moved to Bay in the middle of grade school in 1973).

Sweating the details

They were all part of a ceremony that Whitefish Bay Athletic Director John Gustavson fretted over for months and went over blissfully and without a hitch.

The eight plaques (donated by the Duke Pride Booster organization) shone like silver in the hallway of the field house and there were little blue programs placed on all the chairs that were stashed in "The Link," waiting for the honored guests and the invited public.

It was the first-ever Hall of Fame class for Bay, and so you could understand Gustavson's worry and wonder, but as has been the case in many instances and under many other circumstances at this school, it was handled with dignity and class.

Even when the Wangerin brothers regaled tales of the rowdy 1940s dances for which their father served as chaperon.

"When the school opened (close to 80 years ago), people demanded a college-preparatory curriculum," Clark Wangerin said, "and they also demanded athletic excellence. They got both."

Burying the lead

Gustavson was also able to have a little fun with the situation.

Manning recalls the phone call she got from Gustavson, informing her that coach Nagle (her basketball coach) was going to be inducted. But only just before it seemed he was going to hang up, finally, finally did he get around to telling her that she, too, was going to be part of this inaugural class.

Manning reacted with what she said was "joy and disbelief."

The gymnastics team got into the game later in the weekend, as they honored longtime coach Bob Bradley, who was also part of this inaugural class, with a reception after the invitational that the team holds in his name every year.

One of Counsell's daughters is part of current coach Mary Liniewski's youth gymnastics program and happily wore her leotard to that event.

In short, it was a very good weekend, highlighted by introductions at the basketball game later that Friday night.

It all reflected the chest-swelling, humble pride the honorees put on display. They also included philanthropist Sheldon Lubar and the late inspirational athlete Howard William "Bill" Hilgendorf.

"I realize now how lucky I was to grow up in Bay," Counsell said.

"Go Blue Dukes!" followed Ron Wangerin.

Indeed.