HAMMONTON—Hammonton High School announced its newest class of Hall of Famers last week, as 10 individuals and three teams will be included in the first inductions since 2017.
Selected by the Hall of Fame committee this year were; Brian Castone, William Castone, Louis Corgliano, Nicholas Crescenzo, Jane Donio-Enscoe, Anthony Guerere, Pete Lancetta, Jeff Longo, Gregory Parker, Gary Sarno as well as the 1997 girls soccer team, the 2009 football team and the 2012 baseball squad.
“It’s a very strong class and we’re really proud of it. We had a lot of great nominations and the committee worked very hard to make its choices,” Hammonton athletic director Chris Sacco said.
Brian Castone was a standout basketball and football player during his career at Hammonton.
One of just seven boys basketball players to score 1,000 points, Castone went on to play at three colleges, including William Paterson and has been a long-time coach around the area.
“I’m overwhelmed,” Castone said.
“It’s not something I expected because it’s been so long since I graduated, but it’s a huge honor,” Castone said.
Castone will be joined in this year’s Hall of Fame class by his father, Bill “Stick” Castone.
“I never expected this to happen for me or my dad, so to go into the Hall of Fame with him is just unbelievable. I know my family has worked a long time to get my father recognized,” Castone said.
William “Stick” Castone was chosen as the recipient of the “Lifetime Achievement Award.” Castone passed away in 2013 and still holds the record for points in a basketball game at Hammonton (44).
“Mr. Cantone hard work, dedication and talent have undoubtedly left a tremendous mark on our school’s history. Mr. Castone’s accomplishments have inspired current and future students, demonstrating what can be achieved through perseverance, passion and a commitment to excellence,” Sacco wrote to Castone’s family in his notification letter.
Corgliano, a 2014 graduate, excelled in cross country and track and field and holds many school records in distance events. Corgliano was surprised by his selection.
“It was pretty crazy to hear the news. I came into high school never expecting my athletic career to unfold the way it did. A lot of hard work went into it, but I’ve been very fortunate to have an amazing support system throughout the years. None of it would’ve been possible without them. Thank you again to Chris Sacco and Hammonton High School for this great honor,” Corgliano said.
Crescenzo earned All-State honors as a football and baseball player, helping guide the 2009 South Jersey champion Blue Devils football team and went on to enjoy a successful baseball career at Rider University. The 2010 graduate expressed thanks to those who helped and influenced his high school career.
“It’s a pretty cool accomplishment, but football and baseball are team sports. Without my coaches and teammates, this wouldn’t be a reality. So, thank you to my coaches for putting me on the path for success and teammates around me for pushing each other day in and day out. It’s an honor to be able to join some of the Hammonton greats in the Hall of Fame. Lastly, thanks to my parents and family for the support over the years,” Crescenzo said.
Donio-Enscoe holds Hammonton’s career scoring record in field hockey and also excelled on the track. She played four years of field hockey at Princeton University and continues to guide young players in town.
“Being selected for the Hammonton Hall of Fame is a great honor. I had a wonderful experience with both Hammonton field hockey and track and field, which I shared with the best coaches and teammates. It’s nice to be recognized and to reflect on the success of each of these teams as well as the fun memories that were made along the way,” Donio-Enscoe said.
Guerere will be honored posthumously. The longtime band director at HHS, he died in 2022.
In high school, he represented Hammonton High School at Boys State, was president of the National Honor Society and Student Director of the High School Band. He wrote both words and music for the class song. A National Guardsman, Guerere was the band director at Hammonton High School from 1959 to 1987, and eventually became a supervisor and administrator until his retirement in 1998.
Pete Lancetta served as Hammonton’s head football coach for 26 seasons (1989-2014) and also coached track and field at the school. He posted a 215-64-2 record at Hammonton, leading the Blue Devils to four South Jersey titles and 12 conference championships. After serving as an assistant at Rowan University for two seasons, Lancetta took over at St. Augustine Prep in 2017 and still serves as that school’s head football coach.
“It is truly an honor to be selected for induction into the Hammonton High School Athletics Hall of Fame. I am most proud of the fact that I served as the head football coach for 26 years. We were blessed to have players that were tough, hard-nosed kids as well as hard working and unselfish. It was always about the team first. We were also very fortunate to have tremendous support from our administration, teachers, parents, community, assistant coaches and the Hawks youth FB coaches. I will forever cherish this wonderful honor,” Lancetta said.
Longo graduated in 1993 following a standout baseball and football career. He played baseball at the University of Maine and went on to enjoy an excellent coaching career.
“It’s a tremendous honor and I’m very thankful. Makes me realize how fortunate I was as a player to have the support of my family, teammates and coaches,” Longo said.
Parker, a 1999 graduate, was an outstanding football player for Hammonton, starting four seasons as a linebacker and offensive lineman. He went on to play at Harvard University.
“I am deeply honored to have been selected to join this great group of former Blue Devil athletes. The tradition of hard work and mental toughness leading to athletic success runs deep in the town of Hammonton and I consider myself lucky to have grown up in that culture. With four boys of our own my wife and I certainly understand the tireless dedication it takes to raise young athletes and I’m incredibly thankful to my family (grandpop Sam Curcio starting filming and critiquing games when I was eight and never missed an event) and all my coaches for their monumental efforts during my athletic career. Most importantly though, I’m just happy to be able to join my older sister Jessica at the adult table at Thanksgiving now as she was inducted into the St. Joseph Hall of fame almost 20 years ago and it’s been a long 20 years for me. Go Big Blue,” Parker said.
Sarno coached baseball and cross country at Hammonton, guiding the Blue Devils to the 2012 South Jersey Group 3 title.
He was humbled by his selection and gave credit to his players and assistant coaches.
“It certainly is an honor to be chosen in the HHS Hall of Fame considering how many awesome people are in it. To be a member is quite humbling. But it’s not really a personal accomplishment, it’s a testimony to the many outstanding young men that put on the Hammonton uniform. All the coaches, support of administrators, faculty, student body and community. It really is a family and team effort. My years at Hammonton were filled with many cherished memories. It definitely is one of the highlights of my coaching career,” Sarno said.
The 1997 girls soccer team was Cape Atlantic League National Conference champions and are considered one of the program’s best teams of all-time. The 2009 football team finished 11-1 and won the South Jersey Group 3 championship. In 2012, the baseball team was South Jersey Group 3 champions.
The Hall of Fame inductees will be recognized at halftime of Hammonton’s football game against Mainland on September 22 and the induction ceremonies will be held sometime in January, according to Sacco.
“We’re finalizing those plans and hope to have an announcement soon,” Sacco said.