JCA to announce new Hall of Champions class at Hilltopper Banquet

hall_of_champions

The second class might be second to none.

Joliet Catholic Academy will announce the second group of inductees for its Hall of Champions at the upcoming Hilltopper Banquet, to be held on Thursday, Feb. 12, in the Student Activity Center.

Last fall, Gordie Gillespie, Bill Gullickson, Allie Quigley, Jim Stefanich and Tom Thayer were honored as the inaugural class. Dan Sharp confirmed the coeducational high school’s plan of having the Hilltopper Banquet serve as an annual launching point for the unveiling of the Hall of Champions’ next class.

“At a school of great tradition, this will be our latest,” said Sharp, JCA’s athletic director and chairman of the Hall of Champions committee. “The inductees always will be introduced at the Hilltopper Banquet.

“We decided that we want our alumni to know about the inductees first. It’s a great way to promote our banquet and continue to tie things together. We know that people are already excited about it.”

Reservations are still available for the Hilltopper Banquet. Cost is $50 per person or $500 for a table of 10. Please contact Sue Bebar, director of alumni relations, at 815-741-0500 or sbebar@jca-online.org.

The night begins with a cocktail reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by the program at 7 and a dinner buffet at 8. Eddie Olczyk, the Blackhawks’ color analyst and a 16-year NHL veteran, will be the featured speaker. Mark Grant (’81), color analyst for the San Diego Padres, will be the master of ceremonies.

Bebar noted the Hilltopper Banquet is open to everyone — alumni, parents and friends. All proceeds go directly to the JCA Alumni Association. And this year will be even better due to the Hall of Champions.

“I believe it’s a credit to the people who have been a part of these great schools  — De La Salle, Joliet Catholic, St. Francis Academy and JCA,” Sharp said. “It’s a credit to the great people, the great athletes, who have come through our schools, and we feel this will be a special announcement every year.”


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