The Peru Gazette

Story Update: Peru Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Photo: Front L-R Shawn Edwards, Peter Keenan Sr., Theresa Bobal Sindelar, Brent Banker. Back Row L-R Kris Bruno who accepted on behalf of his brother Kregg Bruno, Matt St. Clair, Mark and Sarah Wheet who accepted on behalf of their daughter Stephanie Wheet.

The 2015 Peru Athletic Hall of Fame banquet was held at the American Legion on the Quarry Road, October 3rd.

The inductees were: Brent Banker – Coach

Brent Banker graduated from Peru High School in 1980. As an athlete, he participated four years in track and field as a distance runner- from 1977 to 1980. In those four years, the track and field teams won two CVAC titles in1977 and 1980, and one Section Seven championship in 1978. He was one of the captains of the 1980 track team. He was a state qualifier in 1980 for the 3200 meter event.

Brent also ran cross country for three years- from 1977 to 1979. He was a state qualifier in cross country in 1978 and 1979. He was captain of the 1979 team. In 1979, the cross country team won both the CVAC championship title and the Section Seven crown.

Brent coached at Peru from 1987 to 1995. From 1987 to 94 he coached girls’ junior varsity soccer and girls’ junior varsity volleyball. From 1989 to 1991, girls’ varsity volleyball 92 to 95 and girls’ varsity track and field from 1987 to 1995.

He was head coach for the girls’ varsity track and field team from 1988 to 1995. During this time teams compiled 76 wins and 1 loss. They won seven CVAC titles and seven Section Seven titles. From 1989 to 1995 the teams won 65 consecutive dual meets.

As the girls’ varsity volleyball coach, his teams recorded 46 wins and 7 losses. They won one CVAC title in 1992 – 1993 season and won two Section Seven titles in the 93-94 and 94-95 seasons.

Matthew St. Clair – Athlete

Matt, a 2003 graduate of Peru High School, was one of the most outstanding football players in New York State during the 2001 and 2002 seasons. In 2001, he had 44 receptions for 1014 yards and 16 touchdowns for the Indians in their state championship season- which culminated with Matt’s two touchdown receptions and one interception that earned him most valuable player in the state championship game.

His performance did not wane his senior year. He earned first team all-state for the second straight year as the Indians went undefeated in the regular season, only to be upset in the playoffs. Other noteworthy honors that he received were 2000 CVAC Section 7 1^st team wide receiver, the 2001 New York State Class B 1^st team wide receiver, and the CVAC – Section 7 1^st team wide receiver. In 2002 Matt was recognized as the CVAC-Section 7 1^st team wide receiver and punt returns, CVAC-Section 7, 2^nd team free safety, North Country Super Bowl – offensive player of the game, and CVAC career leader in receiving yards and touchdown receptions. He also won the honor of career leader in receiving yards and touchdown receptions in the history of Peru Central School. Matt’s football career culminated with a total of 85 receptions, 1795 yards, 28 touchdowns and 1 conversion.

Matt was also outstanding in basketball and baseball, but his football career for the Indians places him among the Peru greats in the Hall of Fame.

 

Melvin Bob Bruno – Athlete 

Bob graduated from Peru Central School in 1948. Bob lettered in Soccer, Basketball, and Baseball. Tony Papero, Athletic Director at Peru High School, was quoted as saying “Bob Bruno was, by far, one of the finest athletes I have ever coached at Peru Central School. He gave 100% to each of three sports in which he competed and he excelled at all three”. Bob was a teammate on several outstanding teams-alongside fellow classmate and Hall of Fame inductee Pete Keenan.

After graduation from Peru, Bob joined the U. S. Army during the Korean War. Upon his discharge from the Army he attended SUNY Plattsburgh and graduated in 1963. Bob was employed at Peru Central School from 1961 until retirement in 1992. He spent twenty-six years as classroom teacher at Northside School, followed by five years as administrator of the Intermediate School.

Bob’s entire adult life was dedicated to education and community betterment. He was a member of Board of Directors of the Clinton County Industrial and Agricultural Fair and President from 1977 through 1983. He was Recreation Director of the Town of Schuyler Falls from 1974 through 1983. He also served in local government was a member of the Clinton County Legislature from 1984 to 1998-serving as the Chairman from 1986 through 1996. He served on the Clinton County Nursing Home Board and Clinton Community College Foundation Corporate Board.

In April of 1996 Bob proposed the establishment of Clinton Community College to the Legislature and through his hard work the college was established. In 2006, Clinton Community College was awarded the first ever Honorary Degree in the Humanities. In 2008 a street was dedicated to Bob, known as the “BOB BRUNO WAY”.   In his spare time, he was a race car driver at Airborne Speed way along with other race tracks.

Bob graduated from Peru Central School in 1948. Bob lettered in Soccer, Basketball, and Baseball. Tony Papero, Athletic Director at Peru High School, was quoted as saying “Bob Bruno was, by far, one of the finest athletes I have ever coached at Peru Central School. He gave 100% to each of three sports in which he competed and he excelled at all three”. Bob was a teammate on several outstanding teams-alongside fellow classmate and Hall of Fame inductee Pete Keenan.

After graduation from Peru, Bob joined the U. S. Army during the Korean War. Upon his discharge from the Army he attended SUNY Plattsburgh and graduated in 1963. Bob was employed at Peru Central School from 1961 until retirement in 1992. He spent twenty-six years as classroom teacher at Northside School, followed by five years as administrator of the Intermediate School.

Bob’s entire adult life was dedicated to education and community betterment. He was a member of Board of Directors of the Clinton County Industrial and Agricultural Fair and President from 1977 through 1983. He was Recreation Director of the Town of Schuyler Falls from 1974 through 1983. He also served in local government was a member of the Clinton County Legislature from 1984 to 1998-serving as the Chairman from 1986 through 1996. He served on the Clinton County Nursing Home Board and Clinton Community College Foundation Corporate Board.

In April of 1996 Bob proposed the establishment of Clinton Community College to the Legislature and through his hard work the college was established. In 2006, Clinton Community College was awarded the first ever Honorary Degree in the Humanities. In 2008 a street was dedicated to Bob, known as the “BOB BRUNO WAY”.   In his spare time, he was a race car driver at Airborne Speed way along with other race tracks.

 

Peter Keenan Sr. – Athlete 

Pete graduated from Peru High School in 1948. While at Peru, Pete competed in Soccer 45-48, Cross Country 46 and 47, Basketball 45-48, Baseball 45-48, Track 47 and 48 and 8 man football in 1947. Pete played soccer for 4 years. There was no soccer in 1944 because of the war. School closed at noon so students could pick apples.

In Basketball Pete played for 4 years and was chosen a league all-star four times. The 44-45 and 47-48 teams were outstanding. Pete played baseball from 1945-1948 and won the class B Sectionals in 1948.

Pete also starred in Track-running the 100 yard dash. He was a member of the star 880 relay team and also excelled at the shot put.

Pete also coached on the varsity baseball team in 1985. Pete is a man who wears more than one hat. Pete is a Justice of the Peace in Peru and a member of the Clinton County Legislature. He umpired baseball for many years in both the men’s’ CVBL and the high school CVL.

Shawn Edwards – Athlete 

Shawn, a 1991 graduate of Peru High School, was a three sport athlete. While attending Peru he competed in soccer, wrestling and track. He earned 10 varsity letters: 6 in wrestling, 3 in soccer and 1 in track and field.

Shawn played varsity soccer for three years and was captain his junior and senior years. He led the team to a sectional title as a junior; he was noted for his flip throw in and his knuckle ball kick on the ball. He was named Honorable Mention Team his sophomore year and chosen to be a First team All-Star his junior and senior year.

His high school career started in seventh grade on the wrestling team. Needless to say, Shawn excelled in wrestling, winning 20 tournament titles. He was the first Peru wrestler to win 5 sectional titles and 5 Peru Invitational titles. He held the record for a number of years with 103 pins. He was also named Outstanding Wrestler in a number of tournaments. He was the first wrestler to enter the Sesquicentennial Club with a record of 150 and 27. Shawn went to the state tournament 5 times and placed 6th in the NYSPHSAA meet as a sophomore. He placed 2nd as a senior when there was only one division. After high school, Shawn went to Morrisville Community College where he compiled a record of 20 and 10 and qualified for the NJCAA National Wrestling Championships in Bismarck, ND.

 

Stephanie Wheet – Athlete 

Stephanie graduated in 1994 where she lettered in soccer, basketball and softball. She participated in varsity soccer all four years in high school and was team captain in 1994.

She played basketball from 91 through 94 and was captain in 1994. In 1993, she received the Sportsmanship Award at the Queensbury Holiday Tournament, and in 1994 she was voted the team’s most valuable player for the season.

Stephanie lettered all four years in softball and was captain in 1994. In 1991, she received the Sportsmanship Award for the year. In 1993, the team was the first team in Section Seven to win the scholar/athlete state championship. This was achieved by having the highest team grade point average of all the girls’ softball teams in the state. The team won the CVAC title and the Section Seven championship with a 16-2 record. Stephanie was selected to the All CVAC All-Star Team. In 1994, she was named to the elite All-State” 4^th team at the catcher position. This is a distinction that no other softball player in Section Seven had received to that point. She also received the team’s most valuable player award and was selected to the All-CVAC All-Star Team’s Catcher of the Year. Stephanie hit .572, scored 37 runs and drove in 42 runs that year. In June of 1994, she received the Ray A. Kroc youth achievement award for demonstrating all around excellence in the areas of citizenship, leadership, scholarship and extracurricular activities.

Theresa (Bobal) Sindelar – Athlete

Theresa (Bobal) Sindelar, Peru High School class of 1987, made her high school swimming debut in 1981, swimming on the varsity team as a 7^th grader. That year, she became the Section Seven champion in both the 100 yard butterfly and the 200 yard individual medley, setting school and section records in both events. She broke her own record the following year and continued to set pool, school and section records. The record times for each event were improved yet again in 1983 at the Section Championships and then again at the New York State meet. Theresa continued to shine in her two events over the years, and set pool and school records in other events as well, becoming the only swimmer in 1987 to have ever won sectional titles in an event six times. She was awarded Most Outstanding Swimmer honors by the Section many consecutive years. The Peru Varsity Swim team that Theresa was a part of won the Section Seven title for seven years straight.

Proud to be a student athlete, Theresa was also a part of the National Honor Society, French Honor Society, Model United Nations, Harvard United Nations and was a Regents Scholarship recipient.