The Peru Gazette

 

The Peru Athletic Hall of Fame newest members are: Mike Rock Class of 67, Harry Duprey 71, Alison Spear 83, Lynn “Ezero” Dwinell 86 and Mike Oertel 2003.

The 2017 Hall of Fame banquet will be held on Saturday, October 7th at the Plattsburgh Moose Lodge, 90 Sharron Avenue. 6:00 social, and 7:00 dinner @ $30.00 per person.

Please get your reservations into Cathy Phillips ASAP. Checks can be sent with the names listed to Cathy Phillips, 4 Vista Drive, Willsboro, NY 12996 Home phone 518-963-7963 Cell 518-572-1235. Make checks payable to: Peru Athletic Hall of Fame.

Mike Rock graduated from Peru Central School in 1967. During his high school years Mike played football, basketball, and baseball. Mike played for Mike Beauvais, Tony Papero, Frank Ruane, Harry Brown, Dan McKillip and Frank White. Mike started playing varsity football in the fall of his freshman year 1964. In 1965 he was on the undefeated football team.
Mike also started playing baseball his freshman year and the teams won 3 out of the 4 years winning section 7 titles. Mike, under Coach Brown played point guard his senior year where he was known as “Mr. Dribbler” the team went a perfect 20 and 0 season. The team captured the Class A Champlain Valley League, the Greater Plattsburgh League, and the highest honor of all, the Section 7 Championship. In baseball Mike played four years on varsity in the positions of pitcher and shortstop. Mike is retired from UPS and lives in Morrisonville, NY.

Harry Duprey graduated from Peru in 1971. Harry played four years of varsity football, three years of varsity baseball (center field & catcher), two years of wrestling and one year of track and field. In football Harry was a running back and on defense he was probably one of the leagues most feared linebackers. Offensively, his biggest run was for 65 yards. Harry had gained close to seven hundred yards and had ten touchdowns before suffering a severe concussion in his senior year. Harry’s wrestling participation started in his junior year. Harry states “I was not going to start in basketball and Coach Riggs spoke to me and said the 177 lb. weight class was open so I decided to follow my brothers Joe and Don into wrestling”. It turned out to be a good choice as Harry was a two time Peru Invitational champ and a sectional champ his senior year. In baseball, he was the team catcher for two years and a center-fielder his senior year. He batted well over three hundred during his high school career. During baseball practice Coach Beauvais would have him participate on the track and field team competing in the shot put event. With personal bests of 42’ and 43’ Harry became an integral part of the team. “I was blessed with great coaches, great teachers and administrators while at Peru Central” Harry says. Harry chose to continue his education at SUNY, Plattsburgh. During that time, he participated in football, wrestling and baseball. In his senior year he was voted captain of the football team by his team mates. He received his bachelor’s degree in Business/Administration. Harry is retired from DOT and lives in Peru.

Alison Spear strongly exemplifies the proud heritage and renowned tradition of Peru “Indians” Athletics. Her natural talent and acquired skills, in conjunction with her dedicated work ethic and versatility, made her a fierce competitor on the athletic stage. Alison competed in three years of varsity swimming, two years of varsity soccer three years of varsity basketball, two years of varsity softball. “Al” received numerous athletic accolades, she was captain of both the soccer and basketball teams her senior year. In 1982 she was named CVAC offensive player of the year in soccer and was named to the 1983 All CVAC First team in basketball. Ms. Spear was very active in many school activities and functions as well as in the community. Alison went on to college and had an outstanding athletic career receiving a number of awards. Alison received her Doctorate of Medicine degree in 1998 and is currently an Emergency Medicine Physician at the Albany Medical Center, in Albany, NY.

Lynn Ezero Dwinell graduated from Peru High School in 1986. Lynn played soccer, basketball and softball. As a Peru athlete Lynn had knowledge, leadership, speed, and the desire to improve all attributes to being a good student and athlete. Starting in 1982 Lynn played four years of varsity soccer on the offensive line and was a Division I all-star as well as the all-conference team in 1983, 84. In 1985 Lynn was co-captain of the team; that went on to win the CVAC and the Section Seven title. Lynn was named MVP of Section 7 Division I all-stars. Lynn was also awarded the U.S. Army award, as well as M.V.P. of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Lynn’s basketball started in 1982 where she played point guard the next three years, she was co-captain in 1985. In 1983 Lynn was moved up to varsity softball and was a pitcher and played the infield all three years. She was on the team that had won its fifth straight Division I CVAC title as well as the sectional titles. Lynn is a registered nurse at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH.

Michael Oertel graduated in 2003 and was part of the 2001 Class B Football State Championship team. Michael lettered in three sports: football, basketball, and track and field. In all, he received 8 varsity letters. Michael would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the offensive line and their role in winning a state championship in 2001,the true unsung heroes of the gridiron.
As a football player, Michael was selected 2X to the NYS All-State First-Team as a tight end. He was a 2X CVAC-Section VII first-team tight end; CVAC-Section VII first-team as a defensive end his senior year; N.Y. State Northeast Regional Game Offensive Player of the game his junior year; North Country Super bowl – Defensive Player of the game his senior year; and CVAC-Section VII player of the year his senior year.
As a basketball player, Michael played 4 years at the varsity level. He was a 2X All-CVAC team selection, and a 2X Division I All-Star. Michael was also a team captain his junior and senior year.

Mike was heavily recruited to play football at the collegiate level. In the end, he chose to play for D-III powerhouse Ithaca College. At Ithaca College, Michael was a 4 year letterman. His junior year, he was selected to the Empire-8 Honorable Mention team, and his senior year he was selected to the Empire-8 First-team and the D3football.com All-East third team. It was during his senior year that he led the team in catches (40) and was awarded the Dick Lyon award as the team’s MVP.

Michael now resides in Los Angeles, CA where he is the CFO at University of the West. He is also on the Board of Director’s for the San Gabriel Rotary Club and the Treasurer/Board of Directors for the San Gabriel Chamber of Commerce.