Long-time Allen High teacher and coach Glenn Grigg to be inducted into Bangor Hall of Fame

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/

FROM KEITH GROLLER

Glenn Grigg was one of the true gems on the local sports scene, and his passing in the summer of 2012 after a heart attack still truly saddens me. Glenn is still very much missed.

Griggy's best known around Allentown as a teacher, coach and a do-it-all kind of guy who was the scorekeeper for Doug Snyder's boys basketball teams, Ed Stinner's Chicks softball teams, the ticket-taker and timer at J. Birney Crum Stadium and a variety of other things.

But before he came to Allen, he was a standout athlete at both Bangor Area High School and Moravian College and it's kind of bittersweet that now, after his passing, he is going to be inducted into the Slaters Athletic Hall of Fame.

He is one of five new inductees who will be honored early next month at multiple different events.

Here's a look at each inductee:

Matt Diomedo, class of 1998, is a four-year letter winner in both football and baseball.  He was the first player in 20 years to start both ways as a freshman.  Twice he was the homecoming game MVP, and in 1966 he won the Granville Evans award for outstanding offensive back.  He ran for 1,240 yards in 1996, breaking the single season rushing record.  In 1997, Matt broke 3 additional school records: most TD’s with 34, most rushing TD’s with 30 and the all-time career-rushing yardage with 2,650 yards.  In 1997 he received the Robert Butz Outstanding Defensive Back Award.  The Slaters were Colonial League Champs and 3-time Eastern Conference Champs while Matt played for Bangor.

Glenn Grigg, class of 1965, is was a 3-sport athlete at Bangor High School, who played football, basketball, and baseball.  He served as captain of the 1964 football team at BHS, and went on to Moravian College where he earned three football letters and was named to the 1968 All-Middle Atlantic Conference team.

David Hopstetter, class of 1980, earned numerous awards and recognition for his ability on the football field.  These include being chosen to play in McDonald’s All-Star Classic, Big 33 recognition, Voice of the Slaters Award, Robert Butz Memorial Award, Northampton County All-Star, Blue Mt. Jaycees Outstanding Player Award, Laneco Outstanding Player of the Week Award, Granville Evans Outstanding Player Award, and the Merit Athlete Award.

In 1979 scored every point in the Bangor/Nazareth game to beat Nazareth for the first time in 20 years.  This accomplishment generated the interest of Sports Illustrated, and he was interviewed by one of their writers.  David scored 113 individual career points, had 14 career rushing touchdowns, had 156 yards rushing in the game against Saucon Valley, and 6 individual interceptions for one season.  He is currently ranked 5^th in school history for 7 career interceptions.  His career-rushing yardage totals 1,305 yards. 

Frank Holland, class of 1963,  participated in track, football, basketball and baseball, for which he earned a combined 7 letters in his junior and senior years.  He was captain of the Slater football team in his senior year, playing under coach Richard Forster. 

In his senior year of basketball he averaged 10.6 points per game and 13.3 rebounds per game, playing for first year coach Bill Pensyl.  The team won 15 games that year, setting a school record. 

Coach Larry Strunk led Slater tennis from 1994 until 2009.  He was head coach of the boys ‘team in 2005 and brought them to the Colonial League Championship in 2008 and 2009.  He took over as head coach of the girls in 1996.  In 2001 he was Colonial League Girls’ Coach of the Year, a title he held five more times.

In a two-part ceremony on Sunday, October 6, 2013, the BAHS Alumni Association will recognize the “1885 Club” and Athletic Hall of Fame inductees for 2013.  The morning ceremony will be held at Bangor High School at 10:30 AM.  At this ceremony, wall plaques will be unveiled for both groups of individuals.  At 1:00 PM we will meet at the Blue Valley Farm Show for a buffet and a formal presentation of the inductees.  If you would like to attend this event, please call 610-588-5975 for reservations before Tuesday, September 24.  Seating is limited.  The cost is $23.00 per person.   A reservation form and the list of inductees is also available at the alumni website http://www.slateralums.com.

In addition, the Athletic Hall of Fame inductees will be announced at the Homecoming Game on Friday, October 4 (against Catasauqua).  Special seating will be provided at the game for the inductees and their families.