MICHAEL C. ALLEN, Sr.
(Gary, Ind. resident)
Another in a long line of outstanding of outstanding Hammond High football running backs, he earned all-state honors in 1988; he also starred on defense at cornerback. He continued his career at Valparaiso University where he was team captain in 1993. Also at Hammond High, he played guard on the basketball team and was a track team sprinter. He is employed in manufacturing.

RICK BIANCARDI
(Granger, Ind. resident)
This 1968 Gavit graduate starred in basketball and baseball for the Gladiators. As a deadeye shooting guard, he led the Northwest Conference in scoring his senior season with a 27.4 points per game average. The all-conference and team MVP earned similar honors on the baseball diamond as a second baseman. He went on to play college basketball for four seasons at the University of Wisconsin-Stout (’68-’72), earning various honors for a team that compiled an 86-16 record during his career. After graduating in ’72, he played on the Hammond YMCA ’75 state championship team. He is employed as a food service director.

THOMAS GEFFERT
(Griffith, Ind. resident)
A versatile football standout at Clark, this 1974 graduate earned Bell Telephone all-state honors and Times all-area recognition. He also was all-Indiana Lake Shore Conference as a defensive end, offensive guard and place kicker, and competed in the annual North-South summer all-star game for recent Indiana high school graduates. Additionally at Clark, he earned all-conference soccer honors as a goaltender. He continued to play football at the University of Indianapolis, starting every game of his 4-year career as an offensive lineman. Before graduating in ’78, he earned all-Indiana Collegiate Conference honors in ’76 & ’77 and was selected his team’s most valuable offensive lineman. In ’78, he had a try-out with the Green Bay Packers. He also competed on the U.I. Greyhounds’ ’75 team that advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III playoffs. He is employed as a union organizer.

ROBERT J. GRENDA
(Zionsville, Ind. resident)
This 1971 Morton graduate and versatile football standout earned all-state honors as a running back in ’70. He also played safety and handled kicking and punting chores, was named Offensive Player of Year by The Times, captained Morton’s Indiana Lake Shore Conference championship team and was selected to compete in the North-South summer all-star game for recent Indiana high school graduates. Also for the Governors, he played basketball and was an all-conference baseball 3rd baseman. He went on to play football at Butler University (Class of ’75), where he was a 2-time all-conference selection and captain. He was named Butler Athlete of the Year in ’74 and was inducted into the Butler Hall of Fame in 2003. Currently Dean of Students at Carmel High School, he previously coached on the football staff at Carmel that led the Greyhounds to 4 state championships.

ESTELL HARPER
(Greensboro, N.C. resident)
This 1930s/40s 2-sport standout starred at Hammond Tech and then North Carolina A&T University. He became the first 4-time basketball team captain in North Carolina A&T history, also earning all-conference honors. As an outstanding high jumper, he competed in numerous major track & field events of his era, placing first in his specialty at the Penn Relays and in New York’s Madison Square Garden. He has been inducted into several Halls of Fame, including that of North Carolina A&T. He is a retired educator.

JENNIFER G. (JOHNSEN) GOHMANN
(New Albany, Ind. resident)
She starred in volleyball and basketball at Bishop Noll. This 1993 graduate earned academic all-state, all-Indiana Lake Shore Conference and Times all-area volleyball honors in ’92, while also helping lead Noll to three conference and sectional titles. She continued her volleyball career at the University of Indianapolis, where she set an NCAA Division II record for solo block kills and was named team captain and MVP in ’96 before graduating. As a Noll basketball player, she earned all-conference and honorable mention all-area honors, while competing on two sectional and conference title teams. In ’93, she was selected the Indiana Lake Shore Conference Female Athlete of the Year and received the Bishop Noll President’s Award for Outstanding Contributions in Athletics.

WES LUKOSHUS
(Munster, Ind. resident)
This 1970 Morton graduate quarterbacked & captained one of coach Maurey Zlotnik’s state top 20-ranked football squads, teaming with 2007 Hall of Fame running back Bob Grenda. As a 4-year track letterman, his mile relay unit set a school record that is one of the longest-standing in school history. At Culver-Stockton College (Class of ’74), he lettered in football and baseball before embarking on a career in journalism, communication & sports media. He covered high school, college and professional sports for The Times during the ‘70s & 80s and broadcast high school and Purdue University Calumet sports programming for radio station WJOB. He also has served as steering committee chairman of the Hammond Sports Hall of Fame. He is a Purdue Calumet administrator.

AB (Auree Bash) SCOTT
(deceased)
This 1928 U.S. wrestling Olympian and Indiana University standout came to Hammond and enjoyed great success coaching Hammond High wrestling and swimming teams during the 1930s. He directed Wildcat grapplers to team state titles in 1935, 36 & 37. He also led Hammond High swimmers to a state crown in ’36 before becoming administrator of the Civic Center.

JIM SHERER
(Crown Point, Ind. resident)
After a standout football playing career, this 1965 Morton graduate established himself as an outstanding football coach for nearly three decades—primarily at Hammond High. Morton’s MVP in ’64, he went on to star at Culver-Stockton College as a 2-time, NAIA all-district and all-conference defensive end (’67 & ’68). Upon graduation in ’69, he began a teaching/coaching career that included 26 years in the Hammond Schools System. Climbing the ranks from middle school to freshman level to varsity assistant under Hammond Sports Hall of Fame coaches George Hall and Tom Zasada, he served as Wildcats head coach for 10 seasons (’89-’98). His 10-year record of 60-40 includes a sectional finalist, 10-1 mark in ’94, for which he was named Lake 10 Conference Coach of the Year. He continues to teach in the Hammond Schools System.

CARLOS “The Force” TITE
(Munster, Ind. resident)
This 1975 Gavit graduate established himself initially as a high school wrestler, claiming a sectional title and regional runner-up honors in ’75. From wrestling, his sports career turned to prizefighting, as he helped pioneer an era of renewed local popularity in professional boxing as one of Northwest Indiana’s most accomplished pugilists. During a career that reached its zenith during the ‘80s, he reigned as Indiana Middleweight Champion. In ’84, he was recognized as the 8th ranking middleweight in the world. He is pictured here in an ’83 bout at the Hammond Civic Center that was televised by ESPN. He is employed as a boilermaker.