The 2024 induction class into the St. Bernard Sports Hall of Fame includes legendary names.
Volleyball legends, Haley Smith Lopez and Rebekah Bonnaffee, and Lifelong Sports Announcer Tommy Krysan. This year’s lineup for the Hall of Fame proves to be a reflection of our honorees’ hard work and dedication to athletics. “These three newest inductees have made careers out of winning and achieving at the highest level and have left a legacy that will live on forever within St. Bernard Parish.” said President Melissa Barbay Gayé when asked about our newest members of the Hall of Fame.
The lineup of award winners in all of our other categories is stellar and the winners this year have all made us proud of our community and of all that we have achieved in sports. The Hall of Fame Crystal Award Winners bring experience and pride to the table as we honor Melanie Kitto Bean and Mario Lopreore. Their careers have been successful and meaningful. The nominations for The Ronnie Lamarque Ford and Motor Company Female and Male Amateur Athletes this year proved to be highly competitive and our choices for the female Amateur Athlete this year will honor Senior Softball Pitcher from Mount Carmel Academy, Chloe Krey and Southeastern University Softball standout, Aniya Harris who also had an amazing career at Chalmette High School. Our male Amateur Awards will recognize Chalmette High Senior Bryce Wilson, an accomplished Baseball player and UL commit, and Senior Football player from Holy Cross Senior Derrick Johnson, Jr., who has committed to Boston College to further his career.
Our Spotlight accomplishment awards honor athletes who are extending their career at the
Collegiate level. We will honor four high school senior athletes who have committed to play in college after this year. Brother Martin Seniors Cole Navarro and Senior Seth Dazet, and Chalmette High’s Shelby Vitrano and John Young will be celebrated for their contributions to their sport.
Because we will be remembering 20 years since Hurricane Katrina ravaged our beloved St. Bernard Parish, we will be honoring two special athletes who would have been awarded our Amateur Athlete Award in 2005 as a senior. This year’s special Hurricane Katrina Amateur Athlete Awards will go to Lance Lacoste and Vicki McInnis Nuccio.
In addition to honoring those in sport currently we admirably remember our athletes whose careers may have been cut short due to injury or family obligations is something that we like to hold in high esteem. Pro Boxer Britney Ruiz will receive the Elphage Caillouette Award because
of her contributions to her sport.
And most notably, we are extremely honored this year to welcome and recognize long-time
Chalmette High School Principal Wayne Warner as The Gulf Coast Humanitarian of the year.
Wayne Warner has contributed most of his life to St. Bernard Parish. We thank him for making
sure athletics was a cornerstone to our rebuilding efforts and part of the foundation of who we
are here.
Lastly, on the agenda for awards will be The Meraux Foundation Special Olympic Amateur
Athlete Awards given to Tyrique Britton and Madison Watson, and Adult Special Olympic
Awards awarded to BJ (Brian) Schultz and Matthew Davis.
Our night will be a special night where we celebrate all the wonderful things in our parish and
where we can join together to honor those who have been vital to the stability of athletics in our
Parish.
The Board of Directors are grateful to our Corporate Sponsors who have partnered with us
again this year to make this event possible. We are blessed by Gulf Coast Bank & Trust
Company, Ronnie Lamarque Motor Company, and The Meraux Foundation. We are indebted to
them for their support and their love for what we do at The St. Bernard Sports Hall of Fame.
The St. Bernard Hall of Fame Board of Directors will host its annual banquet on Saturday, March
15th in the Grand Ballroom at Frederick Sigur Civic Center. Festivities will begin at 7PM. Tickets
will go on sale February 14th. You can go online at Stbernardhof.com or click the QR code to
choose your seats. Ticket prices are $65 each and $650 for a full table. If you would like to
sponsor a table or be a special guest, please email President Melissa Barbay Gayé at
stbernardhalloffame@gmail.com for more information.