Morgan Park Academy’s Class of 2024 for the Athletic Walk of Fame comprises seven alumni and one team: Fred Montgomery ’64, Reggie Johnson ’74, Pat Jones ’74, Laura DeHaan ’94, Claire Browne ’04, Erin Vaughn ’04, Samantha Panozzo ’14, and the 2013-14 girls basketball team.
SEE PHOTOS FROM THE INDUCTION CEREMONY
Fred Montgomery ’64
Football, Wrestling, Track, Baseball, Basketball
All-conference selection in football who also captained the wrestling team and lettered in track … In football, played both ways, helping the Warriors win the PSL championship his junior year before rating among the team’s eight all-conference picks as a senior … Caught an 84-yard touchdown pass from Roger McGuire (AWOF 2012) in a 39-0 homecoming win his senior year, the team’s best effort of the season … Part of a mile medley team that set a track record at the Wheaton relays his junior year … Student Council leader for three years, including president as a senior
Reggie Johnson ’74
Football, Basketball
Led the 1973-74 football team as a senior co-captain to a 6-0 record and the Independent School League championship, the program’s third straight conference title … Played a supporting role as a junior for football’s 1972-73 conference champions (AWOF 2023), who posted a 6-1 record … Also a standout for three years in basketball
Pat Jones ’74
Volleyball, Field Hockey, Basketball
An early standout in an era of skirts for female athletes, helping to set the stage for the growth and development of MPA girls athletics … Played all seasons, every year, captaining the volleyball, field hockey, and basketball teams and winning team MVP honors in both field hockey and volleyball … An honor roll student who was involved all over campus, from glee club to the school newspaper to serving as class treasurer … “Pat embodied and represented the spirit of MPA that was very much evident in the excellent sports programs of the school at that time,” said D. Stephen Menzies ’73 (AWOF 2023)
Laura DeHaan Voney ’94
Softball, Volleyball, Basketball
A key contributor in all seasons of the sports calendar, but shined especially in softball … As a pitcher, teamed with Kate Kozacik Galley ’93 (AWOF 2010) and Latania Broyls ’93 (AWOF 2013) in 1993 to lead softball to an 11-1 record and their first ISL championship in six years, beating Lake Forest Academy in extra innings … Team MVP and all-conference pick her senior year, after they graduated, leading the team to a 12-2 record … Helped softball finish second in the conference three times … A leader all over campus, serving as class vice president and on Student Council all four years
Claire Browne ’04
Basketball, Softball, Volleyball
Basketball sharp-shooter and perimeter defender who teamed with co-MVP Lopa Pandya ’04 (AWOF 2014) to lead the Warriors to the regional finals their senior season … Named to two all-tournament teams as a senior and shared the coaches’ award as a junior … Softball all-conference pick who shared MVP honors as a junior with Kristen Javorski Kipping-Ruane ’06 (AWOF 2017).
Erin Vaughn Bolden ’04
Tennis, Track
Tennis standout who won two team MVP awards … Won a sectional championship and qualified for the state singles tournament in 2000 … In track, ran sprints (100- and 200-meter dashes, and relays) … Was a sophomore in 2001-02 when the MPA track team relaunched, and made an immediate impact, earning MVP honors on a large, coed team
Samantha Panozzo ’14
Volleyball, Softball
Three-time team MVP and six-time all-conference pick in volleyball and softball who was ISL volleyball player of the year as a senior … Helped lead the volleyball team to the last four in a streak of nine consecutive regional championships, including MPA’s second sectional title and only state quarterfinals (Elite Eight) appearance … Three-time all-conference pick in softball, playing a critical role in the last two of seven straight ISL championships and two regional final appearances
2013-14 Girls Basketball Team
The last of the program’s six regional champions in seven years, led by all-conference team MVP Gabrielle Ogbevire ’16, on her way to 1,230 career points and 1,122 career rebounds … Brittney McKnight ’15 earned all-conference honorable mention and the team coaches’ award, while Berat Gulecyuz ’17 was named Most Improved Player
Team members also included Elena Hease ’15, Stephanie Mullings ’15, Julie Wiegel ’14, Claire Mordi ’15, Bhy Williams ’17, Alana Lay-Phillips ’17, head coach Tom Drahozal, and assistant coaches Francie Kozacik P’93 and Bart Kramer P’13.
Established in 2009, the Morgan Park Academy Athletic Walk of Fame honors former students, coaches, and teams who have represented MPA and MPMA through athletic excellence. Honorees are selected annually from a pool of publicly nominated candidates by a committee of faculty, staff, coaches, and alumni. The deadline for nominations is in March, with the induction ceremony held each September at Homecoming.
