The years do pass. On Oct. 10, I traveled to Canton to watch three former Section 3 stars get inducted into St. Lawrence University's Athletic Hall of Fame: Baldwinsville's Pat Conners and Fulton's Mark Shortsleeve and Lelan Rogers.
Conners was NCAA Division III champion at heavyweight in 1988, helping the Saints win the team title. He also played football. He is a teacher, coaching football and wrestling for many years at South Jefferson. He was accompanied by family, including his mother, Norma, former Section 3 secretary.
Shortsleeve was 1986 champ at 134 pounds. He lives in Parish and works for Usherwood Technology in Syracuse.
Rogers was the 1985 champion at 190 and also played football and lacrosse at SLU, before transferring to Syracuse University, where he wrestled and played lacrosse. He is an assistant men's lacrosse coach at SU.
They were three of six NCAA champions inducted that day. The others were Dr. Tod Northrup from Waverly-4 (1983 champ at 167), Phil Lanzatella from McQuaid-5 (1982 champ at 190) and Jason Bovenzi of East Rochester-5 (1993 champion at 190, then 1995 champion at 190 for Ithaca College).
They all joined three national champs inducted in previous years: the late Ron Pelligra (CBA '72, the 1976 heavyweight champ), Mitch Brown (Williamsville South-6 '74, the 1977 champ at 158) and Mike Conners, Baldwinsville '80, the heavyweight champ in 1984.
St. Lawrence dropped wrestling after 1994-95. Its alumni in the sport include Isadore Demsky '39, better known as actor and writer Kirk Douglas.
Conners was NCAA Division III champion at heavyweight in 1988, helping the Saints win the team title. He also played football. He is a teacher, coaching football and wrestling for many years at South Jefferson. He was accompanied by family, including his mother, Norma, former Section 3 secretary.
Shortsleeve was 1986 champ at 134 pounds. He lives in Parish and works for Usherwood Technology in Syracuse.
Rogers was the 1985 champion at 190 and also played football and lacrosse at SLU, before transferring to Syracuse University, where he wrestled and played lacrosse. He is an assistant men's lacrosse coach at SU.
They were three of six NCAA champions inducted that day. The others were Dr. Tod Northrup from Waverly-4 (1983 champ at 167), Phil Lanzatella from McQuaid-5 (1982 champ at 190) and Jason Bovenzi of East Rochester-5 (1993 champion at 190, then 1995 champion at 190 for Ithaca College).
They all joined three national champs inducted in previous years: the late Ron Pelligra (CBA '72, the 1976 heavyweight champ), Mitch Brown (Williamsville South-6 '74, the 1977 champ at 158) and Mike Conners, Baldwinsville '80, the heavyweight champ in 1984.
St. Lawrence dropped wrestling after 1994-95. Its alumni in the sport include Isadore Demsky '39, better known as actor and writer Kirk Douglas.
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