On Jan. 3, the Francis Howell North Activities Office announced the first members to be inducted to the FHN Athletic Hall of Fame. The inauguration ceremony will take place on Friday, Jan. 18, in the large gym between the Varsity Girl’s and Varsity Boy’s basketball games.
The Athletic Hall of Fame was formed by Activities Director Mike Janes, who originally came up with the idea around five years ago.
“The whole process was very slow,” Janes said. “We wanted to have [the entire system] ready to go before we jumped into it full force.”
Over the past two months, Janes, along with current and former FHN coaches and booster club members have worked to come up with candidates and select the inductees. Potential members needed to be FHN alumni, graduated at least five years prior, and must be a good citizen. The first 10 being inducted were chosen to represent achievement in a variety of FHN sports.
“There were really a lot of people that could have gone in there this year, but we were really trying to spread it out” Janes said. “They’re all no-brainers; there’s no one in there that would make you ask ‘Why were they chosen?’”
The inductees are:
KATHY ANDERSON: Parent of 3 FHN alums, Barb ’91, Joe ’93 and Patti, ’95, Kathy worked extensively with FHN administrators, teachers and parents all 8 years. She served multiple years as president and treasurer of the Athletic Booster club, initiated Black and Gold day and initiated the scholarship program for a boy and a girl from the Athletic Booster club. She served at soccer rep for 8 years under Kurt Knodelseder and Dan Hogan. She received a Francis Howell Hall of Fame award for all her work volunteered in the school district. She straightened out tax exempt status with the IRS for the Athletic Boosters, which took her over 9 months. She dedicated countless hours supplying concession stands for all sports. She fought for and established a weight room for athletes and students. She helped initiate the booster club to pay the upgrade for stadium lights from wood phone poles to metal, and helped supply all concession stand equipment since the district didn’t have the funds. The booster club was a full time job at the time and they had to be very thrifty. Other committees included All-Knighter food chairman in ’93 and ’95, parent and teachers committee meeting 1 time a month ’93 thru ’95, worked Blood Drives, and even changed letters for the FHN sign before the electronic sign.
MARK BUEHRLE (Class of 1997): Mark Graduated from FHN in 1997. Mark continued his baseball career at Jefferson Community College. Mark made his major league debut on July, 16, 2000 with the Chicago White Sox. Mark is a four-time American League All-Star (2002, 2005, 2006 & 2009). He threw a no-hitter on April 18, 2007 vs. the Texas Rangers. On July 23, 2009, Mark threw the 18th perfect game in major-league history verses Tampa Bay. Mark is a 4-time recipient of the American league Rawlings Gold Glove Award. He was the Fielding Bible Award recipient for the 3rd straight season, recognizing the single-best fielder at each position. Mark is a two time winner of mlb.com’s GIBBY Award for play of the year. Mark Buerhle is the only pitcher in baseball history to have thrown multiple no-hitters and earn more than one Rawlings Gold Glove Award.
TRACY GROSE (Class of 1995): Was named Parade All American 1995. She played on our girls’ State Championship team and is the all-time leading scorer for the Lady Knights. She played soccer at Indiana University, and then embarked on a college coaching career.
ERIN HURT-POLLARD (Class of 1990): Played Softball and Basketball from 1987 to ‘90, and ran Track ‘87 to ‘89 for Howell North. She was 1st Team All-Conference and MVP all 4 years in Softball, had a 3rd place finish at State in ‘89, and was St Charles Post Athlete of the Week. In basketball she was a member of the 1000 pt club, was 1st Team All-conference 1988 thru ‘90. In track she was district 100m champ, placed 3rd in sectionals 100m, and state track meet long jump in 1988. Erin’s long jump record of 17’10” still stands as a FHN record. She also was the US Marine Corp Athletic of the year. She received an athletic scholarship for softball to Mo. State U, and was Mo Valley conference freshman of the year. She received her BS in special education and presently is assistant coach for the St Louis Fusion ASA Northern National Champs (girls fast pitch) 2010.
JEREMY IWASZKOWIEC (Class of 1996): Jeremy was Parade Magazine National Soccer Player of the Year for 1995-96. He attended Clemson University and has been coaching college soccer for the past several years. Jeremy played on our first State Final team in 1994 and also on the Final Four team in 1995, as well as our First Quarterfinal team in 1993. He’s our career leader in goals, assists and points, was team captain and an honor student. He was also All-Metro player of the year 1995-96. Former soccer coach Vince Nowak thinks so highly of Jeremy that he said, “I wish he would have married our daughter!”
LISA (KOWALEWSKI) SWEENEY (Class of 2001): Played basketball all 4 years of high school from 1997 to 2001, golf for 3 years, and track and field/discus her senior year. She was St. Charles County Post Player of the year in 2000, IAABO GAC Player of the Year 2001, 1 st Team all-GAC from 1998 to 2001, and FHN Girls All-Time leading scorer with 1,338 points. She played basketball 2001-2005 at Columbia College, and earned American Midwest Conference First Team all 4 years, Academic All-American 2003 to 2005, Career Scoring Leader 2079 points, and was inducted into Columbia College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010. She was the recipient of Columbia College Rogers Gate Award in 2005 and served on many committees. She’s currently working in sales for UniFirst Corporation. Lisa resides in Phoenix, AZ.
KENDALL EMMANUEL MATTHEWS (Class of 1993): Kendall played football and ran track from 1989 until 1992 at FHN before he graduated in 1993. Accomplishments were: 1991 Football Team District Champion, 1991 GAC 100 & 200 meter Track Champion, 1992 Football and Track Team GAC Champion, 1st Team Football All-GAC, and GAC Football Player of the year. His senior year he averaged 7.8 yards per carry and helped beat Howell with 268 yards, 2 touchdowns on 15 carries. Kendall was recruited by over 25 Div 1-A Universities from UCLA to Virginia Tech. He continued achievements in sports in college and at the professional level. He accepted a full-ride scholarship to Purdue University as a running back. At Purdue he played with future NFL greats like Mike Alstott and Drew Brees. His senior year he averaged 7.1 yards per carry, helped Purdue to a 9-3 record and victory in the Alamo Bowl Championship game, which laid the foundation for 10-years of Purdue Football resurgence. He was projected to be drafted in the 4th round in the Nat’l Football League before a career-ending leg injury occurred during a game where he rushed for 167 yards on 16 carries. Kendall graduated from Purdue in the top 10% of his class with a degree in Marketing. He has won the Phoenix Area 3 Toastmaster Interna’l Speaking Contest, and was named in Fast Co Magazine as the top 3% of influential People of Social Media. He is a marketing executive in Phoenix, Arizona with business interests in internal med clinics, online media joint ventures, and the local barbecue restaurant in St. Louis called Ms. Piggies’ Smokehouse.
JACKIE PIRTLE-HALL (Class of 2001): Jackie holds the FHN track record in the 1600 M, 3200 M, and the 3200 M relay. Jackie is the Go! St Louis Marathon course record holder, Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon course record holder and 2012 Olympic Trials qualifier. She has coached a 4th place class 4A cross country runner at McCluer North 2006-2009. NCAA and NAIA cross country runner. Participated in the 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 5k, 10k half marathon and marathon.
JASON SEXTON (Class of 1990): Jason was Howell North’s first state champion in any sport. He went on to become a 3 time state wrestling champion and finished his high school career with a 111-10 record. During his senior year, Jason also was selected to represent the USA all-star team in the prestigious Pennsylvania/USA all-star meet. He came out a winner in that as well. Jason went on to wrestle for the University of Missouri-Columbia. He was a 4 year starter and letterman for the Tigers. Today, Jason is living in Texas, and running a construction business. He has also been heavily involved in coaching little league and High School wrestlers in his area.
CHRIS SLOAN (Class of 2000): Chris played basketball for Howell North 1998 thru 2000. He was 3 time all conference and honorable mention all-metro in 1998. He was 3 rd team All-Metro and 2nd Team All-State, both in 1999. He was 1st team All-Metro and also 1st Team All State in 2000. Chris holds the FHN record for career points (1664), career rebounds (750), and career double doubles. He also received Honorable mention for McDonald’s All American. He was a 4-year starter at St. Louis University.
