Members of the Charlotte High School Athletic Hall of Fame committee will tell you the selection process was difficult. However, the inaugural class, which will be officially inducted in the Hall of Fame on Saturday, Sept. 15, is full of obvious selections. Included in the 2018 class is a former NFL lineman, a former major league baseball player and longtime professional baseball coach, a professional basketball Most Valuable Player, and state championship coaches.

“We could have put a lot more people in, and definitely have a good pool of nominations left,” said committee chair Ben Phlegar, following the May announcement of inductees. “Overall, we were all very satisfied with the process.”

The class includes:

Community Members

Tony “Coach Tony” Rodriguez

The Football Chain Crew, led by the Nevins family, Bob, Rick and Rob

Coaches and Administrators

Malcolm “Mac” Gobel

Ron Schultheiss

Teams

1940 Cross Country — State Champions, Coach Kenneth Brown

1956 and 57 Football Team — Undefeated Perfect Seasons, Coach Mac Gobel

1968 Wrestling — State Champions, Coach Ron Schultheiss

1968 and 69 Cross Country — State Champions, Coach Mac Gobel

Student Athletes

Wayne Terwilliger, Class of 1942

Bob Mohre, Class of 1947

Wayne Brown, Class of 1962

Mike Martens, Class of 1962

Joe Bartolacci, Class of 1967

Brock Gutierrez, Class of 1991

Eric Menk, Class of 1992

Sarah Vandermolen Ginther, Class of 1997

Brian Lautzenheiser, Class of 2001

Brian Miller, Class of 2001

Anna Vanderstelt Frank, Class of 2001

Lyndsay Berger, Class of 2008

Most of the inaugural class has committed to returning home for the Sept. 15 ceremony, while others will be in attendance for a private unveiling of the Hall of Fame plaques that will hang on the wall of the Charlotte High School lobby.

“Some are coming in from a long ways away,” Phlegar said. “Everybody seemed to be excited about it that I’ve talked to.”

Menk, who followed up a stellar career at Charlotte High School with even more success at Lake Superior State before reaching legendary status in the professional Philippine Basketball Association, will be flying in from the Philippines for the event.

“I’m honored and grateful to be recognized by the school and the community for my time at Charlotte High,” Menk said. “Those years have always been important to me as the origin of any success I’ve had since graduating. I’m looking forward to celebrating the school’s athletic Hall of Fame weekend with fellow Orioles.”

Other former Orioles will be flying in from as far as Texas and California to take part in the induction ceremony.

Members of the 2018 calss will be recognized before the start of Charlotte’s varsity football game against Portland on Friday, Sept. 14. The induction ceremony, which is free and open to the public, takes place at the Charlotte Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15.