Chance Cronce, Marcie Michalko, Jodi Chatters, Sara Corbello and Gavin Cecchini, not pictured, were inducted into the Southwest Louisiana High School Sports Hall of Fame Monday night. (Michelle Higginbotham / Special to the American Press)
High School Sports HOF adds five area stars
Last Modified: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 12:24 PM
By Rachel Whittaker / American Press
Four girls etched their names in Lake Area sports lore Monday night with their formal induction into the Southwest Louisiana High School Sports Hall of Fame.
Barbe softball pitcher Sara Corbello and three-sport athletes Jodi Chatters of St. Louis, Chance Cronce of Singer and Marcie Michalko of Lacassine attended the 15th annual banquet and Hall of Fame induction ceremony after they were chosen by a selection committee from a pool of 29 nominees. Former Barbe baseball player Gavin Cecchini also earned a spot in this year’s class, but the No. 12 overall pick in the MLB First-Year Player Draft is currently playing in the New York Mets’ organization and was not present for the induction.
McNeese State women’s basketball coach Brooks Donald Williams served as the keynote speaker Monday, and she delivered a concise yet inspiring message to the inductees about following their dreams after high school.
“We’re all destined for something,” Donald Williams said. “We may not know the course that our lives are supposed to take ... but stay true to who you are and remember where you come from.”
Chatters, Corbello, Cronce and Michalko will move on to college in Louisiana in the fall. Corbello signed to play softball at Louisiana-Lafayette, Cronce to play basketball at Louisiana College and Chatters to play volleyball at Xavier University and major in biology. Michalko will attend McNeese and major in mathematics education.
Michalko described her induction into the Hall of Fame as “an awe-shocking moment.” Michalko earned all-district honors in basketball as Lacassine finished as state runner-up this year, and she also qualified for state competition in tennis and track.
“Seeing all the good basketball players and all the good athletes who have come through, it’s a moment that can’t be described,” Michalko said. “I can’t even fathom it. I’m definitely going to miss my dad being my (basketball and tennis) coach.”
Corbello is preparing for college by playing with the Louisiana Blazers softball team this summer before reporting to the Ragin’ Cajuns. She said she’s humbled by the Hall of Fame selection to conclude her high school career.
“It’s awesome; I still can’t believe it,” Corbello said. “I’ve heard about it but never thought I’d be able to be inducted.”
Chatters, a soccer, volleyball and track star at St. Louis, was recently named Outstanding Athlete of the Year by the American Press. She won two state soccer championships as a freshman and sophomore and also holds the school record for most goals in a season with 52 as a senior.
Cronce won three state titles each in the shot put and discus in her track career at Singer, and she led her basketball team to the state quarterfinals while racking up first-team all-district, second-team all-state and second-team All-Southwest Louisiana accolades.
“It shows what great leaders they’ve been for their schools and their communities to be chosen for something like this,” Donald Williams said. “These are overachievers in this room.”
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