Being home to over 900 student athletes each year as well as hundreds of regional and state championships since its establishment, Mitty’s Athletics department has undoubtedly built an impressive reputation and legacy. Inspired by this rich history, the AMHS Hall of Fame Induction event continues the tradition of honoring alumni, coaches, and administrators who had an exceptional impact on the high school field.

Behind the scenes of the excitement and celebration, running this event would not be possible if not for the careful planning from beginning to end. The Hall of Fame executive committee, composed of faculty from the Advancement and Athletics departments, discusses and votes with current Hall of Fame members on who to induct based on the athletes’ achievements and recommendations from head coaches. Meanwhile, the committee also handles logistics, organizing presentations and videos for the event.  

This year’s event, occurring in Fien Gym, opened with a welcome from Ms. Hilton, followed by dinner with all the attendees. Afterwards, faculty presenters inducted athletes into their respective halls. 

Mr. Patrick Kennedy, athletics director, began by introducing men’s soccer player Zlatko Bijelic ‘07, who achieved honors ranging from being named WCAL Player of the Year to two CCS Championships. Zlatko was followed by four other Hall of Fame inductees: Haley Jones ’19 (Basketball), Roshan Mehdizadeh ’01 (Swimming), Don Schwartz ’74 (Football, Baseball), and Nick Yorke ’20 (Baseball). The athletes each gave brief acceptance speeches and received both a trophy and a lifetime pass to Mitty sporting events of all kinds before heading to MacLean Gym for interviews and photos.

In addition to the Hall of Fame inductees, three teams (1971 Football, 2014 Women’s Volleyball, and 2015 Women’s Volleyball) were inducted into the Hall of Champions. Finally, Mr. John Mosunic was inducted into the Hall of Honor, a recognition for coaches who contributed exceptionally to the athletics program, for his work over 40 years with the men’s and women’s golf teams. 

Mr. Miller, a frequent attendee of the Hall of Fame, feels that it is a community oriented and historical event that is monumental in honoring the community’s athletes. Having seen the gradual evolution of the event through his more than twenty years of attendance, he is most proud of the 2026 rendition which marked a significant shift in structure and timing. Previously, this ceremony was much more casual, treated as a simple meetup between families and Archbishop Mitty community members. Throughout the years, as the Hall of Fame gained popularity in the growing Mitty community, the event became an organized proceeding with a stricter schedule. 

Mr. Miller is proud to see how the event has grown and how more recognition is being given to the athletes’ outstanding performances. What makes it even more touching for him is to see athletes he personally knew as students return to Mitty for the event. This year, he most notably mentioned the exceptional CCS champion swimmers, as well as how he was drawn to the stories from football representatives from the 1970s, and how grateful he was to be able to meet with them once again after several years. 

Mr. Miller specifically describes the event as “a community celebration of what we’ve accomplished as individuals and as a team.” The most emotional and memorable moments of this ceremony for him tend to surround speeches given throughout the event, especially when he is inducting an athlete. Similarly, Mr. Kennedy pinpoints this feeling of community as a “great energy in the room,” resonating with the excitement of the crowd as they listen to these athletes’ stories. Mr. Miller describes that such tributes feel like reliving critical moments in the athlete’s career. Remembering their struggles and resilience as students, he experiences great pride in seeing them return after reaching professional success. 

Additionally, the event serves as a way for alumni, family, and friends to return and reconnect. Aside from celebrating great athletic achievements, Mr. Kennedy also finds joy in these reunions as he believes it gives people an opportunity to reconnect and come back to their home. “Seeing and hearing about how connected people feel to the school and what a special place it is makes you love being here,” he reflects.

For over 20 years, the AMHS Hall of Fame Induction has become an important tradition in honoring alumni who are a part of Mitty’s incredible athletic history. Though it started off as a smaller ceremony, it has now become a large organized event that celebrates the legacy of Mitty’s athletes—some of the individuals who make the community so prominent and exceptional.