Jacobs High announces inaugural athletic hall of fame class
From Staff Reports May 21, 2012 11:11PM
Updated: May 24, 2012 10:47PM
The Jacobs High School Athletic Hall of Fame has announced its inaugural class, which will be inducted in ceremonies on September 14.
The nine athletes and one coach in the inaugural class are: Sarah Ahnen Rappaport, Class of 1999; Kelly Becker, Class of 1980; Don Biagioni, Coach; Kim Kelly, Class of 1987; Jorie Miguel Fontana, Class of 2000; Tom Schafer, Class of 1983; Joe Scime, Class of 1978; Mark Slimko, Class of 1985; Matt Whalen, Class of 2002; and Pat Whalen, Class of 2004.
The Jacobs Athletic Hall of Fame is dedicated to the outstanding athletes, teams, coaches and supporters who through their athletic accomplishments have brought honor and recognition to themselves, Jacobs High and the community.
For further information, please contact the athletic office at 847.532.6150 or jhshof@d300.org.
Here is a list of the accomplishments of each of the 10 inductees:
Sarah Ahnen Rappaport, Class of 1999
Ahnen Rappaport was a 1999 Jacobs graduate and a three-year volleyball starter. She played on the supersectional team of 1998 and was an All-Fox Valley volleyball selection her junior and senior years. She also was a member of the Courier-News All-Area team and Pioneer Press Player of the Year in 1998.
Ahnen Rappaport played volleyball at Division II Michigan Tech and was named Division II Academic All-American Third Team in 2001 and First Team in 2002. She graduated with a 4.0 GPA and currently resides in Arizona.
Kelly Becker, Class of 1980
Becker played volleyball, basketball and track, lettering in all three sports. She was All-Fox Valley in volleyball and basketball her junior and senior years.
Becker was the first Jacobs female student-athlete to play Division I athletics. At Michigan State she was volleyball team captain from 1982-84, and first-team All-Big Ten in 1984, Michigan State Female Athlete of the Year 1984-85, and volleyball MVP 1982 and 1984. Her senior year Becker was chosen MSU Outstanding Female Athlete (academic and athletic achievement) for all sports.
Don Biagioni, Coach
Biagioni was a multi-sport coach and counselor at Jacobs for 18 years. He became head volleyball coach in 1989, retiring in 2005. He coached back-to-back 30-win seasons in 1998 and 1999, setting the school record with 38 wins in 1999. Biagioni’s volleyball team reached the supersectional in 1999. His teams also won four regionals and he coached several Division I volleyball student-athletes. Biagioni passed away in 2010.
Kim Kelly, Class of 1987
Kelly was a 1987 Jacobs graduate who participated in track and cross-country, lettering in both for four years. In 1986 she was Fox Valley Track champion in the 1600- and 3200-meter runs. In 1986 and 1987 she was part of the 3200 relay teams that won the FVC title and qualified for state.
In cross country, Kelly was All-FVC for four years helped the Golden Eagles qualify for state as a team as a senior. She is raising a family and residing in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Jorie Miguel Fontana, Class of 2000
Miguel Fontana was a 2000 Jacobs graduate who participated in volleyball and soccer. She was a three year All-FVC and two-time All-Area Volleyball player. She was named Sun-Times All-State.
Miguel Fontana graduated Loyola University, played volleyball four years and was selected Horizon League First Team All-Conference her senior year. She graduated Cum Laude in Spanish and education and is currently the volleyball head coach at Crystal Lake South.
Tom Schafer, Class of 1983
Schafer was a 1983 Jacobs graduate who played basketball. He earned All-Fox Valley honors and Sun-Times All-State honors and was named McDonald’s City-Suburban game MVP his senior year.
Schafer attended Illinois on a basketball scholarship in 1983-85 and Iowa State in 1985-87, completing his undergraduate degree there and his Master’s degree from Loyola. He was named All-Conference and Iowa State Senior Athlete of the Year his senior year. He was drafted by the Denver Nuggets and played professional basketball in Finland, Belgium, France and Australia.
Schafer currently resides in California, is married, and is raising a family.
Joe Scime, Class of 1978
Scime is a 1978 Jacobs graduate who was a three-sport student-athlete in football, basketball, and baseball. He was named all-conference in all three sports his senior year and all-state in baseball by the IBCA. Scime received a baseball scholarship at Wisconsin, played four years, and was co-captain his junior and senior years. Also, he was second team All-Big Ten his junior year and first team All-Big Ten his senior year. He holds Wisconsin’s records for hits in one year and career doubles.
Scime was a seventh-round draft pick by the Atlanta Braves and played in the Atlanta and Detroit farm systems. He is married with three children and lives in Algonquin.
Mark Slimko, Class of 1985
Slimko is a 1985 Jacobs graduate and a two-sport varsity student-athlete. He was a unanimous All-Fox Valley basketball selection his junior and senior years, Sun-Times All-State special mention, and Courier-News Player of the Year in 1985.
Slimko received an Air Force Academy appointment, graduating in 1989. He was a basketball student-athlete four years and basketball co-captain his senior year. He has the rank of Lt. Colonel in the Air Force Reserves.
Slimko played on the All-Armed Forces team that won a Bronze Medal in Greece in 1990. He is married, has three children and lives in Crystal Lake.
Matt Whalen, Class of 2002
Matt Whalen is a 2002 Jacobs graduate who competed in football and track and field. He won the state championship in the shot put in 2002, and placed eighth in 2001. He was Fox Valley shot put champion in both 2001 and 2002, and McHenry County shot put champion in those same years, during which he also placed first in the sectional meet.
Matt Whalen is currently assistant track and field coach at Burlington Central.
Pat Whalen, Class of 2004
Pat Whalen is a 2004 Jacobs graduate who competed in football for two years and track and field for four years. He was the state shot put champion in 2004 and placed fourth in the event in 2003. He was also the Fox Valley Conference champion in the shot put and sectional champion in both 2002 and 2003.
Pat Whalen placed fourth in the discus in 2004 and 12th in 2003 in the state meet. He was also the Fox Valley Conference discus champion in 2003 and 2004.
