Reviving The Severna Park Athletic Hall Of Fame

Many great athletes, coaches and supporters at Severna Park High School have contributed to state championship teams and college opportunities for students.

In the past, the skills and spirit of these athletes, coaches and supporters have been recognized by community residents providing nominations for the Severna Park Booster Club Hall of Fame.

Because of the construction of the new high school and COVID-19, the Hall of Fame has not solicited nominations for several years.

Hall of Fame Chairman Larry Sells has assembled a nominations committee of past recipients and boosters club members to resurrect the school’s Hall of Fame and to recognize everyone who has made Severna Park sports a highly recognized athletic program in Maryland.

The first induction class for the Hall of Fame was in 2003. Since then, more than 100 players, coaches and community members have been selected for the hall.

“I started the Hall of Fame because of the amount of amazing athletes who have played at Severna Park and have never been recognized for their outstanding achievements,” said committee member Bill Willey. “It was long overdue and could not have come to fruition without Andy Borland. He’s the true historian of Severna Park athletics.”

Anyone who has been involved in the Severna Park athletic program can be nominated if they meet a few qualifications. Athletes who graduated from Severna Park a minimum of five years ago are eligible, and coaches who have left the Severna Park coaching ranks at least two years ago are able to be nominated. Also, players, coaches or supporters must exemplify the highest standards of sportsmanship, ethical conduct and moral character, as well as making a significant or long-term contribution to Severna Park athletics.

“There have been so many great athletes coming out of Severna Park every year; this is an avenue to recognize them for their contributions to Severna Park,” said committee member Jamie Bragg.

Bragg was inducted in the 2004 class and had a stellar football career in the late 1980s with the Falcons, which led him to play at the University of Maryland. Bragg is still active with the Terps as he is involved with the Best is Ahead project. The program enables players to speak to elementary and middle school students on current educational topics.

“It’s pretty special to be nominated and chosen for the boosters’ Hall of Fame,” Bragg said. “Any time you get honored for your past accomplishments, it’s a great feeling.”

Also in the past, nominations were often reconsidered the following year if a person was not selected. Unfortunately, those records were lost during the transition from the old to the new high school.

“It’s important that the community knows that they can nominate anyone from the start of the school in 1960 to when the athlete graduated five years ago,” Sells said.

Sells is also working with the high school administration and local companies to build a Hall of Fame wall in the lobby outside the high school’s gymnasium.

“Hopefully it will be finished by the end of summer,” Sells said.

Also, the committee will plan a Hall of Fame dinner to celebrate the inductees’ selection as well as past Hall of Fame recipients.

To nominate a player, coach or community member, residents can go to www.spboosters.org and select the page titled “Hall of Fame.” Print out the form and mail or email it to Sells. For more information, email larry.sells@verizon.net.

“I know the new principal, Lindsay Abruzzo, is supportive of the committees’ strategies of revitalizing the Hall of Fame,” Bragg said. “We’ll begin using social media platforms, like Facebook, to create more interest for all the athletes’ accomplishments.”