The Athletic Hall of Fame is a great honor awarded to graduated student-athletes and coaches by the Boston Latin School Association (BLSA). This year, the BLSA Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony will take place on March 15 at 6:00 P.M.

To be considered, recipients must be positive role models and have a good win-loss record, either as a coach or previous student-athlete. This year’s awardees are wrestling Head Coach Jeffrey Gibbons and former BLS girls’ hockey player Ms. Catherine Foley, for coach and student-athlete, respectively.

Ms. Foley started playing hockey at only four years old. Her mother, who grew up skating on frozen ponds and playing field hockey, was on the inaugural team at Providence University. Ms. Foley says, “[My] home away from home was the Murphy Rink near Castle Island in Southie, where I grew up.” She mostly played with boys but skated with the South Boston Angel girls’ program, which her mother started.

Ms. Foley wasn’t a natural at first, but she learned a lot from Coach Mike Sullivan, who now coaches the Pittsburgh Penguins. Ms. Foley was partially inspired to play hockey by the 1998 U.S. Olympic women’s team, which won the Olympics in Nagano, Japan, the first time the sport was in the Olympics. She joined the BLS girls’ hockey team in her sixie year, which was the team’s first season as an official sports team instead of a competitive club.

The award came as a surprise to Ms. Foley, who opened a general BLSA email to find out. This honor was well-deserved; she helped win the Division II states against Arlington, winning with a score of 5-4 when there were only seven minutes left. Ms. Foley netted two goals with five minutes remaining, giving the Wolfpack the edge. While on the team, she was honored every year at the sports banquet from 9th to 12th grade, receiving three MVP awards and being recognized as the team’s outstanding performer.

She went on to play collegiate hockey and played on the inaugural team for Boston University for two years. One of her personal achievements was scoring in her last game against Northeastern University, as her team was always considered the underdogs. Ms. Foley enjoyed having her own rink at Boston University and playing in the famous Beanpot tournament featuring games against Harvard University, Boston College and Northeastern.

Ms. Foley believes that her time playing sports was formative in her life. She adds, however, that “sports are temporary, classics are forever.” She wants all athletes to have balance and channel the same energy they put into their sports into their academics or other interests.

Head Coach Gibbons, nominated for the coach’s award, began his wrestling career in 1989 at Boston College High School.

After working at an office job in California, he had a change of heart and decided to move to Massachusetts to become an educator and coach. Gibbons credits both his teaching and coaching job to former BLS Athletic Director John McDonough, who asked him to meet the Head of School for Brockton High School before accepting a head coach position there.

After coaching at BLS for years, Gibbons’s students have come to realize just how deserving his award is. Manager of the wrestling team Alexis Kiley (IV) says, “I’m proud to be able to say a coach of mine is being placed in the BLSA Athletic Hall of Fame.” For the last couple of months, she has seen Gibbons as a remarkable leader and mentor. Even though Kiley has only worked with the team for the latest season, she and other members believe it to be a well-deserved award for Gibbons.

Throughout his life, Gibbons has admired Ray Berry, his assistant head coach and former high school coach. His high school head coach, Ron Brown, is similarly in the Massachusetts chapter of the National Hall of Fame. Ed Smith, the first BLS wrestling coach and a Boston Police officer, was one of the first people he called after winning the Dual County League.

Gibbons himself was surprised and honored to hear about his award. It was so important for him that “one of [his] first thoughts was, ‘do I need to give a speech?’” His father was also extremely proud to hear the news, having played football when he was a student at BLS.

Appreciation for this Hall-of-Famer goes far beyond his family. Gibbons has been both a rock and role model for his team, supporting many athletes’ journeys to becoming great wrestlers.

Captain of the wrestling team Quinn Bowles (I) sees Gibbons as someone who is always dedicated to his work and makes sure that every athlete gives it their all. Bowles remarks, “[Coach Gibbons] has supported me and hundreds of other wrestlers from day one, and his dedication shaped us into the people we are today.” Both he and the team were incredibly appreciative that Gibbons received the award and recognition for his hard work.