Meet the 2003 inductees to our Sports Hall of Fame

EDITOR'S NOTE: No, Hilary Connell has not been inducted into the Sault Ste. Marie Sports Hall of Fame.

At least, not this year.

She's a co-op education student from Sir James Dunn Collegiate and Vocational Institute, currently on placement with us.

Around our offices, Hilary is affectionately addressed as 'God' after she recently played that role in a dramatic production by Stage 1, the youth affiliate of Sault Theatre Workshop. We just wanted you to know that this is Hilary's first published article here at SooToday.com.

***************************************************************** Four men and one woman have been selected as 2003 inductees into the Sault Ste. Marie Sports Hall of Fame.

The five, approved last night by City Council, will be recognized at an induction event on June 7 at the John Rhodes Community Centre.

The following are this year's inductees:

Kenny Casola

Kenny Casola attained numerous awards for his boxing abilities.

In 1976, he won the provincial silver medal in the Junior Olympics.

In 1978 he achieved an outstanding five honours, including bronze medals at New Zealand's Summer Games and at Acropolis, Greece.

That year, Casola was also runner-up at Golden Gloves competitions in Milwaukee and New York State.

As well, he was Ontario Golden Glove Champion and competed in an international competition in Cranbrook B.C.

In 1980, Casola won an Ontario Championship Silver Medal and competed in the Mini Olympics Africa.

Karl Hult Karl Hult's accomplishments as a powerlifter span a 24-year period.

In 1974, he became the Ontario squat record holder and Canadian bench press record holder.

In 1976 Hult set the record for Canadian bench press.

He was ranked 8th in the world and Canadian record holder in squat, bench press and overall categories in 1979.

Seventeen years later in 1996, Hult set the Canadian record at the Masters Bench Press Championships, competing in Leduc, Alberta; Windsor, Nova Scotia; and Cornwall, Ontario.

In 1998 he achieved a national record at the Masters Bench Press Championships, competing in Guelph and Kitchener Ont.

In addition, Hult was a member of the Canadian Powerlifting Team and represented Canada at international competitions in Finland, Norway and numerous North American cities.

Bruno Ochman

Bruno Ochman began his most notable accomplishments as a wrestler in 1956 when he was Canadian Amateur Wrestling Champion.

That same year he also competed in the Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, and was the Canadian wrestling champion.

In 1959 he attained a silver medal at the Pan-Am Games.

The following year, he was the recipient of the H.P. Broughton Memorial Trophy.

Ochman was also the fourth recipient of the Sault Ste. Marie Sportsperson of the Year award.

Russ Ramsay

Recognized as a sports builder, Russ Ramsay was a leader in local sports broadcasting who highlighted and promoted every sport in our city.

He was a goodwill ambassador who strived for excellence and always made time for the people in Sault Ste. Marie, especially our sports community.

Ramsay was president and manager of Soo Greyhounds and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

He also was highly involved with recreational sports teams, Rotary functions and created two awards; the Rotary Russ Ramsay High School Sports Hall of Fame, and the B'nai B'rith Award.

Ramsay organized, managed and coached numerous recreational teams, including hockey, basketball, volleyball and softball.

In 1993 he received the Order of Canada.

Romi Kanjo Rinas

Romi Kanjo Rinas started her impressive judo career with a gold medal at the Ontario Winter Games, 1976.

She moved on to gain more recognition with silver and bronze medals at the Canadian Judo Championships in 1977.

At the same competition a year later, she nabbed the gold.

In 1979, Rinas attained the highest degree Shodan black belt.