Wayne Wessel (’66)
Wayne Wessel (’66)
Wayne Wessel was an outstanding multi-sport athlete at Glen Rock High School
and the first recipient of the school’s Athlete of the Year Award.
In 1966, the administration and coaches of Glen Rock High School began recognizing the senior that they believed was the top athlete in that year’s graduating class. In the inaugural year, this award was given to Wayne Wessel for his achievements in soccer, basketball and baseball.
In his junior and senior years, Wayne helped launch Glen Rock soccer’s lengthy run of significant success. As a junior, Wayne was the team’s starting goalie and anchored a defense that helped Glen Rock be one of four teams that qualified to play for the Group 3, Sectional Championship. Unfortunately, Glen Rock’s first game was against the eventual State Champion, Vailsburg, which scored a solitary goal late in the fourth period to win by a score of 1-0. At the end of the season, Wayne received Honorable Mention, All-County (by The Bergen Record). As a senior (and team Co-Captain), Wayne played both goalie and forward. After defeating South Plainfield in the Sectional Semifinals by a score of 1-0, Glen Rock was again defeated by Vailsburg in the Group 3, Sectional Final by a score of 3-2.
Wayne played varsity basketball in both his junior and his senior years.
Wayne was a three year starter for Glen Rock’s baseball team. He was one of the team’s top pitchers all three years and, as an outstanding hitter, started at first base or in the outfield when he wasn’t pitching. As a sophomore, he had a 6-1 record and helped lead the team to its first NBIL championship. He also batted over .400. At the end of the season, he was named to the Second Team, All-NBIL and the First Team, All-Suburban (by The Ridgewood News). He also received Honorable Mention, All-County. In his subsequent seasons, he was an even more effective pitcher, but his win-loss record suffered from those teams scoring fewer runs. In his senior year, he was named to the Second Team, All-Suburban and received Honorable Mention, All-NBIL.
Wayne went on attend and graduate from Springfield College, where he pitched for the school’s baseball team.
Wayne also served as Glen Rock Director of Recreation for 19 years.