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Star-Studded Class

Sirianni, Carlson, Leeper, Barone Among 9 Entering CSHOF

The Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors has announced the inductees who will comprise the Class of 2025.

The inductees are Jessica Anderson, Tom Anderson, Anthony Barone, Stephen Carlson, Mark Edstrom, Ron Frederes, Nick Kahanic, Aaron Leeper and Nick Sirianni.

These nine individuals will be formally inducted at the CSHOF’s 43rd annual induction banquet on Presidents Day, Feb. 17, 2025. Tickets are available for $50 by calling Chip Johnson at 716-485-6991.

JESSICA ANDERSON

Born 1974; graduate Mayville Central School 1992

Four-year starter volleyball: two-time New York state champion, 1991 NYS Class C/D Player of the Year

Three-year starter basketball: two-time league all-star, set school records for blocked shots and rebounds

Six-year starter in softball: two-time league all-star, .670 batting average

Mayville Central Female Athlete of the Year 1990-91 & 1991-92

Played Division I volleyball & softball at Niagara University

Four-year starter Niagara University volleyball: three-time MAAC all-star, set Niagara University records for kills, blocks and hitting percentage

Three-year starter Niagara University softball; Niagara University Most Outstanding Athlete 1997

Head volleyball coach Niagara, 1997-98

Assistant coach Daemen ’99-’02; head coach Daemen ’02-’03

Head coach North Tonawanda High School volleyball 2003-17

Volunteer coach Junior Olympics volleyball 1996-present

Niagara University Athletics Hall of Fame 2002

Special education teacher; resides in Orchard Park.

TOM ANDERSON

Born 1959; graduate Southwestern Central School 1976

Three-year starter No. 1 tennis at SWCS: finished second in NYS tourney

Four-year starter tennis SUNY Brockport: No. 1 singles 1980

23 years tennis instructor at Billie Jean King Tennis Center and Lakewood YMCA

Five-time Jamestown City Tennis Champ; won 18 tournaments

Won NYS Over-60 Pickleball Tournament

Director Lakewood YMCA 1990-2022

Designed, built, managed indoor soccer center at Y

Implemented programs for gymnastics, floor hockey, basketball, volleyball, roller hockey, racquetball, tennis and pickleball.

Race director for 90-plus combined Lakewood Firecracker Runs, Battle of Business Runs & Amy King Runs

Received Paul B. Sullivan YMCA Lifetime Service Award

The Lakewood Y tennis courts are named in his honor

Retired, resides in Russell, Pennsylvania

ANTHONY BARONE

Born 1979; graduate Jamestown High School 1997

Played basketball and baseball at JHS; All-ECIC baseball; Post-Journal All-Star

1999 Jamestown Community College graduate; played basketball and baseball; .355 career batting average; named as one of Jamestown CC’s 50 greatest athletes

2001 Felician College graduate; played baseball and sported a .352 career batting average.

Assistant baseball coach Jamestown CC 2001-05

Head coach Jamestown CC 2005-12: 207 wins, Region 3 Coach of the Year 2008

Assistant coach Cal State Bakersfield 2012-13

Head coach Wellsville Nitros (NYCBL) 2013

Manager Jamestown Jammers (PGCBL) 2015-18: two-time Coach of the Year, league champions 2018

Hitting coach Milwaukee Milkman 2018-19

Head coach Milwaukee Milkmen 2019-present; American Association champion 2020

Assistant coach Baseball United at Dubai (United Arab Emitates) 2023

Resides in Jamestown and Milwaukee

STEPHEN CARLSON

Born 1996; graduate Jamestown High School 2015

JHS football 2011-14: 2,411 yards, 134 receptions, 22 touchdowns, two-time First Team All-State, New York State AA champion 2014, Connolly Cup winner 2014, Post-Journal Player of the Year 2014, two-time WNY James Lofton Award as top receiver

JHS basketball 2012-15: JHS Wall of Fame, played on three Section VI champship teams, All-ECIC First Team, Post-Journal All-Star, Fifth-Team All-State 2015

Princeton University football 2015-18: 2018 undefeated Ivy League champion, two-time All-Ivy, 125 receptions, 1,632 yards, 16 touchdowns

Cleveland Browns tight end 2019-21: only player in Chautauqua County history to score NFL touchdown, earned five game balls

Chicago Bears tight end 2023-present: earned one game ball

MARK EDSTROM

Born 1954; graduate Jamestown High School 1972

Played football, basketball, and track and field at JHS

JHS basketball 1968-72: three-time JHS MVP; on JHS Wall of Fame, leading scorer in JHS history at time of graduation (1,047 points), leading rebounder in JHS history at time of gradution (588 boards), Section VI champions 1972 with 19-2 record

JHS football: three-year starting quarterback

Was part of JHS record-setting 880-yard relay

Alfred University 1972-77 basketball and football

Alfred U basketball: 1,356 points third all-time, two-time First Team Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference

Alfred football 1975-76 back and placekicker

Only athlete in AU history to be the top scorer on both the basketball and football teams (1975)

Inductee Alfred University Hall of Fame 1988

Retired postmaster, resides in Ludlow, Massachusetts

RON FREDERES

Born 1944; graduate Jamestown High School 1963

Played baseball, basketball and football at JHS

Graduate of SUNY Brockport 1967: played baseball, football, basketball

Star pitcher for See-Zurh House fast pitch softball team; legendary pitching duels with CSHOF inductee Jim Adamczak

Inductee Western New York Softball Hall of Fame 1992

Graduate assistant for basketball at the University of North Carolina under Dean Smith

Coached varsity baseball and junior varsity basketball at Southwestern Central 1969-76

Head basketball coach Davidson (North Carolina) Community College 1976-78

Alfred University basketball coach 1978-90: two NCAA tournament appearances

Olean Times-Herald Man of the Year 1986

Head basketball coach Walsh (Ohio) College 1990-92

Basketball coach Jamestown High School 1993-98

Retired teacher; resides in Clayton, North Carolina

NICK KAHANIC

Born 1986; graduate Falconer Central School 2004

FCS track & field: placed at state meet twice in shot put and discus

USA Junior Olympics National Championships: second in shot 2004

Roberts Wesleyan College track & field 2004-07: shot, discus and hammer

Four-time NCCAA champion, 13-time NCCAA All-American; two-time NAIA All-American

Highland Games 2006-22

Five-time national champion, North American champion, 2013 World Amateur champion

Set two North American records (open stone and light braemer); set world record in open stone; 16-time All-American

Co-founder of AJ Strong, a charity to support children and families

Works at Pepsi, resides in Falconer

AARON LEEPER

Born 1983; graduate Jamestown High School 2001

JHS football 1998-2000; running back and defensive back

Set Western New York single-season rushing record (2,276 yards)

Set New York State single-season record 47 touchdowns

Set NYS single-season scoring record 282 points

2000 NYS Class AA Player of the Year; Connolly Cup winner; Ron Pitts Outstanding Defensive Back Award

NYS Class AA champion 2000

Two-time Post-Journal All-Star; P-J Player of the Year 2000

University at Buffalo: 2002 Mid-American Conference Rookie of the Year; 917 yards, 10 TDs

Supervisor in Federal Air Marshal Service; resides in Bayside, New York

NICK SIRIANNI

Born 1981; graduate Southwestern Central 1999

Post-Journal All-Star in basketball; All-League in football; sectional qualifier in track

Mount Union College 1999-2003: First-Team All-Conference;

Played on two NCAA Division III national championship team and one runner-up team

Defensive backs coach Mount Union 2004-05: national champions in 2005

Wide receivers coach Indiana University of Pennsylvania 2006-08

Kansas City Chiefs 2009-12; offensive control coach; wide receivers coach

San Diego Chargers 2013-17; offensive control, quarterbacks, wide receivers

Indianapolis Colts 2018-20; offensive coordinator

Philadelphia Eagles 2021-present; head coach; Super Bowl LVII

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