“Whether it was bouncing back after an injury or after losing the big game,” she told the crowd at the 44th Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame induction banquet at the Lakewood Rod & Gun Club on Monday night, “softball taught me how to pick myself back up and try again the next day.”

But nothing could have prepared the former all-state pitcher from Frewsburg High for the news she received during her freshman year at St. Bonaventure University.

“It was the beginning of spring training and my pitching shoulder was constantly aching and sore, so I went to the team doctor for evaluation,” she said. “They sent me to the hospital for some routine testing, and after a CT scan, the doctor came into the room and said that I had a tumor in my chest.”

A few days later, Prince Hazelton learned the diagnosis.

Bill Dimmer delivers his speech on behalf of Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026 inductee Dan Wolfe on Monday night at th Lakewood Rod & Gun Club. P-J photo by Scott Kindberg

Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

“I remember sitting in my hospital bed when the doctor told me the news and I turned to him and asked, ‘Will I ever play softball again?'” she said. “He laughed and said, ‘Yes, you will, but it is going to be a long road.”

That journey culminated last night with her induction — along with seven others — into the CSHOF.

“This leads me to the message I have for all the young athletes here tonight,” said Prince Hazelton, who is a teacher and softball coach at Forestville Central School. “Talent may get you noticed, but perseverance will carry you further than you think possible. There will be seasons that test you, games that break you, and moments that make you question whether you have anything left. In those moments, remember that your strength is not measured by how hard you throw, or how fast you run or how far you hit the ball. Your strength is measured by that thing deep inside each one of us, the thing that was forged by the many challenges, discouragements, setbacks and victories.

“If there is one thing that you take away from tonight, it is that sports have prepared you for life. You will survive the hard things, you will have another opportunity to reach your goal and there will always be people who love and support you.”

Prince Hazelton wasn’t the only one who offered inspirational stories. Following are some of the highlights from the speeches of the other inductees.

KENNY BETTS

The most decorated high school wrestler in county history, the Fredonia High graduate spent much of his speech thanking the people who helped him achieve great things on the mat.

Betts’ resume speaks for itself: 269-34 career record (the wins were a state record at the time): two-time state champion; 186 career pins (No. 2 in the state all-time); and honorable-mention All-American.

“None of this would have happened without having the will to go the extra mile, having the dedication, or the sacrifice, not only from myself, but everyone around me,” he said. “I was fortunate enough to have a village looking out for me and making sure I was successful.”

JENNIFER GIEBNER DONATO

A graduate of Dunkirk High School and SUNY Fredonia, Giebner Donato is the first woman in the world to qualify and compete in four Abbott World Marathon Majors — Tokyo, Boston, London, Chicago Berlin and New York City. In total, she has run 61 marathons, with a personal best time of 3 hours, 17 minutes, 20 seconds.

“My advice to anyone chasing a goal, whether in sports or in life (is) keep showing up, trust the process, lean on your people, and never underestimate how far persistence and heart can carry you,” she said.

KARL ‘DOC’ ENGLERT JR.

A graduate of Bishop Timon High School, the University of Buffalo and the UB Dental School, Englert, who passed away in 2013, made his mark as a golfer spanning decades. In addition to many Buffalo District and club championship titles, he also qualified for the USGA Junior Nationals in 1955, the United States Amateur in 1965 and the U.S. Senior Open in 1989.

“As a dentist, dad made his living with his hands, but his hands also made him a great athlete,” said Kyle Herr, who was representing her late father. “With ‘Doc,’ it’s no coincidence that a dental office is called a ‘practice.” He could leave one practice at the end of the workday and head out onto the course for another ‘practice.’ He would be the first to say that nothing could be accomplished without hard work, done intentionally, and to the best of one’s ability.

“I think that is one thing that he would tell us: Never give up on yourself. Rather, seek out masters of their craft, and be humble enough to learn from them. And always, always be willing to share your own knowledge as well.”

TREVOR HITCHCOCK

An all-star, three-sport athlete during his days at Falconer Central School, Hitchcock continued his athletic prowess in track & field at SUNY Fredonia where he was a four-time Division III All-American. A teacher in the Jamestown Public Schools for the last 30 years, Hitchcock noted that “success isn’t just about individual achievement.”

“It’s about collaboration, the bonds we forge and the impact we have on each other,” he said.

“As I accept this honor, I hope to inspire others to follow their dreams and pursue their passions. We all have the power to make a difference, no matter how big or small. Let’s continue to lift each other up and strive for greatness together.”

BRIAN HULL

One of the finest distance runners in Chautauqua County history, the 1974 Southwestern High School graduate was the 1973 New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class C cross country champion; won the Class C Eastern States cross country title the same year; and was fourth in the national AAU cross country championship. An NAIA All-American in cross country and a three-time All-American in the steeplechase at Cedarville University, Hull is also an inductee of the Section VI and Southwestern halls of fame.

“I want to thank my parents for their unconditional love, their dedication, discipline and work ethic they instilled in me and my two brothers, Roger and Gary, as kids growing up,” he said. “My parents believed it was their responsibility to train and to teach their children values and morals. They did not relinquish the raising of their boys to the school, church or community, and for that I am forever grateful.”

KERRY KELLOGG

A 1973 Southwestern graduate, Kellogg was a four-year letterman with the Trojans and, later, pitched at St. Petersburg (Florida) Junior College, the University of Florida and the Jamestown Expos of the New York-Pennsylvania League. As a coach at Jamestown Community College, he recorded 200 wins and led the Jayhawks to an NJCAA Region 3 championship.

“From Lakewood to the back stage of the Grand Ole Opry to Red Square in Moscow, baseball has been very good to me,” Kellogg said. “The old saying by many veterans, ‘baseball owes me nothing,’ is a true statement.”

DAN WOLFE

Bill Dimmer, a teammate, classmate and friend of the late Wolfe, said that longtime Cardinal Mindszenty High School football coach Bob Muscato called Wolfe “the greatest athlete the school had ever produced.”

It’s hard to argue that point.

A 15-time letter winner at Cardinal Mindszenty, Wolfe was named a National Catholic High School All-American on the gridiron in 1968 as well as an All-Western New York selection.

Wolfe, Dimmer said, never talked about it.

“He never basked in the fame of his exploits or the accolades that came with it,” Dimmer said. “He never sought it out. Never acted like he was better than everyone else, even though he was. He would be reluctant to attend this celebration tonight. I believe his supporters wanted this more than he did.”

OTHER HONOREES

Seventeen local athletes, coaches and teams were also honored for their successes in their respective sports. Among them were Southwestern’s Emma Lewis and Maple Grove’s Ethan Verbosky, cross country; Frewsburg’s Chase Haglund and Brocton’s Anthony Gatto, baseball; Dunkirk resident Kristi Mets, powerlifting; Southwestern/Frewsburg’s Bradyn Fuller, Zack Markham and Roger Markham, Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton’s Asher Olson and Carson Fairbank, Clymer/Sherman/Panama’s Matt Redlecki and Gowanda/Pine Valley’s Winter Mently-Peters, football; SUNY Brockport’s Julian McGaughy, college football; Chautauqua Lakers Special Olympics softball team; Chautauqua Lake Special Olympians Ray Fuller and Jean Spruce; Rayven Sample, USATF Para National Championships; and SUNY Fredonia’s Stephen Hallberg, SUNYAC cross country.

NOTES: Chip Johnson, banquet chairman and master of ceremonies, provided the welcome; Julie Jaffy performed the national anthem; the Rev. Davis Creach of First Presbyterian Church in Jamestown provided the invocation and benediction; and Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel and CSHOF President Randy Anderson provided remarks.