On Sept. 17, 12 individuals and two teams of alumni will be inducted into the Park Hall of Fame.  

Athletic director Andy Ewald said the banquet honors alumni who made great accomplishments in athletics while at Park.

“I think any time you have the opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge what people did really well in their contributions, you have to take advantage of those opportunities and do it,” Ewald said.

According to Ewald, nominations were accepted throughout last year, and a committee of past Park grads chose the inductees.

This year Park’s 1998 Women’s Track and Field State Champions will be inducted as a Team of Distinction. Social studies teacher Brad Brubaker coached the team of 14 women.

“We knew we had a good chance to win because at the time we actually set a record because we qualified people in 15 out of 18 events,” Brubaker said. “You don’t very often have to fill a bus to go to a state meet, but we did that year, so that was really fun.”

According to Brubaker, the success of the team was reached by positivity, talent and intelligence.

“Ultimately I think a big part of success in a program is getting people in the program that believe in the program and if you get positive people, they attract others,” Brubaker said.

Senior Sam Miller said his grandfather was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013 for his track and football achievements.

“It feels like honoring these athletes is something that needs to be done not just because of tradition but you don’t want to forget those people that earned that incredible record,” Miller said.

The banquet will reunite teammates and friends, along with celebrating the legacy of St. Louis Park athletics.

“I think it’s a way of honoring your past, trying to keep alumni connected with the present and what we are doing now and the future of St. Louis Park,” Ewald said.