Class of 2023 to be announced June 14 at Buffalo RiverWorks

A pair of Buffalo Bills Receivers, a Paralympian and high school and college athletes and administrators set to join the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame

BUFFALO, NY – The Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame will introduce its 12-member class of 2023, on Wednesday, June 14 at Buffalo RiverWorks. The 2023 class will officially be inducted this fall at the annual GBSHOF dinner, presented by Dave and Adam’s. The date of the dinner will be announced early this summer.

A one-hour media session and “Meet and Greet” will commence at 3 p.m. Introduction of this year’s new members will start at 4:00 p.m. with board president, John Maddock, presiding. A reception will immediately follow.

This event will mark the 33rd class to be inducted into the Hall of Fame since its inception in 1991 and brings total membership to 388.

The 2023 inductees will be:

• Cheryl Bailey – college coach and administrator who also served as the General Manager of the United States Women’s National Soccer Team.
• Santo DeSain – Legendary ECC coach who led women’s basketball, softball, and baseball to a combined .779 winning percentage, and several championships.
• Kara Haun-Rehbaum – College athlete and administrator – standout at Canisius College, scoring 1,661 pts. for the Golden Griffins, and is now in her 14th year as athletic administrator at Hilbert College.
• Gerry Meehan – A member of the inaugural Buffalo Sabres team (1970-71) and later served as the team captain, and was first former player to work in the front office – served as G.M., Vice President, and Executive Vice President.
• Eric Moulds – Buffalo Bills receiver who led the AFC with a team record 1,368 receiving yards in 1998. He is second all time in Bills receptions and receiving yards.
• Otto Orf – Indoor soccer star, and one of the most recognized goalkeepers in the history of indoor pro soccer, and later served as goalkeeper coach and assistant coach of the US Men’s Futsal National Team.
• Adam Page – Three-time Gold medalist for Team USA Paralympic sled hockey team, and co-founder of the Sled Hockey Foundation, providing individuals with impairments the opportunity to take part in para ice hockey.
• Dave Wohlabaugh – Drafted by the New England Patriots, and started every game over four years, was a member of the Pats’ Superbowl XXXI Championship team, and was named to the Pats’ All 90s team.
• Bud Bakewell – Western New York youth sports pioneer, particularly with hockey. First American named to the Old Timers Hockey News Hall of Fame in Canada.
• Bobby Chandler – Buffalo Bills wide receiver and two-time second team All Pro selection – ranks in the Bills’ top ten all time in both receptions and receiving yards.
• Drake Francescone – Longtime City Honors coach who coached 7 different sports over 23 years, capturing 49 city championships, 12 Section VI championships, and a number of state titles.
• Eddie Malanowicz – Two-sport athlete at UB. He captained the Bulls basketball and football teams in 1932. Led the basketball team to a 45-4 record over three seasons, and he still holds the school record for a 104-yard kickoff return for a TD.

This group will join a rich heritage of native Western New Yorkers, or those who starred in and around the Queen City during their playing days, who are enshrined in the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.
In addition, the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors will introduce its fourth annual “Team of Distinction” award at the event. It will go to Plant 6, a powerhouse softball team that began playing together in 1977 and continued until 2006. During that span, the team competed on the east coast, winning more than 200 tournaments.

The 2023 Dick Gallagher Legacy Award will go to Dennis DiPaolo. The Gallagher Award is presented annually to an individual that has a superior passion for Western New York High School sports. Dennis DiPaolo has been an incredible supporter of high school sports, impacting countless athletes throughout the WNY region.

The GBSHOF will also announce its annual monetary awards from the Amateur Sports Development Fund (ASDF). The ASDF has now distributed more than $200,000 to amateur athletes, teams and organizations seeking financial assistance to foster the pursuit of a higher level of athletic achievement.

The Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame honors those who have enhanced our lives with their performances and commitment to Western New York sports, an effort surpassed only by the positive impressions they have left on our athletes of tomorrow.

For more information on the announcement event, please contact Tom Burns at 716-286-8580, or by e-mail at tburns@niagara.edu.