Fremd debuts Hall of Honor
Fremd recently added four inaugural members to its new Hall of Honor, whose purpose is to recognize head coaches, assistant coaches and at-large nominees from athletics and competitive activities for their outstanding contributions and achievements.
The initial inductees were boys soccer coach Gerardo Pagnani, boys swimming coach Paul Reeff, debate program founder Dwight Aukee and girls gymnastics coach Larry Petrillo.
Permanent plaques of each are on now display outside the school’s main gym.
타 Pagnani coached from 1980-1998. In that span, Fremd won two state championships (1984 and 1997) and had one runner-up state finish in 1993 along with five Mid-Suburban League titles, 7 regional titles and 4 sectional titles. Pagnani was voted coach of the year in 1983 and is a member of the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Assocation, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and Eastern Illinois halls of fame.
타 Reeff led the boys swimming program from 1980 to 2005. He led the Vikings to back-to-back state championships in 1994 and 1995. At Fremd he developed 28 individual state champions and a staggering 328 individual state qualifiers. On his watch, Fremd won 11 Mid-Suburban League titles, 13 sectionals and had 14 undefeated dual meet seasons. Reeff was voted sectional coach of the year 13 times and state coach of the year twice.
타 Aukee was the first, and only, head coach of the Fremd debate program during a 32-year span. He has served as a member of the Illinois High School’s Debate Committee and is well-respected throughout the statewide debate community. His most recent major accomplishments included the 2005 state championship (Kyle Schmitt, for the Lincoln-Douglas debate) and the 2003 state finalist (Christopher Caton, also for the Lincoln-Douglas debate). His debaters consistently placed in the top 4 or 8 of the IHSA tournament most years.
타 Petrillo led the girls gymnastics program in a dominant run from 1981-2004. The Vikings reeled in nine state championships under his leadership as well as eight more top-five finishes. Petrillo coached 25 individual state medalists, including five different state champions. His teams won 18 Mid-Suburban League titles, 18 regionals and 11 sectionals as he amassed a record of 182-27-1.