Sports Hall to Welcome 16 New Members

Sixteen Former Student-Athletes Selected for Induction into the Washington Township High School Sports Hall of Fame

For Immediate Release
September 18, 2026

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP – The Washington Township High School Sports Hall of Fame will add 16 new members when the latest class is inducted at a ceremony on Saturday, November 28, 2026. The every-three-years induction will occur as part of a celebratory dinner at Adephia’s Restaurant (1750 Clements Bridge Road, Deptford, NJ 08096). Cocktail hour is from 6 to 7 p.m., with dinner served at 7:00. 

Tickets are $60 for adults, and $20 for children under 12 years of age. They can be purchased by contacting Sandy Pfizenmayer in the WTHS Athletics office at (856) 589-8500, x7219, or by email at spfizenmayer@wtps.org.

Program ads are available for purchase by contacting Mrs. Pfizenmayer at a cost of $100 for a full page and $50 for a half page. 

Hall of Fame President Jack McGee recently announced the Class of 2026. The inductees include: 

• Amanda Attanasi (Class of 2021) – Soccer
• Deanna Balsama (Class of 2018) – Soccer/Basketball/Lacrosse
• Sandra Ross Conlin (Class of 1981) – Field Hockey/Basketball/Softball
• Spencer Cuello Cook (Class of 2016) – Basketball
• Jesse Cooper (Class of 2005) – Football
• Pete Ferris (Class of 1997) – Football
• Alexis Fraction-Mills (Class of 2014) – Track & Field
• Lindsey Hatch (Class of 2011) – Field Hockey
• James Huckel (Class of 1999) – Football/Basketball/Baseball
• Anne Blank Keenaghan (Class of 1998) – Field Hockey/Basketball/Lacrosse
• Kelly Giedemann McAllister (Class of 2014) – Basketball
• Kylie Giedemann Patrone (Class of 2014) – Basketball
• Eric Ring (Class of 2001) – Wrestling
• Kirstyn Urbas (Class of 2009) – Tennis/Lacrosse
• Erin Waller (Class of 2011) – Field Hockey/Lacrosse
• Chad Yates (Class of 2018) – Soccer 

Inductee bios follow:

Amanda Attanasi – The WTHS class of 2021 graduate was a four-year standout on the soccer pitch for the Minutemaids. Attanasi earned four first-team all-South Jersey, all-Group IV, and all-Olympic Conference selections, finishing her career with a school-record 79 goals along with 38 assists. She led the team in goals and assists in each of her four years. Attanasi was named South Jersey Times and Courier-Post Girls Soccer Player of the Year as a freshman in 2017, setting the school’s single-season record with 26 goals and helping the Maids to the school’s first South Jersey Group IV championship. She was also a two-year captain, and in her senior season (2020) she was named among the New Jersey Girls Soccer Association’s Top 20 players. Attanasi went on to a stellar career at James Madison University, where she tallied 28 goals and 13 assists during her four years. She was second-team all-Sun Belt as a senior and earned the Sun Belt Elite Award. She also was second-team all-Southeast Region by the United Soccer Coaches. In her freshman year, Attanasi was on the Colonial Athletic Association’s all-rookie and third-team all-conference teams. She’s currently an assistant coach for the University of Montana’s women’s soccer team.

Deanna Balsama – The class of 2018 graduate was a three-sport athlete during her time at WTHS, earning the school’s Female Athlete of the Year Award in 2018. The four-year letterwinner in basketball and lacrosse was a team captain of both of those teams. Balsama stood out in lacrosse, where her 248 career goals were tops in the program’s 25-year history. She was named a USA Lacrosse all-American in 2018. She earned multiple all-conference, all-county, all-South Jersey, and all-state honors as a Minutemaid. Balsama went on to a stellar college career. At George Mason University, she was the 2019 Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year, and she scored 98 goals and 138 points in her three-year career with the Patriots. She later attended San Diego State University, where she set then-school records for goals (62), points (73), and shots (122) during the 2022 season. She added 47 more goals in 2023.

Sandra Ross Conlin – The 1981 WTHS grad was a four-year member of the field hockey, basketball, and softball teams, earning the school’s overall Scholar-Athlete Award in 1981. In field hockey, she was team MVP and an all-conference and all-Group IV pick her senior year, and all-conference and all-county as a junior. She was also MVP of the basketball team in 1981, earning all-conference honors and honorable mention all-Group IV. Conlin went on to play field hockey at the University of Delaware, and she later returned to WTHS as a school counselor. 

Spencer Cuello Cook – The Class of 2016 graduate was a varsity team captain and team MVP for the Minutemen basketball team. Cook was named South Jersey Player of the Year by the South Jersey Times in 2016 and was a first-team all-South Jersey selection by the Philadelphia Inquirer, Courier-Post, and the Al Carino Club. Cook earned several all-Group IV and all-Olympic Conference honors. He was a 1,000-point scorer and led the Minutemen to a 25-4 record and first conference title in 17 years back in 2016. Cook played college basketball at Stevens Institute of Technology where he scored 1,316 career points. During his senior year, he was MAC Freedom Player of the Year and tournament MVP while shooting 50 percent from 3-point range (tops in all of NCAA Division III).

Jesse Cooper – The WTHS Class of 2005 grad was a three-year letterwinner for the Minutemen football team, earning two all-conference and all-Group IV selections (2003 and ‘04). In 2004, Cooper was named all-South Jersey, helping his team to its third consecutive appearance in the Group IV championship game. After high school, Cooper attended Bloomsburg University, where he was a four-year starter as defensive back/kick returner. He earned a Division II all-America honor and was twice named to the all-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference team. Cooper played professionally in the Arena Football League for the Philadelphia Soul and has had stints coaching with the Minutemen football program (2017-22). Cooper has previously been inducted into the Washington Township Youth Football and Gloucester County Sports Hall of Fames. 

Pete Ferris – The WTHS Class of 1997 graduate was a standout on the gridiron, earning three varsity letters as a running back, defensive back, kicker, and punter. Ferris was a two-time all-Olympic Conference selection, earning all-Group IV (1995), all-South Jersey (1996), and all-state (1996) laurels along the way. Ferris helped the Minutemen to the 1995 South Jersey Group IV championship, rushing for 156 yards and three touchdowns in the title game win over Shawnee. He was named Touchdown Club of South Jersey Defensive Back of the Year in 1996. Ferris played college football at Syracuse, where he earned three varsity letters as a kickoff specialist. 

Alexis Fraction-Mills – The 2014 WTHS graduate is among the school’s most decorated track athletes, earning seven varsity letters (three indoor, four outdoor). She was named all-South Jersey and all-Olympic Conference in the 100 hurdles in 2013 and ‘14, all-Olympic Conference in the 100 dash in 2014, and was a multi-time state qualifier both indoors (55 hurdles, 55 dash) and outdoors (100 hurdles, 100 dash). In 2013, Fraction-Mills was the South Jersey Group IV champion in the 55 hurdles indoors. She followed that up with a sectional title in the 100 hurdles outdoors in 2014. She was a two-time Gloucester County champion in the 100 hurdles. Fraction-Mills was named indoor track team MVP in 2012-13 and outdoor team top performer in 2013, and MVP in 2014. She ran college track at Rider University, where she was a two-year captain and part of the shuttle hurdle relay’s school-record team. She also set a school record in the 55 hurdles. Fraction-Mills is currently the girls indoor and outdoor track and field coach at WTHS, where she was named South Jersey Track Coaches Association Indoor Coach of the Year in 2023-24 and Tri-County Conference Outdoor Coach of the Year in both 2023 and 2024.

Lindsey Hatch – The Class of 2011 graduate was a standout on the field hockey pitch for the Minutemaids. She was a first-team all-state, all-South Jersey, all-Group IV, and all-Olympic Conference selection during her four years on the varsity squad. Awards received included the Olympic Conference Scholar Athlete, Walt Burrows/Kiwanis Scholar Athlete, and National Girls & Women Sports Award. In college, Hatch was named Division III National Player of the Year as a senior at The College of New Jersey, leading her team to the NCAA Division III National Championship. She set a school record for single-season assists while earning New Jersey Athletic Conference Player and Attack Player of the Year, as well as South Atlantic Region Player of the Year. Currently, Hatch coaches for South Jersey Edge, helping build the future of the sport in this area.

James Huckel – The Class of 1999 student-athlete was a key member of the football, basketball, and baseball teams at WTHS. In three years on the gridiron, Huckel helped the Minutemen to an Olympic Conference title while being named all-conference as a defensive back. On the basketball court, he earned four varsity letters, helping the team to two Olympic Conference championships (1996 and ‘99). Huckel was named all-conference twice and all-Group IV in 1998, when he was also honorable mention all-South Jersey. On the diamond, he earned three varsity letters and was team captain his senior year. Huckel was the Olympic Conference Scholar Athlete and the Skip Given Award winner in 1999, and he played college baseball at Lafayette.

Anne Blank Keenaghan – The WTHS Class of 1998 grad was a five-sport athlete, earning letters in field hockey (4), basketball (4), lacrosse (2), softball (1) and track and field (1). In field hockey, Keenaghan was team captain and a second-team all-conference selection her senior year. She helped the Minutemaids basketball team to the state championship game in 1994 and earned all-conference honors in 1997 and 1998. Keenaghan played in the Gloucester County All-Star Game and was a Philadelphia Inquirer Student-Athlete Award winner. Keenaghan played college lacrosse at Saint Joseph’s University, where she was a two-time team captain, team MVP as a senior, and defensive MVP as a junior. She also was selected as a Verizon Academic All-American.

Kelly (Giedemann) McAllister – A 2014 WTHS graduate, McAllister was a standout on the basketball court for the Minutemaids. She finished with 1,264 career points while helping the team to three consecutive South Jersey Group IV championships (2011, ‘12, ‘13). McAllister’s accolades were countless. As a senior, she was first-team all-Olympic Conference and second-team all-South Jersey. As a junior, McAllister was named second-team all-South Jersey and all-Group IV, first-team all-conference, and ESPN Wide World of Sports tournament MVP. Her sophomore year saw her earn first-team all-conference and all-Group IV as the team won a school-record 27 games. McAllister earned a full scholarship to Holy Family University, where she helped her team to conference championship during her four years as a contributor. 

Kylie (Giedemann) Patrone – Like her twin sister, Kelly, Patrone is a 2014 WTHS grad who was part of three consecutive sectional championship basketball teams while scoring 1,557 points, second most in Minutemaids program history. In her senior year, Patrone was first-team all-South Jersey, all-Group IV, and all-Olympic Conference, and she and her sister were named co-WTHS Female Athletes of the Year. In her junior year, Patrone was third-team all-South Jersey and first-team all-Group IV and all-conference. She was first-team all-conference and second-team all-Group IV as a sophomore, and first-team all-conference as a freshman. Patrone also played college basketball at Holy Family University, helping the squad to the NCAA Division II national tournament and winning a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference title.

Eric Ring – The 2001 WTHS graduate has certainly left his mark on the Minutemen wrestling program. As a student-athlete, Ring finished his career with a record of 107-15 at 160 pounds, captaining the squad for three years. He was a three-time District 30 champion, two-time Region 8 champion, and a two-time NJSIAA State Championship placewinner (fourth in 2000, third in 2001). Ring went on to wrestle at powerhouse Edinboro University, earning four varsity letters with the Fighting Scots. He was 2006 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference champion, a two-time Eastern Wrestling League runner-up, and a two-time NCAA Division I national qualifier. He finished top 16 at the 2006 NCAA Division I Championships. After college, Ring was a graduate assistant coach at Drexel University before joining the staff at WTHS as an assistant from 2012-16 (he was District 30 and Region 8 assistant of the year in 2016). In 2017, he took over as head coach of the Minutemen, who have reached the playoffs the past three years. He’s a three-time District 30 coach of the year. Ring was inducted into the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2018.

Kirstyn Urbas – The 2009 WTHS graduate was a four-year stalwart for the Minutemaids lacrosse program. Urbas scored 139 career goals, including a whopping 77 in 2009 while leading the Maids to the South Jersey Group IV championship. In the title game, she scored six goals. Urbas was named first-team All-South Jersey and all-Group IV in 2009, when she was also tabbed U.S. Lacrosse All-American and Academic All-American. She received the United States Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award, as well. In college Urbas played Division I lacrosse at Monmouth University, helping the Hawks to two conference championships and a berth in the Division I Women’s Lacrosse tournament. Dr. Urbas is a podiatric doctor and surgeon at Keystone Foot & Ankle and is a member of the American College of Foot & Ankle Surgeons.

Erin Waller – A 2001 WTHS graduate, Waller was a decorated member of the Minutemaids girls lacrosse and field hockey programs. In lacrosse, she was a 100-goal scorer and two-year captain. She helped the Maids to two Gloucester County Cup championships (2008, ‘10), an Olympic Conference title (2008), and the 2009 South Jersey Group IV title. Collegiately, Waller played field hockey at The College of New Jersey, serving as team captain while helping TCNJ to NCAA Division III national titles in 2011 and 2014. She was a two-time New Jersey Athletic Conference first team selection, leading the conference in assists in 2011. She’s still currently seventh in assists all time at TCNJ. She also played lacrosse at TCNJ, helping the team to four conference titles and four NCAA quarterfinal appearances. She scored 89 career goals to go with 67 assists. After college, Waller was a volunteer field hockey and lacrosse coach at TCNJ before joining the staff at WTHS from 2016-19. In 2020, she was named head coach of the Collingswood High School girls lacrosse team, and she was NJ.com South Jersey Coach of the Year in 2022.

Chad Yates – The Class of 2018 WTHS graduate was a key cog in helping the Minutemen to the 2018 Group IV state championship, the second in program history. Yates burst onto the scene in 2017 as a junior, earning first-team all-state, all-South Jersey, and all-Olympic Conference honors while scoring 19 goals to go with four assists. He was even better in 2018, scoring 26 goals and adding 11 assists during the state championship run. Yates was first-team all-state, all-South Jersey, all-conference, and nominated for Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior, when he was Courier-Post South Jersey Player of the Year and NJ.com State Player of the Year. Yates went on to play college soccer at Rowan University, where he was a D3soccer.com third-team all-American selection as a senior in 2022. He was New Jersey Athletic Conference Midfielder of the Year, first-team all-NJAC, and led the Profs with 14 goals and six assists. Yates earned second-team all-NJAC honors as a junior and was all-NJAC honorable mention as a freshman. 

- WTPS -