Jewels of the Crown: Blissfield Athletics Hall of Fame Inducts Class of 2010

More than 100 people were in attendance as the Blissfield Athletic Hall of Fame inducted five individuals and two teams at a Blissfield High School Banquet Saturday night.

Inducted were Claude Sebring, Tom Billington, Gary Lombard, Beth Berry, Kyle Knoblauch and the 1976 and 1977 state champion baseball teams.

Emcee Gary Brink opened the evening by telling the audience that high school sports were more than “only a game.”

“The friendships, relationships and camaraderie that can be developed during a season or seasons is something that is so very special. And that became very apparent as I was able to speak to the inductees of the 2010 class,” Brink said. “Again and again, there were very careful to give credit to other teammates, coaches, parents, and as will see this evening, to many people that are not in the spotlight.”

“We were all just great friends and the last thing in the world you wanted to do was make a mistake that would cost your friends the opportunity to do something special,” he said, noting that he still felt close to his teammates. “Even if you don’t see them a lot, when you do see them, you immediately have this bond and you can start talking like it was 1977 all over again. You know these guys. You trust these guys.”

Pagel then got the biggest laugh of the night.

“Unfortunately, at our age now, instead of saying ‘what did you play?’ or ‘how did you do?’ you ask them about their prostate exam,” he quipped to a roar of laughter.

Below are videos captured at the banquet.