[StBernard] St. Bernard Sports Hall of Fame will hold induction ceremony April 5 in Chalmette

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard Sports Hall of Fame will hold induction ceremony April 5 in
Chalmette
Print Earl Hodges By Earl Hodges 
on February 13, 2014 at 6:15 AM, updated February 13, 2014 at 6:33 AM

The St. Bernard Sports Hall of Fame and its corporate sponsor Gulf Coast
Bank is gearing up for its 19th annual induction ceremony. This year's event
will be held April 5 at the Frederick Sigur Civic Center, 8245 W. Judge
Perez Drive, Chalmette. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. followed by the meal and
program at 7 p.m. Tickets are $40 each.

The inductees this year are Brian Manzella and Butch Stockton. The hall of
fame has inducted 38 since it began almost two decades ago. "We recognize
coaches and athletes who have had exceptional accomplishments in sports,"
said Roy Cortes, president of the St. Bernard Sports Hall of Fame. "By doing
this we make sure they are not forgotten."

Manzella, a golf pro instructor for almost three decades, has been
recognized by Golf Magazine as one of the top 100 golf instructors in the
world. Stockton, a former basketball coach at St. Bernard High School and
Chalmette High School, was named the high school coach of the year three
times. In 2009 the Louisiana High School Athletic Association inducted
Stockton into its Top 28 Tournament Hall of Fame.

In addition to inducting Manzella and Stockton into the St. Bernard Sports
Hall of Fame, the group will also honor several others at the ceremony.

James Besson, founder of Jimmy's Kids, will receive the hall of fame's 2013
Humanitarian of the Year Award. Chris Roussel will receive the 2013 Elphage
Caillouette Special Recognition Award.

Sean Beckwith and Maci Ousset will be recognized as the hall of fame's
amateur athletes of the year.

We recognize coaches and athletes who have had exceptional accomplishments
in sports. Roy Cortes
Beckwith lettered in football and baseball at Chalmette High School. Ousett,
a black belt in karate, won the 2013 world karate championship in her age
group. Ousett was also a member of Cabrini High School's state championship
volleyball team.

Nicholas Michael, formerly a student at Holy Cross High School, will receive
the Crystal Award for his accomplishments as an amateur wrestler. Michael
compiled a 50-0 record, and he was recognized by the Times Picayune in 2012
as the high school wrestler of the year.

The St. Bernard Sports Hall of Fame holds an annual golf tournament fund
raiser in the fall. Last year the group gave $5,000 from the tournament to
the Chalmette High School sports program. The hall of fame also supports
other sports teams and groups in St. Bernard Parish.

"It's important to support these athletic programs and help give young
athletes an opportunity to compete and be on equal footing with other
programs," Cortes said.

For information contact Cortes at 985.246.8354 or Dr. Bryan Frichter at
504.246.8354.

Earl Hodges writes about recreation sports in St. Bernard Parish. He can be
contacted at earlhodges at msn.com or call 504.887.4731.