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The honorees were recognized during a halftime ceremony held at the Lakeland-Somers football game on Friday evening, Oct. 25, Lakeland Central School District officials said.
Those inducted into the 2024 Hall of Fame included:
- Basketball player Jen Ritz, who graduated in 2004 and was the first Lakeland High School basketball player to play for a Division I team at Iona College (now Iona University). A captain for two years, Ritz graduated as the all-time leading scorer for girls or boys with a total of 1,297 points, a record that still stands for girls 20 years later. She is also the current all-time three-point leader, shooting 216 in field goals from behind the curved arc. She also led her team to a 62-26 record. She was Lakeland's first four-time All-League, All-Section honoree.
- Boys soccer player John Denis, who graduated in 2016 and played on the Lakeland Varsity team for two years before moving on to the All National team during his senior year. After his time at Lakeland and Columbia University's soccer team, Denis went on to play professionally for the New York City Football Club Major League Soccer team. During his time at Lakeland, Denis scored 31 points in a single season, five goals in one game, and was named Section 1 Player of the Year as a junior. He was also named to the All-State, All-League, and All-Sections teams twice and named League MVP twice.
Additionally, the 2012, 2013, and 2014 Lakeland Girls Field Hockey teams, which dominated all three years with only one loss in 2012, were also inducted. During these three years, Lakeland won the State Championships along with the League, Sectionals, and Regionals.
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