Tony Guy traveled all over the world thanks to basketball, but the Loyola Blakefield graduate knows it would not have been possible without the Baltimore Catholic League.
“Everything that you’re doing and have done over the years impacts young men’s lives in a way that very few other things do,” Guy told the audience of 312 at the sold-out May 19 Baltimore Catholic League Hall of Fame dinner at Rolling Road Country Club. “You know what? The lessons learned and the values gained are truly worth paying for.”
Guy was one of 17 former coaches and players inducted in the BCL’s first hall of fame class. Men instrumental in establishing the 40-year BCL dominance like John Plevyak, Christian Brother John Smith, Cardinal Gibbons coach Ray Mullis and Loyola Blakefield coach Jerry Savage were honored for their legacies by players and family members.
Recent stars like Rudy Gay and Will Thomas, who battled on the court for Archbishop Spalding and Mount St. Joseph were unable to make their inductions.
Recently retired Maryland men’s basketball coach Gary Williams was the keynote speaker. Williams’ greatest player, Juan Dixon, was from BCL team Calvert Hall.
Williams said the BCL has coaches who care about the development of people.
“I’m just really impressed the Catholic league has had those types of people as coaches,” Williams said.
Guy and fellow Loyola player and inductee Peter Budko honored Savage for building the Dons program into one of the Baltimore area’s best.
Steve Wojciechowski, a former Cardinal Gibbons player, praised his late coach Mullis and the BCL. Now an assistant coach at Duke University, he said, “There’s not a finer league in the country than the BCL.”
Former St. Frances star and current coach Mark Karcher said the BCL allowed him to dream.
“I was blessed,” Karcher said. “I wanted to be one of you guys.”
Please put this in a box:
First BCL Hall of Fame Class: John Plevyak, Mount St. Joseph; John Christian Brother D. John Smith, Calvert Hall; Ray Mullis, Cardinal Gibbons; Jerry Savage, Loyola Blakefield; Larry Harrison, Towson Catholic; Ron Holthaus, Archbishop Curley; Peter Budko, Loyola Blakefield; Tony Guy, Loyola Blakefield; Quintin Dailey, Cardinal Gibbons; Marc Wilson, Calvert Hall; Paul Edward, Calvert Hall; Duane Ferrell, Calvert Hall; Rodney Monroe, St. Maria Goretti; Devin Gray, St. Frances Academy; Steve Wojciechowski, Cardinal Gibbons; Mark Karcher, St. Frances Academy; Rudy Gay, Archbishop Spalding; Will Thomas, Mount St. Joseph.