West Iron Names Wall of Fame Class of 2024

  • Albert Rizzardi - A 1934 graduate of Stambaugh High School, Rizzardi won nine varsity letters at Hillsdale College in the 1930s after playing at Stambaugh High. He was team captain and an All-American as a senior on an undefeated Hillsdale grid team and ranked among the state scoring leaders on the basketball team. He also had a tryout with the Philadelphia Phillies baseball club. Rizzardi passed away in 1995.

    Albert Rizzardi - A 1934 graduate of Stambaugh High School, Rizzardi won nine varsity letters at Hillsdale College in the 1930s after playing at Stambaugh High. He was team captain and an All-American as a senior on an undefeated Hillsdale grid team and ranked among the state scoring leaders on the basketball team. He also had a tryout with the Philadelphia Phillies baseball club. Rizzardi passed away in 1995.

    Albert Rizzardi - A 1934 graduate of Stambaugh High School, Rizzardi won nine varsity letters at Hillsdale College in the 1930s after playing at Stambaugh High. He was team captain and an All-American as a senior on an undefeated Hillsdale grid team and ranked among the state scoring leaders on the basketball team. He also had a tryout with the Philadelphia Phillies baseball club. Rizzardi passed away in 1995.
  • Jamie Angeli - A 1980 graduate of West Iron County, Angeli is internationally known as an author, speaker, coach and entrepreneur. He has coached at the high school, college and professional levels. He is currently Associate Director of Athletics at The City College of New York.

    Jamie Angeli - A 1980 graduate of West Iron County, Angeli is internationally known as an author, speaker, coach and entrepreneur. He has coached at the high school, college and professional levels. He is currently Associate Director of Athletics at The City College of New York.

    Jamie Angeli - A 1980 graduate of West Iron County, Angeli is internationally known as an author, speaker, coach and entrepreneur. He has coached at the high school, college and professional levels. He is currently Associate Director of Athletics at The City College of New York.
  • Jay Barry - A 1959 graduate of Iron River High School, Barry is well-known as the “dean” of sports broadcasting and sports writing in the Iron County area. He spent 44 years at WIKB Radio in Iron River and was the host of the “Telephone Time” radio show there, now broadcast worldwide on the internet.

    Jay Barry - A 1959 graduate of Iron River High School, Barry is well-known as the “dean” of sports broadcasting and sports writing in the Iron County area. He spent 44 years at WIKB Radio in Iron River and was the host of the “Telephone Time” radio show there, now broadcast worldwide on the internet.

    Jay Barry - A 1959 graduate of Iron River High School, Barry is well-known as the “dean” of sports broadcasting and sports writing in the Iron County area. He spent 44 years at WIKB Radio in Iron River and was the host of the “Telephone Time” radio show there, now broadcast worldwide on the internet.
  • Jan Quarless - A 1969 graduate of West Iron County, Dr. Quarless was an All-U.P. football player at West Iron in 1969 and a four-year football letterman at Northern Michigan University, and is an inductee into the U.P. Sports Hall of Fame. For 27 years, Jan Quarless was a college football coach at seven NCAA Division 1 schools. He was offensive line coach for the Rhein Fire in NFL Europe in 2005. He then completed his PhD and served at various K-12 school systems.

    Jan Quarless - A 1969 graduate of West Iron County, Dr. Quarless was an All-U.P. football player at West Iron in 1969 and a four-year football letterman at Northern Michigan University, and is an inductee into the U.P. Sports Hall of Fame. For 27 years, Jan Quarless was a college football coach at seven NCAA Division 1 schools. He was offensive line coach for the Rhein Fire in NFL Europe in 2005. He then completed his PhD and served at various K-12 school systems.

    Jan Quarless - A 1969 graduate of West Iron County, Dr. Quarless was an All-U.P. football player at West Iron in 1969 and a four-year football letterman at Northern Michigan University, and is an inductee into the U.P. Sports Hall of Fame. For 27 years, Jan Quarless was a college football coach at seven NCAA Division 1 schools. He was offensive line coach for the Rhein Fire in NFL Europe in 2005. He then completed his PhD and served at various K-12 school systems.
  • Frank Kopenski - A 1948 graduate of Iron River High School, Kopenski was a Korean War veteran. He was an all-state football player at Iron River who then went on to an illustrious career for 54 years at Marquette University High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as a coach and ground-breaking educator there. Kopenski passed away in 2022.

    Frank Kopenski - A 1948 graduate of Iron River High School, Kopenski was a Korean War veteran. He was an all-state football player at Iron River who then went on to an illustrious career for 54 years at Marquette University High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as a coach and ground-breaking educator there. Kopenski passed away in 2022.

    Frank Kopenski - A 1948 graduate of Iron River High School, Kopenski was a Korean War veteran. He was an all-state football player at Iron River who then went on to an illustrious career for 54 years at Marquette University High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as a coach and ground-breaking educator there. Kopenski passed away in 2022.
  • Yvonne Kralovec - A 1958 graduate of Stambaugh High School, Mrs. Kralovec coached girls’ basketball for 42 years. She coached at the elementary, middle school and high school levels in the local schools and Community Schools. She helped found the West Iron County High School girls’ basketball team in 1974. She was also well-known in local softball and bowling circles. Mrs. Kralovec passed away in 2009.

    Yvonne Kralovec - A 1958 graduate of Stambaugh High School, Mrs. Kralovec coached girls’ basketball for 42 years. She coached at the elementary, middle school and high school levels in the local schools and Community Schools. She helped found the West Iron County High School girls’ basketball team in 1974. She was also well-known in local softball and bowling circles. Mrs. Kralovec passed away in 2009.

    Yvonne Kralovec - A 1958 graduate of Stambaugh High School, Mrs. Kralovec coached girls’ basketball for 42 years. She coached at the elementary, middle school and high school levels in the local schools and Community Schools. She helped found the West Iron County High School girls’ basketball team in 1974. She was also well-known in local softball and bowling circles. Mrs. Kralovec passed away in 2009.
  • Nick Baumgartner - A 2000 graduate of West Iron County, Baumgartner competes in snowboard cross (SBX) and qualified for the 2010 Winter Olympics. He won the gold and silver medals in the 2011 and 2012 Winter X Games. Baumgartner competed in the 2014 Winter Olympics and won his first Olympic gold at the age of 40 in the 2022 Winter Olympics when he and teammate Lindsey Jacobellis won the inaugural Olympic mixed snowboard cross race.

    Nick Baumgartner - A 2000 graduate of West Iron County, Baumgartner competes in snowboard cross (SBX) and qualified for the 2010 Winter Olympics. He won the gold and silver medals in the 2011 and 2012 Winter X Games. Baumgartner competed in the 2014 Winter Olympics and won his first Olympic gold at the age of 40 in the 2022 Winter Olympics when he and teammate Lindsey Jacobellis won the inaugural Olympic mixed snowboard cross race.

    Nick Baumgartner - A 2000 graduate of West Iron County, Baumgartner competes in snowboard cross (SBX) and qualified for the 2010 Winter Olympics. He won the gold and silver medals in the 2011 and 2012 Winter X Games. Baumgartner competed in the 2014 Winter Olympics and won his first Olympic gold at the age of 40 in the 2022 Winter Olympics when he and teammate Lindsey Jacobellis won the inaugural Olympic mixed snowboard cross race.

Albert Rizzardi - A 1934 graduate of Stambaugh High School, Rizzardi won nine varsity letters at Hillsdale College in the 1930s after playing at Stambaugh High. He was team captain and an All-American as a senior on an undefeated Hillsdale grid team and ranked among the state scoring leaders on the basketball team. He also had a tryout with the Philadelphia Phillies baseball club. Rizzardi passed away in 1995. 

Jamie Angeli - A 1980 graduate of West Iron County, Angeli is internationally known as an author, speaker, coach and entrepreneur. He has coached at the high school, college and professional levels. He is currently Associate Director of Athletics at The City College of New York. 

Jay Barry - A 1959 graduate of Iron River High School, Barry is well-known as the “dean” of sports broadcasting and sports writing in the Iron County area. He spent 44 years at WIKB Radio in Iron River and was the host of the “Telephone Time” radio show there, now broadcast worldwide on the internet. 

Jan Quarless - A 1969 graduate of West Iron County, Dr. Quarless was an All-U.P. football player at West Iron in 1969 and a four-year football letterman at Northern Michigan University, and is an inductee into the U.P. Sports Hall of Fame. For 27 years, Jan Quarless was a college football coach at seven NCAA Division 1 schools. He was offensive line coach for the Rhein Fire in NFL Europe in 2005. He then completed his PhD and served at various K-12 school systems. 

Frank Kopenski - A 1948 graduate of Iron River High School, Kopenski was a Korean War veteran. He was an all-state football player at Iron River who then went on to an illustrious career for 54 years at Marquette University High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as a coach and ground-breaking educator there. Kopenski passed away in 2022. 

Yvonne Kralovec - A 1958 graduate of Stambaugh High School, Mrs. Kralovec coached girls’ basketball for 42 years. She coached at the elementary, middle school and high school levels in the local schools and Community Schools. She helped found the West Iron County High School girls’ basketball team in 1974. She was also well-known in local softball and bowling circles. Mrs. Kralovec passed away in 2009. 

Nick Baumgartner - A 2000 graduate of West Iron County, Baumgartner competes in snowboard cross (SBX) and qualified for the 2010 Winter Olympics. He won the gold and silver medals in the 2011 and 2012 Winter X Games. Baumgartner competed in the 2014 Winter Olympics and won his first Olympic gold at the age of 40 in the 2022 Winter Olympics when he and teammate Lindsey Jacobellis won the inaugural Olympic mixed snowboard cross race.

By Patrick Browne

In 2023 the West Iron County School District established a Wall of Fame in order to honor distinguished graduates, community members, athletes and others who have been contributors to life in the West Iron County area. To be honored those nominated must be graduates of West Iron High School, or the former Stambaugh, Bates, or Iron River school systems. The Wall exists to not only give honor to inductees, but inspire students to fully utilize their talents to make the world a better place. 
The inaugural class was inducted in the Fall of 2023. Their contributions can be found on the West Iron website and plaques bearing their names are permanently enshrined in the entryway to the Charles Greenlund Field House.
Recently, the Wall of Fame Committee announced its class of 2024. The class consists of seven men and one woman, all of whom made or continue to make a difference while utilizing the education and values which they developed during their years in our local school community.

While inductee Nick Baumgartner, Olympic Gold Medalist, author and public speaker is the most well known of the inductees, all have their story and all will be officially inducted on Sept. 28. The public is invited to the ceremony and should look forward to an evening full of timeless stories, nostalgia and inspiration. 

In addition to Nick Baumgartner, inductees include Jamie Angeli (graduate of West Iron County), internationally known author, speaker and coach; Jay Barry (graduate of Iron River High School), well known as the ‘Dean’ of sports broadcasting in the Iron County area and long time host of ‘Telephone Time”, Frank Kopenski (graduate of Iron River High School), Korean War Veteran, all state football player and educator; Yvonne Kralovec (graduate of Stambaugh High School), longtime coach and cofounder of the girls basketball team; Don McDonald (graduate of Iron River High School), navy veteran, football coach, Upper Peninsula Hall of Fame inductee and contributor to the establishment of the Wykon school nickname; Jan Quarless (graduate of West Iron County), four year letterman at Northern Michigan, U.P. Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Division I football coach and educator; and Albert Rizzardi (Stambaugh High School), nine time varsity letterman at Hillsdale College, All American athlete and prospect for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League baseball.

Committee President Daniel Hinch could not have been more pleased with those who were selected, “Our Wall of Fame Committee again diligently worked through the list of nominees. We believe the newest inductees once again represent the best of the West Iron County area, as they each have devoted their lives to the continuing betterment of the communities in which they settled as well as exhibiting outstanding achievements from their high school days and throughout their lives. Our Wall of Fame committee is very proud of the Class of 2024”. 

The Induction Banquet will be held Sept. 28 at Young’s Recreation Complex with a cocktail hour at 5 p.m. and dinner and program at 6 p.m. It is anticipated that the event will reach capacity.

Those wishing to attend should send a check or money order payable to “West Iron County Public Schools” for $30 for each person along with the names of each person attending to Mike Berutti, Athletic Director, WIC Schools, 701 Nick Baumgartner Way, Iron River, MI 49935 as soon as possible. A list of all paid reservations will be available at check-in. There will be no printed tickets. Dinner reservation sales will end when capacity is reached.

Nominations are open for the Class of 2025 up until May 1, 2025 by checking in at westiron.org under Wall of Fame.