2019 Hall of Fame Inductees

2019 Hall of Fame Inductees

Richard Kiesbye '67

Rich Kiesbye, Haldane class of 1967, was a three sport athlete and won a BI-Valley League championship in each sport. “Kurt”, as he is known by many close to him, was a member of the 1964 football BI-Valley football team, as well as a stand out performer on both the 1967 basketball and baseball championship teams.

Rich excelled on the mound for the Blue Devils and was one of the very best pitchers of his day, in the whole Hudson Valley.

On the “Gridiron” , Kiesbye played tight end and defensive end. On the “Hardwood”, in Kiesbye’s senior year he was the Devil’s leading scorer at 11.7points per game, second leading rebounder and was also the teams Co-Captain. As a junior Rich was the leagues forth leading scorer. His exploits in basketball lead to his selection to the all-league and all-county basketball teams, both his Jr. and Sr. years.

As talented and all around athlete as Rich was, it was Kiesbye’s accomplishment as a pitcher that gained him extraordinary notoriety - he is unarguably one of the best pitchers in Blue Devil history.

As a junior Rich posted a 6-2 record as the Devil’s lost out to Dover for the league title by one game. Kiesbye posted 101 strike outs in 57 innings, averaging 11.2 K’s per game, including four strikeouts. He was selected to the all-league and all-county team in his junior year.

During his senior campaign “Kurt” completed an 8-2 record, bettered his strikeout record form the previous year to 110 in 61 innings. Kiesbye’s most amazing feat was his pitching in FIVE consecutive strikeouts wile posting a 0.44 ERA.

In the D.C.S.L. small school-big school playoffs, two of the areas best pitchers squared off, Kiesbye at 8-2 vs. John Kelly of Poughkeepsie High School at 8-1. Haldane could not muster up any offense and was defeated 4-0. Again, Kiesbye gathered all-league and all-county honors. According to local news papers, “with a break or two Kiesbye could have been 10-0”.

His post high school career included a brief stint with Union College in Kentucky, an NAIA school. Kiesbye faced 16 batters in one 7 inning game his freshman season, a school record that stood for 45 years. During summers, while in college Kiesbye pitched for the Beacon Astros, an American League Rookie League. He continued to excel and express tossing a 1 hitter, several shutouts and posting an outstanding record.

The acclamation of Rich’s great career at the high school and college level was his invitation to attend a try-out with the NY Yankees.

Russell Miller '78

Russell (Russ) Miller is the husband of Chrissy Miller and proud father of a wonderful daughter (Brittnee Miller). Russell is a physically daunting figure, yet amongst those who know him best, he is truly a gentle giant of a man. His parents (Connie and Russell Sr.), both deceased, were extremely loving yet strong in character, and these traits were imparted on Russ. His sister (Rosemary), grand parents, uncles, aunts, and cousins, who surrounded him in his youth, were pivotal in helping to form who and what he became as a person. His friends, especially Bobby Flaherty, were the encouragement and drive spurring him on to be a New York State Shot Put champion. Russ is so grateful for these people and their love. Last, but certainly not least, Russ's coaches throughout High School served as the fire and pride inside of Russ. Russ always wanted to make them proud of what he did, on the field of play, as well as how he carried himself in life. To all of these aforementioned in this opening paragraph, a sincere THANK YOU!

Russ was a big boy from the start, and this continued as he developed into what Bo Gill later termed “The Nelsonville StrongBoy”. He started to realize that he had quickness as well as strength so he concentrated on sports that he could excel at. His love for football led him to play offensive guard and tackle, defensive line and kicker for Haldane from his sophomore through senior years. He was too young in 1975 to play freshman football. Yet, Mr. Pat Shields' couldn't help but notice Russ and they quickly started talking Track and Field for both Indoor and Outdoor seasons for his 4 years in high school. Somewhat surprisingly, Russ had a love for basketball as well, and played for Haldane for his first 3 years in high school. He was the Charles Barkley of Cold Spring. He gave up basketball in 1977-78 so he could concentrate on throwing the 12 pound ball. And throw he did!

Russ won the 1977-78 Indoor New York State Championship at Cornell University with a throw of 58 feet 6 3/4 inches. He won over 50 meets in his 4 years of competing, and in a superior class of throwers in the 1978 New York State Outdoor Championships, he was 3rd with a still Haldane record throw of 59 feet 4 1/4 inches. These marks were not unnoticed by colleges and universities all over the country. He received serious interest by over 35 Division I schools. Due to his mom's serious illness, Russ chose to go to East Stoudsburg University, which was close to home. This proved to be a good choice, as her illness progressed far too quickly.

Russ received a ton of honors in his Track and Field career. He was All League in his Freshman and Sophomore years while being both All League and All Sectional in his Junior and Senior years. The Cold Spring Lions Club awarded him a scholarship in 1978, which he used as he entered ESU.

So the big kid who started throwing an 8 pound shot in 7th grade, and was far more consistent at throwing over 58 feet than anyone in Haldane history, broke the old school record by over a foot. In an event measured in fractions of an inch, this feat is remarkable. Forty (40) years later that record stands, and in fact has never been approached!

David Milkovich '82

Dave was a multi sport athlete at Haldane. He threw shot put and discus for the Haldane track team receiving medals for both his junior year at the league championship tournament.

Dave was a captain his senior year and medaled in shot put for Haldane's 1982 league championship team. Dave was a three year, two way starter for Haldane football.

Dave received all league awards his junior year at linebacker and offensive tackle, finishing second, by one vote, as the league's Most Outstanding Lineman. Dave also received the most Outstanding Lineman award at the Haldane Football Awards Dinner.

Dave's Senior year saw even more awards on and off the football field. His leadership was rewarded by being elected captain of the football team. Dave's Senior season, he played every play of every game, except kickoffs. At linebacker, Dave called all the defensive plays for each game.

At offensive tackle, Dave led Haldane to a 237 yards rushing per game, blocking on either side of the offensive line as to where the play was called. Dave was a leading tackler for Haldane on defense.

Dave was elected to the all League Team again his Senior year at linebacker and offensive line.

Dave was unanimously elected The Most Outstanding Lineman of the league by all the coaches in the league. It had been many years since a player received such an honor.

At the second Haldane Football Awards dinner, Dave received the Most Outstanding Lineman award again. Dave also won the heavyweight division of a weight lifting competition between members of Haldane's football team and N.Y. Military academy's his Senior year.

After graduating in 1982, Dave attended Bowling Green State University. Dave transferred to Marist College where he started at defensive tackle from 1983 to 1985 where he was the anchor of the line. Dave was also the Marist College Football weight lifting champion, Bench Pressing 490 lbs, Squatting 770 lbs, and Leg Pressing 1100 lbs.

Dave also won the Uptown Kingston Summer Festival bench press competition with a bench of 450 lbs. in 1985.

After graduating from Marist, Dave was a stock broker in New York City, then owned multiple businesses on Long Beach Island NJ until his retirement in 2016. Dave currently resides with his wife Annette in Delray Beach Florida. Dave and his father Frank are the first father and son to be elected to the Haldane hall of fame.

Chelsea Lisikatos '11

Chelsea was a six-year Haldane varsity starter from 2006-2011 who served as Captain throughout her high school career. As the sole pitcher, she lead the team to 6 Sectional Championship games and won two Sectional Titles. During Chelsea’s senior year, the Haldane Softball Team made their first ever New York State Tournament Championship game. Chelsea was a five-time All-League and All-Section player, a four-time All-State recipient, and a three-time All Poughkeepsie Journal and Journal News All Star. In her senior year, she was named the Journal News Section I Softball Player of the Year. In 2011, Chelsea was awarded the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Player of the Week.

Chelsea holds school records in games played, career wins with 73, 21 single season wins, 39 career shutouts, 13 single season shutouts, 15 no-hitters, career strikeouts with 1,076, home runs, RBIs, and slugging percentage. Not to mention two games with 20 out of 21batters struck out. While accruing these accolades, Chelsea maintained over an 85 grade point average.

Chelsea went on to play softball for Division 1 University of Charlotte, finishing her career with 154 games played, 380 at bats, 97 hits, 49 runs scored, 16 doubles, 15 home runs, and 57 RBIs. Chelsea currently plays softball at the International level for the Greek National Team. She has represented Greece in the last five European Championships.

Chelsea is the first softball player to be inducted into the Haldane Athletic Hall of Fame.

Volleyball Team '98

1998-99 Class D STATE CHAMPION VOLLEYBALL TEAM

Players

Dina DelVecchio, Kristen DeMino, Denise Hunt, Melissa Jamin, Kristen Lindner, Courtney Lyons, Aaron Nastasi, Emily Perpich, Rebecca Sabshin, Toni Susi, Megan Varricchio

Coaches

Toni Woody & Nancy Belluscio

Season Record 17-2, only losses to Croton who also played in States at the C level

This was Haldane's first time playing in Section I, Conference C-III.

Section 1 and NYS Class D champions

Sectionals -

Seeded number 1

Defeated Tuckahoe in semis at home, 15-5, 15-5, 15-8

Blind Brook (#2 seed) in finals , 15-5, 15-8, 15-6

Drew a bye through Regionals and went directly to the State Tourney

States -

Pool play, beat Houton Academy and Fort Edwards to advance to finals