Hammond Sports Hall of Fame - The Inductees Class of 2022

Hammond Sports Hall of Fame
The Class of 2024 Inductees

2024 Induction photos

Dennis Hardesty	Marie Herring	Andy Juscik
Dr. Joseph P. Markovich DC	Damon Rogers	Joseph Gulvas (Veterans Category)

2023 Inductees:

DENNIS HARDESTY

As a manager, coach, promoter, referee, judge, cut man and advisor, this Clark HS alumnus championed the sport of boxing for 45+ years. The hundreds of amateur and professional fighters he trained produced dozens of Golden & Silver Gloves championships and 200+ professional ring victories. Several of his pro boxers, including Amy Yuratovac and Hammond Sports Hall of Famers Jack Callahan & Marty Jakubowski, competed for world titles. He also advanced boxing as a wholesome activity for disadvantaged youth and a viable exercise program for Parkinson’s patients.

MARIE HERRING

This Iowa native and 1983 Purdue University Calumet alumna carved an impressive niche coaching multiple high school girls’ teams over a 37-year period (1984-2021) in Hammond, primarily at Morton. As head volleyball coach (1990-2009), she guided the Governors to conference, sectional & regional titles in ’98. During a 9-year period, she led Morton to 5 sectional and 6 conference championships, earning Coach-of-the-Year honors 6 times. Her track & field teams won conference titles and she was named Coach-of-the-Year 11 consecutive seasons (2007-2018.)

ANDY JUSCIK

During a 50+ year career, this 1959 Noll graduate coached girls’ basketball at Noll after introducing and coaching women’s basketball at nearby Calumet College of St. Joseph (1999-2007). Coach “J” also served CCSJ as athletic director, overseeing development of a comprehensive intercollegiate sports program that grew from 3 teams & 20 student-athletes in 1999 to 20 & 170+, respectively, in 2007. At Noll, initially as an assistant coach, he contributed to the 1989-1990 team’s 23-1 success. As head coach, he led Noll to a sectional title in 1997 and earned conference Coach-of-the-Year honors twice.

DR. JOSEPH MARKOVICH, DC

This versatile and accomplished 1973 Hammond High alumnus excelled in 3 sports (football, wrestling and track & field) in high school, then repeated his 3-sport effort at Wabash College—while earning a pre-med degree. At Hammond High, he was a 2-way football starter, gaining all-state honorable mention recognition as a nose guard (’72), while leading his state-ranked team in tackles. He also was a sectional wrestling titlist (167 lbs.) and conference champion 440-yard track runner. Collectively, he earned 18 varsity letters in high school and college.

DAMON ROGERS

After a standout high school basketball career at Clark, this 1987 graduate raised his game to an even more impressive level at the University of Dubuque (IA). There, as a sharpshooting guard, he earned 2nd and 1st Team All-Iowa Conference honors in 1990 & ’91, respectively. He graduated as Dubuque’s career leader in 3-point field goals with 122 and as the No. 4 scorer in school history (1,556 points). He also helped Dubuque to 2 conference titles, then went on to play professionally in country formerally known as Czechoslovakia. He was inducted into the University of Dubuque Hall of Fame in 2011.

JOSEPH GULVAS
(Veterans Category)

A 4-sport high school athlete, this 1947 Clark graduate found his greatest sports glory on baseball fields. A third baseman, center fielder and pitcher, he once briefly took leave from a high school baseball game to run a 100-yard dash at a nearby track meet. In 1949, he signed a contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers organization and competed at various minor league levels during a professional career that sandwiched a stint in Uncle Sam’s army (1950-53). During and after his playing days, he coached local youth in multiple sports.