Taunton High is launching an Athletics Hall of Fame. Here's how to nominate.

TAUNTON— Over the decades, countless star athletes and accomplished coaches have walked the halls of Taunton High School.

Now, some of the top Tigers and their accomplishments will forever be enshrined and celebrated as Taunton superintendent John Cabral and athletic director Mark Ottavianelli announced the creation of the Taunton High School Athletic Hall of Fame in a press release Thursday.

"We are thrilled to launch our Athletics Hall of Fame and recognize the outstanding contributions of our former student-athletes, teams, coaches, administrators and contributors," Cabral stated in the release. "This is a great way to honor their dedication and hard work, and to inspire our current and future students to reach their full potential."

The project was spearheaded by junior varsity softball and field hockey coach, teacher, public address announcer and committee chairman Mike Fox, along with Ottavianelli, who worked to research the history of Taunton athletics and wanted to ensure those figures were given the opportunity to be celebrated by generations of Tigers to come.

"We’ve been incredibly fortunate in Taunton to have witnessed some amazing student-athletes and coaches excel on our courts and fields," Fox said. "This recognition is nothing short of what they deserve and I’m honored to be a part of this effort to recognize and celebrate their achievements."

For Ottavianelli, who is set to retire at the end of the school year following 22 years at the helm, the decision to launch an Athletics Hall of Fame was obvious.

"Considering Taunton High School's rich athletic history it was a no-brainer to create a Hall of Fame," Ottavianelli said, thanking Fox for his time and effort in turning the project into a reality.

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The Athletic Hall of Fame is set to be located in the hallway connecting the Rabouin Field House to the athletics wings, with plaques honoring each inductee.

Nominations for the inaugural Taunton High School Athletics Hall of Fame are open through May 31. After the 11 voting members of the Hall of Fame Committee, which consists of past and present Taunton Public Schools employees, coaches, community members and journalists, select up to 10 nominations, they will be inducted in a ceremony this fall at the high school. Further details will be provided over the summer, as per the press release.

How can I nominate?

Nominations for the Athletic Hall of Fame can be submitted either online at thshalloffame.org or by downloading the nomination form on the website and submitting it in person to the Athletics Department at Taunton High School.

Nominees are separated into six categories: student-athletes, teams, coaches, administrators, contributors and classic, which includes anyone who's contributions and accomplishments occurred before 1950.

What is the criteria?

All nominees must meet the committee's four core values of Taunton High School Athletics: sportsmanship, leadership, integrity and commitment.

For student-athletes, they must be alumni of Taunton High School who completed at least two seasons of a varsity sport and graduated at least five years before nomination, meaning any student athlete from the Class of 2019 and before. They must have had an outstanding individual performance that is reflected by stats, records and awards and made contributions to the overall success of the team, especially with championships.

For coaches, they must have held a varsity head coaching position at Taunton High School for multiple years and, like the student-athletes, have retired or departed from the role at least five years prior to nomination. Their team success will be measured by the committee in terms of state championships, league championships, win-loss records, school records and outstanding seasons.

For teams, they must have competed at the varsity level and won a league, sectional or state championship and/or have other noteworthy accomplishments such as a school first, have set a school record or went undefeated. As with student-athletes and coaches, teams are only eligible five years after the end of their seasons.

For administrators, they must have a track record of improving facilities, introducing innovative programs and prioritizing and facilitating the success and well-being of student athletes. Like the other categories, they are only eligible five years after retirement or departure.

As for classics, anyone or any team that fits into the other categories but had their accomplishments before 1950 is eligible, while contributors are any non-athlete or coach who made contributions to the athletic program either through athletic service or volunteer activities over several years.

For more information and further updates on the Taunton High School Athletic Hall of Fame, visit the website or follow them on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.

This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Taunton High School launches Athletic Hall of Fame, seeks nominees