Wilson Orangemen Award

The prestigious Wilson Orangemen Award was established in 1970 by the newly formed Wilson All-Sports Booster Club. This new Booster Club was: Julius “Sonny” Stapf, Mr. & Mrs. George Gombert, Ellen Taylor, George Pope, Frank Okoniewski, and Athletic Director Robert Dinse. The Booster Club felt the need to honor an individual who was able to compete in a sport, each season, throughout his/her high school career. After much discussion , they decided to name the award the “Orangemen Award,” significant of our school colors. It was determined that recognition of the Orangemen Award would culminate the final Sports Awards Presentation of the year.

Mitch Carr was the initial recipient of the Orangemen Award in 1971. The gift for this honor was a Varsity Jacket. Varsity jackets were only sold in two stores and the only way you could purchase one was to show proof of your Varsity Letter. The value of this gift was priceless back then.

In order to qualify for the Wilson Orangemen Award a Wilson student-athlete must compete in a school-sponsored, interscholastic sport each season throughout his/her high school career. Club sports do not count. (three sports per year for all of 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade)