KEN NOWICKI CLASS OF '74 YEAR OF INDUCTION: 2023 He knew he was a good high school football player, but Ken Nowicki never dreamed that people would still be talking about him years and years after he walked the halls of Steinert High School. Yet, in 2008, Nowicki got some ink related to his days as a football player at Steinert High School. In a special section in The Times of Trenton leading up to the annual Thanksgiving Day Game, Nowicki appeared in a Top 10 List. "Regarded by many to be the best linebacker to ever wear a Steinert uniform" was his description in The Times' "Celebrating 50 Years of Gridiron Greatness: East vs. West." The Top 10 players were "selected by sports writer Kevin Maloney after conversations with former players and coaches." "That is my biggest honor," he said. "To be considered the best linebacker over such a long period of time. I know many of the people on that list and just to be considered to be honored for something like that is such an honor." He's getting additional attention now, nearly a half-century post-high school as he enters the SHS Athletic Hall of Fame. He says his days at Steinert set the foundation for who he is today. "I have so many fond memories," Nowicki said of his days as a three-sport athlete at SHS. "The people that I most admired at that point in my life were teachers and coaches. And, the friendships that were made - we've (he and his teammates) managed friendships for 50-plus years." With Peter Brescia at the helm and with Richard Fornaro, Al DiNicola and Ken Rauba as assistant coaches, Nowicki along with Joe Ungrady, Joe Hodnicki, Kevin Edwards, Lou Giallella and Doug Loesser were named all-county. Nowicki was named to The Trentonian's All-Mercer County defensive team for 1973 along with several other Spartans. Another top memory for Nowicki comes from a game where the underdog Spartans defeated Princeton High, 9-7. "I actually kicked the game-winning field goal against Princeton," he remembered fondly. "For a minute, I thought I was going to get crushed." Instead his 12-yard attempt sailed through the uprights and teammate Sam DeCara blocked a last-second PHS field goal try as the Spartans improved their win-loss record to one game under .500. In addition to being a linebacker, fullback and kicker with the football team, Nowicki also wrestled (165 lbs.) and was involved in the field events on the track teams at Steinert. "I had a great (football) career in high school, but I injured my knees pretty bad in college," said Nowicki, who played one year at the then-named Glassboro College as a linebacker and on the defensive line. He had varied career in manufacturing management and education and recently started a new position as Director of Skilled Trades and Industrial Technology at Monroe County Community College in Rochester, N.Y. He says he "has five children; and eight grandchildren at present count." His wife Barbara and several friends and teammates are here many years later to help him celebrate his entry into his high school's Athletic Hall of Fame. RETURN TO THE HALL OF FAME MEMBERS PAGE