June 6, 2008

Five individuals to be honored at the Organization’s Mid Year Meeting

The United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA), the governing body of adult soccer in the U.S., is pleased to announce the individuals selected to the USASA Hall of Fame, Class of 2008. The honorees will be inducted during the USASA Mid-Year Meeting to be held in San Antonio, Texas at an evening dinner ceremony on Friday, October 10, 2008.
Inductees were chosen on the basis of having made a significant contribution toward the development and advancement of adult amateur soccer at the national or regional level. The honorees were selected by the USASA Hall of Fame Committee, and the Hall of Fame Class of 2008 includes the following distinguished group of individuals: Brian Alexander; Chanka K. Baldeosingh; Anthony Falcone; Debra Trapikas; and John Zangrilli.
“We are pleased to welcome the Class of 2008 into the USASA Hall of Fame, although neither our words nor the awards to be presented can adequately recognize their devotion to the game we all love,” said Hall of Fame Committee Chairman Bruno Trapikas, of this year’s selections, adding: “In many ways, the Committee had some very difficult decisions to make, as there were many, many other highly qualified nominees.”
In accordance with USASA Bylaw changes enacted this past February, the Hall of Fame Committee was reorganized earlier this year. Bruno Trapikas was reappointed as Chair, and the Hall of Fame Membership elected the following individuals to serve on the Committee: Marypat Bell, Bob Black, Gianfranco Borroni, Mike Edwards, Stephen Flamhaft, Werner Fricker, Jr., Marge Madriago and Richard Williams. In addition to kicking off its activities with the making of this year’s selections, the Committee has begun to examine the nomination process for future years, is seeking additional revenue sources, and is looking at ways to quickly move toward a reflection of the USASA Hall of Fame within the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, NY.

A native of Italy, John Zangrilli played youth soccer in his hometown of Ripi until 1967, the year he left the Old World for the United States. He continued his playing career in New Jersey. Becoming a Referee in 1975, Zangrilli reached National grade three years later and remained as such until 1984, officiating hundreds of National Open and Amateur Cups games at the State and Regional level, North American Soccer League’s ASL and USL, and international games including the NY Cosmos (NASL) vs. S.S. Lazio (Italy). John is one the founders of the Garden State Soccer League of New Jersey, and has been the Senior Vice President since 1980. At the State level, Zangrilli has served as State Referee Administrator and Referee Committee Chairman for the New Jersey State Soccer Association (NJSA). He is currently the Referee Assignor and Vice President of Administrative Operations for the NJ Association and Region I State Referee Administrator for the USASA.

With the addition of the 2008 class, the US Adult Soccer Hall of Fame will now boast 86 members.