During the 45th anniversary celebration of Moraine Valley Athletics on April 30, four honorees were inducted in its Hall of Fame. The class included basketball announcer Bill Antonion, assistant basketball coach Kyle R. Hastings, tennis player Michael Wojnarowski and volleyball player Julie (Moore) Wurster.
Bill Antonion, a Korean War veteran, was a basketball announcer for the men's and women's teams starting in 1995 until 2015. After retiring from working as an agency manger with State Farm, his love of sports led him to a new life as a newspaper reporter for the Star Newspaper. A connection with Athletics director Bill Finn brought him to the microphone at Moraine Valley. He knew every player, stayed up-to-date with every Moraine Valley basketball team and practiced saying player names so he wouldn't skip a beat at the score table. He was entertaining, accurate, punctual and well dressed, making sure to do the best job he possibly could in this volunteer position. He dedicated a lot of his time and energy to Moraine Valley basketball. The players affectionately called him Tony and appreciated hearing their games announced so respectfully and accurately. He also called some games at Governors State University and Triton College. He was inducted posthumously.
Kyle R. Hastings was an assistant men's basketball coach under Finn for a few years starting in 1983 shortly after graduating from Moraine Valley in 1977. He was Finn's righthand man and an intense recruiter, finding top talent from Chicagoland and bringing them back to the college. He brought in the top scorers, defenders and most athletic players, who would go on to win close to 30 games each year. He became a successful head basketball coach at Trinity Christian College and also was an athletics director at Proviso West. He also was the founder of the Midwestern Preparatory Academy, which develops and prepares students to play football at colleges and universities. He has been the mayor of Orland Hills for nearly 30 years.
Michael Wojnarowski played tennis for Moraine Valley in the 2007 season after a successful four years at Richards High School. Before transfering to Moraine Valley, he stopped playing tennis with no intention to continue. Fortunately, he was persuaded to continue as a Cyclone. His skills on the court earned him a first singles championship as well as NJCAA Region IV and Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference Player of the Year. He helped his team earn a Skyway and Region championship as well as compete in the NJCAA Division I men's tennis championship. He also was an NJCAA Academic All-American for his performance in the classroom. Wojnarowski went on to continued tennis success at Lewis University before working as a teaching tennis professional for nine years.
Julie Wurster was a talented, all-around athlete from Shepard High School when she joined the volleyball team in 1991. She walked into the gym already possessing a top work ethic from her close, athletic family. Coming in with a high volleyball IQ and was not a flashy player. Wurster was a quiet leader who never sought attention and was always open and ready to being coached by Athletics Hall of Fame volleyball Head Coach Gloria Coughlin. She was highly efficient as a setter, attacker and blocker. A left-handed setter, Wurster often had the advantage and could pick apart the opponent's defense to score with the team's hitters or do it herself. She was always watching to see how and when to score depending on openings across the net, and she communicated well with her teammates. She also was an excellent server. Wurster later briefly coached with Coughlin at Celtic Force Volleyball Club.
"It's exciting to induct this illustrious group. I love going back through our rich athletic history and, for one day each year, relive some of the amazing contributions that have set the stage for what Moraine Valley Athletics now offers our community," Finn said. "The Hall of Fame inductions truly affirm Moraine Valley and the south suburbs of Chicago are very rich in athletic tradition and talented high-level athletes."