“Welcome home,” said Athletic Director Chris McCarthy from the podium, looking at a group of John Jay High School’s most accomplished athletes, ever. The phrase said it all.
John Jay High School Athletics’ Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, held on September 20, 2024, was a sweet homecoming. Like the best reunions, it was a purposeful passing on of family stories to the new generation—John Jay’s current athletes.
The 16 inductees spanned John Jay’s graduating classes of 1986 – 2012 and included the four Bocklet siblings— Mike (’03), Matt (’04), Chris (’08) and Casey (’11)—who all went on to play lacrosse professionally; basketball player Raegan Knox (’12), who still holds John Jay’s record for most points scored; and football and baseball star Sean Scott (’88) who was drafted by the Oakland A's.
Creating John Jay High School Athletics Hall of Fame was a labor of love for AD McCarthy—he’s wanted to do it ever since he first saw the framed jerseys of John Jay’s legendary players in the athletic department’s hallway. “I wanted to find out your stories,” he said to the inductees. “It’s important that our current student athletes know your stories.”
The honorees and their guests reconnected over dinner in the fitness center-turned-café, before rounding the corner to the gym for the ceremony. The great hall was newly draped with Hall of Fame banners, one for each of the inductees, and lit by new 10’ x 17’ screens displaying the honorees’ names and numbers.
The dramatic changes to John Jay’s athletic facilities were noticed by all of the returning athletes. Equally apparent were the things that have not changed over time: the District’s commitment to its students, the coaches’ dedication to their players, and the athletes’ drive and ability.
In a conversation before the ceremony, former Northeastern University football player Antron Smith (’86) shared that he also performed with the John Jay’s breakdancing group. “I’m a theater guy, too,” he said, thanking his high school music teacher as well as his coaches for the huge impact they had on him. “They laid the foundation for the rest of my life.”
Field hockey, basketball and lacrosse player Dawn DiMicco (1996) who earned All-American honors playing lacrosse for the University of Albany, spoke about playing basketball for John Jay. In her senior year, the team made it to the state championship. “Being part of that team—the comradery, the coaches—was one of the highlights of my athletic career,” she said.
Mike, Matt, Chris and Casey Bocklet stood together at the podium. AD McCarthy called them the First Family of Lacrosse for their careers which include 25 professional seasons, five professional championships, eight professional All-Star honors and three NCAA DI championships. “Casey was playing during my first year at John Jay,” recalled AD McCarthy. “I knew then that I’d be including her in the Hall of Fame.”
Ryder Bohlander (’07), an All-American lacrosse player who played for the University of Maryland, recalled the day that John Jay broke Yorktown’s 86-game winning streak. A stand-out memory was sitting on the bus with Chris Bocklet and celebrating the victory with the team.
Many of the inductees chose to speak directly to the students in the audience.
Alex Smith (1995 – 2020) was the only coach inducted into the Hall of Fame; he brought John Jay’s ice hockey team to the Frozen Four for three years. “What bonds us?” he said to the students present. “We all are part of John Jay Athletics, committed to representing the high school and our community at the highest level.”
Alicia Smith (’96), who went on to earn All-American honors playing softball for Hofstra University before playing professionally in Italy and with the New York/New Jersey Juggernaut, said to the students: “How you carry yourself, how you speak to each other: these things matter.”
“Know that we are cheering for you,” said Lauren Murray (‘12), who went on to play lacrosse for Northwestern University, then the Philadelphia Force and the Albany Pride. “At your games this weekend, and always.”
Congratulations to:
CASEY BOCKLET, Class of 2011, lacrosse
CHRIS BOCKLET, Class of 2008, lacrosse
MATT BOCKLET, Class of 2004, lacrosse
MIKE BOCKLET, Class of 2003, lacrosse
RYDER BOHLANDER, Class of 2007, football & lacrosse
AMY DIMICCO, Class of 1998; field hockey, basketball & lacrosse
DAWN DIMICCO, Class of 1996, field hockey, basketball & lacrosse
ALI GARDINER, Class of 2005, softball
ANTHONY IACOMINI, Class of 2009, basketball & baseball
RAEGAN KNOX, Class of 2012, basketball & volleyball
LAUREN MURRAY, Class of 2012, lacrosse
TIM NEVIN, Class of 1986, basketball
SEAN SCOTT, Class of 1988, football & baseball
ALEX SMITH, Varsity Hockey Coach, 1995 – 2020
ANTRON SMITH, Class of 1986, football
ALICIA SMITH, Class of 1996, basketball & softball