The current generation of Upper Perk athletes shared the limelight with three stalwarts from the District's past in a highly poignant Blue and Gold Banquet sponsored by the Valley's Lions and Lioness Clubs on Tuesday night.

        Kelly Brenninger, Bill Keeny and Barry Reeder were inducted into the Hall of Fame before Kirsten Siwy and Eli Soto-Alers were named the Outstanding Athletes for 2015-16 and Morgan Rynn and Michael Felix carried away the All-Around Athlete Awards.

        Felix received a plethora of trophies and plaques during the ceremony including: athlete of the season for the fall (football), winter (wrestling) and spring (track) seasons, Offensive MVP for football, Track co-MVP with Soto-Alers, a State Competition Advancement Award for throwing the javelin, and the Terry Fetterman Award.

        "I didn't expect that many," said the soft-spoken senior who is headed to Ursinus in the fall.

        Keeny was inducted into the Wall of Fame for his contributions as a teacher and coach, primarily football, during his stint at Upper Perk from 1960 to 1985. Among his most notable accomplishments were a Bux-Mont Co-Championship in 1963 and an outright title in 1966.

        He amassed a record of 104-101-7 during his tenure despite losing the first 17 games of his career.

        During his acceptance speech, Keeny described his simple formula for success: "Get good players."

        Keeny was instrumental in beginning the tradition of the Blue and Gold Banquet, recalling that the first one was held at the East Greenville Firehouse.

        Barry Reeder graduated from Upper Perk in 1959 after earning a total of eight varsity letters in football, basketball, and baseball. He received interest from the Phillies and Pirates for a pro baseball career but went on to a 25 year teaching career in the Souderton School District.

        Reeder recalled playing in the first night football game at Upper Perk 60 years ago in a game against Boyertown under portable lights.

        Reeder joins his brother Steve, a 1967 inductee, on the Wall of Fame.

        Barry joked that "It's about time the best athlete in the family gets on the Wall."

        Brenninger, still teaching at the Upper Perk Middle School, was the guiding force behind a field hockey program that went 217-118-30 during her 18 years at the helm. The run included five Pioneer Athletic Conference Championships, a District 1AA Title and a trip to the State Championship game, a 1-0 loss to Wyoming Seminary, in 2006.

        She was named Coach of the Year six times by the Pottstown Mercury.

        In another memorable moment, baseball player Elias Gabel-Tripp was given the memorial award named for his father, Kyheim, who died in a car accident in 1997.

        Elias needed several moments to compose himself before remarking on the influence of a father he never met.

        "I kind of want to follow in his footsteps and go beyond that. He was one of the athletes everyone wanted to be."

        His senior year was even more emotional for Elias because of the 2015 sudden death of his grandfather, Kyheim's dad. He often thought of his father and grandfather while on the field.

        In another nice moment, the athletic department and AD Steve Perlstein recognized Fern Lorish, for 40 years of "service and devotion" to Upper Perk.

        Sports Booster President Dave Moser, a quintessential behind-the-scenes guy, was surprised with the Joe Ricapito Award which he shared with senior Julia Duemler.

        Valerie Janton and Allison Ritting were recognized for being four sport athletes.

        Senior football player and track team member Jake Votta closed the evening with a funny and heartfelt reflection on his time at Upper Perk, lauding Steve Perlstein and his football coach Tom Hontz.

        He left the underclassmen with some advice: "You need to cherish the time you have right now. I can't tell you what I would do to have those moments back."