MONTPELIER — Longtime Middlebury Union High School football coach Peter Brakeley and former Mount Abraham baseball standout Tyler Pelland were among the 14 inductees into the Vermont Principals’ Association Hall of Fame announced last week.
According to the VPA, inductees have distinguished themselves through service and achievement in programs or activities sponsored by the association and have exemplified the highest standards of sportsmanship, ethical conduct and character as student-athletes, coaches/advisors, administrators, media members, officials and contributors.
The Hall of Fame was organized in 2001 to recognize and preserve the heritage of high school interscholastic activities in Vermont.
Brakeley was selected as a Coach/Advisor. The VPA press release noted Brakeley has coached football for 40 years at every level, including since 1980 at MUHS. Brakeley, an MUHS and Middlebury College graduate and standout athlete, coached the Tiger varsity from 1993 to 2007. His teams won three Division 1 titles and were runners-up another seven times. The award-winning teacher has served the football program as the freshman coach since 2009, the VPA noted.
Pelland was selected as a Student/Athlete. The VPA described him as “a dominant left-hand pitcher for the Eagles from 1999 to 2002,” and noted Pelland helped Mount Abe win D-II titles in 2001 and 2002 and as a senior had an earned-run average of 0.31 and struck out 170 in 69 innings pitched.
He was drafted by the Boston Red Sox and pitched well for five years for the Cincinnati Reds organization, reaching the AAA level before an injury ended his career. He returned to school and earned a degree from Paul Smith’s College.
Also earning recognition as student-athletes were Spaulding’s David Ball, for football, basketball and track and field; Rice’s Keith Cieplicki for basketball; Rutland’s Jake Eaton for football, basketball and baseball; Lamoille’s Lucy Higgins for track and field and soccer; West Rutland basketball player Christina Raiche; and St. Johnsbury’s Hannah Rowe, for cross country, basketball and track and field.
The VPA also inducted as coaches/advisors South Burlington teacher and coach Paul Jordan, Randolph softball and basketball coach Alan Stewart, and James Leamy, a teacher and basketball coach at Proctor, West Rutland and Rutland. 
Honored as an administrator was Windsor High School athletic director Bob Hingston. Recognized as a contributor was Jerry Jasinski for football and basketball, founder and director of the annual Vermont Decathlon/Heptathlon Championships and longtime meet director and official for Vermont high school track and field championships. Finally, Dan Shepardson was recognized as a basketball official.   
The Class of 2017 Induction Ceremony will be held on Friday, May 5, at the Capital Plaza Hotel and Conference Center in Montpelier. A reception begins at 5 p.m. with a banquet and the ceremony following.??Contact Mallori LaPointe at the VPA office for reservations at (802) 229-0547. Tickets are $45. Information and forms are also available on the VPA website at www.vpaonline.org.