Several wrestlers and coaches have been selected to the Lenape Hall of Fame for their exploits.
Coach Hank Schnepf
Dennis Smith
Ed Witczak
Jerry Bisignano
Coach Sam Evangelista
Mark Sanders
Coach Russ Minuto
Coach Hank Schnepf
Hank Schnepf arrived in South Jersey in 1956 and began his coaching career as an assistant cross-country and football coach at Rancocas Valley High School in Mount Holly, NJ. Mr. Schnepf initiated the first wrestling program in Burlington County, the very successful program at Rancocas, the beginning of a rich tradition.
Coach Schnepf was off to the new Lenape HS in 1961, and started an even more successful tradition there. Coach Schnepf coached the first NJ State Champion from Burlington County and Lenape HS, Mr. Dennis Smith, an awesome wrestler who has gone on to be a South Jersey wrestling icon in coaching as well.
Coach Schnepf also coached baseball and cross-country at Lenape, leaving coaching in the spring of 1971 to become a Vice-Principal and the Athletic Director for a number of years at Lenape. Coach Schnepf was also a NJ high school wrestling official for 5 years. He was inducted into the Lenape High School Hall of Fame in 1985.
90 - 21 - 6 at Lenape, 102 - 32 - 6 overall (includes Rancocas Valley record)
32 individual District Champions
6 individual Regional Champions
1 individual State Champion
4 District Team Championships
4 Burlington County League Team Championships
2 South Jersey Group IV Northern Division Championships
Dennis Smith is a 1968 graduate of Lenape, and a 1983 inductee into the Lenape Hall of Fame. Dennis never lost a dual meet at Lenape, compilin a stellar 31-0-0 record in the 90 and 98 pound weight classes as a freshmen and junior varsity wrestler.
Mr. Smith was a two-time District Champion, as well as a Regional Champion and the 1968 New Jersey State Champion. He won his state final match against Jim Guerrieri of Middletown, 3-0, capping a brilliant 41-1-0 varsity record under the tutelage of legendary coach Hank Schnepf. In doing so, Mr. Smith became the first wrester from Burlington County to become a NJ state champion.
Mr. Smith continued his career at Rutgers University, going 36-16 while placing fourth in the tough EIWA tournament in1970, and was captain of the team in 1972. Dennis was also presented the prestigious Wilfred Cann Award by the NJSIAA for Contributions to Wrestling.
Mr. Smith continued on as a NJ wrestling official ni 1973, while serving as an assistant to another of Lenape's great line of coaches, the esteemed Sam Evangelista, for several years. He moved on to start the wrestling program at Delran High School, beginning a tradition of excellence there as well. Delran finished another outstanding season in 2000, qualifying for the South Jersey Group II Sectionals.
Everyone who knows Dennis, in whatever capacity, as a student, coach, teacher, official, or friend, knows him as a total class act, someone who exudes a quiet confidence in his quest for excellence in everything he does. Thank you, Dennis Smith, for all of your contributions to New Jersey sports excellence. You have set and continue to maintain the standard for all who aspire to wrestle and contribute to the Pride of the Tribe at Lenape High School.
Mr. Witczak is a 1965 graduate of Lenape High School. He was Lenape's first District Champion, and was a two-time District Champion; in 1963 he won the title at 106 lbs. and once again in 1965 at 115 lbs. In his senior year he was named the Outstanding Senior Athlete at Lenape after capping his senior year as captain, leading the way by capturing the District title, the Region 7 title, and placing 3rd in the NJ State Championships.
Mr. Witczak finished his career with a varsity record of 34-9-2, recording 19 pins. He went on to wrestle at Wilkes College in Pennsylvania, going 12-3, culminating in a trip to the NCAA national tournament. He returned to the community, staying active coaching youth wrestling and football in the area. He was also a high school wrestling coach for 10 years, serving as an assistant wrestling coach under Sam Evangelista at Lenape HS and Coach Chambers at Cherokee HS in Marlton.
Mr. Bisignano is a 1966 graduate of Lenape High School. He was a 4-year varsity wrestler at Lenape, a two-time winner of both the Districts and the Regionals. During his career, he won 41 straight dual meets, only losing as a freshmen, and he was named the team MVP as a sophomore. His career record was a remarkable 66 wins against 7 losses, compiling 31 pins. In addition to being a two-time District and Regional champion, Mr. Bisignano distinguished himself at the NJ State Championship finals as well, finishing second twice at 130 lbs.
Mr. Bisignano went on to wrestle at the University of Arizona for 1 1/2 years before sustaining a career-ending knee injury. He later returned to the community and coached youth wrestling.
133-71-6 Record as Coach at Lenape High School
30 Individual District Champions
8 Individual Regional Champions (4 in one year)
3 District Team Championships
1 South Jersey Group IV Northern Division Team Championship
2 Washington Twp. Christmas Tournament Team Championships
Placed 3 times in Group IV South Sectionals
Outstanding Individual Wrestlers under Sam Evangelista
A 1983 graduate of Lenape High School, Sanders completed his career at Lenape as the winningest wrestler in the history of the school through 1983. He was a 3-time Christmas Tournament champion, a 4-time District 26 champion, a 2-tim Region 7 champion and compiled a 98-7-1 record as a four-year starter under Coach Sam Evangelista, a former inductee into the S.J. Wrestling Hall of Fame. He was captain of the team in 1982-1983 and received the Outstanding Wrestler Award (seniors only) and Lenape’s overall Athlete of the Year Award (seniors only). He continued his wrestling career at West Virginia University where he compiled a varsity record of 56-49-1 before graduating in 1988. Sanders considers the highlight of his athletic career winning his second Region 7 championship title. Prior to high school he wrestled under the late Ray Jasper for Greentree Wrestling in Mount Laurel and won numerous titles, including a Junior Olympic title. A resident of Mount Laurel, he is a Senior Project Manager for Ryan Homes. The son of former S.J. Wrestling Hall of Famer inductee and longtime Eastern High School coach John Sanders. Mark and his wife, Alyson, live in Mount Laurel and are the parents of twins, Megan and Brad.
A 1969 graduate of Rancocas Valley Regional High School, Minuto was a three-year varsity wrestler who won the 123-pound District 26 championship as a senior over Brian Faulkner of Lenape. Minuto went to Kutztown University where he wrested three years varsity and graduated in 1973. He served 10 years as an assistant to Hall of Famer Sam Evangelista at Lenape before taking over the heading coaching position. During his 20 years as head coach at Lenape, his teams compiled a 303-57-2 record to rank ninth in South Jersey history. His teams won 13 district, 13 league and three SJ Group IV champions along with seven holiday, five Neptune Classic and 15 Burlington County titles. His teams appeared in the sectional playoffs 18 times. A six-time district Coach of the Year, he was selected Region 7 Coach of the Year twice and was selected National Federation of Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 2002-2003 and New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Coach of the Year in 2004. He produced 76 district, 30 regional and 60 holiday tournament individual champions and had 20 state place winners, including two-time state champion Dave Miller. Minuto and his wife, Janice, have four children – sons, Mark, Kurt and Scott and daughter, Lisa. He retired as Head Coach at Lenape following his 2004 season.