Track Coach John McCue Inducted into East Aurora Sports Hall of Fame
Thursday, January 28 2016NEWS RELEASE
Three Tomcats will be inducted into East Aurora Sports Hall of Fame on January 29
AURORA – Three former athletes will be inducted into the East Aurora High School Sports Hall of Fame in honor of their contributions to the Tomcat athletic tradition.
The inductees for this year are:
- John McCue (class of 1983) football, track and field
- John Passley (class of 1971) football, track and field, wrestling
- Claudio Torres (class of 1996) football, wrestling
There will be a reception to honor McCue, Passley, and Torres in the East Aurora High School student cafeteria from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday. The reception is open to the public.
The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on Friday, January 29, between the girls and boys East Aurora vs. West Aurora basketball games. The ceremony will take place at approximately 6:30 p.m.
About the inductees:
John McCue was a star in both football and track at East Aurora High School. McCue was promoted to varsity running back and defensive back as a sophomore, then played quarterback his senior season in 1982. His senior year, he was co-captain, All-Conference, All-Area, and Chicago Sun-Times Chicagoland First Team. He helped the 1980 and 1982 football teams reach the state playoffs.
In track, McCue competed at the varsity level in the long jump, triple jump, and relays for four years. He was a two-time Upstate Eight Conference champion as well as a sectional champion in long jump and triple jump. In 1983, he was the triple jump sectional champion and member of the state qualifying 400-meter and 800-meter relay teams.
After high school, McCue played football at Western Illinois University and was a four-time Gateway Conference Player of the Week.
McCue has worked as a special education instructor at East Aurora High School for the past two years. He is the past Governor and current Board of Officers at Batavia Moose Lodge #682.
John Passley excelled in football, track and field, and wrestling at East Aurora High School. In football, he was an All-Conference, All-City and Chicago Tribune All-Star for the 1970 conference champions.
In his wrestling career, Passley finished with 55 wins and 8 losses and was a two-time conference, district and sectional champion. In 1970, he helped the Tomcats finish fourth in the state wrestling tournament. Passley was also a top pole vaulter for both the 1970 and 1971 track and field teams.
Passley retired from Richards-Wilcox Inc., in 2010, after 38 years as a brake operator.
Claudio Torres was exceptional athlete for both the Tomcat football and wrestling teams. In football, Torres was a two-year varsity starter as a running back and outside linebacker. He was an All-Conference running back and outside linebacker in 1995.
Torres wrestled at varsity level for all four years of high school and compiled a record of 106 wins and 29 losses. In 1995, Claudio won the regional title, sectional title, and placed fifth downstate. Torres finished his wrestling career at East Aurora High School by winning state titles in the Greco-Roman Tournament in 1995 and Freestyle Tournament in 1996.
Torres was also senior class president in 1995-96.
Torres earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Northern Illinois University, then two Master’s Degrees from Northern Illinois University. He served eight years in the U.S. National Guard. Torres is a physical education, health, and driver’s education teachers at Metea Valley High School. He is the wrestling coach and assistant athletic director.
East-West game Friday
All remaining tickets for the East-West girls and boys basketball games will go on sale at 4:45 p.m. Friday at the Ponquinette Field House ticket booth at East Aurora High School, 500 Tomcat Lane. The Tomcat girls will host the Blackhawks at 5:30 p.m. Friday, and the boys’ game will follow. Doors open at 4:45 p.m.
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Note: High school photos of all three athletes are available on the Tomcat Alumni Facebook page, www.facebook.com/TomcatAlumni
For more information:
Matt Hanley, Community Relations
desk 630.299.5534 cell 630.536.4024
facebook.com/EASD131 @EASD131