Spike was a 1957 graduate of Lexington H.S. I think most of us in this room remember the TV show “Leave it to Beaver”. Beave had a big brother named Wally Cleaver. Wally was the all-American high school student. He was the class president and a star athlete. Spike Paranya is a true life Wally Cleaver. If you ever want to google search the Quintessential 1950’s high school hero, you will find a picture of Steve “Spike” Paranya. Spike was a top-notch student and a top-notch athlete. Spike’s accomplishments at Lexington H.S. are what legends are made of. In addition to being a star athlete he was the president of the National Honor Society and the Lexington H.S. student council. In his junior year at Lexington, he was the indoor class D winner in the 1000 yard run with a time of 2:28.5. At this time, there was no indoor All State Championship. That spring he would go on to be a double Class D champion in both the 880 with a time of 2:00.7 and the long jump with a leap of 21’6” At the New England’s that year he was 4th place in both the 880 and long jumps. It would be Spike’s senior year where he would put together performances for the ages. In cross country he would place 1st while setting a State Meet course record. With many more opportunities on the track, Spike’s indoor and outdoor seasons were filled with unbelievable performances. He was the Class D 1000-yard champion with a time of 2:19.2 which at the time was a State Record. In addition, in the spring he was the Class D 880 yard champion setting another State record of 1:55.5. At the National AAU Senior Championships, Spike placed 5th in the 880 running a spectacular time of 1:53.4, which became the Massachusetts best time for the next 12 years and was the 5th fastest time in high school history. One of Spikes fondest memories of high school was running relays. The race that stands out the most was when Spike came from behind to edge out their rival Concord HS in the 880 relay to win the Class D State relay championships. All these performances in him being named a High School Track and Field All- American by Scholastic Coach Magazine. Spike would matriculate to Wesleyan college where he would continue his outstanding athletic career. One of Spikes most dramatic victories came at the IC4A Championship at Randall’s Island NY where he came from behind, again, to out lean Mark Mullin of Harvard. An excerpt from a local newspaper recalls the event like this, “Mullin of Harvard set the pace but could not shake off his rival Paranya. They battled virtually shoulder to shoulder around the whole last lap with Paranya going to the front on his last stride. The 4:15.9 was good for the win. At the Wesleyan Athletes Hall of Fame induction ceremony 2011 where Spike has been inducted, here is what was written about Spike, “Steve “Spike” Paranya was a New England and IC4A track champion in the mile who went on to compete in the NCAA Championships in Philadelphia in 1961, setting a Wesleyan record of 4:07 while placing 5th behind runners from Oregon, Kansas and USC. His New England winning time of 4:10.8 was a meet record as he also captured the 880 title in the meet. A tremendous track and cross-country talent at Wesleyan, Paranya was part of 5 Little Three champion varsity teams. He set numerous cross-country course and track facility records during his career and was undefeated in cross country during the 1960 dual meet season culmination in a 2nd place finish in the New England Championships, helping Wesleyan place 4 of 21 teams. He also was the New England mile titlist in 1960 and participated in the 1960 Olympic Trials. After college, Spike entered the United State Marine Corps where he was the administrative competitor and coach. A couple of the notable athletes that Spike would coach on that Marine Team were Larry Rawson and Billy Mills, who would go on to win the 10,000 meter Gold Medal in the 1964 Olympics. In addition to these Athlete Hall of Fames, Spike Paranya is also in the Sidney High School Sports Coaches Hall of Fame where as a volunteer, he coach successfully SIX New York State Public High School field event jumping champions.
Class: 1957 Inducted: 2018