The Peru Gazette

Charles Andrews 1956, Len Gadway 1975, Nick Weaver 2001, Brandon Keleher 2003, Mary Mazzella 2013

 

Charles Andrews

Class of 1956

Sport(s): Soccer, Basketball, Baseball, Track and Field

Charles Andrews is being posthumously inducted to the Peru Central School Athletic Hall of fame for his contribution as an athlete but also as an administrator, teacher, and coach. Charles’ impact spanned four sports: baseball (4 years), soccer (3 years), basketball (2 years), and track and field. He excelled in baseball, pitching a perfect game and having a batting average of .500 during a season. His athletic success set an early foundation for the enduring legacy of Peru Athletics.

Len Gadway

Class of 1975

Sport(s): Wrestling, Football

Len Gadway was an exceptional athlete at Peru, and his success ultimately led to a coaching career and legacy recognized on the national level

Len Gadway had a standout athletic career at Peru Central School on both the football field and the wrestling mat.

Len played football from 1972-1975 and was the starting defensive end in 1974 and 1975.

Len wrestled for Peru from 1971-1975, becoming a two-time section VII champion. His career wrestling record was 71 wins, 16 losses and 1 tie. He also earned unprecedented success as the first athlete from section VII to reach the New York State finals in any sport. He earned a 2nd place finish in the state tournament.

After his success as a high school wrestler, Len began a career of mentoring and coaching young wrestlers as the head coach of Beekmantown wrestling for 43 years. During his tenure, Len was the first Section Seven coach to win 500 dual meets.

In 2024, Len was recognized for his success and commitment to wrestling through an induction to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Len was honored with a Lifetime Service Award for his success and dedication to wrestling.

Len’s contributions to wrestling at Peru Central School (and beyond) helped build the foundation of the school’s longstanding wrestling legacy.

Nick Weaver

Class of 2001

Sport(s): Wrestling, Football, Track and Field

Nick Weaver’s story is one of perseverance, resilience, and achievement at the highest levels of high school wrestling. A three-sport athlete at Peru, Nick excelled in wrestling, football, and track and field, but his greatest legacy was on the wrestling mat.

As a freshman, Nick struggled to find early success, even leaving the sport after his first season. By his sophomore year, he returned to wrestling, working through the JV ranks. As a junior, he cracked the varsity lineup, and by senior year he transformed himself—cutting his weight and emerging as a dominant competitor.

That season, Nick was a winner of 6 tournaments with a record of 29-3 and a career record of 49-13.  A member of the 1st team all stars, he captured the Section VII title and advanced to the NYSPHSAA Wrestling Championships. There, he won three straight bouts to reach the finals and, in an overtime thriller, claimed the 2001 New York State Heavyweight Championship. He was the first athlete from Section VII to win a state wrestling title, cementing his place in Peru athletics history.

Nick’s success carried beyond the state tournament. Shortly after his state title, he represented New York at the National Scholastic Duals in Battle Creek, Michigan, where he won two of his three matches against top wrestlers from around the country, helping New York to key victories over Ohio and Michigan.

Following high school, Nick continued his career at Sierra Community College in California. In his first season, he posted an 18–8 record and helped lead Sierra to a conference championship. He also earned international experience, competing in Austria and Russia.

In addition to his wrestling accomplishments, Nick was a 2000 football All-Star as a standout defensive lineman, and he excelled in track and field, particularly in the shot put and discus.

Nick Weaver’s journey remains one of Peru’s greatest sports stories. His determination, resilience, and achievements helped set a new standard for what athletes from Section VII could accomplish.

Brandon Keleher

Class of 2003

Sport(s): Football, Basketball, Track and Field

Biography:

Brandon was a three-sport standout at Peru Central School as a member of the 2003 graduating class. While being a vital member of Section Seven Championship teams in Basketball (2002) and Track and Field (2001 + 2002), during his tenure at Peru, Brandon’s contributions to the great tradition of Peru Football were indeed outstanding. With 3,014 career rushing yards and 54 career touchdowns, the 3-time CVAC All-Star and 2002 team captain was an integral component of three CVAC Championship teams, including the 2001 New York State Class B Championship Team. It was on that 2001 State Championship run where Brandon solidified his status as a true Hall of Famer.

His late-game interceptions in both the state semifinal and state final games sealed wins in both high-pressure contests. Furthermore, his 55-yard touchdown pass in the state championship game will forever be remembered for its importance to the title game victory!!

A consistent member of the Honor Roll during his 4 years at Peru, Brandon went on to play football at Division II St. Anselm College and complete his higher education at SUNY Plattsburgh.

Presently, Brandon lives in Plattsburgh with his wife Catherine and their boys Cullen (age 7) and Declan (age 4), while continuing his devotion to Peru Central as an assistant football coach.

Mary Catherine Mazzella

Class of 2013

Sport(s): Soccer, Basketball, Track and Field

At Peru Central School, Mary Mazzella embodied athletic excellence and leadership, making her a fitting inductee into the Athletic Hall of Fame.

High School

Mary Mazzella was not only a standout three-sport athlete at Peru, but also a role model and leader to her teammates. Her athletic achievements spanned all three seasons—soccer in the fall, basketball in the winter, and track and field in the spring.

Basketball

After moving up for sectionals in 8th grade, Mary played on the varsity basketball team for all four years of high school. In her sophomore year, Mary began playing starting point guard and earned a CVAC All Star Honorable mention nod. In her junior year, Mary became a team captain and earned a place on the CVAC All Star First Team. Her senior year, Mary nabbed another CVAC First Team All Star in addition to earning the Warrior Award for Most Outstanding Female Athlete and the IAABO Sportsmanship Scholarship.

Soccer

Mary played varsity soccer her sophomore, junior, and senior years at Peru. In her junior year, Mary became a team captain and earned a spot on the CVAC All Star Second Team. That year, she led the conference in headers goals scored. Her senior year, she earned another spot on the CVAC All Star Second Team.

Track and Field

Mary competed on the Track and Field team in eighth, ninth, and tenth grades, participating in high jump, 100-meter, 200-meter, 4×400 and 4×100 relays. In her freshman year, Mary helped her 4×400 team to win the sectional championship and qualify for states.

College and beyond

Mary continued her athletic endeavors beyond Peru Central School. At SUNY Oswego, she played four years of basketball and competed in two years of track.

On the basketball team, Mary was the starting point guard for her sophomore, junior, and senior seasons, and she was team captain her junior and senior seasons. She currently ranks 7th all-time in assists and 10th all-time in steals at SUNY Oswego.

On the track and field team, Mary competed in the high jump, 100 meter, and 200 meter and, in2015, qualified for the SUNYAC outdoor championship in the high jump.

Mary has devoted her career to coaching, working as an assistant basketball coach at SUNY Brockport from 2020-2022 and at Ithaca College from 2022-2025.

Induction Ceremony & Dinner, Saturday, September 20, 2025, Plattsburgh Moose Lodge 2390
90 Sharron Avenue, Plattsburgh, NY 12901, 5:00 pm Social Hour, 6:00 PM Dinner
Price $25.00 per person. Please make checks payable to Eileen Roach -Peru Athletic Hall of Fame. Send check or money to 18 McIntosh Street, Peru, NY 12972 Phone number 518-726-0476. OR Pay by Venmo 6 -@Eileen-Roach-6