On October 7, Pace High School will induct four new members into the Pace Hall of Fame during halftime of the 2016 Homecoming football game against Clewiston High School.
The inductees, all Pace Alumni, are Pace Dean of Students Samuel Lilly (Class of 1975), Roderick “Rod” Mack (Class of 1995), and husband and wife Daniel Delgado (Class of 1997) and Kristina Bergolla Delgado (Class of 1998).
“Mr. Lilly,” as he is known by students, has served the Pace community for a staggering 36 years. After graduating from Pace in 1975, he returned there in 1981 to teach American History and coach football. He would continue teaching history and went on to coach basketball, tennis, and softball before being appointed assistant Dean of Students in 1988. In 1991, he was made Dean of Students for Pace and has continued to serve as Dean today 25 years later.
“I feel proud and privileged to have been a member of the Pace Family since 1971,” said Lilly.
His wife Susan Kish-Lilly is also a Pace alumna from the Class of 1977 and his brother Tony Lilly graduated from Pace in 1976.
During his time as a Pace Spartan football player, “Rod” Mack was ranked one of the top 50 players in Florida by SuperPrep and named a National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame 1995 Scholar Athlete in his senior year. He signed a full football scholarship for the University of Miami, where he played as a linebacker for four years and received his bachelors in business management and a second degree in finance. Today, he is the owner and president of Onyx Financial Management Group, a devoted husband, and a father of five children. He also volunteers as a youth football coach and mentor to underprivileged youth.
Daniel and Kristina Bergolla Delgado graduated from Pace in 1997 and 1998 respectively, married in 2003, and now have two young children. Daniel was drafted right out of high school in the 1997 MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners, where he played for six years before retiring.
Kristina received her Bachelors of Business Administration from the University of Miami and graduated magna cum laude from St. Thomas University School of Law. After working as a litigation attorney at Fowler White Burnett, PA for nine years, she retired from law in 2014 to focus mentoring others in fitness and building their own health and fitness businesses. Daniel and Kristina are entrepreneurs, having built two successful business ventures together in real estate investing and health coaching through Team Beachbody, where they have been inducted into the highest rank in the company.
The four will be inducted as part of the Homecoming Game festivities on October 7 at the Pace football field, which includes the annual Homecoming Alumni Bash for Pace alumni and friends starting at 6 p.m. Parking is $5 for the event. Those interested in attending can RSVP at alumni@pacehs.com.