Inaugural Class of 2020

Nipmuc Regional High School opened its doors in 1960 and over the nearly six decades of athletic participation has developed a rich tradition of high school athletics. In 2018, a committee gathered to create an organization to honor that tradition. The Nipmuc Regional High School Athletic Hall of Fame is pleased to announce the inaugural Hall of Fame Class of 2021.

The following eight individuals and two teams have been inducted into the Nipmuc Regional High School Hall of Fame.

Individuals

Matthew Brochu (Class of 1998)

Matt Brochu was a 5-year member of the Nipmuc basketball team, is the all-time leading basketball scorer (1791 points) in Nipmuc’s history. He led the 1996-1997 basketball team to the central sectional, Dual Valley Conference, and Clark Tournament championships.

Valerie (Dugas) Sumner (Class of 1983)

Val Dugas was a standout three-sport athlete (field hockey, basketball, and outdoor track). Val holds school records in the discus, javelin, and high jump and was a five-time Dual Valley All-Star in field hockey and basketball.

James Grant (Class of 1965/retired in 2013)

As a coach, Jim Grant amassed 501 wins in basketball and 195 wins in baseball. Coach Grant’s basketball teams won eight league championships, two Clark Tournament championships, and one sectional championship. As an athlete, Jim was a three-sport athlete (cross country, basketball, and baseball) earning all-Tri Valley honors in basketball and baseball. Jim was a member of the 1964 Clark Tournament championship team, contributing to the first championship in any sport at Nipmuc. Jim also served as Nipmuc’s Athletic Director from 1982-2005.

Shelley Grant (Class of 1991)

Shelley Grant left Nipmuc Regional High School as one of the most decorated athletes in school history. She was recognized as a league all-star seven times in three sports (soccer, basketball, and softball). Shelley was a three-time all-state soccer player who scored 101 goals in her career. Shelley continued her soccer and basketball playing career at Babson College.

Jeremy Harvey (Class of 1991)

Jeremy Harvey is the most decorated male soccer player in Nipmuc’s history, being recognized as an All-New England player in both 1989 and 1990. Jeremy also holds the single-season and career scoring records for the boys’ soccer program. Jeremy was also a member of the basketball and baseball teams during his four years at Nipmuc.

Paula Johnson (Class of 1988)

Paula Johnson was a three-time Dual Valley Conference all-star in both basketball and softball. Paula holds the school scoring record for girls’ basketball with 1194 points. During her junior basketball season, Paula led all central Massachusetts, male or female, basketball players in scoring, averaging 27 points per game.

William Leaver (retired 2015)

Bill Leaver served the Nipmuc community as boys’ soccer coach (1986-2011) and athletic director (2006-2015) for thirty years. Bill was a two-time Massachusetts Soccer Coach of the Year (1994 and 2011) and a 2009 inductee of the Massachusetts Soccer Coaches Hall of Fame. Bill won over 300 games including seven sectional championships and the state championship in 1994.

Suzanne Yanovitch

Suzie Yanovitch was an outstanding three-sport athlete at Nipmuc Regional High School. During her junior and senior years, Suzie was an all-DVC player in field hockey (player of the year), basketball, and softball. Suzie’s teams won six league championships in field hockey and softball in the three years that she attended Nipmuc. In basketball, Suzie was a 1000-point scorer and remains the fourth-highest scorer in school history.

Teams

1994 Boys Soccer Team

- This team was the first team in school history to win a state championship. They finished the year with a 16-4-1 record.

2002 Baseball Team

The 2002 team was the second of back-to-back state championship teams. They finished with a 21-4 record and earned a Dual Valley Conference championship as well.

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