2010 Inductee Biographies

On Saturday, November 13, 2010, the East Longmeadow High School Athletic Hall of Fame held its Inaugural Hall of Fame Induction ceremony. Twenty-three inductees were enshrined at the Elmcrest Country Club in front of nearly 250 attendees.

David Bradstreet - 1977

David Bradstreet was an outstanding football player, lettering all four-years. He achieved All-American status during his senior year. He helped his team win the Western Mass. Championship during a blizzard in 1977, serving as captain of the team that year. David was selected to All-League for three consecutive years and to All-Western Mass first team during his junior and senior years. He was awarded team MVP for both the All-League and All-Western Mass teams. David also distinguished humself in Track, Baseball and Lacrosse.

Reanne Burke - 1974

Reanne Burke lettered in Field Hockey, Basketball and Softball all four years of her high school career. She was the leading scorer in both field hockey and baketball during her junior and senior years. Reanne served as captain of her basketball team for two years and her field hockey team during her senior year. Reanne was named MVP of both her basketball and field hockey teams. She was a member of the women's volleyball team that won the 1974 championship. She was the first ELHS female athlete to win the prestigious Muriel Brown award.

Sean Butler - 1998

Sean Butler played varsity basketball all four years of his high school career. He led his team to back-to-back League Titles during his junior and senior years. He was selected to the All-League team three consecutive years and All-Western-Mass first team during his senior year. Sean was a career 1000 point scorer amassing 1,319 total points.

Jay Chipouras - 1976

Jay Chipouras was a four-year Football player, lettering in three of those four years. He was selected for the Norman Dagenais Award during his senior year. He scored 100 points during his senior year ans was selected to both the All-League and All-Western-Mass first teams during his senior year. Jay was a four-year member of the Boys Swim Team and won the Lrague Championship all four years. He was Western-Mass, State and New England Champion during his senior year. As a diver, he achieved three perfect 10's at the Western-Mass Champonships. Jay was a four year member of the track team, earning lerrter in thre of the four years. Jay served as captain of the boys swim team and the tracxk team during his senior year. He set school records in both the long jump and the high jump.

Kendall Gonsalves - 1998

Kendall Gonsalves was a four-year varsity and four-year MVP of the Girls Swim Team. A four-time Western-Mass Champion, she won four individual events, two at the 1996 tournament (200 free, 500 free) and two at the 1997 tournament (200 individual medley, 500 free). Kendall broke three high school records: 100 breaststroke - held for 7 years; 200 free and 500 free - each held for 13 years. In 1998 she was the Western-Mass high-point winner, earning most points over four years, more than any other Western-Mass swimmer.

Mike Grigley - 1972

Mike Grigley was a two-sport athlete for all four years. He was selected All-American in Golf and distinguished himself in Hockey. Mike was League Champion in 1970 and 1971 in golf and represented ELHS at both Western-Mass and the States. He won the Western-Mass Championship in 1971 and was runner-up in 1972. Mike hockey team compiled a 18-1-1 record during his senior year when they were League champions.

Patricia (Trish) Hafey - 1974

Trish Hafey was a three-sport athlete participating in Field Hockey, Basketball and Softball. She captained each team during her senior year and was named MVP of all three. Trish was the pitcher on the first ELHS softball team to participate in a Western-Mass finals.

Mike Mineo - 1974

Mike Mineo played football all four years of his high school career, lettering in three of them. He was selected to the All-Surban team during his junior year. He served as captain his senior year and was selected All-Suburban for both the offensive and defensive lines. Mike was All-Western-Mass offensive guard and was named All-Western-Mass defensive MVP. He was selected All-American defensive guard.

Steve Muise - 1980

Steve Muise was a varsity Wrestler all four years of his high school career. He achieved a career record of 32-11-3 incliding an undefeated season during his senior year while serving as captain of the team. He was Western-Mass Champion in the 157 pound weight class in 1979 and in 1980 as a 180 pound wrestler. Steve was the first ever Spartan werstler to achieve Western Mass Championship.

Julie Niznik - 1999

Juli Niznik played varsity Basketball and Field Hockey all four years of her high school career. She was the second ELHS girls basketball to achieve 1,000 career points. She was All-Wetern-Mass in basketball and team MVP all four years. She captained her basketball team during her junior and senior years and her field hockey team during her senior year.

Laurel Redington - 1987

Laurel Redington was the first ELHS girls basketball player to score 1,000 career points. Her records for points in a single season (462) and for a 34 point game high stood for nearly 14 years. Laurel was a double-digit scorer from her last game as a freshman on varsity extending through every game throughout the rest of her high school career. She was All-Western-Mass and lettered all four years in both basketball and soccer. Laurel was both captain and MVP for her basketball and soccer teams.

Lindsay Sawyer - 1997

Lindsay Sawyer was a three-sport varsity athlete in soccer, basketball and softball all four years of her high school career. She captained her soccer and softball teams during her senior year. She was recognizes as Player of the Week by the Springfield newspaoers numerous times. Lindsay was one-time MVP in soccer and two-time MVP in softball. She was All-Western-Mass first team all four years in both soccer and softball, She was All-State for both sports during her senior year and was selected All-American in softball. Lindsay holds many school records including career batting record (.504) and season batting record (.546) which she attained during her senior year.

Danell Trinceri - 1984

Danell Tranceri was a four-year varsity Soccer and Softball player. She captained her soccer team in both her junior and senior years and was team MVP. She was named All-Western-Mass and All-State in soccer. She recorded 6 shut-outs and boasted a .94 goals against average. In softball her batting average was over .500. Danell was voted All-League her senior year and played on Western-Mass champonship teams all four years.

Richard Weaver - 1973

Richard Weaver was a member of the Boys Swim Tewam during his junior and senior years. He held the Western-Mass and State records in the 100 yard breaststroke for 30 years. It is now held by his son John. Rick was awarded All-American ststus during his senior year.

Kathryn Wiezbicki - 1982

Katheyn Wiezbicki achieved fame as one of the fastest swimmers in ELHS history. She was a double winner during both her junior and senior years in the 50 and 100 freestyle. Kathryn was Western-Mass champion in the 50 free. She set a Junior National record at the States at Boston College that stood for 20 years. Her pool record still stands at both ELHS and BC. She was selected the Springfield Republicans All Star Wester- Mass first team all four years and was team MVP during her senior year.

Rand Willard - 1974

Rand Willard earned ten letters at ELHS and was a member of eight Spartan champonship teams. He captained the 1973 Football team to a 9-0 championship season. Rand was Western-Mass scoring leader with 114 points. He was the starting line-backer, fullback and place-kicker during the 10-7 very first "Superbowl". Rand captained the Boys Swim Team to a 15-0 league record and a Western-Mass championship. He was the top-point scorer and a member of the record breaking medley and freestyle relay teams. Rand was a three-time Western-Mass gold meadal winner for the track team, running the 100 and 220 yarddashes as well as the 880 yard relay. He was a member of the Western-Mass championship volleyball team. He has a vivid memory of Coach Dobias' half-time speech while trailing Longmeado 7-0. "You boys have your hayrides and your sleighrides with your 'Janes' all planned out for tonight. But you didn't plan on playing football did 'ya? ...and you Willard are the biggest socialite of them all. Now we're going out in the second half and run up the middle until you boys start playing football". Rand ran for three touchdowns and scored 24 unanswered points in the second half to win their 26th straight game.

Robert Willard - 1969

Robert Willard was a four-year member of the varsity Football, Swim and Track teams. He captained both the football team and swim team during both his junior and senior years. He earned both the "Hatchet" award as MV and the "Dartmouth" award as a scholar athlete. He helped establish Western-Mass records as a member of the medley relay team during both his junior and senior years. Bob also held the Western-Mass individual record for the 400 freestyle relay. He also held the 100 yard butterefly record all four years. He held the school record in the pole-vailt all four years. Bob was All-Western Mass in track during his junior year where he pole-vaulted, threw the discus and shot-put, ran the high and low hurdles, the 100 and 200 sprints and relays.

Coach Richard Bolles

Dick Bolles was the head swim coach for 35 years. His teams hold the best winning percentage of all sports at ELHS at 74%. His teams compiled a record of 323 wins, 120 losses and 2 ties. They earned 12 League titles, 3 Western-Mass titles, 1 State title and 1 All-New England title. He was named Mass State Coach of the Year in 1997. Dick was also nominated for National Coach of the year in 1997. He recieved the "Matt Orcott" award from the Western-Mass Officials Association. Dick coached the boys tennis team for 6 years compilinf a recors og 80-17. He also coached freshman football for 18 years and the track team for 15 years.

Coach Robert Dobias

Bob Dobias is a legendary football coach, holding the reins from 1969 to 1981. He led the Spartans to 2 Western-Central-Mass Superbowls. He piloted his teams to a 27 game winning streak between 1971 and 1973. Bob also led his teams to 6 consecutive League championships including a 10-0 undefeated season in 1972. He was teh ELHS Athletic Director foe many years and was named the Division II Western-Central-Mass Coach of the Year in 1972. Bob was inducted into the Mass High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame. He has a career coaching record of 170 wins and 67 loses while completing 4 undefeated seasons 10 league championships and 2 Super-Bowl titles. He was the recipient of the Worcester Academy Varsity Club award and member of the Mass Football Coaches Committee. Bob is also a member of the East Longmeadow Educators Hall of Fame.

Coach Bob Mazzariello

Coach Mazz had successful careers as a teacher, coach, assistant principal and school committee member. He instituted Wrestling as a club sport in 1969 that became a varsity program in 1972. Under bob's tutelage E.L. wrestling enjoyed 17 straight years of winning seasons. His 1983-1984 and 1987-1988 teams were championship teams. He has developed numerous WesternpMass and State champions, amassing a record of over 100 victories. He was inducted into the Mass Wrestling Hall of Fame. He also coached Golf for 20 years winning 4 Western-Mass champonships and ELHS first State championship.

Coach Ed Modzelewski

Ed Modvelewski taught Physical Education at ELHS for 31 years. He coached JV basketball, boys tennis, varsity basketball, and football. His 1973 basketball team went undefeated in League play. Ed's 109 basketball victoties is a record thet still stands. He assisted Bob Dodias for 12 years in foorball and went on to be the head coach for 10 more years. Hi s1995 and 1995 teams were League champions and Super-Bowl participants. He served ELHS as the Athletic Director for 15 years and is a member of the East Longmeadow Educators Hall of Fame.

Contributor Albert "Baba" Tranghese

Baba Tranghese was a long-time contributor to ELHS athletics. He was a founding father of the East Longmeadow youth football program and the East Longmeadow Recreation Department. . Baba coached youth basenball for over 60 years inluding Colt, Sandy Koufax and American Legion teams. He was a solid supporter of many high school athletic programs and was instrumental in field improvements, the lighting of the athetic stadium and th acquisition of batting cages. As an avid fan he could be seen at nearly all football, baseball and basketball games for both the boys and girls. He founded the Brian Piccolo/Baba Tranghese Unico Scholarship Program awarded annually at the ELHS year-end awards ceremony.

Contributor Ned Obernesser

Ned Obernesser known in the Pioneer Valley as Mr. Soccer was a strong contributor to Spartan sports for more than 37 years. He coached many teams with the East Longmeadow Recreation Department including T-Ball - 2 years, 3rd grade basketball - 4 years, 7th and 8th grade girls basketball 4 years, chaperoned skiing with his wife Donna - 10 years. In addition "Mr. Obie" coached the boys youth soccer program for 13 years and the girls program for 24 years bringing 4 girls teams from the Under 8 through the Under 14 age groups and on to high school, winning many championships along the way. Ned coached the girls summer soccer program for 6 years. He was the President of the East Longmeadow Soccer Association for more than 10 years, quadrupling the size of the program during his reign. He ignited a bond between the High School Football and Soccer programs that led to the lighting of the ELHS Athletic Stadium and the formation of the ELHS Activities and Athletic Booster Club, serving as President during it's first year, as they helped to subsidize the athletic and activity fees created by the East Longmeadow School Committee. He and Donna raised three boys who all participated in ELHS sports, including soccer, wrestling and track. Ned was also active in his church, teaching CCD for 10 years and serving as Chairman for St. Michael's 100th birthday anniversary. He served on the East Longmeadow School Committee and was honored with his appointment to be the Grand Marshall for the East Longmeadow 4th of July parade. Ned influenced hundreds of aspiring young athletes to be "All they could be" through positive reinforcement and his positive attitude.