2014 Inductee Biographies

On Saturday November 22, 2014 the East Longmeadow High School Athletic Hall of Fame inducted 13 nominees and two teams. The celebration was held at the Elmcerst Country Club in East Longmeadow and was attended by nearly 200 people.

Peter Alminas 2004

Peter Alminas was a two-sport athlete, participating in both swimming and golf. He was the Western Mass High School Individual champion in 2001 and 2003. In 2002, Peter was the State individual champion. Upon graduation, Peter continued his golf career at Winthrop University in South Carolina where he was team captain in both his junior and senior years. Peter was an Academic All-American at Winthrop. He currently lives in Springfield MA.

Chris Calcasola 1999

Chris Calcasola was a three-sport athlete participating in baseball, hockey and lacrosse. In hockey, Chris was all league during his junior year and All Western Mass 2^nd team. He was the Fay division leading scorer that year also. In his senior year Chris was team captain of both the hockey and lacrosse teams. He was also Fay Division All League in hockey, and All Western Mass first team. Chris was in the Fay division top ten scorers and a member of hockey’s 100 point club, finishing his career with 120 points. He was selected as athlete of the week after scoring his 100^th point. He lives in East Longmeadow with his wife Heather and their two daughters Libby and Abby.

Ariana Curtis 1998

Ariana Curtis was a four-year three-sport athlete. She played soccer, baseball and track. She was a three-time All Western Mass selection and a two-time League Champion. Ariana was also Western Mass track champion, team captain and went undefeated for two consecutive years.

Jason Matulewicz 1992

Jason Matulewicz was a four-year, two-sport athlete participating in both cross country and track. He was a four-time All Western Mass selection in cross country and track and a state selection in cross country. A two-time MVP he captained the cross country team his senior year. Jason was an all league champion, PVIAC champion and a Western Mass champion setting a school record in the 1600 meter run.

Mike Perella 1997

Mike Perella was a three-sport athlete participating in hockey golf and soccer. He was a four year varsity hockey player selected as All League during his freshman year. He was a member of hockey’s 100 point club, finishing his career with 129 points. After high school Michael joined the Marine Corps. After basic and advanced infantry training he was stationed in Okinawa Japan as a close quarters battle instructor. He was deployed in Afghanistan four times, earning two Bronze Stars with Valor, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Medal, two Combat Action ribbons and two Certificates of Commendations. He currently lives in Sneads Ferry, NC where he serves as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to MARSOC G7 Training and Education Company.

Joe Scibelli 1986

Joe Scibelli 1986 was a three-sport athlete, playing baseball during his freshman year, football for three years and hockey all four years. He was captain of the football team during his senior year. He was elected to the hockey All Coaches League Team during his junior and senior years. As a member of hockey’s 100 point club, Joe finished his high school career with 116 points. Joe has been the owner and operator of the Mountain View Drive-In for the past 25 years, employing local youths and supporting fund raisers for East Longmeadow and its surrounding towns. He is still playing and loving the sport of hockey.

Bob Steitz 1976

Bob Steitz was a three-sport athlete, participating in soccer, basketball and baseball. During his junior year, Bob was a second team All Western Mass selection in soccer, a first team All-League choice in basketball and a first team All-Western Mass selection in baseball. His senior year, he was a captain of all three sports and received first team All Western Mass honors in both soccer and baseball. Bob continued his education at Springfield College where he was a four-year starter in baseball. Bob currently resides in Blue Bell, PA with his wife Pam, daughter Jessica and son Michael.

John Weaver 2004

John Weaver was a four-year swimmer. A three-time MVP for the Spartans, John held the Western Mass Sectional record in the 100-yard breaststroke. During his senior year, he won both the 100-yard breaststroke and the 200-yard medley at the state championships. During his high school career, his motivation was to break his father’s 31 year old record in the 100 yard breaststroke, which he achieved during his senior year. He was Selected All American in the 100 yard breaststroke (58.24) in his senior year. John went on to swim at both the Univ. of New Hampshire and at U-Mass Amherst. He was the graduate assistant to the Springfield College swim team from 2008 – 2010. John currently teaches English at Longmeadow High School, and coaches the J.C.C. Cudas swim team. He lives in Enfield CT with his wife Leah.

Tina Westcott 1998

Tina Westcott was a three-sport athlete, participating in cross-country, track and field, and swimming. She captained both cross country and track and field teams. Tina qualified for Western Mass in three events, finishing first in the 800 meters. Tina broke the school record in that event also. She was the cross country MVP and was selected as most dedicated team member in both cross-country and track and field. Tina was a member of the 1988 Cope Classic Volleyball championship team. Tina continued her dedication to sports by coaching numerous youth teams in East Longmeadow. including soccer, basketball and lacrosse. She serves as a member of the E.L Basketball Association, and was the 2013-2014 recipient of the “Jake” award as coach of the year from the E.L. Recreation Commission. She currently resides in East Longmeadow with her husband and three children.

Karen Wiezbicki 1978

Karen Wiezbicki was a four-year two-sport athlete. She was a four-year varsity track and field varsity player lettering in all four years. She broke the school record for the 440 yard run. Karen was selected All Western Mass all four years as a swimmer. She was selected in the state top ten her last three years. Karen held Western Mass records for the backstroke and individual medley. She also held state records for the same two events. Karen was team MVP for three years and held school records for backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, individual medley 50 freestyle and both individual and medley relays. She lettered in swimming all four years and was selected All-American during her senior year. Karen went on to a distinguished career as a swim coach. She qualified for the Olympic Swim Trials as both college mens and womens coach and coached age group programs. Karen was nominated as one of the top five women’s swimming coaches in the nation. She currently lives with her husband in sunny Florida.

Kim Wiezbicki 1978

Kim Wiezbicki was a four-year, swimmer who also played softball her freshman year volleyball and track her senior year. She also lettered in baseball for her work as scorekeeper. As a senior Kim went undefeated and was a Pioneer Valley swimming champion. She captained the team in both her junior and senior years. She was the first female swimmer to be selected as outstanding swimmer by the PV officials her senior year. Kim broke many school records, including 4 as a freshman, 6 as a sophomore, 3 as a junior and 4 as a senior. She also was a Western Mass champion in the 50 free, 100 back and 400 medley relay. Kim was a double winner and record setter at the first girls State meet during her senior year. Selected to All Western Mass all four years, Kim was chosen team MVP in both her junior and senior years. Kim continued to swim at Springfield College where she was All American during her junior and senior years. She went on to coach ELRA, High School and College swim teams. Kim was a member of the Western Mass Swimming Officials Association becoming their first woman President in ’81-’82, Kim lives with her husband Don in Venice Florida where she continues to swim.

Coach Joseph Calabrese

Joseph Calabrese (Coach Cal) coached East Longmeadow Boys Cross Country for 26 years and coached Girls Cross Country, as well, for 10 of those years. Starting with five guys and two girls, he successfully built the programs into teams of thirty+ guys and thirty girls. Coach Cal is also known to his athletes and to other coaches as a dedicated mentor. Today, he still updates team statistics and loves following both East Longmeadow XC teams. Cross Country is still in his blood. He runs 5 miles every morning and walks 2 every afternoon. He and his wife, Janet, will be celebrating their 40th anniversary in February. They have a daughter, Sarah, a son, Andrew, and a granddaughter, Ava, 3. They watch Ava weekdays while their daughter works. When he retired in 2007, he worked for a while correcting standardized tests for Pearson, the company that does the SAT, and worked for the State as a consultant on the MCAS test. His principal job, though, has been as an Instructional Consultant certifying teachers for their Massachusetts Initial Teaching License. In the past 7 years, he has worked with over 30 teachers in over 20 area schools including ELHS. They reside in Wilbraham and Joe is a co-chair of the Wilbraham Open Space and Recreation Committee. In addition to running, he enjoys hiking and reading.

Contributor Joe Scanlon

Joe Scanlon has been an invaluable supporter and contributor to the development and success of ELHS student-athletes since the early 60’s. Joe first organized Little League baseball tournaments and then served almost three decades as Umpire-in-Chief for all the baseball and softball leagues in town and throughout the Scantic Valley. He was a founding member of ELRA – the East Longmeadow Recreation Association now known as the EL Recreation Department. In his role as Umpire-in-Chief, he fostered in young players an unwavering sense of fair play and competition while also coaching and mentoring new umpires to develop their self-confidence and integrity – many of whom were student-athletes at ELHS. Throughout his life, Joe has been a dedicated local community services volunteer. He was a member of the group who established the town’s 4^th of July festivities, where he was honored as Grand Marshal in 1999. He received the “Distinguished Citizen Award” from the EL Chamber of Commerce in 1977 and the EL Lions Club in 1985; an Extra-ordinary Contributions to the Town of East Longmeadow Award from Pratt& Whitney Aircraft (his employer for almost 38 years) in 1985; and the Hometown Hero Award from The Reminder in 2003. Joe and his lovely wife Rita happily called East Longmeadow their home for over 55 years where they raised four children, all athletes at ELHS. They have enjoyed watching and caring for 10 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

1966 Boys Basketball

First ELHS Team ever to win a Small Schools League Championship

1983 Golf

Posting an 11-1 season record, the 1983 Golf team won their Division, Western Mass and the State Championships.