2010 Inaugural Induction
Saturday evening, November 13th, 2010, the East Longmeadow High School Athletic Hall of Fame (ELHSAHOF) held its inaugural induction ceremony at The Elmcrest Country Club in East Longmeadow. Nearly 300 people were in attendance where 23 individuals were honored. Scott Coen from WGGB Channel 40 was the emcee. The induction ceremonies saw seventeen, athletes, four coaches and two contributors enrolled in the first class of hall of famers. The inductions will continual annually at around this time of year. An athlete must have attended East Longmeadow High School and must have been graduated for at least ten years. Next year’s induction will include athletes from its first year in 1960-1961 through the 2011 graduating year. Coaches and teams are also eligible as well as anyone who has made a significant contribution to East Longmeadow High School sports.
The following persons were inducted this year:
David Bradstreet (1977) was an outstanding football player, lettering all four years. He achieved All American status during his senior year. The team won the Western Mass championship during a blizzard in 1977. He served as captain of the team that year. David was selected to the football All League for three consecutive years and the All Western Mass first teams during both his junior and senior years. David was awarded team MVP for both the All League and All Western Mass teams. He also distinguished himself in track, baseball and lacrosse. David received his BS from University of Massachusetts Amherst and his MBA from Binghamton Univ. He is now the Executive Director of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County and lives in Binghamton NY.
Reanne Burke (1974) lettered in field hockey, basketball and softball all four years of her high school career. She was the leading scorer in field hockey and basketball. Reanne served as captain of her basketball team during her junior and senior years and her field hockey team during her senior year as well. She was named MVP for both field hockey and basketball. Reanne was a member of the women’s volleyball team that won the 1974 championship. She was the first to win the prestigious Muriel Brown Award. Ree continued her athletic career at Springfield College where she was a three year starter on the softball team, and served as captain during her senior year. She played on the 1977 college World Series team against UCLA and the Univ. of Michigan. Reanne returned to E.L. high school as the first women’s soccer coach. She also coached the E.L. high school JV women’s basketball team and the varsity softball team.
Sean Butler (1998) 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 posting an 18-2 regular season record. Sean was elected to the first team All Western Mass in his senior year. He was also first team All League for the last three years. Sean was a career 1000 point scorer (1,319). He continued his basketball playing at Nichols College where he was team captain for two years, MVP in 2002, and a 1000 point scorer.
Jay Chipouras (1976) was an outstanding four year football player earning letters in three of those four years and was awarded the Norman Dagenais award his senior year. He scored 100 points during his junior year and was selected to both the All League and All Western Mass 1st teams during his senior year. Jay was also a four year member of the varsity swim team which won the League championship all four years. During his senior year the team won Western Mass, State and New England Championships. As a champion diver, he achieved three perfect ten’s during the Western Mass Championships. Jay was a four year member of the track team, earning letters in three of those four years. Jay served as captain of his track team during his senior year and set the school records for the long jump and the high jump. Jay continued his swimming at Deerfield Academy where he earned prep school All American in 1977. He went on to play rugby all four years at UVM where he was captain of his team. Jay continues his involvement in athletics as a coach and contributor in the Longmeadow youth football programs. He lives there with his wife Laura and two children Ali and Max.
Kendall Gonsalves (1998) was a four year varsity, four year MVP swimmer. She won every race but two during her four years as a varsity swimmer. Kendall was a four time All Western Mass champion, who won four individual events at the tournament in 1996, including the 200 free and 500 free races, then again in 1997, the 200 individual medley and 500 free. Kendal broke and held three ELHS records: 100 breaststroke for 7 years, 200 free for 13 years, and the 500 free for 13 years. She was the Western Mass Hi-Point winner in 1998, earning the most points over four years, more than all other Western Mass School Champions. Kendall went on to distinguish herself at Colgate University in Division I swimming, captaining her team during her senior year.
Mike Grigely (1972) was a two sport athlete all four year years at East Longmeadow High School. An All American in golf, Mike also distinguished himself in hockey. His golf teams were League Champions in both 1970 and 1971. Mike represented East Longmeadow at the Western Mass and States in golf, winning the Western Mass individual championship in 1971, and was runner-up in 1972. Mike was a great skater during his hockey career where the team went 43-22-4 overall and 18-1-1 during his senior year when they were league champions. Mike turned professional in 1974, becoming a Class "A" member of the PGA in 1982. He played in The Greater Hartford Open in 1987. His more recent accomplishments include winning the Massachusetts Senior Open, The Connecticut Senior Open and the Cape Cod Senior Open.
Patricia Trish Hafey (1974) played three varsity sports at E.L.H.S. (field hockey, basketball and softball) and held the distinction of being co-captain of each team during her senior year. She was also named MVP of all three teams. Trish was the pitcher on the first Spartan softball team that competed in the Western Mass Championship Finals. She continued her athletic career at Mitchell College and later at Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania.
Mike Mineo (1974) played football all four years of his high school career. He lettered during his sophomore, junior and senior years. In his junior year he was selected to the All Suburban team. He was co-captain during his senior year where he was selected All Suburban for both the Offensive and Defensive lines. He was All Western Mass Offensive Guard, and was named Defensive MVP. He was selected to the All American Team at the Offensive Guard position. Mike continued in football as a youth coach with the East Longmeadow Recreation Association after high school, and continues to coach various sports in West Springfield today.
Steve Muise (1980) was a varsity wrestler for four years. He captained his team during his senior year. Steve achieved a career record of 32-11-3, including an undefeated senior season with a 16-0-1 record. He won the 157 lb weight class Western Mass Championship in 1979, and was Western Mass Champion in 1980 in the 187 lb weight class. Steve was the first Spartan wrestler to attain Western Mass Championship status. He continued to distinguish himself as a wrestler at Western New England College.
Julie Niznik (1999) played varsity basketball and field hockey all four years of her high school career. Julie was the second girl’s basketball player to earn 1000 points during her career. She earned All-Western Mass recognition for girl’s basketball. Julie was MVP for her basketball team all four years.. She served as captain of the basketball team during her junior and senior years and the field hockey team during her senior year. She continued her basketball career at Suffolk University where she surpassed 1000 points for her career and was captain of the team during her senior year. In both 1997 and 1998 Julie was chosen to participate in the Red Auerbach Massachusetts State Free Throw Championships at Boston Garden.
Laurel Redington (1987) was the first ELHS female to score 1000 career points in basketball. Her record 462 points for a single season and 34 point game high stood for nearly 14 years. Her double digit scoring streak beginning with the last game as a freshman on varsity extending through every game throughout the rest of her career was unmatched. Laurel was selected as All-Western Mass and lettered all four years in basketball and soccer. As a soccer player her powerful kick enabled her to score many goals from mid-field. Laurel was MVP and served as captain of both her basketball and soccer teams. She was a “team player” with a friendly and energetic personality that inspired others to realize that “you can, if you think you can.” Laurel continued to be active in athletics, playing basketball at St. Anselm College. Laurel serves as an adult advisor at the MV YMCA Alexandra Gagnon Teen Center. She coaches youth basketball and soccer on Martha’s Vineyard where she lives with her husband Ray Whitaker and their daughter Tessa Rose.
Lindsay Sawyer (1997) was a three sport, four year varsity athlete, competing in soccer, basketball and softball. She captained her softball and soccer teams during her senior year. She was recognized numerous times as Player of the Week by the Springfield Republican. She was team MVP once for soccer and twice for softball. Lindsay held All Western Mass honors all four years in soccer and softball and was All State for both sports during her senior year. She was also elected as an All American in softball. She holds many offensive school records including career batting average of .504, and batted to a .546 record during her senior year. Lindsay went on to distinguish herself as a college All American at Hofstra University. She was on the All Tournament Team for the America East Conference three times, and was selected to the All Academic Team four times. She led her college softball team to their first four of eleven consecutive conference championships. Lindsay spent a season as the ELHS softball coach and eight years as a collegiate softball coach. She resides in Troy NY where she is in her fourth year as the head softball coach and assistant AD at the Sage Colleges.
Danell Trinceri (1984) was a four year varsity soccer and softball Spartan player. She excelled in her position as soccer goal-keeper. She served as captain of the team during both junior and senior years and was team MVP. Danell was named All Western Mass and All State, and recognized as The Springfield Republican Player of the week. During her senior year, she recorded 6 shutouts and boasted a 0.94 goals against average. Danell’s batting average was over .500 and she recorded 27 RBI’s her junior year. She was voted to the All League team her senior year and played on four All Western Massachusetts Championship teams.
Richard Weaver (1973) was a member of the swim team during his junior and senior years. He held the Western Mass, State and New England record for the 100 yard breaststroke, a record that he held for 30 years, and is currently held by his son John. Rick was awarded All American status during his senior year. He went on to swim for the Sunrise Swim Club and University of Connecticut, and represented the United States at the Bremen Invitational meet in West Germany. He also swam at the AAU and NCAA nationals.
Kathy Wiezbicki (1982) achieved fame as one of the fastest swimmers in ELHS history. During her junior and senior years, she was a double winner in the 50 and 100 yard freestyle. As a junior she set the record for the 50 freestyle at the Western Mass. and State Championships at Boston College, a Junior National Record that stood for nearly 20 years. This pool record still stands at both BC and at ELHS. Kathy was named to the Springfield Republican’s All Star Western Mass team all four years. Kathy was team MVP her senior year and was a 10 time All American at Smith College.
Robert Willard (1969) was a four year member of the varsity football, swim, and track teams. He was captain of the football team during his junior and senior years. He earned the football “Hatchet” award for the Most Valuable Player and the Dartmouth Book Award as a scholar athlete. As a member pt the medley relay swim team, he helped establish Western Mass records in both his junior and senior years. Bob also held the Western Mass individual record for the 400 freestyle relay. He held the school record in the 100 yard butterfly event all four years. He was the swimming team captain in his junior and senior years. As a member of the track team, Willard pole vaulted, threw the discus and shot-put, ran the high and low hurdles, and often ran 100 and 200 yard sprints and relays. He was the school record holder in the pole vault all four years and team captain in his junior and senior years. Bob also was named All Western Mass in track during his junior year. After graduation, he attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland where he played NAVY football all four years as a starting offensive guard, defensive nose guard, linebacker and defensive end. Bob went on to become an Admiral in the Pacific Fleet, and currently lives in Hawaii with his wife Donna. He continues to enjoy golf, surfing, and scuba diving.
Rand Willard (1974) earned 10 varsity letters at ELHS and was a member of 8 Spartan championship teams. Voted as an All American, he was co-captain of the 1973 football team 9-0 championship season and was Western Mass scoring leader with 114 points. In his junior year, Rand was the starting fullback, middle linebacker and place kicker for the Spartans in their 10-7 victory in the first annual Super bowl. As co-captain of the swim team 15-0 League and Western Mass championships season, Rand was the top point earner and was a member of the record holding medley and freestyle relay teams. Rand also distinguished himself in 1974 as the top point earner on the 9-0 league championship track team. Additionally he won gold medals in the 100 yard, 220 yard. dashes and the 880 yard relay events at the Western Mass Championships. Rand was a starter on the ELHS volleyball team that won the Western Mass Championship during his junior year. No memory is more vivid than Coach Dobias’ half time speech while trailing Longmeadow 7-0. He told them “You boys have your hayrides and sleigh rides with your Jane’s all planned out for tonight. But you didn’t plan on playing football, did ‘ya. And Willard you’re 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 as the Spartans scored 24 unanswered points in the second half to win their 26th straight game.
Four coaches and two contributors were inducted:
Richard (Dick) Bolles' was the head swim coach for 35 years. The Bolles’ led boys swim teams hold the best winning percentage of all sports at ELHS at 74%, compiling a record of 323 wins, 120 losses and 2 ties, while winning 12 League titles, 3 Western Mass titles, and 1 New England title. The girls swim teams won 3 league titles and 2 Western Mass titles. Dick has received many honors including Mass State Coach of the Year in 1997, coaching the 1968 boy’s team to a record setting Gold Medal win at the N.E. Championships. Additionally, he was nominated for National Coach of the Year in 1997. He received the Milt Orcott Award of the Western Mass Officials’ Association. Dick coached the boys tennis team for 6 years compiling an 80 - 17 record. He also coached the freshman football team for 18 years and the track team for 15 years. Dick would like to thank the thousands of wonderful people that he considers as part of his swimming family.
Bob Dobias was legendary head football coach from 1969-1981. Bob led the Spartans to two Western-Central Mass Super Bowl championships in 1972 & 1976. He piloted his teams to a 27 game unbeaten streak between 1971-1973 and 6 consecutive Suburban League Championships including a 10-0 undefeated season in 1972. Bob was the Athletic Director at E.L. high school for many years. Bob was named Division II Western-Central Mass Coach of the Year (1972). Additionally he was inducted into the Mass High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame. His career coaching statistics include 170 wins, 67 losses and 5 ties, plus four undefeated seasons, ten league championships and two Super bowls Football Titles. He was the recipient of the Worcester Academy Varsity Club Award. Bob was a member of the Mass. Football Coaches Committee, and was posthumously inducted into the East Longmeadow Educators Hall of Fame. He and his wife of 55 years, Joan Dobias, lived in East Longmeadow and raised five children, all graduates of East Longmeadow high school.
Bob Mazzariello (1964-2000) has a long and successful career with the ELPS, as teacher, coach, assistant principal, and school committee member. In 1969 Bob instituted wrestling as a club sport in East Longmeadow, which became a varsity program in 1972. Under Bob’s tutelage, EL wrestling enjoyed 17 straight years without a losing season. The 1983-84, and 1987-88 seasons produced undefeated teams and Western Mass Champions. Bob developed championship wrestlers at both the Western Mass Sectional Championships and the State Championships with over 100 victories. Bob was inducted into the Mass Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame. Bob also coached the ELHS golf team for 20 years, winning four Western Mass Championships and the schools first Mass State Golf Championship. Bob graduated from Springfield College with a B.S in English and a Masters in School Administration. While at Springfield College, Bob was a contributing member of three New England College Wrestling Championships. He served as an assistant principal at the high school from 1988 to 2000. Bob and his wife of 44 years, Mary Mazzariello, live in East Longmeadow where they raised three children.
Ed Modzelewski taught Physical Education at East Longmeadow High School for 31 years. Besides his teaching duties, Ed was directly involved in athletics for 29 of the 31 years. During the 1970’s, he coached JV basketball, and was the head coach of the boy’s tennis team. He served as head coach of the boy’s basketball team from 1972-1980. His 1973 team went undefeated in league play and his 109 basketball victories is a record that still stands. Ed coached football for 22 years, 12 years assisting Mr. Dobias, and 10 years as head coach. His 1994 and 1995 teams were League Champions and Super Bowl participants. Ed also served as Athletic Director for 15 years. He retired in 2000, and was inducted into the E.L. Educators Hall of Fame in 2008.
Ned Obernesser‘s name throughout the Pioneer Valley is synonymous with soccer. Ned was a strong contributor to the success of Spartan Sports for more than 33 years. He coached T-Ball, third grade basketball for 4 years. He also coached seventh and eighth grade girls basketball, chaperoned skiing with his wife Donna for ten years, coached high school girls summer soccer for 6 years and numerous East Longmeadow Fire youth soccer teams for 33 years. He was the President of the East Longmeadow Soccer Association for more than ten years and grew the program, quadrupling the number of children playing. He ignited the bind between the football and soccer programs that led to the lighting of the ELHS Athletic Stadium in 1990, as well as the formation of the E.L. Athletic and Activities Booster Club, serving as its President during its first year. He and Donna raised three boys, all of whom participated in East Longmeadow high school athletics (soccer, wrestling and track). They have lived in town since 1973. Ned retired in 2004, but remained active as a coach and referee in soccer. He continues to be active in East Longmeadow recreation programs, most recently a project to improve the town’s athletic fields. Ned influenced hundreds of aspiring young athletes to be all they can be through positive reinforcement and his positive attitude.
Baba Tranghese, a long time contributor to the success of ELHS athletic programs, was a co-founder of the E.L. youth football program. He coached youth baseball for over 60 years, including American Legion, Colt and Sandy Koufax teams. Baba also co-founded the E.L.Recreaction Association. He was instrumental in supporting many high school programs. His accomplishments include field improvements, the acquisition of batting cages, and the scoreboard for the athletic stadium. An avid fan, he could be seen at nearly all football, baseball and basketball games for both the boys and girls teams. He was one of the founders of the “Brian Piccolo/Baba Tranghese” Unico Scholarship Program. This scholarship is awarded annually at the ELHS year-end Awards Assembly.
No teams were selected in the first year but are eligible for nomination from this point forward.
Each inductee was escorted to the front of the room by a current East Longmeadow athlete and was awarded a certificate mounted in a frame. The certificate was a rendition of a plaque with the inductee’s picture and a brief biography describing his/her accomplishments. A “Hall of Fame Wall” is being identified at the East Longmeadow High School, where the plaques will be displayed for all to see.
Anyone interested in helping the organization to continue its mission or in nominating a player, coach, team or contributor, should contact the athletic director at East Longmeadow High School at 128 Maple Street in East Longmeadow. Nomination forms are available at the East Longmeadow high school, public library, recreation department as well as several East Longmeadow retail establishments and are due to the committee by the middle of May each induction year.