Andrea Grace graduated from Windsor High School in 1999. Andrea was a 2 sport varsity athlete in basketball and soccer. In soccer, Andrea was the starting varsity goalie all 4 years of high school. She was named to the all-conference team (CCC-West) all four years and was named to the All-State team her senior year. She was a captain during her senior year. During her senior year, the team made it to the state tournament and won their first round game with Andrea’s game-winning goal and save during penalty kicks. In basketball, Andrea played on both JV and Varsity during her freshman year, starting most games on both levels. Andrea was a captain senior year and earned All-Conference honors her junior and senior year. 

Andrea went on to accept a scholarship at Binghamton University where she continued to play basketball. Binghamton was transitioning from Division III to Division I during this time. During her freshman year of college, the team was ineligible for the NCAA tournament, however, finished the season with a record of 27-2 and won the ECAC championship. 

Upon graduating from college, Andrea came back to her hometown of Windsor and pursued her teaching certification while obtaining her Masters degree in Special Education. She has worked for the Windsor Public Schools since 2005, as a paraeducator and then a Special Education Teacher. She currently is a Special Education Teacher at Sage Park Middle School. She resides in Windsor with her son Cameron who is a freshman at Windsor High School. 

Alesandra Nicole graduated in 2001 from Windsor High. Known as Nikki, she participated in her favorite sport - track and field and played basketball. 

Nikki ran the 100, 200, and 4 x 100 meters all four years. She was named to All-Conference & All-State teams during her participation for outdoor track and field. She was captain of the team her Junior and Senior years; while earning four letters. Nikki also participated in indoor track her senior year, qualifying for the state open.

Nikki played basketball her freshman - junior year. She moved to varsity starting her sophomore year. Nikki played power forward, small forward or center depending on the need of the game. She was known for her rebounds, high jumps, blocks and quick break steals, with a unique form of freestyle shooting.

Nikki’s loved to include her love for fashion and always found a way to include that by accessorizing the team uniforms. 

After WHS, Alesandra attended Howard University where she earned her degree in Marketing. Nikki currently resides in CT and works as Marketing Associate for Otis Elevator. 

Jamie graduated from WHS as the Class Scholar in 2011 where she was a starting player for soccer and lacrosse all four years. She was a three year All-Conference player, two year All-State and captain for two years in lacrosse. In her senior year she scored a record 70 goals. Jamie was also an All-Conference player and captain in soccer. She was the quarterback of the class of 2011 Powder Puff Football Team during the undefeated 2009 and 2010 seasons.

She was a member of the All-Academic Team for four years. She was a HS Academic All American, as well as a member of National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and an AP Scholar with Honors.

Jamie continued her lacrosse career at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where she graduated Magna Cum Laude, with a Bachelors and Masters in Mechanical Engineering in four years. She was a Liberty League Rookie of the Week, LL Offensive Performer of the Week, a member of the LL All-Tournament Team and LL All-Academic Team. She also became a member of the elite club of women who have scored 100 goals in their college career.

Jamie lives in Farmington, CT with her husband, Mark and their dogs, Sadie and Summit. When she’s not working at ABB, she and Mark stay busy hiking with their dogs, and also enjoy running and skiing. She still plays co-ed soccer.

Curtis Collette graduated from Windsor High School in 1987.  Over his four years he earned nine varsity letters in soccer, swimming and lacrosse.  In addition to his success in athletics Curtis excelled in the classroom being named a member of the National Honor Society and the Windsor High School Scholar Athlete his graduating year.     

As a soccer player Curtis earned three varsity letters.  He was named captain his senior year and achieved All Conference honors.  

He was a member of the inaugural lacrosse team at Windsor High and earned two varsity letters as a long pole defenseman.  

As a swimmer Curtis was named a captain for two years and held a number of Windsor High records.  He continues to hold the record for the 50 yard freestyle.  Over his four varsity years   Curtis earned All Conference and All State honors for three years and was Class Champion his senior year.

Following graduation Curtis eventually attended Central Connecticut State University where he was a varsity swimmer and captain.

Curtis makes his home in Milford, CT with his wife Mary and three children Marguerite, Simon and Jacob.

Justin Wilson graduated in 2008. Wilson received All-State recognition in three sports. He was All State in Football and Basketball.  In Track and Field, he was State and New England Champion in the long jump and triple jump. He set a new school record in both and finished 10th at Nationals while he was only a sophomore. At Delaware State University Wilson was a two-time All-MEAC First Team selection, ranks second on the Hornets' career list with 189 receptions and is fourth in team history with 2,416 receiving yards. He's also fourth on the school's all-time list with 23 touchdown catches.

In 2010, Wilson became the first player in the history of the MEAC to lead the league in receptions (59), receiving yards (937) and touchdown catches (11) in the same season.

In addition, he has the second-best receiving yardage game in team history with 217 vs. Howard in 2010. Wilson was named to the All-MEAC First Team in 2010 and 2012, and was the league's preseason player-of-the-year in 2011. Wilson was signed with the Green Bay Packer for the 2013 season. He later went on to play for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League (CFL). After leaving the Blue Bombers, Wilson played for the LA Kiss, an arena football team in Los Angeles. He continued to play arena football for two years with the Washington Valor before receiving a career ending injury. Wilson is currently finishing his Master’s degree in Athletic Administration and lives with his spouse and two kids in New Britain.

Johnell Sharonda Burts was born on March 26, 1986 in Hartford, CT to Johnnie and Sharon Burts.  Growing up in the inner city of Hartford, Burts developed a competitive edge at an early age. She wanted to win every game she played.  After the passing of her father, Burts not only gained a guardian angel coach, but also attributes her upcoming success to her amazing support system, her loving mother Sharon, her protective sisters and cousin, Temeka, Domonique and Bernard, along with a host of aunts, uncles, cousin, teammates and friends.   

Burts, also known as Johnny to her coaches and teammates, played basketball and field hockey at Windsor High School from 2000-2004. Under Coaches Vinnie Cianfranni and Timothy Hogan, Burts really blossomed during her freshman year of basketball. Burts was named to the All-State rookie team, was named to the All-Conference and State team all four years.  In her senior season, Burts averaged 15.7 points per game and led Windsor to a perfect regular season record, and a second consecutive CCC West Title and first state championship in school’s history against Fairfield 53-38. 

Not familiar with the game of field hockey, with dedication and determination by the end of her freshman year she became a starter for the next three years, making All-Conference sophomore, junior and senior year. The highlight of her field hockey career was scoring the winning goal against an undefeated South Windsor and being hugged and swung around by teammates and coaches Dominique Fox and Cassandra Deedy.

After graduating from Windsor High School in 2004, Johnell attended Saint Peter’s University in Jersey City, NJ, where she earned a B.A in communications in May 2008.  Johnell played all four seasons (2004-2008). She finished her career ranked first in minutes averaged per game at 37, ranked second in assist per game (5), fourth in 3 pointers attempted (295), fifth in 3 pointers made, and second on a single season chart for assists (174).  Burts was a three-time All-Conference recipient, making the All-MAAC Rookie team in 2004 and earning spots on the All-MAAC team as a junior and senior.  She was inducted into Saint Peter’s Hall of Fame in February 2020.  

Professionally, Burts has worked in the field of Human Services, with a strong focus in mental and behavioral health in adolescent populations. Burts currently resides in New Jersey with her life partner Christina Montalvo and continues to mentor and motivate youth to be the best they can be. 

Burts’s advice to Windsor High students: “Believe in yourself and your dreams, no matter what it looks or feels like.  Keep working hard on and off the court even when you feel defeated.  Never give up. Keep striving to be a better you than the day before.  Soon enough those dreams will become your reality.” 

Joanne graduated from North Andover High School, in North Andover, Mass. During her high school career, Joanne was involved in sports, and was a varsity cheerleader for both football and basketball.

She graduated from the University of New Hampshire, in Durham, NH, with a degree in Spanish Education. During her time at UNH, she studied in Saltillo, Mexico and remained “loyal” to all UNH sports, especially hockey.

After graduating from UNH, Joanne was hired as a Spanish teacher at Windsor High School, where she taught for 29 years.

The opportunity to coach began when several students approached her about beginning a Girls Track team in 1977. She coached the girls track team from 1977-1984. The team went from its infancy, to winning the CVC Championship in 1981. This was the first Girls Track championship in the school’s history. During those 8 years, the teams were very successful, due to the hard work of the young athletes on each team.

Along with track, Joanne also coached the cheerleading team from 1978 until 1988. The team cheered for both girls’ and boys’ sports. The team grew to include both girls and boys, which was a new approach at the time in high school cheerleading. This added to the team’s ability to do more complicated, interesting stunts and mounts. The Windsor High School Cheerleading teams hosted CVC cheerleading competitions.  In 1979 and 1983, the teams won the Central Valley Conference competition.  While attending summer cheerleading camps, the teams worked on improving their skills, and won numerous awards.

Joanne presently lives in Simsbury with her husband Barry. Their son Matthew is a music teacher and is very involved in the Greater Hartford jazz scene, as well as being on the board of the Hartford Jazz Society.

In retirement, Joanne is a volunteer at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, working the ICU/CICU areas. She also works at the McLean Senior Housing Community in Simsbury.

Tchad graduated from WHS as the class salutatorian and a Class Scholar in 1989 where he was a starting player for the basketball and golf teams his junior and senior years. In the first basketball game of his junior year, Tchad set the single game scoring record of 34 points against Hartford Weaver High School.  In basketball, Tchad was All-Conference both years and first-team All-State and a third-team McDonald’s All-American his senior year.

Tchad was elected senior class Vice President and Homecoming King his senior year and participated in the As Schools Match Wits and Future Problem Solvers teams.

Tchad continued his basketball career at Harvard College where he graduated a Harvard College Scholar for academic achievement and on the Dean’s List with a bachelor’s degree in Economics.  As a student at Harvard College, Tchad also ran on the track team, was elected to the Internship Committee of J.F.K. School of Government’s Institute of Politics and was elected a Business Tomorrow Student Leader.

After college, Tchad worked for McKinsey & Company, the global consulting firm, and Bain Capital, a leading private equity firm, before returning to Harvard Business School where he received his MBA in 2000.  

Tchad lives in Los Angeles, CA with his wife, Jenn, and their two dogs, Zoe and Donovan.  Tchad enjoys traveling with his wife, family and friends, playing golf, snowboarding and founding, financing and running technology companies.  Tchad has maintained his friendships with many of his Windsor classmates, including Elliot Beaver, Greg Green, Corey Googe, Errol Archer, Deborah Archer, Floyd Bagwell, and Jason Gutcheon among others.

Born in Hartford in 1946, Brian Gillespie moved to Windsor when he was 6 years old. After graduating from WHS in 1964, Brian served in the Air Force in Vietnam. After his return, Brian married his wife Dianne and raised his children, Kelly and Brett. Windsor was his home until he passed away in October, 2021.

Brian was always an avid sports enthusiast and dedicated his life volunteering, coaching, and preparing kids for high school sports and beyond. Many of the young athletes he coached went on to have successful high school and college careers. 

Although Brian's heart and passion was baseball, he also coached several softball, basketball and soccer teams. Brian went on to coach in many leagues including Windsor American Little League, Senior League, Babe Ruth, Jaycee Courant and Windsor American Legion baseball leagues and many other Windsor All-Star baseball teams. Brian was voted American Legion Baseball Contributor of the Year in 2012. 

Not only did Brian coach and manage, he also spent many years acting as president of most aforementioned leagues.

Brian loved coaching and enjoyed preparing kids for the net level of competition. He will always be remembered for his passion, commitment and dedication as he touched lives of so many Windsor kids along the way.

The 1981 Girls Track and Field team was the first to win a championship as a varsity sport, finishing first in the Central Valley Conference.  It marked the progress the team made from a club to a varsity program.  The team had an equal number of runners, jumpers and field athletes, all of whom were dedicated and very hardworking.  Thanks to the girl’s cooperative attitudes, many realized that they were very good in an event which they had never considered trying. All team members were allowed to try multiple events, with the emphasis on team success.

  The track members supported the field successes, and the field members were often at the finish line cheering on the runners in their events.  The standout quality of this team was that they truly cared about each other and took pride in the team’s accomplishments, as well as individual performances, all leading to an 8-1 record and the first CVC girls track championship.

After a 1974 campaign that produced a disappointing three win and seven loss record, the 1975 Windsor Warriors football team began the daunting task of rebuilding that was further challenged by the graduation of 24 senior players from the 1974 team.  After a season opening loss to Torrington, the coaching staff made several changes to the starting line-up.  The team responded to the changes by winning seven of its final nine games, including a six-win, no loss conference record, resulting in the school’s first outright Central Valley Conference (CVC) football championship.  The senior class deserve a great deal of credit for the leadership they provided both in the locker room and on the field. No team has ever overcome more obstacles, exhibited more growth and improvement in the shortest period of time than the 1975 CVC Champion Windsor Warriors football team and we are thrilled and honored with our election for induction into the Windsor Athletic Hall of Fame.