The purpose of the Robert E. Fitch High School Athletic Hall of Fame is to bring proper recognition to noteworthy Athletics, Coaches and others for their accomplishments and contributions to the Robert E. Fitch High School Athletic Program. We conduct an annual ceremony in November to induct those duly elected to the Hall of Fame. Explore our page for more information including a printable Nomination Form. To honor each inductee, the Robert E. Fitch High School Athletic Hall of Fame maintains a permanent plaque located in the lobby of the Fitch Gymnasium.
The Fitch High School Athletic Hall of Fame will induct 16 former athletes a coach and a team on Sunday November 14 , 2021 at the St. Mary Redeemer Church Banquet Hall beginning at 1:00pm. Tickets can be purchased in the main office at Fitch High School during the hours of 8:00am-2:00pm Monday- Friday. Tickets will not be available at the door.
Hall of Fame Inductees
2021
Delores Neff - Class of 1931- Delores was chosen the captain of the girl’s basketball team in both her junior and senior year. She earned 2 letters, and was named the “Best Female Athlete” by her senior class.
Charlie Winkler- Class of 1932- Charlie participated in four sports: football, basketball, baseball, and track. He was the first athlete to ever receive a varsity letter at Fitch. He was a running back and a defensive back for the football team, and captained the team in his senior year. He was an outstanding track athlete holding records in the 220 and 440 yard events, and also a school record with a jump of 20’.
Ray Erb- Class of 1940- Ray participated in football, basketball, and baseball. He earned 6 letters over his high school career. He was an end in football, a forward in basketball serving as the captain of the team in his senior year, and a pitcher and outfielder in baseball.
Jim McGuire- Class of 1955- Jim played football, basketball, and track. He earned 9 letters over his high school career. He was inducted into the “F” Club in his freshman year. In his senior year he was a discus state record holder. Jim was part of the indoor track team who was the Class “M” State Champions.
Johnny Livermore- Class of 1959- Johnny participated in both basketball and baseball. He was a guard for basketball, and Co-Captained the team in his senior year. He was the leading scores in basketball leading the team to the ECC title and qualifying for the state tournament in his senior year. He scored a team leading 422 points as a senior averaging out to 23.8 points per game. He was a shortstop on the baseball team.
Teddy Hall- Class of 1967- Teddy participated in football, basketball, baseball, and track. He was an outstanding football running back, and was the Co-Captain of the team in his senior year. He won the Thames Award for his outstanding performance in the Thanksgiving Day Game in his senior year. He was the leading scorer on the basketball team. On the track team he ran the hurdles and participated in all the jumping events. He was named by coaches of all sports as one of 6 best athletes in the school.
Robin Lowe- Class of 1976- Robin was a tremendous track athlete. In her senior year she was the State Open 200 yard dash champion and state record holder. She captain the track team in her senior year leading the team to a State Championship. She also ran the 100 yard dash, the 400 yard dash, and anchored the 4x400 yard relay team.
Peter Hoops- Class of 1977- Peter was an integral part of the football and track programs. As a defensive back on the State Class “LL” Football Championship Team, he was named All-Conference SAC and Honorable Mention All-State. He Co-Captain both the Indoor and Outdoor Track teams. Both teams were conference champions, and his 4x400 relay teams set school and conference records.
Joy Flatley- Class of 1985- Joy played volleyball, basketball, and softball. She was the Co-Captain of the volleyball team. She had 95 per cent service accuracy. She was named the team’s MVP. In softball she achieved All-Area and All-State status. She was named the school’s Female Athlete of the Year in 1985. The Fitch coaching staff voted her as one of the best seven athletes in the school.
Shawn Rader- Class of 1987- Shawn participated in soccer, indoor track, and outdoor track. He received All-State and All-Conference status in each of these sports. In soccer he was named the Defensive Player of the Year and was All-Conference. In track he was the 300 meter hurdles state champion, and held the record in that event for 31 years.
Mark Pan- Class of 1991- Mark was a three sport athlete: soccer, indoor track, and outdoor track. He was the Co-Captain for both the indoor and outdoor track teams. His greatest achievements were in outdoor track where he was named All-ECC, All-State, and All-New England in the 110 meter hurdles. He was the Class “L” State Champion in his senior year, and the New England 110 meter hurdle runner-up in his junior year.
Ayanti Grant- Class of 1997- Ayanti participated in indoor and outdoor track. She was All-ECC in both programs. She was named the MVP in both programs. In her junior year in indoor track she came in 2nd in the 300 meter dash, 2nd in the 55 meter dash, and her 4x200 relay team also came in 2nd in the Class “L” State Championships. She achieved All-State Honors for her performances. She was named Captain of the indoor team in her senior year and received All-State Honors again for finishing in top 6 places in the 300 meter dash. She still holds school records in the 300 meter dash and the 4x360 meter relay team.
Mark Olivier- Class of 2003- Mark was chosen the captain of the cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track teams. He achieved All-State and All-New England status in each sport. He is still the record holder in cross country at the 5K Haley Farm Course, and his outdoor track 4x800 relay team is still the current record holder.
Rachel Kent- Class of 2005- Rachel participated in swimming. She captained the team for several years. She qualified for the state championships all four years. She was first in the 50 yard freestyle her sophomore, junior, and senior years. She received All-American Honors in the 50 freestyle. She was first in the 100 yards in her junior and senior year. She anchored all the relay teams during her career. Her 50 yard freestyle record still stands.
Emmett Dignan- Class of 2010- Emmett participated in boys’ lacrosse and swimming. In lacrosse he was named All-ECC all 3 years. He was chosen the team MVP two times. He was named team captain in his senior year. He was named to the All-Area Team twice, and was named to the All-State 2nd Team in his senior year. In swimming he was a conference and state champion. He was a school record holder in the individual medley. The relay medley team posted All-American times. He was named The Day’s Swimmer of the Year as a senior.
Brianna Turgeon- Class of 2011- Brianna lettered 3 times in soccer and indoor track, and 4 times in softball. In softball she carried a plus .500 batting average over the course of her career. She had a .610 on base percentage, and a .955 slugging percentage over that same time. She was named to All-ECC and All-State team, and was named the Connecticut Coaches Player of the Year in 2011. She was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in both her junior and senior years.
The Hall of Fame will be honoring Bob Weiss for his coaching football at Fitch, and will be recognizing his 1976 State Champion Football Team.
2019
Frank Winkler - 1936 Basketball and Baseball
Elizabeth “Betty” Acker - 1934 Basketball and Field Hockey
Alfred Balestracci - 1948 Football
William “Red” Manchester - 1950 Football and Basketball
Terry Brown - 1959 Football, Basketball & Track and Field
Tom Mozee - 1966 Football, Basketball & Track and Field
Robert Restivo - 1975 Soccer and Baseball
Yvette Hyman - 1976 Track and Field
Russ Moyer - 1976 Football and Baseball
Richard Marquardt - 1983 Football, Basketball and Baseball
Kate Nichols - 1988 Volleyball and Basketball
Will Deveau - 2002 Football, Wrestling and Baseball
Aubrey Latham - 2009 Volleyball, Basketball and Softball
2018
Marguerite Luzi “Muggs’ Ellis - 1934 Field Hockey and Basketball
Wilfred "Hoot" Ellis - 1934 Football and Baseball
Richard A. “Dick” Neff, Sr. - 1949 Football and Baseball
Clarence A. Kowsz - 1949 Football, Basketball and Baseball
Bob Barron - 1954 Football, Basketball, Track and Field, Baseball
Albert Vescovi - 1957 Football, Track and Field
Art Sawyer - 1968 Football, Basketball and Baseball.
Wayne Jacob - 1974 Cross Country, Indoor Track & Field. Outdoor Track & Field
Cheryl L. Turgeon - 1976 Basketball, Track and Field, Tennis and Softball
Matthew J. Maginniss - 1985 Football, Wrestling and Baseball
Tina Macdonald Doody - 1983 Volleyball, Basketball and Softball
Brian Hopkins - 1994 Football, Basketball and Baseball
Christopher Coppolo - 2003 Football, Wrestling and Baseball
Taylor Doyle - 2008 Volleyball, Basketball and Track and Field
2017
William Tiede 1934 Football, Basketball, Outdoor Track & Field
Earned three letters in track as a sprinter, hurdler and javelin thrower, and was a member of a state championship relay team. Football Starter.
Betzy Christensen Killam 1935 Basketball
Was Captain and the second-leading scorer as a senior before playing collegiately at Pembroke(Brown) University. She later spent her entire teaching career in the Groton Public Schools.
Eugene “Gee Gee” Cedio 1947 Football, Baseball
A running back and receiver on the football team he played shortstop in baseball. He caught the game-winning touchdown pass to beat Bulkeley of New London in 1945 and was named Fitch's best athlete as a senior.
Andy Andrews 1946 Football, Basketball, Baseball
He was an All-ECC lineman as a senior, the starting catcher in baseball and Captain of basketball team as a senior while serving as Class President as a junior and senior.
Bob Ross 1950 Basketball, Baseball, Golf
Earned first team ECC honors and third team All-State honors as a senior while leading Fitch to Class B State Basketball final at Yale. Went on to play golf in college and later won numerous tournaments as a professional.
Fred Clark 1955 Football, Basketball, Outdoor Track & Field
As a senior high jumper he helped the Falcons win the ECC and Class M State Championship. He was also a lineman and end in football and a center in basketball, Captaining the teams as a senior. Served as class president both junior and senior year.
Ed Harvey 1969 Football, Basketball, Baseball
Lettered three years in all three sports. Went on to play baseball at Hudson Valley CC and UConn, where he helped Huskies reach the College World Series in 1972. Returned to Groton to teach at Fitch and as head coach built the Baseball team into one of state's elite programs.
Richard Lowe 1970 Football, Indoor Track & Field, Outdoor Track & Field
A three-year starter for in football he served as a Captain in 1969 and earned All-Area honors. Also a captain of track team as senior he was a great multiple event athlete and left with school records in shot put and high jump before continuing his career at the University of Connecticut.
Kim Murphy 1974 Cross Country, Indoor Track & Field, Outdoor Track & Field
Was CDC cross country champion as a senior and placed fifth in the State Open while leading Fitch to State Open title. As a Senior he set the school indoor record in the mile (4:23.38). In Outdoor Track he was a two-time CDC and Class L Champion in the two-mile, also setting a school record (9:23.4) in that event. Set in 1974, both of his school records still stand today.
Donna Sullivan 1978 Tennis, Softball
Lettered all three times each in softball and tennis, and was Captain of both teams during her senior year. She was part of a State Championship doubles team in tennis as a Senior, was named All-Southeastern Athletic Conference(SAC) and All-Area in softball as a senior and was Fitch's 1978 Female Athlete of the Year.
Scott Khoury 1981 Football, Basketball, Baseball
Was team MVP in all three sports as a Senior. Rushed for over 1,000 yards in football. He earned all-league honors in Football and Basketball and All-State in baseball. After graduation he played professional baseball in the US and Europe. Fitch's 1981 Male Athlete of the Year.
Renee Khoury-Cooper 1983 Basketball, Softball
She was the first basketball player to surpass 1,000 career points and was chosen All-Southeastern Athletic Conference(SAC) as junior and senior. Was also named All-SAC twice in softball, and added All-State honors in her Senior while earning a scholarship to Sacred Heart.
Warren Williams 1990 Football, Indoor Track & Field, Outdoor Track & Field
Was a two-year letter-winner as running back and defense back in football. Senior Captain of both Track Teams and Still holds school Indoor record for the 300m (36.58) and Outdoor record for the 200m (21.9). 1990 Fitch Male Athlete of the Year.
Kim Nichols Hanlon 1991 Volleyball, Indoor Track & Field, Softball
Lettered in indoor track twice and Captained softball team as senior. She really excelled in volleyball, Captain of the team as senior she earned team Most Valuable and was named All-State honors while leading Falcons to the CIAC State Class L finals.
Beth Kosta 2007 Cross Country, Indoor Track & Field, Outdoor Track & Field
Lettered all 4 years in her three sports for 12 Varsity Letters. In Cross Country she was All-ECC 4 times, ECC Individual Championship in 2005, All-State 3 times, and was All-New England as a sophomore. In Outdoor Track she holds the current school record holder in 2,000m steeplechase (7:45.41), and was All ECC for Indoor Track 3 times. 2007 Fitch Female Athlete of the Year and CIAC Scholar Athlete.
Ben Latham 2008 Indoor Track & Field, Outdoor Track & Field
An elite track & field athlete, won ECC and Class L javelin titles 3 times and the State Open twice. He was New England javelin champion in 2008 and Nike National Meet runner-up. He earned All-State status three times, All-New England twice and was an All-American in 2008. As a Senior he set the Class L, State Open and School Record (212') in the Javelin, all these records still stand today. 2008 Fitch Male Athlete of the Year.
2016
Joseph Rinoski-1933- (Football, Basketball)
Football Captain in his Senior Year. Career teacher at Fitch. Coach who kept Girls Basketball alive. Vital at Fitch during the War years.
Charles Burrows-1934- (Football, Basketball, Baseball).
He earned 7 varsity letters during his high school career. Captained the Basketball team. Was considered a spectacular football punter.
Lil Hansen (Lamb)-1938- (Cheerleading, Basketball)
Lettered in both sports multiple years. Superlative career involvement with youth activities in the Town of Groton. Founded the Teenage Club which donated 2 electronic scoreboards to Fitch High School.
Ted Hespeler-1951- (Football, Basketball, Outdoor Track & Field).
All-Conference in football and basketball. Ran on the 4X220 championship relay team, and came in second in the ECC Pole Vault with a jump of 11 feet.
Pat Michaud-1955- (Football, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track & Field).
Captain of the Football Team. Held the school pole vault record for 20 years. Member of the Indoor Track State Champion and record breaking relay team.
Dan Nilsson-1960-(Basketball). Co-Captain of the team. His team won the ECC Championship and went on to play in the State Semi-Finals. He set the Fitch scoring record, was named All-Conference and All-State.
Jimmy Hall-1963- (Football, Basketball, Baseball).
Starting end on the New London Elk’s Clubs’ “Best All-Area Football Team 1961. Captain of the Basketball Team. Was selected to play in the Nutmeg Bowl.
Rick Hauser-1977- (Football, Wrestling, Baseball).
Captain in all three sports. Second Team All-State in football, All-State twice in wrestling. Running back for the 1976 State Championship Football Team.
Jim Gabarra-1977-(Soccer).
Captain of Soccer Team was first-team All-State and All-SAC Conference. Professional Soccer Player
Laurie Blanton (Atkins)-1982- (Volleyball, Basketball, Softball).
Captain of all three sports, All-Conference in all three sports, All-State in Softball, and named Fitch’s Female Athlete of the Year in 1982.
Lonnie Hooker- 1982- (Football, Outdoor Track & Field).
Outstanding on both the Kick-off and Kick-return football teams. All-Conference and All-State in Track 2 years in a row. State Open 100m Champion in 1982. Still holds school records in 100 meters and 100-meter relay.
Reggie McNeill- 1990- (Indoor Track, Outdoor Track & Field).
He excelled in the hurdles in both sports. Also was on the 4X180 relay team that set a Conference Record, and excelled in the Long Jump. School Record 110 High Hurdles (14.00) State Open and New England Champion in 110 meter hurdles.
Danielle Isbister-1996- (Volleyball, Basketball, Softball).
Led the Volleyball Team with 58 blocks, is in the elite group of 1000 point scorers in Basketball. All-Conference in all 3 sports, and All-Area in Softball.
Betsy Boucher-2004- (Cross Country, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track & Field).
Captain of all three sports. She earned All-Conference and All-State honors in each sport. All-New England Cross Country. She was a State Champion in all three sports. Her 4X800 Indoor Track Relay Team still holds the school record.
Jesse Hahn- 2007-(Football, Basketball, Baseball).
In basketball he was named to the Christmas Tournament All-Tournament Team. In baseball he made both the New Haven Register and CHSCA All-State Teams. Major League Baseball Player.
2015
Barbara Dupuis Ellis-1935 (Girls Basketball, Cheerleading)
Earl Rowley-1935 (Football, Basketball, Baseball, Track & Field)
Elliot Johnson-1943 (Football, Baseball)
Charles Scott-1948 (Football, Baseball, Track & Field)
Donald Langworthy-1955 (Football, Baseball, Outdoor Track & Field)
Ronald Hughes-1956 (Football, Basketball, Outdoor Track & Field)
Paul David Silva-1961 (Football, Basketball, Outdoor Track & Field)
Gerald Henderson-1972 (Basketball)
Joe Addison-1977 (Football, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track & Field)
Alice Hunter-1978 (Tennis, Basketball, Softball)
Tami Hyde-1980 (Basketball, Softball)
Chris Stuart-1984 (Football, Soccer, Basketball, Baseball)
Neal Currie-1984 (Basketball, Outdoor Track & Field
Brenda O'Connell-1990 (Cross Country, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track & Field)
Anthony Wilson-1996 (Football, Basketball, Baseball)
Jessica Schenk-2000 (Cross Country, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track & Field)
Matt Harvey-2007 (Baseball)
2014
John Lawrence "Larry" Sullivan-1935 (Football, Basketball, Track & Field)
Jack Tansey-1940 (Football)
Ray Bracci-1943 (Football)
Tom Halliwell-1959 (Football, Basketball, Baseball)
John Carney-1959 (Football, Basketball, Outdoor Track & Field)
Al Chapman-1962 (Football, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track & Field)
Thomas Yarman-1963 (Football, Basketball, Outdoor Track & Field)
Mike Ellis-1963 (Football, Basketball, Baseball)
Amby Burfoot-1963 (Cross Country,Indoor Track, Outdoor Track & Field)
David Campo-1965 (Football)
Dottie Richardson-1974 (Basketball, Outdoor Track & Field)
William "Bill" Borden-1977 (Football, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track & Field)
Glenn Miller-1979 (Basketball, Baseball)
Johnny Kelley-1959-79 (Cross Country Coach)
David Menhart-1985 (Soccer, Baseball)
Todd Clarke-1986 (Soccer, Golf)
Kathy Gailor Fedorjaka-1986 (Basketball, Softball)
Paul Menhart-1987 (Soccer, Basketball, Baseball)
Dion Devega-1989 (Soccer, Wrestling)
Jason Teague-1992 (Football, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track & Field)
Sarah Renzler-1994 (Tennis, Swimming, Outdoor Track & Field)
Raheem Carter-2000 (Football,Indoor Track, Outdoor Track & Field)
Sarah Latham-2004 (Volleyball, Basketball, Outdoor Track & Field)
Todd Doyle-2005 (Basketball, Baseball)
Information
Show Your Support
The Fitch High School Athletic Hall of Fame invites you to show your support of our inductees and honor their accomplishments by purchasing an ad for our program booklet which will be given to the attendees of the Athletic Hall of Fame banquet.
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Athletic Hall of Fame banquet
Sunday, November 14, 2021
1:00 pm
St. Mary's Banquet Hall
Tickets can be purchased in the main office at Fitch High School between 8:00am-2:00pm Monday- Friday. Tickets will not be available at the door.