Sports

North Branford High School Athletic Hall of Fame to Induct 11

In its first annual awards ceremony, the NBHS Athletic Hall of Fame will honor two athletes from each decade–1965 to 2004.

This Sunday, July 10, the North Branford High School Athletic Hall of Fame will induct its first class. The event will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. at Woodwinds in Branford. Tickets ($40) are available and dinner choices include chicken marsala, stuffed sole and vegetarian lasagna. For tickets, call Chris Webster at 203-641-1409.

A total of 11 inductees will be honored including two athletes from each decade–1965 to 2004–along with two pioneer coaches and an honorary recipient. Former athletes to be honored include Rose D’Amato, Michael Graham, Cathy Volpe, Dave Christoforo, Bob Batick, Chris Woodman, Sasha Scott and Chris Tracz. Sandra Chadeayne Meehan and Dan Sherban were pioneer coaches, while Dan Rogers will be honored for his dedication to T-Birds’ athletics.

Rose D’Amato, a 1966 graduate, competed in field hockey, basketball and softball during her high school career. She served as captain for all three sports her junior and senior years.

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Michael Graham, a 1971 graduate, participated in football, basketball and track. He excelled in football, being named All-State and competing in the 1970 Nutmeg Bowl as a starting defensive tackle. He went on to coach under Fred Salvati from 1976-83–a time in which the Thunderbirds won the Class S state title, finishing 11-0. He also coached the girls’ basketball team for four years.

Cathy Volpe graduated in 1978 and distinguished herself as an outstanding athlete in both basketball and track & field. She was North Branford’s first female to be named All-State, which she accomplished in basketball. She was also All-State in track & field and finished first in the state in the pentathlon and then second in New England in the event. She took second in the high jump and 100-meter hurdles when she competed in the International Friendship Games in Jamaica during her senior year.

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Dave Christoforo, a 1984 grad, competed in football, hockey and baseball. He was named All-State in football as a defensive back and in baseball as a pitcher. He set a school record with eight interceptions in one game and was awarded a four-year athletic scholarship to UConn.

Bob Batick graduated in 1987 and played football, ice hockey and baseball. As a football player, he was named All-State and went on to compete at Yale for four years.

Chris Woodman, a 1989 graduate, was a standout player in field hockey, basketball and softball. She was a three-year All-State player in softball and was recognized as an All-State and All-American field hockey player during her senior year.

Sasha Scott, who graduated in 1999, was an exceptional athlete. As a senior, she was an All-State player in all three of her sports–volleyball, basketball and softball. She continued her volleyball career at the collegiate level at University of New Hampshire where she was the first three-year captain.

Chris Tracz, who graduated in 2000, made quite an impression with his athletic talents and achievements. He was an outstanding basketball player, who holds the record for career points with 1,872, and an exceptional baseball player, who went on to play for Marist, eventually taking over as head coach.

Sandra Chadeayne Meehan was the physical education teacher who started inter-scholastic sports at NBHS. The teams that she organized and coached throughout her career (1964-71) were field hockey, basketball, cheerleading, track & field and softball.

Dan Sherban started the ice hockey program in 1971 and helped it gain varsity status in 1973. By 1984, he reached the 100-win plateau and in 1987, the team qualified for the Division I State Tournament. Four years later, the T-Birds reached the semifinals in the state tournament. He coached many players including one who was a captain at Yale, was invited to US Olympic tryout and later played in Chicago.

At the professional level, Don Rogers was a friend of North Branford High School for many years. He served as a volunteer for the football team for several years, working as a kicking instructor and later as part of the “chain gang” on game days. He was also dedicated to North Branford youth basketball and helped coach the boys’ basketball team as a summer league coach and as a volunteer bench coach during the season. He also helped as a volunteer with the track program. Don lost his battle with cancer several years ago, but his wife will be at the ceremony to accept the award.

Information courtesy of Chris Webster, NBHS Athletic Director


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