Alumni - Hall of Fame

Initiated during the 1982-83 school year, the Hall of Fame selection process is the work of the Hall of Fame Committee with a membership that includes alumni and former staff members at Lyman Hall.   Lyman Hall High School has been in existence for 107 years, making it one of the oldest secondary schools in Connecticut.  The thousands of alumni since 1916 require an extensive record-keeping system that the committee has proudly maintained.   As Hall of Fame organizations all over the state have continued to fail for various reasons, the Lyman Hall High School Hall of Fame is one of the oldest continuous venues of its type anywhere in the country.  The Hall of Fame Committee selects the annual inductees into the Hall of Fame and are the only persons permitted to discuss and subsequently vote for candidates.  

The Hall of Fame Committee reviews the credentials of each candidate to be considered based on the following four IMPACT CATEGORIES:

• ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

  • LHHS years

  • Post-Secondary years

• LEADERSHIP

  • LHHS years (non-sports and sports)

  • Civic, community

• PROFESSIONAL

  • Resume of occupational activities

  • Notable contributions in chosen profession

• COMPETITIVE ATHLETICS

  • LHHS years

  • Post-Secondary (university/college)

Most important in the selection process is the relative IMPACT that an alumnus has made on their fellow students, LHHS, their chosen profession, the Town of Wallingford, and/or their post-secondary institution. Competitive athletic accomplishments are but one category of review. 

Early in the formative years of the LHHS Hall of Fame, a precise measurement had to be established whereby alumni and former coaches might be compared over a span of over 100 years, beginning in the 1916-17 school year.   In academic subjects, letter grades are standard levels of achievement.  In competitive athletics, the accumulation of statistical figures is difficult to compare from one season to another, let alone from one generation to another.  Appreciating this principle, the Hall of Fame Committee, beginning in 1982, established the IMPACT quotient.  This included evidence and discourse relative to an alumni’s impact on the school, the student organizations they might have served, and the athletic teams on which they participated.  To wit, there have been many former sports team members who have scored points, batted for a high average, and were fortunate to have earned post-season accolades such as All-Housatonic League and All-State recognition.  Although these benchmarks of athletic participation are notable, the committee reviews with great care the impact an individual made on a given team(s).  For LHHS Hall of Fame selection, an alumnus must have a demonstrable impact on their fellow students, their teams, and possibly on the Town of Wallingford.

The selection of former Lyman Hall High School coaches requires the completion of research as outlined in the section, “The Hall of Fame Selection Process”.
Section 1 – Professional/Career (non-athletic) Resume, or Curriculum Vitae

Section 2 – Hall of Fame Selection Criteria (non-athletic)

• If the nominee graduated from Lyman Hall High School please follow the outline in section, HALL OF FAME CRITERIA FOR SELECTION.
• If the nominee is not a graduate of Lyman Hall High School, please include the information as follows:
  • Post Secondary/College Accomplishments
    • College(s) attended, military service
    • Degree(s), certifications
    • College organizations
    • Recognition
  • Contributions to School and Community
    • Contributions to chosen profession
    • Years of Service to profession
    • Participation to community or service organizations

Section 3 – Lyman Hall High School Coaching Record

• For a former Lyman Hall head coach to be considered, a complete coaching resume must be submitted. Submit a detailed summary, by year.
• If the coach being nominated served as a head coach for more than one sport, submit the summary as outlined below for each sport.
  • Name of the sport, coached;
  • Year by year team won/loss record;
  • Championships won (delineated by division, league, state);
  • Final seasonal team/school ranking, if applicable; and
  • Honors and recognition awarded to the coach

Note: If the nominee served as the head coach for any school other than Lyman Hall High
School, submit that information in an addendum following the summary outline, stated above.

 

At the annual Induction Ceremony of the Hall of Fame the Hall of Fame Committee honors a team from the storied LHHS past with the Historic Team Award.  It is not required that a team win a state championship to earn this distinction.  Rather, this is a team from the 107-year history of LHHS who made an impact on the school and the Town of Wallingford.   Recommendations of teams for the Historic Team Award may be made to any member of the Hall of Fame Committee.   Past winners of the award include:

1982 Softball Team

1969 Baseball Team

1961 Basketball Team

Each year the Hall of Fame Committee reaches out to members of the community and the LHHS alumni to secure the funds necessary to carry on the important work of the Hall of Fame.  The Hall of Fame Committee would like to express our most sincere appreciation to the following persons who gave so generously this year that we might continue to provide the Hall of Fame to our beloved Lyman Hall, perpetuating its 107-year legacy.  

Roberta D. Wachtelhausen ’76                                     Alban E. Chrisman ’66                                                                      Rick Angelone ‘75

Thomas J. Brockett ’95                                                    Francis A. Stupakevich ’67                                                             Cole A. Proctor, ’60

Kenneth J. Marhevka ’59                                                Karen Canavan Lapsley ’86                                                            Julie Baksa Hipp ‘84

Timothy P. Rice ’69                                                           Darlene Gessert ’86                                                                         Boyd E. Johnson ‘87

David S. Bennett ’88                                                         Richard Cavanaugh ’72                                                                  William M. Cox ‘71

James & Elizabeth Gagliardi ’80                                    Leonard A. Fasano                                                                           Heather Dorsey ’90

William L. Murphy ’70                                                      John Carvalho ’50                                                                             Dale Wilson

Susan W. Burghardt                                                         Dr. Robert Nicoletti                                                                         Robert F. Parisi ‘53

Dr. Mathew E. Schmitt ’86                                              Robert J. Corazzini ’82                                                                     David Soroko ’70

James T. Lynch ’62                                                            Michael L. Nesti ’76                                                                         Philip Ottochian

Dr. Stephen W. Hoag ‘68                                                 The Haffner Family                                                                          John A. Mattie ‘75

Gene Fontanella ’55                                                         Michael Tyrrell ’93                                                                           John Hrehowsik ’67

Chris J. McLaughlin ’63                                                    Judith A. Inguaggiato                                                                     AJ Namnoum ‘67

Kellyann Mengold ‘96                                                      Maureen Binder ‘69                                                                       Stephen L. Page ‘67

Willian & Linda Smith ‘66                                               David & Jeanne Gessert                                                                John Hrehowsik ’67

Donald L. Curtis ’59                                                          William Murphy ’70                                                                       Ernest J. Bercier ’54

Barry & Sandra O’Brien ’70                                            Maureen L.DiSorbo ’98                                                                 Danny Weed ‘70

Richard “Butch” Barry                                                    Carolyn D. Vanacore ‘48                                                              Carl T. Schmitt ‘78

Robert J. Corazzini ’82                                                     Donald C. Warzocha ’59                                                               Mark Klausner ‘60

Special thanks to the members of the LHHS Hall of Fame Committee who serve throughout the year to select alumni for induction and the always elegant ceremony, this year scheduled for Friday, May 5, 2023 in the Dr. Richard A. Otto Auditorium.

Stephen W. Hoag, 1968, Chairman                                                                  Barry O’Brien, 1970

Michael Nesti, 1976                                                                                             Richard Angelone, 1975    

Lisa Gawlak Deming, 1985                                                                                Heather Dorsey, 1990

Cherlyn Paul Gill, 1979                                                                                       Ronald Piazza, 1969

John Gawlak, 1982                                                                                               Michael Burghardt, 1992

Gregory Myerson, 1986                                                                                      Thomas Brockett ‘95

John Hrehowsik, 1967

The Hall of Fame Committee may be contacted at:   DRSWH@aol.com

SCOTT ANDERSON   (Class of 1993)

Scott Anderson melded his intellectual and physical skills to earn his place as the most dominant defensive back in school football lore.  Starting 32 consecutive games at safety, beginning in his freshman season, Scott recorded 261 tackles in his career (most ever by a defensive back); and 119 solo tackles, an overall defensive school record.  Following the record-setting 1991 football season, Anderson was chosen first team All Housatonic League, All-Area, and All-State. In 1992, he was again selected All Housatonic League and New Haven Register first-team All-State. As one of the top performers on the LHHS outdoor track team in 1991, he captured first place in the high jump.  One of the leading scorers on the 1992 Class M State Champion indoor track team, he was 1st Place in both the 55-meter hurdles and the high jump.  In 1993 he led the Trojans to the State Indoor (Class MM), State Outdoor (Class M), and State Open track championships, placing first in the high jump with a school record leap of 6’6” and in the 55-meter hurdles. Anderson was named 1993 Most Valuable Athlete for these achievements by the New Haven Register.  Scott Anderson was inducted in 2014. 

 

LORIANN ANDREWS  (Class of 1980) 

Annie Andrews is recognized as one of the most complete female athletes in Lyman Hall's first generation of women’s varsity sports.  A three-sport athlete, Andrews excelled in every sport she played, lettering 4-years in field hockey, earning first-team All-Housatonic League recognition in 1977, 1978, and 1979.  As captain in her senior year, Andrews was a first-team All-State selection.  On the softball diamond, Andrews lettered in all four of her years, starting at shortstop for three seasons.  The slick-fielding infielder was an outstanding hitter, leading the way to her selection to the All-Housatonic League first team in 1979 and 1980.Additionally, Andrews was a first-team All-State softball player her senior season. Andrews was one of the finest guards to ever play for our girls' basketball team.  A 3-year starter, Andrews teamed with such great players as Cherlyn Paul, Louise Chrisman, and Joyce Rivers to help notch a 65-4 overall record during that span of time. Loriann Andrews was inducted in 1989.

RICHARD  "Rick"  ANGELONE   (Class of 1975)

Of all the students to ever wear the Lyman Hall colors, no single player in the history of our school had a more significant impact on the school or football program than Rick Angelone.  “Rick” stands alone as the greatest football player in school history.  In a community that was starved for football success of any kind, Rick made everyone stand up and notice in the fall of 1973.  The powerful yet graceful junior halfback was an overnight sensation, averaging over 120 yards per game after five contests before a shoulder injury ended his season.  The community awaited the senior campaign of Rick Angelone and the 1974 Trojans.  It was a magical year for Rick and Coach Ottochian's charges as they ran roughshod over their first nine opponents, averaging 30 points per game and capturing the first Housatonic League Title since 1926, with a record of 10-1.  Angelone averaged over 8 yards every time he touched the ball.  In his Lyman Hall career, Rick carried the ball 265 times, rushing for 2,106 yards, leading the state in scoring in 1974 with 152 points.  He was selected to the All-Housatonic League team and First Team All-State squad in 1974.  Angelone put on a dazzling display of running in the 1974 Nutmeg Bowl before entering Yale University.  A two-year starter at fullback for the Bulldogs in 1977 and 1978, Rick was at his best in the big games, especially "The Game,” against Harvard. Against the Crimson, Rick rushed for a total of 36 times for 168 yards and two touchdowns.  In the history of Lyman Hall football, there have been a handful of outstanding running backs, and Rick Angelone is clearly the most spectacular of them all.  Richard Angelone was inducted in 1991. 

 

RAYANNE ARICO   (Class of 1982)

Rayanne Arico is recognized as one of the finest all-around student-athletes in the history of Lyman Hall High School.  A four-year starter for the volleyball squad, Arico earned first-team All-Housatonic and All-State honors in 1981.  On the basketball court, she established school records for most rebounds in a season with 388 and most rebounds in one game with 31, averaging 16.2 rebounds during the 1980-81 season.   As one of the dominant track performers of her time, Arico led the Trojans in scoring in 1980, 1981, and 1982, captaining the team in 1982.  A four-year band member, Rayanne was a member of the National Honor Society and received the Spirit of Victory Scholar-Athlete Award.   An honor student-athlete at Central Connecticut State University, earning the Medal of Award in 1986, Arico was the leading hitter and blocker for the Blue Devil volleyball team, serving as captain in 1985.  Playing for Central’s NCAA Division II Quarterfinalist basketball team in 1985-86, Arico averaged six rebounds per game.  Rayanne Arico was inducted in 1998.

 

RICHARD BARRY   (Class of 1933) 

Dick Barry was a 3-year letter winner, a 2-year starter for the basketball team, and a key contributor in the string of Housatonic League title teams, ’30-31, ’31-32, ’32-33. On the baseball diamond, the 4-year letter winner and 3-year starter starred at 3rd base and pitcher, serving as captain in 1933. Captaining the 1932 Orangemen football team, the hard-nosed, multi-dimensional Barry was a 4-year starter, earning the acclaim of opponents and the entire student body. He was a member of the track team for three years.  For his many exploits, Dick Barry was named the most outstanding athlete for the class of 1933. An honored veteran of the Merchant Marine from 1941-44, Barry returned home after WWII to begin a 37-year career with Wallingford Steel.  Richard Barry was inducted in 2003.

 

DAVID BARRY   (Class of 1936)

David Barry was one of the premier athletes of the 1930s.  A three-year letterman and the captain of the 1935-36 basketball team, Barry led LHHS into the State Class B Championship game against Branford High School, a contest they lost 29-19.  Barry was the leading scorer for Lyman Hall in both his junior and senior seasons.  In 1934-35, Barry averaged 12.3 points per game, and in 1935-36, he scored 14.1 points per game.   He was a powerful and consistent hitter on the baseball team, lettering three years.  During the 1936 baseball season, Barry's batting average was .360, and he struck out only twice all season.  As the football team's halfback, he led the Orangemen in rushing for two years.  A sure tackler, Barry is remembered as one of his era's best defensive football players.  Earning a total of eight Varsity Letters, Dave Barry symbolized that valued commodity of a true Team Leader.  David Barry was inducted in 1987.

 

JULIE BENNETT WOLLEN (Class of 1990)

A four-year honor student, Julie Bennett established four LHHS swim records while competing in the 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard backstroke, 100-yard freestyle, and 200-yard individual medley.  A two-year track team captain, Julie set the LHHS 3200-meter record, finishing 6th in the Class M State Meet in the 320 and 2nd in the 1600 meters in 1990.  As captain of the 1989 cross country team, Julie set four course records in 1988, including the course marks at North Haven, Shelton, and Lyman Hall’s home course at Wharton Brook State Park, earning All-Housatonic League recognition.  An outstanding educator in the Wallingford Public Schools, Julie was nominated as the Evarts C. Stevens School Teacher of the Year.  Jullie Bennett Wollen was inducted in 2015.

 

DAVID BENNETT    (Class of 1988)

A graduate of the class of 1988, David is recognized as the greatest swimmer in the history of Lyman Hall.  This scholar-athlete so dominates the record book that there is hardly enough space to list all his achievements. A five-time state champion, winning the 200 Individual Medley in ’87 and ’88; the 100 butterfly in ’87 and ’88; and the 400 Freestyle Relay team. All-Housatonic League for four years, David was an All-State selection in 1986, 1987, & 1988. Recruited by 

Division I universities across the country, David accepted a swimming scholarship at the University of Rhode Island, where he holds records in the 100 Butterfly, the 400 Medley Relay, and the 800 Free Style Relay. After graduating in 1993 with a degree in Industrial Engineering, he was his graduating class’s “Man of the Year” while serving as President of URI’s Order of Omega National Honor Society.  David Bennett was inducted in 2011.

 

ERNEST BERCIER  (Class of 1954)

Ernie Bercier is recognized as one of the finest three-sport athletes of the 1950s.  Bercier was a three-year starter, a brilliant third baseman for the Orangemen diamond nine, playing a pivotal role on the 1952 Housatonic League Championship team and captaining the 1954 team. On the basketball court, Bercier became a Lyman Hall legend.  In the 1953 State Championship game against an unbeaten East Haven team, Coach Fred Schipke’s squad faced a 33-26 3rd quarter deficit. With the Payne Whitney gym clock ticking down under ten seconds, Bercier hit a one-handed set shot from some 15 feet away that turned the Lyman Hall faithful and the Town of Wallingford upside down, capturing the 1953 State Title. Bercier scored 271 points the following season, earning first-team All-State and All-Tournament recognition.  Ernie was the Vice President of the Class of 1954.  Ernest Bercier was inducted in 2001.

 

ELIZABETH BIRNEY (Class of 1980)

Liz Birney was Lyman Hall’s top miler in her sophomore year as the Trojans recorded a 9-2 season mark.  During her junior campaign, an 11-1 overall regular season record for LHHS, Liz was a double winner in 6 meets in the mile and 2-mile events.  As a cross country team member in her junior year, she set four different course records, placing 3rd in the New Haven County Championships. Captaining the cross country team as a senior, Liz was selected for All-Housatonic League recognition. She won first place in every race she ran while finishing 3rd in the Housatonic League meet.  Due to her efforts, LHHS was the New Haven County Champions in 1979.  Serving as captain in 1980, Liz recorded an undefeated year in the 1500 meters, capturing a 4th place in the State Class M Sectional meet, earning first-team All-Housatonic League recognition. During her collegiate career at Rhode Island College, Birney ran middle and long-distance events for the track team, running a leg on the record-setting 4x800 meter relay team in 1983.  Elizabeth Birney was inducted in 2014.

 

WILLIAM BUCKLEY   (Class of 1927)

William "Bill" Buckley was a three-year starter for the football team and the left halfback on the undefeated 1926 Housatonic League Champions.  He served as captain of the 1925 squad as a junior.  A three-year starter on the basketball team, Buckley served as captain for legendary coach Langdon Fernald's first team for the 1926-27 seasons, leading the team in scoring.  Buckley was a three-year starter for the baseball team, once hitting for the cycle against Milford High School, hitting .375 in 1927 with four homeruns. Additionally, Bill was the top sprinter on the track team.  Bill Buckley was one of the first outstanding athletes of the Housatonic League.  William Buckley was inducted in 1989.

 

MICHAEL BURGHARDT   (Class of 1992)

Michael Burghardt is recognized as one of his generation's finest student-athletes athletes.  A powerful 4-year starter as a defenseman on the hockey team, he served as Captain of the 1991-92 Trojans, totaling 62 career points and earning 2nd team All-State recognition. A 3-year starter for the football Trojans, Michael was an outside linebacker for the 1991 football Trojans as the LHHS defense limited opponent offenses to 26 points.  He totaled 104 tackles and four interceptions for his career, making 27 receptions for 453 yards and 4 TD’s.  Burghardt was a 3-year baseball starter, completing his career with a .333 batting average, driving in 40 runs while stealing 40 bases, earning lst team All Housatonic League selection in 1991 and 1992 with a senior season when he hit .364, earning 1st team All-State honors. Michael accepted a baseball scholarship to the University of Tampa, where he played for the Spartans. Michael Burghardt was inducted in 2012.

 

GARY BRANDL  (Class of 1969)

Gary Brandl is recognized as one of the finest natural athletes of the 1960s.  As a member of the football and baseball teams from 1967-69, Brandl's versatility and athletic ability made him a key player for each of those teams.  Gary starred as a starter for the football team through his high school career as a receiver, quarterback, and defensive back.  Brandl holds the school record for the longest kickoff return for a touchdown, scoring from 103 yards away.  As a safety on Phil Ottochian's first football team in 1968, Brandl established a state record with a remarkable 16 interceptions.  On the baseball diamond, Brandl established himself as one of the finest catchers in school history, playing a key role on the 1969 State Championship team.  Gary played in a New England All-State baseball game where he doubled off the wall at Fenway Park.   Following graduation, Gary played for Jacksonville University before completing his degree and collegiate athletic career at Southern Connecticut State University, where he played baseball and football.    Gary Brandl was inducted in 1994.

 

THOMAS BROCKETT   (Class 1995)

Thomas Brockett is recognized for a high school career of consistent achievement as a three-sport captain, followed by an unparalleled coaching career of championships and record-setting success.  A three-year starter for the hockey team, Tom was captain and goalie for both the 1993-94 and 1994-95 squads, leading the 94-95 team to the best record in school history (17-3) while leading the Trojans to the Southern Connecticut Conference, Division II championship.  A first-team All-SCC goalie in 1995, he established records for most wins in a season (17), 2.33 goals against average, saves in a season (753); and total saves in a single game (69). Tom recorded a save in the Connecticut State All-Star game after completing his hockey career on the highest of notes.  A three-year starter for the baseball team, he was captain of the 1995 Trojans and played all nine positions his senior year.  On the football field, Tom was a captain of the 1994 Trojans and a two-year starter as a defensive back.  Brockett became the head football coach at Ansonia High School in 2006.  During Brockett’s tenure, his teams have notched a 171-14 record, appearing in 11 state championship games and winning state titles in 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2016.  His 2006, 2007, and 2013 teams were ranked No. 1 in Connecticut.  Thomas Brockett was inducted in 2012.

 

ROBERT “Rusty” BROODER (Class of 1963)

Rusty Brooder is remembered as one of the most outstanding pitchers in the history of our high school.  Rusty lettered three years in basketball and baseball while playing a single year of football. However, it was on the diamond that Rusty placed himself in the Lyman Hall history books.  As a starting pitcher for the Trojans during the 1962 and 1963 seasons, he held a career record of 14 wins and three defeats.  Possessing pinpoint control, Brooder was a master on the mound, improving with each game, earning a berth on the 1963 All-Housatonic League Team.  Pitching for Southern Connecticut State University from 1965-67, Rusty set numerous Owls' records as well as several New England and NCAA Division II records. Among these records are career wins (19), complete games in a season (7), most shutouts in a season (5), most shutouts in a career (10), most strikeouts in a career (170 in 162 innings), fewest runs allowed in a season (2) and a career earned run average (0.25).  For these achievements and more, Rusty was named first-team NCAA All-American.  Following graduation, Brooder was the top selection of the Cleveland Indians. Rusty Brooder was inducted in 1991.

 

ROBERT BUTLER   (Class of 1929) 

Robert Butler was a 4-year starter for all sports, playing dominant roles on the football, basketball, baseball, and track teams.   Butler was the starting right halfback on the undefeated 1926 football team as a sophomore and served as captain of the Orangemen in 1928.  In that season, Butler led the Orangemen in rushing and scoring, throwing three touchdown passes. A key player on the 1927-28 Housatonic League Champion basketball team, Butler excelled on the baseball diamond as an outstanding pitcher and hitter.  In the 1928 season, Butler had four three-hit games, a .408 batting average, and 12 pitching victories in his LHHS baseball career, includingfour4 shutouts.  Butler, an honor student throughout his high school years, served as a class officer each year.    He graduated from Georgetown University with high honors in 1934 and established a dental practice in Wallingford that lasted 40 years.  Dr. Robert Butler was inducted in 1993.

 

KAREN CANAVAN   (Class of 1986)

The premier honor student-athlete, Karen Canavan, stands alone as the most dynamic female student-athlete in the history of Lyman Hall High School, leading the Trojan basketball teams to their greatest era in school history.  An outstanding playmaker with the ability to find her teammates for open shots, Karen was a high school All-American in 1985 and 1986. Canavan established school records for career scoring with 1191 points, career assists with 526, and starting 99 consecutive games.   Leading the Trojans to 42 consecutive wins and State Titles in 1985 and 1986 (and the State Softball Championship in 1986), Canavan was a first-team All-Housatonic League and first-team All-State selection in 1985 and 1986.  The Connecticut Player of the Year and an All-American in 1986, no player ever combined pure leadership with play-making and scoring abilities with the proficiency of Karen. With Lyman Hall ranked the #15 team in the country by USA Today in 1986, Karen was named CIAC Tournament Class L Most Valuable Player. A standout softball player, Canavan was a three-time All-Housatonic and All-State performer, hitting over .500 her senior year and recording 27 stolen bases in 1986.  A starter for the Yale University basketball team, Canavan recorded 208 career assists.  Karen Canavan was inducted in 1998.

 

COLLEEN CANNING  (Class of 1976)

Colleen Canning was one of the first great female athletes at Lyman Hall.  On the softball field, Canning started for four years, earning the reputation as one of the best centerfielders of all-time.   A career .400 hitter, Canning played every position except catcher in her senior campaign while earning first-team All Housatonic League status.  Her play in the state tournament led the Trojans to a berth in the state finals in 1976.  A three-year starter for the field hockey team, Canning was co-captain in 1975.    In basketball, she was one of the players who helped establish the foundation for Coach Nick Economopoulos' powerhouse teams of the 1970s and 80's.  A second team All-league selection and co-captain in 1975-76, she led her team into the semi-finals of the state tournament.  Colleen Canning was inducted in 1997.  

 

JOHN  CARVALHO   (Class of 1950)

John Carvalho is recognized as a classic example of the "student-athlete.”  He was a three-sport athlete, participating in basketball, baseball, and football.  Carvalho was the first quarterback for the Orangemen when football was resumed in 1949 after its elimination from the athletic program in 1938.  John was a 4-letter winner and 3-year starter for the baseball team, captaining the 1950 squad.  It was basketball where John Carvalho truly shined and established himself as one of the finest players of his era.  In his four years of basketball, Lyman Hall, under coach Fred Schipke, had an overall record of 65-19.  Carvalho, along with Hall of Famers Bill Quigley and Gene Combs, captured two Housatonic League Championships in 1948-49, 1949-50, and the State Class B Championship for the 1947-48 season.  In his career, Carvalho scored 568 points.  Among his many other activities, he was Vice President of the Student Council and a 1949 representative to "Boys State.”  John Carvalho will always be remembered for his hard-working style both on and off the playing fields and courts of Lyman Hall High School.  John Carvalho was inducted in 1990.

 

ARTHUR “Bucky” CATAPANO  (Class of 1953)

Bucky” Catapano earned a letter every season for every team he played on while at Lyman Hall.  An outstanding baseball player, this three-year starter was the shortstop of the 1952 Housatonic League Champions. During his senior season, Bucky hit an astounding .385. Due to his prowess on the diamond, New York Yankee scout, Scott Paul Kritchel invited Bucky to a tryout at Yankee Stadium on August 27, 1953.  An end for the football team, 1950-1952, Catapano captained the Orangemen in his senior year, earning honorable mention All-State recognition and Most Athletic for the Class of 1953.  A three-year starter for the basketball team, Catapano served as Captain of the 1952-53 squad of Head Coach Fred Schipke.  During the regular season, Bucky averaged 15.8 points per game, but during the state tournament, he stepped up his play, averaging 18.2 points per game, leading Lyman Hall to the 1953 State Championship.  This performance earned him a unanimous selection to the All-Tournament Team and an honorable mention on the All-State Basketball squad.  In 1953 Arthur Catapano was that key player whose leadership and athletic skills made Lyman Hall the Class B State Champions over the previously unbeaten East Haven High School Yellowjackets at the Payne Whitney Gymnasium, 48-47. Arthur Catapano was inducted in 1994.

 

OCTAVIUS CAVADINI   (Class of 1930)

Octavius Cavadini is recognized as an outstanding athlete of the early 1930s, firmly established as one of the greatest power hitters in the history of Lyman Hall High School. Cavadini was the premier third baseman of the Housatonic League in 1930, belting eight homeruns.  He earned six Varsity Letters during his career, participating in baseball, football, and track. Cavadini was captain of the baseball team, in addition to being an outstanding saxophonist.  A nationally recognized third baseman playing for Georgetown University in the 1930s, Cavadini was named to that institution's Hall of Fame in 1970. Recognized for his contributions to the intelligence community during World War II, he served in leadership roles in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). He was recruited to the CIA after the World War.  Octavius Cavadini was inducted in 1988. Career leader in tackles with 434, including 10 sacks and 27 tackles for lost yardage. Additionally, he led the Trojans in receiving as the tight end for the 1983 Housatonic League Champions.  Justin Toomey, a football player who will always be regarded as both famous and infamous. Justin Toomey was inducted in 2018.

RICHARD CAVANAUGH   (Class of 1972)

Richard Cavanaugh is recognized as one of the finest offensive linemen in Lyman Hall football history, performing as a 3-year starter at guard and linebacker, serving as captain in 1971.  A 3-year letterman and 2-year starter for American International College, Cavanaugh began his coaching career at Lyman Hall in 1978 before assuming the head coaching position at Branford High School, where he led the Hornets to the State Class MM Title game in 1981. Following a stint as offensive coordinator, Rich was named head coach at Southern Connecticut State University, where he served as Head Coach for 29 years.   One of the most successful head coaches in all of Division II football, he is the winningest coach in SCSU history with a record of 170 wins and four trips to the NCAA – Division II Playoffs. He guided 17 of his players to All-American status, including NFL players Joe Andruzzi, Scott Mercereau, and Jacques Cesaire. Rich received the 2013 Wallingford Distinguished Alumni Award from the W.E.F.   Richard Cavanaugh was inducted in 2003.

 

ALBAN CHRISMAN  (Class of 1966)

Alban Chrisman will be remembered as the greatest post player who ever donned a Lyman Hall basketball uniform.  As a three-year starter, Al averaged over 16 points per game for his career and, an average of nearly 20 rebounds per game in his senior year. Chrisman was the captain of the 1964-65 and 1965-66 teams, each of which won the Housatonic League Title.  In both seasons, Al earned All-Housatonic League honors and second-team All-State selection in 1966.  As captain of the 1966 baseball team, the last diamond nine to win the Housatonic League Championship, Al hit .332 his senior year, throwing 11 runners as the Trojan catcher. The most significant aspect of Alban's game was the aggressive leadership style, that brought out the best in those around him.   Al became first team All-American in basketball at Gannon College in Pennsylvania, establishing the Gannon record for scoring with 1,540 points.  He was recognized with the Gannon College’s highest honor, the Medal of Honor for Leadership, Character, and Scholarship.  Dallas Cowboys Head Coach, Tom Landry contacted Alban to try out for the Cowboys following graduation.  Alban Chrisman was inducted in 1987.

 

LOUISE CHRISMAN   (Class of 1980)

Louise Chrisman may very well be the most decorated of all Lyman Hall High School student-athletes.   A standout swimmer in her pre-Lyman Hall days, Louise garnered ten varsity letters in her career, earning All-Housatonic League recognition in volleyball, basketball, and softball. She is the first female LHHS athlete to achieve such recognition and only the second eve be selected All-Housatonic League in three sports.  In volleyball, Chrisman led her team to the State Class M finals in 1979.   On the hardwood, she scored 988 career points, and LHHS captured league titles in 1978, 1979, and 1980.  In 1978, Chrisman was one of the key contributors to Nick Economopoulos’ basketball team that lost in the Finals of the State Tournament.  As an undergraduate at West Point, Louise lettered four years in softball, recording the Cadet’s career batting average at .388.  Louise graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1984, leaving the army in 1989 with the rank of captain.   Louise Chrisman was inducted in 1996.

 

LISA CHUBA   (Class of 1990)

Lisa Chuba is recognized for her pivotal role in the most incredible winning streak of any athletic team in school history.  A 4-year starter for the softball team (1987-1990), Lisa began her tenure as the starting second baseman, earning top defensive honors.  Moving to the catcher position in her junior season, she led the Trojans to back-to-back State Championships in 1989 and 1990 as Lyman Hall won a remarkable 60 consecutive games; four Housatonic League, titles and the No.1 ranking in Connecticut in both 1989 and 1990.  Serving as captain in 1990, Lisa batted clean-up for the Trojans, hitting over .40,0 and did not commit an error as a catcher, an LHHS record. For her efforts, Lisa was selected All-Housatonic League and All-Area in both 1989 & 1990,and  first-team All-State in 1990. A 3-year basketball team member, she captained the 1989-90 Trojans. Lisa Chuba was inducted in 2013.

 

JENNIFER CIARDULLO    (Class of 1989)

A 4-year starter for the softball team, Ciardullo played pivotal roles in four league championship seasons as the Trojans reached the State Finals each year.  As the third baseman during her first year, she tripled in the state final as the Trojans captured the 1986 State Title.  In 1989 as captain and pitcher, Jen led the Trojans to a 24-0 record en route to the State Championship, batting .453 with 22 RBIs and pitching nine shutouts, earning All-State recognition.  Jen was a 2-year starter for the field hockey team, helping the Trojans to their first state tournament appearance in a decade.  She went on to have a standout college softball career at the University of New Haven, where she was a four-year starter.  Jennifer Ciardullo was inducted in 2009.

 

EUGENE  "Gene” COMBS   (Class of 1948)

Gene Combs was one of the genuinely outstanding athletes of the late 1940s.  Although he is remembered and recognized for many superior athletic achievements, Gene Combs will always be synonymous with a moment in Lyman Hall history that will live forever, the 1948 State Basketball Championship.  Combs was a four-year letter winner for Coach Fred Schipke's basketball teams.  He led the Orangemen in scoring in 1946-47 and 1947-48, ending his scholastic career with 597 points.  Combs was selected to the first team All-State Basketball team in addition to being named as the State Tournament's Most Valuable Player in 1948.  Gene was also an accomplished baseball player, earning three letters.  During his entire high school career, Gene never missed a practice or a game in any sport.  Eugene Combs was inducted in 1989.

 

DONALD CURTIS   (Class of 1959)

Don Curtis is recognized as one of the most outstanding scholar-athletes in the history of Lyman Hall High School.  Don lettered three years in football, captaining the 1958 squad along with Jim Bilyak and fellow Hall of Famer Don Warzocha.  A skilled and powerful lineman, Curtis was a First Team All-State Tackle.  "Big Don,” as he was known, served as Captain of the 1958-59 basketball team.  In that year, Lyman Hall recorded a 19-3 record, finishing second to East Haven in the Housatonic League, eventually losing to Plainville in the State Finals. In track, Curtis went undefeated in the shot-put, javelin, and discus in the Housatonic League.  His school record in the discus, established in 1959, has stood for almost 40 years.  Don was the Vice President of the Student Council, editor of the Literary Chronicle, and Sports Editor of the Yearbook.    Add to that the fact that Don Curtis was a high honors student every marking period for four years, earning the distinction of being Class Salutatorian. Don’s professional career included meritorious service as an officer in the United States Navy, followed by international corporate leadership positions with the Hewlett Packard Corporation.  Donald Curtis was inducted in 1988.

 

 

ANTHONY “TJ” DELUCIA  (Class of 1997)

TJ DeLucia is regarded as one of the premier soccer players to have worn the “blue and white.”  TJ was a four-year starter, possessing incredible speed and quickness during an era when the Trojans captured four Housatonic championships, 1993-1996.  In 1996, the Trojans were ranked No.3 in the state. For his efforts, TJ was a first-team selection for the All-Housatonic, All-Conference, and All-Area teams. Serving as point guard, DeLucia led the 1996-97 basketball team to the Housatonic title as the team’s MVP. Following graduation, DeLucia matriculated to the University of Tampa, becoming a starter for the nationally 5th-ranked Spartans, earning second-team All-Conference honors. Transferring to Southern Connecticut State University, DeLucia played a crucial role in the Owl’s 1998 National Championship. Becoming a full-time starter at Southern in 1999, the Owls completed an undefeated season and captured the National Championship once again, as TJ was named MVP of the NCAA Tournament.  Serving as captain for the No.1 ranked SCSU team in 2000, Delucia was selected Northeast-10 Conference Defensive Player of the Year, All-New England, and first-team All-America. From 2001-2007, TJ played for the United States national amateur Soccer team, serving as captain.  Anthony DeLucia was inducted in 2008.

 

CAROL DEMING (Class of 1974) 

Carol Deming paved the way for Trojan women’s athletics with hard work and a commitment to her coaches and teammates.   Deming lettered in field hockey, basketball, and softball all three years at Lyman Hall.  In her senior seasons, she captained the field hockey, basketball, and softball teams, earning the most valuable player recognition in all three.  In 1974, she was named to the first team All Housatonic League softball team, one of the first female athletes to receive this cherished recognition, hitting .469, leading the team in stolen bases and homeruns.   Recognizing her athletic exploits, she was named the Class of 1974’s Most Outstanding Female Athlete. Following graduation, Carol went to Southern Connecticut State University, where she played softball for the Owls.  Carol served as an assistant softball coach at Lyman Hall from 1976-1980. Carol Deming was inducted in 1995.

 

CAROLYN DORSEY VANACORE  (Class of 1948)

Carolyn Dorsey Vanacore graduated from New Haven State Teachers College in 1952. Carolyn began a career teaching physical education, including stints at North Haven High School and middle schools, Amity Junior High School, East Haven Junior High School, and Ansonia Elementary School.  In 1965 she became an assistant professor of women’s physical education at Southern Connecticut State University, assuming the duties of Department Chairperson for Women’s Physical Education in 1977. After completing advanced degrees from Southern, Ms. Vanacore was named the Director of the Division of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation in 1982, a position she held until her retirement in 1989.  Since then, she has been an adjunct health and physical education professional, serving as the SCSU liaison/training director for the school of education-COOP teacher program.  The recipient of numerous awards for community service, she received the 1996 Pathfinders award from the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport. Carolyn Vanacore was inducted in 1999.

 

HEATHER DORSEY (Class of 1990)

Heather Dorsey, was the smoothest, slick-fielding shortstop in LHHS softball history. Lightning fast with quick hands, Heather keyed the great softball teams of the mid-1980s. She was a soccer team member, a three-time All-Housatonic selection 1in 987, ‘88, & ‘89, leading the Trojans to Housy titles in 1987 and 1989 while serving as Captain for the 1989 Class M State Championship team.  On the softball field, Heather was the shortstop and lead-off hitter of four Housatonic Championship teams, ‘87, ‘88, ’89 & ’90.  A career .400 hitter, two-time All-Housatonic League, and All-State selection, Dorsey holds the LHHS single-season record for stolen bases (39). A member of the UMASS softball teams 1from 1991-1995, Heather had a career .310 batting average, serving as captain in 1995, helping UMASS to four appearances in the NCAA tournament.  Heather Dorsey was inducted in 1998.

 

LYNN DORSEY   (Class of 1973)

Lynn Dorsey is one of the foundational student-athletes who established the great mosaic of women’s sports at Lyman Hall High School with the advent of the Title IX amendment in 1972. Lynn participated in swimming, basketball, track, and field hockey. Lynn helped lead Lyman Hall to a share of the first Housatonic title in 1973, leading the team in rebounds. In track, Lynn participated in the javelin, discus, and shotput, setting the school record in the javelin that stood for many years.  Lynn Dorsey was inducted in 2017. 

 

REGAL DORSEY   (Class of 1927)

Regal Dorsey, a four-sport athlete, is best remembered as the dynamic triple-threat quarterback of the 1920s. The consummate leader in the school and classroom, “Rig” was an impact student in all he did.  As the Captain of the 1926 Orangemen, he led Lyman Hall to its only undefeated season 3-0-3.  In the third game of that memorable season, Dorsey dropped-kicked the extra point for a 7-6 win over Stratford. His playmaking abilities are still legendary. As evidence of his leadership skills, Regal Dorsey was elected President of the Student Council for the 1926-27 school year.  Dorsey served as Vice Principal at Lyman Hall during his professional career and is credited for making history and civics a requirement for all students.  Regal Dorsey was inducted in 1984.

 

JOSEPH DUNN (Class of 1944)

Joe Dunn, a fire-balling right-hander, led the Orangemen to back-to-back co-Housatonic League Titles in 1943 and 1944, notching a 12-3 career won-loss record.  In 1944, Dunn established the Housatonic League record for most strikeouts in a season with 81 in 63 innings.   Included in that record-setting season was a 14-strikeout effort against Shelton High School, which still stands as one of the top three strikeout efforts of all time. Following his discharge from the Navy in 1946, Dunn played briefly for the Hartford Chiefs, a minor league affiliate of the Boston Braves.   He requested and was granted a release from the Braves to tryout for the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field in 1946. Earning his Master’s degree from Trinity College in 1957 and his doctorate from the University of Connecticut in 1967, Dunn became the Director of Research at Central Connecticut State University, the post he held until his retirement.  Dr. Dunn was one of the early architects of early childhood education in the United States.  Joseph Dunn was inducted in 1997.
 

NICHOLAS ECONOMOPOULOS 

Beginning a career in education in the fall of 1971 at Lyman Hall, Nicholas Economopoulos is recognized as one of the most successful coaches in the history of the LHHS. Assuming the LHHS head girls basketball coaching reins in 1974, Coach “E” led his teams to 11 Housatonic League Championships in 20 seasons, netting a career record of 321-76 from 1974-1994.  Capturing State Championships in 1984-85 and 1985-86, the Trojans finished the 85-86 season undefeated, ranked No. 1 in the state and No. 15 nationally by USA Today. With a career winning percentage of 76.5%, Nick ranks as one of the winningest coaches in Connecticut girls’ basketball history. Nick served as captain of the Central Connecticut State University baseball team, batting .403 in 1971 while starting at guard for the Blue Devil football team.  Coach Economopoulos also served from 1977-1984 as head baseball coach, compiling a record of 77-86.  Nick Economopoulos was inducted in 2011.

 

LANGDON FERNALD

Langdon Fernald is revered as the father of Lyman Hall High School athletics.  Beginning his teaching career at Lyman Hall in the fall of 1926, Fernald turned our athletic teams into annual and seasonal champions. Coaching all three sports at Lyman Hall, he was best noted for his basketball teams that won Housatonic League Championships in 1927-28, 1928-29, 1929-30, 1930-31, 1931-32, 1932-33, and 1938-39.  Although not winning the Housatonic League title, coach Fernald's 1939-40 Team captured the Class B State Championship with a 48-18 victory over Middletown High School, recording a season record of 20-3. Coach Fernald’s baseball team won the 1943 and 1944 league titles, and his first football squad went undefeated, capturing the Housatonic League championship in 1926. As a former Principal of Lyman Hall (15 years) and the architect of the Connecticut state basketball tournament, still followed today, Langdon Fernald stands immortal in the hearts of students and Wallingford sports fans. Coach Fernald completed his 17 years as Head Basketball Coach with a 212-106 record, including seven Housatonic League Championships.   Langdon Fernald was inducted in 1984.

 

CHARLES FRAUHAM   (Class of 1928)

Charles Frauham distinguished himself as the most outstanding baseball player in the 1920s.  A three-sport athlete, Frauham was the starting center on the 1926 undefeated Housatonic League Championship football team, becoming a halfback the following season.  As a senior, he was Captain of Langdon Fernald's first Housatonic League Champion basketball team. In his senior campaign, Frauham led Lyman Hall's Orangemen in scoring.  That ’28 basketball team, 14-4, lost twice to unbeaten Wilby High School, a team voted as the best in New England and nationally recognized by the New York Times. In baseball, Frauham, known as a power hitter, smashed four career homeruns, five doubles while garnering a .443 batting average and captaining the teams in 1927 & 1928.  Charles Frauham was inducted in 1987. 

 

WILLIAM  "Bull"  GANNON   (Class of 1958)

Bill Gannon was a superb three-sport athlete at Lyman Hall, becoming the central figure of every team on which he played.  "Bull" lettered two years in football, three years in basketball, and three years in baseball. As basketball captain and Dick Grana, Gannon led the Trojans to a 16-3 record in 1957-58.  As a member of John Riccitelli's first baseball team in 1958, Gannon led the Trojans to the Housatonic League Title as the All HouAll-Housatonic shortstop.   As a running back on the football team, Gannon led Lyman Hall to its best season since football was resumed at the school in 1949.  The powerful running of Gannon produced a 3-3 record, including an upset over previously unbeaten East Haven.  Bull Gannon was a second-team All-State halfback in 1957.  William Gannon was inducted in 1986.

 

JOHN GAWLAK  (Class of 1983) 

John Gawlak is recognized as a former student-athlete whose career has been one of humility, consistent achievement, and personal sacrifice on behalf of others.  A 4-year football team member, John was a brilliant blocking fullback in the Trojans I-offense, rushing for 1,043 career yards while starting three years at cornerback, snaring six interceptions. Captain of the 1982 Trojans, he was the Carini Bowl Offensive Player of the Game in 1981. A starter for the baseball team his junior year, he set a then-school record of 5 hits in 5 plate appearances with 8 RBIs while leading the team in stolen bases in 1982. John was the Class of 1983’s Male Athlete of the Year.  As Director of Parks and Recreation, Wallingford Recreation Department, he has led that organization to its most dramatic era of growth and development in the history of Wallingford. John received a 2013 Wallingford Distinguished Alumni Award from the W.E.F.  John Gawlak was inducted in 2013.

 

LISA GAWLAK   (Class of 1985)

Lisa Gawlak is one of the most dominant high school softball players in the history of Connecticut scholastic sports.  An honors student throughout her high school years, Lisa established virtually every Connecticut softball pitching record from 1982 through 1985.  A complete athlete, Gawlak was  four-year letter winner for the volleyball team, serving as captain for the 1984 Trojans.   As a freshman, Gawlak pitched Head Coach, Ron Piazza's Trojans to the school's first State Softball Championship, earning first-team All-State recognition in the process.  When her career was over, Lisa would become the first four-time All-State softball player in Connecticut history.  In addition, Gawlak was a four-time All Housatonic League pitcher, the New Haven Register Athlete of the Week, Connecticut Umpires Association All-Star selection, Connecticut High School Coaches Association All-Star, and a 1985 CIAC Scholar-Athlete.  Lisa's pitching record was incredible, with 69 victories and 17 defeats, ranking her 4th all-time in the national record books for most wins.  Her LHHS career earned run average was 0.88.  Gawlak graduated with honors from Brown University where she was a four-time first-team All-Ivy League selection, winning the Ivy League Rookie of the Year award in 1986.  Lisa holds the Brown University career softball records for earned run average, fewest runs allowed, and fewest walks.  Additionally, Gawlak has the Brown single-season offensive records for most homeruns and runs batted in.   Lisa Gawlak was inducted in 1993.

 

DARLENE GESSERT  (Class of 1986)

Darlene Gessert played one of the most pivotal roles in the rise to state glory of the Lyman Hall High School girls’ basketball team during the 1980s, leading the Trojans to back-to-back State Class L Championships in 1985 and 1986.  An honor student, she pulled down 202 rebounds while scoring 334 points for the 25-2 Housatonic League Champion Trojans.  Tri-captain for the 1985-86 season, she led the Trojans in scoring with an 18.3 points per game average, hitting on 55% of her shots, recorded 83 blocks in that memorable, undefeated season, but in her rebounding she had no equal, pulling down 316 boards for an average of 12.2 rebounds per game.   She was leading scorer in 16 of Lyman Hall’s 26 games, saving her best for the state class L tournament.    For her career, Darlene gathered in 576 rebounds with four games of 17 rebounds each.  In 70 varsity games, she scored 889 points.   For her on-court achievements in 1985-86, Darlene was selected All-Housatonic League, All-New Haven County, and first-team All-State.  Darlene Gessert was inducted in 2016.

 

JOSEPH HAFFNER (Class of 1963)

A three-year starter for the Trojan football team, Joe played every backfield position, serving as Co-Captain of the 1962 squad while earning All-Housatonic League honors in 1961 & 1962. On the baseball diamond, Haffner was a three-year starter and one of the greatest catchers in school history, hitting 338 his junior year and .422 as a senior.   The New York Mets signed him in 1963.  A career .300 plus hitter, Haffner threw out every runner attempting to steal in ’63, being named to the All-Housatonic League team in 1962 and 1963, and was a first-team All-State honoree in 1963.  Joseph Haffner was inducted in 2000.

 

JIM HARTMAN   (Class of 1966)

A graduate of the class of 1966, Jim Hartman is recognized as the most prolific pitcher in the history of Lyman Hall High School, achieving a career record of (23-0) twenty-three victories and no defeats. Jim’s distinctive high kick wind-up and blazing fastball intimidated hitters, leading the Trojans to the 1966 Housatonic League championship.  Achieving a 4-0 record, striking out 27 batters in 20 innings as a sophomore, Hartman notched seven complete-game wins in 1965 with 54 strikeouts.  At the height of his dominant senior season, Jim pitched 12 complete game victories with 141 strikeouts, including 49 consecutive scoreless innings, earning All-Housatonic League First Team recognition.   Hartman pitched 156 innings in his career with a 1.96 earned run average, striking out 222 batters and posting just 48 walks.  Jim Hartman will always be known as the ultimate Lyman Hall “iron man” on the mound. Jim Hartman was inducted in 2019.

 

CINDY HEINZ   (Class of 1982)

A standout 3-sport athlete, Cindy Heinz was a fierce competitor, starting two seasons for the softball team and earning the first team All-State honors as an outfielder.  Heinz served as captain of the 1981 squad, a four-year starter on the field hockey team, and was named its most valuable player. As a four-year stalwart for the basketball team, Cindy played in 68 varsity games, scoring 676 points, averaging nearly ten points per game for her career.  With 387 career rebounds and 240 assists, she ranks as one of the best all-around players in history.  Elected to the first team All-Housatonic League team in 1982, Cindy was named to the Connecticut Shootout and Connecticut Schoolboy Classic teams.  Cindy Heinz was inducted in 2004.

 

KATHLEEN HOAG   (Class of 1998)

Kathleen Hoag is recognized as one of the most outstanding student leaders in the history of Lyman Hall. A four-year President of the Class of 1998, a National Honor Society member, and a polished orator, this fiercely competitive honor student-athlete led the LHHS softball Trojans to the Class LL State Championship in 1998.  A 3-year first team All-Housatonic selection, she was a first-team All-State shortstop in 1997 and a first-team All-Area and All-State catcher in 1998. Recognized by the Rotary and Elks Clubs of Wallingford for her off-the-field leadership, Kathleen was co-captain of the volleyball team that captured the Southern Connecticut Conference Tournament Championship.  Starting every varsity game in her high school career, Kathleen holds the school record for “games started” with 96 as the Trojans won Housatonic League titles in 1997 and 1998. Leading LHHS in that magical 1998 season when the Trojans went 25-1, Kathleen had a .529 batting average, scoring 36 runs and driving in 33 without striking out during the season.  For her career, she batted .466 with 138 hits and 86 RBIs. Matriculating to the University of Notre Dame, “Kas” was a four-year ND monogram winner as the Fighting Irish won four consecutive Big East Championships, 1999-2002. Kathleen was the captain of the Fighting Irish in 2002.  Kathleen Hoag was inducted in 2012. 

 

MAUREEN HOAG   (Class of 1998)

Maureen Hoag is recognized as one of the greatest softball pitchers in the storied history of Lyman Hall.  Possessing pin-point control and an unequaled work ethic, she was a member of the National Honor Society, pitching Lyman Hall to the 1998 State Class LL Championship, leading to the No.1 ranking in Connecticut and No. 2 ranking in New England. Maureen was a 1997 New Haven Register Player of the Week, 1997 All Area and All Housatonic selection, leading the Trojans to the 1997 Housatonic title.  She capped the 1998 season with a 1-0, 12 strikeouts, extra-inning victory over powerhouse Southington High School before a record crowd at Falcon Field. For 1998 Maureen recorded a 25-1 record with 234 strikeouts, only 25 walks, and an 0.89, ERA and “Moe” batted .422, striking out only once.  A first-team All-State pitcher in 1998, Maureen ended her career with a 47-8 won/loss record with 444 strikeouts, 27 walks, 18 shutouts, and a 1.27 ERA.  She holds the school record for most wins in a season with 25 victories and the career record for fewest walks to innings pitched (352 innings/37 walks). She was named 1998 New Haven County Player of the Year.  As a 4-year pitcher for Southern Connecticut State University, Maureen was a 2001 first-team All-Northeast 10 Conference, pitching the Owls to their first conference championship in 2000. Captain of the Owls in 2002, Maureen finished her collegiate career with a 2.08 ERA and 261 strikeouts. As head coach of the Cheshire High School softball team, her teams captured five Housatonic Championships, earning her the New Haven Register Coach of the Year Award in 2008.  Maureen Hoag was inducted in 2012.

 

Dr. STEPHEN W. HOAG   (Class of 1968)

Stephen Hoag is recognized for his unique blend of creativity, intense preparation, and teaching skills utilized in his 22 years as an assistant LHHS football coach, the longest tenure of any assistant coach in any sport in Lyman Hall history.  Serving as defensive coordinator under Phil Ottochian, Coach Hoag crafted the blitzing 4-3 defense of the mid-1980s that played a pivotal role in the 1985 Class M State Championship, establishing state and school numerous records, including most sacks and most tackles behind the line.  Coach Hoag’s 1991 stunt 4-3 defensive unit established a school record, six shutouts while allowing only 26 points in the entire 9-2 season. In 1997 Stephen was named Assistant Coach of the Year by the Connecticut High School Coaches Association.  A 50-year member of the National DECA organization, Dr. Hoag serves as the chairman of  the Wallingford Education Foundation, Inc.  Honored as the top university marketing student in Connecticut while an undergraduate at Central Connecticut State University, Stephen was elected National President of DECA in 1973.  Dr. Hoag has been honored by the State Board of Education, the Urban League of Greater Hartford, Commanders of the Rite-Connecticut Council of Deliberation and is the recipient of the National Olivio Award for his innovation in student CTE assessment. A distinguished author, Dr. Hoag is a nationally recognized speaker.  Stephen Hoag was inducted in 2007. 

 

MELVYN HOROWITZ   (Class of 1961)

The player that will always come to mind when one thinks of those athletic characteristics of "hustle," "savvy," and "total commitment to excellence" in the extreme is Mel Horowitz.  Mel was the spark plug of the basketball teams on which he played.  The backcourt wizard led the 1960-61 Trojans to an 18-4 record, including three State Class M Tournament wins. Ironically, Lyman Hall beat the Housatonic League Champions of that year, Cheshire High School, in the tournament, 52-47, but lost in the finals. In his junior year of 1959-60, Horowitz and All-Stater, Jim Potter led our basketball team to an undefeated regular season and the Housatonic League Title.  In both his junior and senior years, Horowitz was an All-Housatonic selection.  The 1960-61 Housatonic season was brutal, and Mel led the Trojans to many a high-wire conclusion victory.  Only Cheshire High School found an answer for defeating the Trojans as Horowitz made a last-second shot at winning the game, only to have it waved off by a referee.  The 1961 Semi-Final game in the State Class B Tournament is one of the three greatest games in the school’s history.  Lyman Hall faced top-ranked New Canaan, led by All-Stater Gary Liberator, at the Payne Whitney gymnasium at Yale.  The back-and-forth battle, fought before a standing-room crowd of Wallingfordites, went down to the last minute.  The Trojans fell behind 51-50 with 13 seconds remaining.  With the seconds ticking away, down by one, Horowitz attacked down the middle of the floor as the capacity crowd stood and screamed. With Mel looking for any teammate with an open shot, finding none, Horowitz pulled up some 25 feet from the basket and launched his shot.  As the ball split the twines, the throng of Wallingford people exploded into pandemonium.  They knew Mel, as he had many times before, would win the game for them. New Canaan called time out with two seconds remaining, but it would not be enough as the crowd of 1,600 plus flowed onto the court at the buzzer. LHHS had won 52-51. Mobbing Horowitz, the hundreds of Lyman Hall faithful lifted Mel over their heads, tearing at his #24 blue jersey.  He had done it again and led Lyman Hall into the state finals for another battle with Plainville.  The Trojans lost in the finals, but the state’s sportswriters still named Horowitz the state tournament’s Most Valuable Player, totally unprecedented in Connecticut schoolboy lore. Following graduation, Mel went on to a Hall of Fame career at the University of New Haven.  Mel Horowitz, a member of the original New Haven men’s basketball team, led the inaugural squad with 28.6 points per game en route to the Southern Connecticut Small College Conference Championship in 1961-62.  Horowitz finished his career with 937 points in just 42 games for a 22.3 points per game average, a figure that would be much higher had the sharpshooter’s career come after the inception of the three-point line.  A member of the first UNH baseball team, Horowitz’s best season on the diamond was in 1963 when he posted a .388 batting average with 15 runs batted in, 11 stolen bases, and a team-high 21 walks.
Melvyn Horowitz was inducted in 1985.
 

CHARLES INGUAGGIATO   (Class of 1932)

Charles "Inky" Inguaggiato was one of the most dynamic and versatile athletes of all time.  During his four years at Lyman Hall, he started in every game in all four sports, often playing in a baseball game at Doolittle Park on the upper field while simultaneously competing in track meets at the lower field between innings. During one remarkable 20-minute time period in 1932, “Inky” tripled and scored on a wild pitch for the baseball team, then ran to the track meet, won the 100-yard dash, then returned to his baseball defensive position. This dominant athlete was named to the All-Housatonic League team in basketball for the 1931-32 season.  He received a similar honor, earning first-team All Housatonic League recognition in football for the 1931 season.  He was captain of the football and baseball teams during his senior year.   A powerful hitter and pitcher for the Orangemen diamond nine, “Inky” was the leading scorer on the undefeated track team of 1932.  In the 100-yard dash, Inguaggiato was undefeated in 1932 meets. Serving as captain of the 1931 baseball team, Inky hit for a .410 batting average with six doubles, two triples, and three homeruns.  In 1932, he hit .345 with six doubles and a homer.   On the gridiron, "Inky" was a slashing runner, operating out of the quarterback and halfback positions, leading the 1930 and 1931 squads to second-place finishes in the Housatonic League.  In his football career at Lyman Hall, "Inky" scored 62 points. A strong rebounder and consistent scorer on the school's basketball team, he teamed with Fred Schipke to lead Lyman Hall to the Housatonic League Titles in all four years they played for the Orangemen.   Charles Inguaggiato was inducted in 1986.   

 

BOYD JOHNSON (Class of 1987)

Boyd Johnson is one of the few complete athletes in the history of Lyman Hall, capable of excelling in any sport.  A 4-year starter for the basketball team, Boyd led the 1987 Trojans to their first Housatonic League title since 1968. Establishing the school career scoring record with 1,952 points, in addition to his 1,100 rebounds, Boyd was named to the 1986 and 1987 All-State teams.  On the diamond, he hit .468 for the baseball Trojans in 1987, earning All-Housatonic League status.  A standout member of the Quinnipiac University basketball team, he was named 1991 Male Athlete of the Year, scoring 1,582 points in his storied collegiate career.  Boyd was inducted into the Quinnipiac Hall of Fame in 2003. Truly one of the most dynamic student-athletes in the glorious legacy of Lyman Hall basketball, Boyd Johnson takes his place among the best of all time.  Boyd was inducted in 1999.

 

CHARLES KELLY   (Class of 1933)

Charles Kelly, a graduate of the class of 1933, was one of those rare athletes of that time, providing Wallingford sports fans with many memorable performances. Kelly was a three-sport athlete, starring for three Housatonic Championship basketball teams, 1930-31 and 1931-32, the fourth, fifth, and sixth consecutive titles won by the Hallites.  During the 1931-32 season, Kelly averaged 10.2 points per game, increasing that average in his senior year to 13.5. A standout baseball player and captain, while at the same time performing for the track team, Kelly had two or more hits in six consecutive games during the 1932 season and finished with a .410 average.  In 1933, Kelly had three homeruns to go along with a .386 batting average for the Orangemen.   Charles Kelly was inducted in 1997.   

 

MARK  KLAUSNER   (Class of 1960)

Mark Klausner, an outstanding student athlete, was a three-year letterman in basketball, baseball and football.  On baseball team, Klausner was a two-year starter at first base and captain of the 1960 squad, hitting for a .315 batting average with 20 runs batted in for the season.  In basketball team, Klausner was part of two of the greatest basketball teams in school history. The 1958-59 squad went to the finals of the state tournament and the 1959-60 team with Klausner at center and Hall of Famers, Mel Horowitz and Jim Potter in the backcourt, the Blue and White went undefeated in the regular season. As a football player, Klausner was a three-year starter for the Trojans, earning First Team, All-State recognition at the end position following the 1959 season. He was President of his junior class and a member of the National Honor Society. Mark Klausner was inducted in 1990.

 

RICHARD “Ricky” KOCZAK  (Class of 1992)

Rick Koczak is recognized as the most outstanding goalkeeper in the history of Lyman Hall soccer.  Possessing superior quickness, lightning reflexes, and an unsurpassed anticipatory sense, Rick led the Trojans to the 1991 Housatonic League title, a No. 1 state ranking, and a 17-1-1 record.  For his career, Rick was named All-Housatonic League all four years, first team All-State in 1989, 1990, and 1991, and first team Parade All-American in 1991.  Rick's exploits at Southern Connecticut State University became legendary, leading the Owls to three NCAA final fours and the 1995 NCAA National Championship. Rick completed his career with 44 shutouts, a 0.48 goals against average, and a SCSU single-season record of 0.32, accomplished in 1996.  He was named All-New England and All-Northeast in 1994, 1995, and 1996, and the first tAll-Americanican in 1996.  Rick’s performance in 1996 was so dominant that he was selected as the NCAA National Player of the Year.  Rick Koczak was inducted in 2007.

 

HOWARD KUMMER   (Class of 1949)

Howard Kummer is recognized as one of the most fascinating of all student-athletes in the history of Lyman Hall High School.  Ranked in the Top Five in his graduating class, Howard was vital starter on the 1948 State Championship team, known statewide as the “Cinderella 5” for their remarkable string of upset victories over higher-ranked opponents. Lyman Hall’s first two-time All-State basketball player (1948 & 1949), Howard, graduated holding the single-season scoring record with 331 points. Student Council President, Junior Class President, and captain of the 1948-49 basketball team with a 3.9 grade point average.  Howie became a Rabbi and fought for civil rights alongside Martin Luther King. Howard Kummer was inducted in 2010.

 

JOHN LACEY (Class of 1934)

John Lacey was a standout member of the baseball and basketball teams, ranking 4th scholastically in the class of 1934, serving as the Vice President of the class of 1934.  A graduate of Yale University and a World War II veteran, Lacey began a career as an athletic trainer with the All-American Football Conference.  From 1953-56 Lacey was the head football trainer for the University of Maryland under legendary Coach Jim Tatum.  From 1956-1983 Lacey served as the head trainer for the University of North Carolina under Hall of Fame coaches Frank McGuire and Dean Smith.  As the head trainer for the United States Olympic basketball team under Henry Iba in 1964, Lacey became the head trainer for the entire United States Olympic team for the 1972 Munich games.  John was regarded as one of the most outstanding athletic trainers in United States sports history, and the University of North Carolina has dedicated its training facility in his name.  John Lacey was inducted in 2003.

 

AMY LOGAN   (Class of 1988)

Amy appeared in three state championship games, a four-year starter for the softball team, leading the Trojans to the 1986 Class L State title, pitching LHHS to a victory over Platt High School.  The starting first baseman for the Trojans during her freshman campaign, Amy’s final three years as the LHHS pitcher were nothing short of dominant. During ’86, her sophomore year, Logan pitched to an 18-6 won-loss record, earning All-Housatonic League and first-team All-State selection.  In 1987, Amy once again led the Blue & White to the Housatonic League title, notching a 21-3 record with a 0.76 ERA that included three no-hitters, culminating with All-league and All-State recognition.  In her senior campaign, Logan had a 20-1 pitching record, allowing only two earned runs, while throwing nine no-hitters and a perfect game, leading to All-Housatonic League and All-State status.  For her career, Amy achieved a 59-10 pitching record. Amy Logan ranks as one of the greatest pitchers in school history.  Amy Logan was inducted in 2015.

 

JAMES LYNCH   (Class of 1962)

A model of elegance, integrity and class throughout his many years as a student athlete, coach and teacher, James Lynch is beloved as a teacher and coach at Lyman Hall and Wallingford Adult Education. As a student athlete at Lyman Hall, he was a member of the Student Council and served as Class President his junior year.  A three-year member of the baseball team, the third baseman captained the 1962 Trojans to a 12-4 record. For the season Jim hit for a .286 average.  A three-year starter for the football team, he was co-captain of the Blue & White while serving as quarterback, and defensive back.  Mr. Lynch served as a history teacher from 1969-70 to 1983-84. He was an assistant football coach from 1970-1984.  Additionally, he was an assistant baseball coach from 1970-76 and head swim coach from 1969-70.  He will always be the standard for professionalism and dignity in the profession of teaching.     Jim Lynch was inducted in 2015.
 

KENNETH MARHEVKA   (Class of 1959)

Ken Marhevka is one of the most multitalented student athletes of all time, performing brilliantly for the football, baseball and basketball teams.  A standout centerfielder for Coach Riccitelli’s Housatonic League Championship baseball squad of 1958, Ken hit for a .323 average, captained the ‘59 team with Don Warzocha and was a two-year starter for the football team.  Ken was an outstanding point guard for the 1958 and 1959 Trojans.  Facing top-ranked Darien in the 1959 State Tournament, Marhevka led LHHS to an upset victory, scoring 26points, earning a berth in the Class B state finals, earning selection to the 1959 All State Tournament first team.  Ken served as President of the LHHS Student Council in 1958-59, however what may have endeared Ken to the school and Wallingford was his musical leadership in the acclaimed rock-n-roll group, the Silvertones, who recorded a hit record on Billboard Magazine’s Hit Chart. Ken went on to play baseball at UCONN, earning his B.S. degree in marketing.  Ken Marhevka was inducted in 2007.

 

JOHN MATTIE    (Class of 1975)

A graduate of the class of 1975, John Mattie was one of the top students in his class, matching superior academic accomplishments with his incredible athletic attainments.  A three-year starter for the basketball team, John served as co-captain for the 1974-75 season, a year in which he averaged 22 points and 10 rebounds per game.  Named to the All-Housatonic League first team in both 1973-74 and 1974-75, he was selected to play in the New Haven County Tap-Off All-Star game.  When Mattie’s Lyman Hall basketball career had concluded, he had scored more points (1078) than anyone in school history, averaging 18 points per game, becoming only the second LHHS 1,000-point scorer. As a three-year standout for the baseball team, John had seven pitching victories for the Trojans in 1975, earning the team’s Most Valuable Player Award.  The consummate student athlete, he went on to play both basketball and baseball at the University of Hartford, while graduating Summa Cum Laude in 1979.  A partner at Pricewaterhouse Coopers for 39 years as an internationally reknowned accountant, John is an author, college career advisor and an adjunct professor at the University of Saint Joseph.  John Mattie will forever be remembered as the epitome of student athlete achievement.  John Mattie was inducted in 2019.

 

ROGER  McMAHON   (Class of 1940)

Roger McMahon came to Lyman Hall in the fall of 1936 when only basketball and baseball were considered varsity sports and served as the sports editor of the school newspaper. The 1939-40 basketball team led by McMahon and his teammates, earned a birth in the 1940 Class B State Championship Game after losing the Housatonic League title to Stratford High School.  Lyman Hall defeated East Haven 48-18 to win immortal coach, Langdon Fernald's only State Championship.  In 1959, Coach McMahon took over as Head Basketball Coach, beginning one the most successful periods in school history. His first team of 1959-60 went undefeated in the Housatonic League, behind All State guard, Jim Potter, before bowing to East Haven in the quarter finals of the State Tournament, 52-42.  His 1960-61 team, led by All-State guard, Mel Horowitz, gained a birth in the Class M State Championship game against Plainville.  Coach McMahon's teams won back to back Housatonic League Titles in the 1964-65 and 1965-66 seasons. In 14 years as Head Coach, his teams won five league championships, completing his coaching career with a record of 155-119. In 1965, he  was named Connecticut Basketball Coach of the Year. McMahon assumed the position of Athletic Director with the retirement of Fred Schipke.   Roger McMahon was inducted in 1985.

 

KELLYANN MENGOLD   (Class of 1996)

Kelly Ann is recognized as one of the most incredible student-leader-athletes in the history of Lyman Hall.  Ranked 10th in her class and a member of the National Honor Society, Kelly Ann was a 4-year starter for the soccer team, earning All-Housatonic, All-Area and 2nd team All-State honors while captaining the Trojans to the State Class L finals in 1995.  A 4-year standout for the Indoor Track team, the speedy Mengold captained the 1995 squad while earning All-Conference, All-Area and All-State honors.  Kelly Ann was a member of the 4x800 relay team that finished 2nd in England.  Serving as captain of the 1995 & 1996 Outdoor Track teams, she became the school record holder in 100 meters and 300 meter hurdles. Serving as class Vice President, Mengold accepted a soccer scholarship at Syracuse University, where she became a starter, earning the Syracuse “Unsung Hero Award” and numerous university academic awards. Mengold received a 2014 Wallingford Distinguished Alumni Award from the Wallingford Education Foundation. Kellyann Mengold was inducted in 2011.

 

WILLIAM MURPHY   (Class of 1970)

Recognized for his contributions to Lyman Hall athletics and Connecticut high school basketball, Bill was a 3-year starter for the soccer team, captaining the 1969 team that completed regular season undefeated, while going 35-1 during his 3 years.  As captain of the 1970 basketball team, Bill won the prestigious Savitt Sportsmanship Award. Murphy went on to become one of the most heralded basketball officials in Connecticut, selected to officiate in 10 state championship games and 16 league championship games. In 1996, Murphy was named New Haven County Official of the Year, leading to his election as President of Board 10 of Connecticut basketball officials.  In 2007-08, Bill was the No.1 ranked official in New Haven County. William Murphy was inducted in 2009.

 

GREGORY MYERSON   (Class of 1986)

Gregory Myerson is regarded as the finest all around defensive end in the history of Lyman Hall High School.  As tri-captain for the 1985 Housatonic and Class M State Championship team, Greg is honored for his incredible clutch plays that included a game-saving interception, touchdown return against Seymour and playing the entire second half of the state title against Middletown with a separated shoulder. Recording 80 tackles, 17 tackles for lost yards and 10 sacks that season, Greg was a first team All-State defensive end and an All-Housatonic League offensive guard.  For his career, Greg made 184 tackles, 25 tackles for minus yardage with 14 sacks.  A three-year letter winner for the Trojan baseball team, Greg went on to start for two years for the University of Rhode Island football team.  Greg is the most heroic clutch player in the history of Lyman Hall football. Among his many achievements, he is recognized as one of the foremost fisherman/anglers in the world. Honored by the Wallingford Education Foundation, Distinguished Alumni Award, Gregory Myerson was inducted in 2005.

 

EDMOND NEILANDER   (Class of 1989)

Edmond Neilander was the 1988 Housatonic League Champion in the 200 meters event and was named All-State in the 110 meter hurdles. In 1989 he established school records in the 200 meters, 110 meter high hurdles, 300 meter hurdles, running a leg in the 4x100 and 4x400 relays for Lyman Hall, he finished first in four races in the Housatonic League meet.  Neilander established the state record in the Class L meet in the 110 high hurdles and went on to capture the New England Championship in the 110 meter hurdles, setting the school record while winning the New England Championship in the 300 meter hurdles. At Southern Connecticut State University he earned All-American status.  Captaining the Owls in both 1993 and 1994, Neilander established the SCSU record in the 110 high hurdles-400 meter hurdles in 1992 will numerous championships in the hurdle and relay events.  Neilander was a 1992 All-American in the 400 meter hurdles with a SCSU record of 51.90.  A teacher and track coach at LHHS, his track team won both the Housatonic and Class MM State Championships in 2004, earning him New Haven Register Coach of the Year.  Edmond Neilander was inducted in 2014.
 

MICHAEL NESTI   (Class of 1976) 

Mike Nesti is recognized as one of the most dazzling and clutch running backs in school history.  The fleet Nesti possessed the quickest of first steps that allowed him to evade would-be tacklers with amazing consistency.  While the greatest of all-time, Rick Angelone ran to glory with the elegance of the great Nureyev, Nesti possessed the ability to sprint to a near sideline as defenders closed in and with a football version of an en Pair, would plant this up-field foot mere inches from the boundary, shift his weight from outside to inside and whirl seamlessly to open ground, leaving all who would chase in his wake.  A 4-year letter winner and 3-year starter, Nesti was the starting fullback on the 1974 Housatonic League Championship team that registered a 10-1 record.  In 1975, Mike broke the rushing record of Rick Angelone, carrying the ball 181 times for 1,459 yards while averaging 8.61 yards per carry, a school single season record. For his glorious career, Mike carrier the ball 295 times for 1,981 yards, averaging 6.715 yards per carry.  Michael Nesti was inducted in 2004.

 

BARRY O'BRIEN   (Class of 1970)

An honor student throughout his years at Lyman Hall, O'Brien started every varsity football game in his career at linebacker and doubling at center his final two seasons.   Following his senior campaign in which he co-captained the Trojans with fullback, Jim Karl, O'Brien had established the all-time record for tackles in a career with 237.  More importantly, the Trojans 4-4-1 season in 1969 was the most victories for a Lyman Hall team since 1958. Barry was also a record setting member of the Track team that captured the 1970 Housatonic League Championship. Upon graduation, O'Brien began an equally dynamic career at Trinity College. Barry started every varsity game in his Trinity career at linebacker.  As a sophomore he earned player of the week recognition by the ECAC for his play against rival Wesleyan.   Barry earned Trinity's Best Defensive Player Award in both his junior and senior seasons.   As a junior, he was named to the Associated Press All-New England team.   As captain of the 1974 Trinity squad, O'Brien earned recognition as the recipient of the coveted "1935 Award", emblematic of the team's MVP. Barry was honored as a Distinguished Alumni award winner by the Wallingford Education Foundation.  Barry O’Brien was inducted in 1995.

 

ROGER OFFEN   (Class of 1931)

Roger Offen is recognized as one of the first great "basketball heroes" in the illustrious history of Lyman Hall High School.  This outstanding scholar athlete was the pivotal player in Lyman Hall's four consecutive Housatonic League Championships in 1927-28 to 1930-31.  Offen earned ten letters, four in football (all as a starter), three in basketball and three in track.  Offen was one of the first LHHS basketball players to average in double figures in scoring, averaging 11.2 in 1930-31. Following the 1930 football season, Offen was selected as a first team All Housatonic League tackle.  Accepting a football scholarship to Brown University, Offen made an immediate impression on immortal sportswriter, Grantland Rice, who stated, "Roger Offen is a sure-fire All-American choice,” which is exactly what he became.    Roger Offen was inducted in 1988.

 

PHIL OTTOCHIAN

Serving as Head Football Coach for 32 years and 325 varsity games, Coach Ottochian had the longest tenure of any Head Coach in the history of Lyman Hall High School.  Taking over the football program that had won only a hand full of games since the resumption of football in 1949, Coach Ottochian built an outstanding program, capturing the Housatonic League Championship in 1974 with a 10-1 record, the first title for Lyman Hall since 1926.  Winning Housatonic Titles in 1977 (9-1) and 1983 (7-3), Coach Ottochian’s Trojans reached the pinnacle in the 1985 season, as he led the smallest squad in the Ottochian era (24 players) to the Housatonic crown, gaining a berth in the Class M State Championship game against undefeated and nationally ranked, Middletown H.S.  Behind the vaunted V-formation offense and a record-setting defense, the Trojans upset the top ranked, Dragons of Middletown, 28-18 on December 7, 1985.  During his career, Ottochian’s teams recorded 156 wins, 163 losses and 6 ties. As the Director of athletics, he led Lyman Hall to its most successful athletic era in school history.  Phil Ottochian was inducted in 2001.

 

STEPHEN PAGE (Class of 1967)

Steve Page is recognized as one of the most complete baseball players in Lyman Hall history, selected as the first team All Housatonic League 3rd baseman in both 1966 and 1967.  Co-Captaining the 1966 soccer and baseball teams, Steve was honored for character and leadership with the presentation of the Savitt Award for Sportsmanship.  Steve played a significant role on the 1966 Housatonic League Championship baseball team as he did as a defenseman for the undefeated 1966 soccer team.  A 3-year starter for Southern Connecticut State University, Steve captained the 1971 Owls, being named their Most Valuable Player, batting .300 for his career.  Steve served as head coach for the Lyman Hall soccer team from 1979-1986, leading the Trojans to the 1983 Housatonic League title and to the 1983 Class M State Finals.   Page’s professional career spanned over 30 years at Lyman Hall as a physical education teacher, department head and coach.    Stephen Page was inducted in 2003.

 

CHERLYN PAUL  (Class of 1979)

Cherlyn was a three sport standout who earned 11 varsity letters, captaining the LHHS field hockey, basketball and track teams.  As co-captain of the 1978-79 basketball team of Head Coach, Nick Economopoulos, she led the Trojans to the Housatonic League title and a berth in the State Class L Tournament Finals against undefeated Wilbur Cross High School.  During that season in which Lyman Hall notched a 23-1 record, Paul recorded 140 assists and set a school record of 15 assists in a single game.    For her 1978-79 play, she was chosen as a first team All State selection, All-Country, Honorable Mention Converse All-American and a unanimous selection to the first Connecticut Shoot-Out Team.  In track and field, Cherlyn truly showed her athletic prowess as she established a school record for most points scored by a freshman in 1976.  In the same season, she was fourth in the 880 in the State Open.  In Cherlyn's junior track campaign, she went undefeated in the 880 until finishing second in the State Open in 1978.  Paul was a four year starter for the field hockey team, leading her team in scoring in 1977 and 1978.  After earning All Housatonic League first team honors in track, basketball and field hockey, she began an illustrious collegiate career at the University of Tampa.  Cherlyn lettered at Tampa in basketball, soccer and cross country.    Cherlyn was a first team All-Florida collegiate choice in her senior basketball season  after earning second team status in her freshman campaign.  In cross country, she was All Conference in both her junior and senior years.   From 1983-1986 Paul was an assistant women's basketball coach at Quinnipiac College before assuming the Head Coaching reigns in the Fall of 1986 and serving in this capacity until 1989.  Cherlyn Paul was inducted in 1994.

 

CARRIE PERKINS   (Class of 1996) 

A graduate of the class of 1996, Carrie was a three-sport athlete, starring in soccer, basketball, and track. A four-year member of the soccer team, Perkins was an All-Housatonic League and All-Southern Connecticut Conference selection in 1994, earning first-team All-State and All-Area honors in 1995 as she was named The Player of the Year by the Greater New Haven Soccer Association. Perkins was a 4-year basketball team member, a first-team All-Housatonic League choice in 1993-94, and All-Southern Connecticut Conference selection in 1994-95, serving as captain for the 1994-95 Trojans. A dominant performer in track, Carrie served as captain in 1995. Throwing the javelin, Perkins was the state class L champion in 1994 and won the silver medal in the state open. In 1995 she set the school record in the javelin with a throw of 126’6”, winning the Class L State Championship, a 3rd place finish in the state open, and a 10th place finish in the New England Open. Perkins was named to the All-New Haven Register and All-Area teams for her accomplishments. Matriculating to Adelphi University, Perkins was a four-year member of both the women’s soccer and basketball teams. Carrie Perkins was inducted in 2022. 

 

JENNIFER PIAZZA   (Class of 2001)

Jennifer Piazza, one of the more gifted student-athletes of her era, recorded numerous records while playing for the basketball, volleyball, soccer and softball teams.  A four-year starter for the basketball team, earning All-Area recognition in 2000 and 2001, and All-State honors from the New Haven Register, Hartford Courant and Connecticut High School Coaches Association in 2001, she holds school records for points in a season (543), career points (1507), and 3-point field goals (137).  A four-year starter for the softball team, she played a pivotal role on the 1998 State Class LL Championship team, leading the team in hits and extra base hits, driving in 44 runs.  A 4-year all-league and all-area performer, Piazza earned All-State honors in 1999, 2000, and 2001, the 2001 Gatorade Player of the Year honors and the New Haven Register Athlete of the Year in 2001.   Jennifer Piazza was inducted in 2017.

 

RONALD PIAZZA  (Class of 1969)

Ronald Piazza is recognized as one of the legendary coaches in the history of Lyman Hall, serving as head softball coach from 1981-1991.His teams registered a record 237 wins and 39 losses, capturing Housatonic League Championships in 1982, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991.   Appearing in six State Tournament Finals, his Trojan teams won State Championships in 1982, 1986, 1989 and 1990, earning the No. 1 ranking in Connecticut in both 1989 and 1990, while going undefeated in both years.  The 1982 title was the first state championship for a women’s athletic state championship in school history.  In 1987, Piazza was named the New Haven Register Coach of the Year and in 1990 received the Outstanding Career Coach Award by the Connecticut High School Coaches Association.   Piazza, an honor student, was the Trojan first baseman on the 1969 State Championship baseball team, batting .350 in the State Tournament.  Ron Piazza was inducted in 1998.

 

VINCENT POGGIO   (Class of 1986)

Vinnie Poggio stands as one of the most prolific running backs in the history of Lyman Hall football.  Blessed with blazing speed and instinct, this graceful athlete rewrote the Lyman Hall record book. Rushing for 1006 yards in 1984, Vin broke the rushing records of LHHS legends, Angelone and Nesti, rushing for 1653 yards on 255 carries, leading the Trojans to the 1985 Housatonic League and Class M State Championships.  A starting cornerback on defense, Poggio ended his career with a 100-yard rushing day in the state title game against Middletown. For his career Vince rushed for a record 2,722 yards on 433 carries, averaging 6.482 yards per carry. For these achievements in 1985, Vinnie was selected first team All-State and All Housatonic League while being named as a USA Today All-American running back. Vincent Poggio was inducted in 2006.

 

JAMES POTTER   (Class 1960)

James Potter clearly is one of the most outstanding basketball players in the history of Lyman Hall.  From 1957-58 - 1959-60, Potter was a focal point for the basketball-crazy, Town of Wallingford. Jimmy was as smooth a shooter as anyone who ever played the game, deadly from 15-20 feet.  Teaming with Mel Horowitz, they were the greatest backcourt in Connecticut schoolboy history, leading the Trojans to an undefeated season in 1959-60. During that season, Potter averaged 22.5 points per game. Jimmy was an All-State selection in 1959 (leading the Trojans to the State Finals) & in 1960, established the school and Housatonic League scoring records. As classy and elegant off the court as on, Mr. Potter went on to a distinguished teaching career, becoming one of the most effective and popular teachers in school history.  James Potter was inducted in 1991.
 

SUSAN PRANULIS (Class of 1990)

Sue Pranulis, from a school (Lyman Hall) of many historic gifted softball players, maybe of the rarest of talents of all time. A 4-year starter and 3-time first team All-State player in 1988, 1989 and 1990, Sue was the Connecticut Player of the Year in 1990, batting .514 with 33 RBI’s, recording a 22-0 pitching record, with 219 strikeouts, seven no-hitters and a 0.23 ERA, leading the Trojans to the Class L State Championship.  A four-year starter for the Keene State College team, Sue was the 1994 New England Collegiate Conference Player of the Year, Division II 2nd Team All American, registering school records of 46 career wins, 18 shutouts and a 1.49 ERA.   Sue Pranulis was inducted in 2000.

 

COLE  PROCTOR   (Class of 1960)

Cole Proctor is recognized for this long and distinguished career as a high school, college and professional coach and scout. Cole Proctor was a 3-year starter for the football Trojans, 1957-59.  So impressive was he in his senior campaign that he was chosen to play in the prestigious Nutmeg Bowl in 1960.  Proctor began his collegiate career at the University of North Iowa before transferring to Morehead State University in Kentucky.  One of the outstanding players of the Ohio Valley Conference during his career, Proctor was a starting offensive tackle for the Eagles.    He entered the NFL after recording 24 years of coaching that began at Morehead State, followed by 3 seasons at Gardner-Webb and one at Lee-McRae. Proctor went on to spend 3 years as head coach at Keene High School and Chatham Township High School in New Jersey where he was honored as New Jersey Coach of the Year. He returned to Lee-McRae College as head football coach and athletic director from 1976-78. After assistant college coaching stints at East Tennessee State, San Diego State and Utah he returned to Morehead State in 1989 where he was honored as Ohio Valley Conference of the Year in 1990.   He is a scout for the NFL’s Tennessee Titans these past 13 years, after serving as a scout for the Arizona Cardinals for five years. Cole Proctor was inducted in 1992.

 

HEATHER PULLEN   (Class of 1990)

Heather Pullen is recognized as one of the dominant athletes of the early 1990’s.  Selected for the All-Housatonic League team for three years in basketball, Heather averaged 20 points and 20 rebounds per game in her senior year.  In volleyball, the two-time All-Housatonic League selection averaged over ten kills per game.  On softball diamond, Pullen of the most feared power hitters in Connecticut was a three year All Housatonic League pick and a two-year All Stater, leading the Trojans to three consecutive appearances in the state finals, capturing the 1989 State Championship.  During her softball career, the Trojans were a remarkable 68-4. Statistically, Pullen hit safely in 58 of 65 games, with a career .475 batting average, 27 multiple hit games and 26 extra base hits.  An All-American in basketball at Mitchell College, Pullen also led her softball team to the New England Championship in 1991 and 1992.  In 1998 she was inducted into the Mitchell College Athletic Hall of Fame.  Heather Pullen was inducted in 2002.

 

WILLIAM QUIGLEY   (Class of 1948)

Bill Quigley was that special breed of athlete that no championship team can be without.  Bill Quigley was that magnificently blended student athlete whose leadership abilities, strength of character and work ethic are a standard by which all student athletes are measured.  Quigley came to Lyman Hall as a freshman for the 1944-45 school year.  Before he left in the spring of 1948, he was to earn a special place in the hearts of Lyman Hall sports fans.  Bill was a three-year letterman in baseball, captaining the squad his senior year, hitting for a 346 batting average in 1948.  Although Bill played basketball for four years, he will best be remembered as the play maker, the trigger man, of the 1947-48 Class B State Champions.  That team known as the "Cinderella Five," was made up of one freshman, one sophomore, one junior and two seniors.   Additionally, Quigley served as Class President and Student Council Vice President. Following graduation, Billy played collegiate baseball at American International College in Massachusetts.  Bill Quigley has been a highly successful Baseball Coach in Massachusetts since he began his teaching career.  Bill Quigley was inducted in 1985.

 

WILLIAM “Billy” READ  (Class of 1969)

Bill Read was an outstanding three sport student athlete in his days at Lyman Hall, but more than anything else, he will be forever linked to the most improbable State Championship run in the history of high school sports. The 1969 baseball team with a team batting average of .230 won the Class LL State Championship, because of the pitching wizardry and heroic character of Bill Read. In a season marked by Read’s 0.69 earned run average, the Trojans record was 13-5-2 entering the state tournament.   Under the direction of Head Coach, Bob Neubauer, the Trojans proceeded to knock off all ranked teams, Waterford, Southington, West Haven and Naugatuck enroute to the state title as Read hurled 37.3 innings, notching an earned run average of 0.53.  Leading the Trojans in hitting his junior year with a .431 mark, Read’s career pitching statistics include a 17-5 W/L record, 171 strikeouts, a career ERA school record of 0.62 and a 20 strikeout, one-hitter vs. Branford.   Most dramatically, Billy pitched all 25 innings of the longest state tournament baseball finals in Connecticut schoolboy history and won.  Bill Read was inducted in 1996.

 

JOHN RICCITELLI   (Class of 1939)

John Riccitelli is, without question, one of the most dynamic personalities in the history of Lyman Hall High School and the Housatonic League.  As a basketball player, Riccitelli is generally credited with being the first player in the Housatonic League to shed the traditional “two-handed set shot" in favor of the "one-handed push shot", the forerunner of the today's jump shot. A brilliant ball handler and deadly outside shooter with his revolutionary weapon, John led the Orangemen to the Housatonic League Title in 1938-39 and was the league's leading scorer.  Although the flashy Riccitelli excelled on the hard court, it was in baseball that he grew to legendary status. John Riccitelli was the greatest baseball player in the school's history.  The solidly built catcher had the finest arm of any in Connecticut high school baseball in the late 1930's.   In his high school baseball career, Riccitelli hit for a nearly .400 average. He averaged an extra base hit a game in his varsity career and served as captain during the 1939 season.  John Riccitelli was All Housatonic League in both baseball and basketball and captained both teams.  As the head baseball coach at Lyman Hall starting in the 1958 season, Riccitelli's teams were 115-52, including two Housatonic League Championships in 1958 and 1966.  As the Head Coach of the varsity soccer team, he led the Trojans to an undefeated season in 1966.  John was the Athletic Director of Sheehan High School when the school first opened. In 1985, the Sheehan football field was renamed the John Riccitelli Field, a fitting tribute to one of Wallingford's greatest legends.  John Riccitelli was inducted in 1984.

 

JOHN “Ricky” RICCITELLI  (Class of 1972)

Ricky Riccitelli, a prolific scorer for the basketball team, he averaged 18 points per game in his junior year and 26 ppg. in his senior campaign.  A 3-year starter for the baseball team, Riccitelli notched a career .318 batting average. As member of the football Trojans, he graduated with the most career tackles for a defensive back.  Riccitelli was only the second honor student athlete to be award All-Housatonic League status on all three sports.  A 3-year baseball starter for Central Connecticut State University at shortstop, Ricky moved to catcher for his senior year, captaining the 1996 Blue Devils to the ECAC Championship and the NCAA regional finals. He played professional baseball in South Africa, winning two batting titles and an MVP Award. John Riccitelli was inducted in 2009.

 

TIMOTHY RICE   (Class of 1969) 

Tim Rice is recognized as one of the prototypical 3-sport, student athletes in school history.  A standout soccer player, Rice led the Trojans to a 24-3 record during his junior and senior seasons, captaining the team in 1968 as its most valuable player. Starting two years for the basketball team, Rice is arguably the finest shortstop in school history.  Rice was a 3-year baseball starter, earning first team All Housatonic League recognition in 1969.  In that year, Rice played was LHHS’s leading hitter in the Trojan’s drive to the class   LL State Championship.  A high honors student, Rice received the Yale Alumni and the New Haven Register Youth of the Year awards.  Timothy Rice was inducted in 2004.

 

RALPH RILEY   (Class of 1986)

Ralph Riley is recognized as one of the most dynamic athletes of the 1980s, equally noted for outstanding team leadership abilities and record-setting performances.  As a tri-captain for the 1985 Class M State Champion football Trojans, this three-year starter was second on the team with 85 tackles and 14 sacks. On offense, Riley was a consensus All-State tackle and played a significant role at tight end in the Carini Bowl and State Championship game victories.  A four-year letter winner in track, Ralph was the 1985 Housatonic League Champion in the shot, javelin, and discus. In 1986 he won the Class M State Championship in both the discus and javelin.  An honor student, Ralph was a two-year starter for College of the Holy Cross, who captured the Colonial League titles in 1988 and 1989, and the 1989 Lambert Trophy.  Ralph was honored by the Wallingford Education Foundation with the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2018.   Ralph Riley was inducted in 2005.

 

JOYCE RIVERS   (Class of 1978)

Joyce Rivers is regarded as Lyman Hall’s first great female basketball player, leading her Trojan teams to championship levels of achievement.  Rivers was a 4-year starter from 1974-75 through 1977-78.  An accurate shooter and smooth ball handler, Rivers established every scoring record at Lyman Hall. For her career, she held the records for most points in a game (42), most points in a season (469), most points in a career (1,145), most field goals in a game (18), and most field goals in a career (468).  She led the Lyman Hall Girls basketball to their first two Housatonic League Championships for the 1976-77 and 1977-78 seasons.  Rivers was a two-time All-Housatonic League selection.  While captaining the team in her senior year, Rivers was again selected All County and All-State. Rivers was also named to two All-American teams.  Joyce Rivers was inducted in 1989.

 

GAETANO “Guy” RUSSO   (Class of 1986)

A graduate of the class of 1986, Guy Russo is one of the most unique stories in the history of Lyman Hall High School.   With guile, dogged determination, and an unparalleled level of commitment, Guy subjected himself to a grueling daily schedule of weight training, distance running with weights on his back, and intense study.  He led the LHHS defense to the 1985 Housatonic League and State Class M Championships.   A model of consistency and preparation, Russo played his greatest games on the “big stage” with overwhelming performances against Derby, a game in which he recorded seven tackles behind the line of scrimmage; Sheehan, and Middletown.  The leader of the “blitz-o-mania” defensive unit as it came to be known, Guy recorded 141 tackles in 1985, including 36 tackles for lost yardage (161 minus yards).  Russo established the state record for most sacks in a season in 1985 with 20. He played every snap on defense that season as the Trojans defeated nationally ranked Middletown High School 28-18 in the state title game at the University of Connecticut.  Gaetano was a captain of the 1985 baseball team.  Gaetano Russo was inducted in 2016.

 

FREDERICK "Dutch" SCHIPKE   (Class of 1932)

From the fall of 1928 to the spring of 1976, no one person had a more dramatic impact on Lyman Hall High School than Fred Schipke.  Fred Schipke's accomplishments as a scholar-athlete, coach, and athletic director are second to none.  As an Honor Roll student throughout his high school career, Schipke earned 14 Varsity Letters, participating in baseball, basketball, football, and track. As a four-year letter winner in basketball and captain during the 1931-32 season, he was a significant factor in the Orangemen basketball machine of Coach Langdon Fernald that won the Housatonic League Championships in 1928-29, 1929-30, 1930-31, and 1931-32.  After his senior campaign, "Dutch" was selected to the All-Housatonic League Team.  On the baseball diamond, he was an accomplished hitter and defensive player.   In the spring of 1932, Schipke was the Class B State shot-put Champion.  For his achievements, he was awarded a National Athletic Scholarship Award.  Beginning his teaching and coaching career at Lyman Hall in 1943 and finishing his career in 1976 as Athletic Director, Mr. Schipke was the Head Coach of the basketball, baseball, football, and golf teams.  His basketball teams won five Housatonic League Titles and two State Championships.  Both the 1947-48" Cinderella Five" and the 1952-53 State Championship Teams were characteristic of the Schipke style of play.  A great motivator, his teams were often underdogs in the CIAC tournament but always were at their best come tournament time.   Shelton had beaten the Orangemen twice in 1947-48 before losing in the finals to Lyman Hall, 48-38.  East Haven had beaten our boys twice in the 1952-53 regular season and was undefeated going into the finals against the much smaller "Schipkemen."  With the Easties way ahead at the end of three periods, the Orangemen stormed back with great defense.  With four seconds on the clock, Ernie Bercier scored the winning basket for a 48-47 win and the state title.  The most impressive achievement of all is that Schipke led the Trojans to seven consecutive Housatonic League Golf Championships from 1961-1967.  Coach Schipke completed his 16 years as head basketball coach with a career record of 212-95.  Coach Schipke was responsible for reinstating football at Lyman Hall in 1949 after the discontinuation of the sport in 1936.   As athletic director, Coach Schipke is responsible for the initial growth and development of female athletics at Lyman Hall.    He served as the Trojans first girls’ basketball coach.    Fred Schipke was inducted in 1983.

 

KIMBERLY SCHMIDT (Class of 1982)

A graduate of the class of 1982, Kim Schmidt is recognized as one of the premier softball players in school history.  A four-year starter at third base and catcher, Kim was a major contributor to Lyman Hall’s first softball State Championship in 1982, driving in the winning run in the state title game.  A three time All-State and All Housatonic League honoree, Kim completed her Lyman Hall career with a .377 batting average, with 57 extra base hits. A 4-year letter winner for the volleyball team, she earned all-league and all state recognition.  Following graduation, Kim continued her brilliant softball career at the University of New Haven where she was recognized as the first team All-NECC catcher in three seasons while establishing the school record with 14 triples, leading to her entry into the Connecticut Softball Hall of Fame.  Kim was inducted in 2006.

 

CARL SCHMITT   (Class of 1978)

Carl Schmitt, a 3-sport standout at Lyman Hall, was a member of the National Honor Society.  As quarterback and a tri-captain for the football team, he took the Trojans to the 1977 Housatonic League Championship with a 9-1 record, leading his team from behind and throughout close games with last-moment heroics. The MVP of the Carini Bowl in both 1976 and 1977, Schmitt rushed for 1016 yards and threw for over 1000 yards for his career.  The All-Housatonic quarterback was a Connecticut Scholar Athlete in 1977.  On the baseball diamond, Schmitt was equally outstanding as a pitcher and shortstop, earning All-Housatonic and All-State recognition at shortstop while captaining the 1978 team.  In 1978, Schmitt batted .333 for the Trojans with 26 steals, scoring 45 runs and a 4-0 pitching record. While at Springfield College, graduating in 1982, he starred for the baseball team, captaining the 1982 team. Schmitt had a college career pitching record of 14-7 with a 2.95 ERA, earning New England Player of the Week honors.  Carl Schmitt was inducted in 2010.

 

MATHEW SCHMITT   (Class of 1986)

Mathew Schmitt is regarded as one of the finest student athletes in the history of Lyman Hall High School.  A three-year letter winner and Tri-Captain of the 1985 Trojans, Matt played a significant role in the team's ascent to the Housatonic League and Class M State Championships.  As the fullback on offense, Matt's 891 yards rushing on 161 carries established school records for that position.  On defense Matt was an All-Housatonic League selection at strong safety, rolling up 75 tackles, 19.5 for lost yardage and 8.5 sacks.  A three-year letter winner and two-year starter for the baseball team, Matt captained the 1986 Trojans.  Schmitt was a 1985 National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame Scholar Athlete, New Haven Register Player of the Week and Carini Bowl MVP.  A two-year starter for the Merchant Marine Academy, Matt received his VMD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 2001.  Mathew Schmitt was inducted in 2005.

 

AMANDA SIMJIAN   (Class of 1997)

Mandy Simjian is regarded as one of the most outstanding student athletes in Lyman Hall High School history.  A catcher for the softball team, Mandy was a standout hitter coupled with impeccable defensive skills along with a record of consistent performance.  As both and sophomore and junior she batted .397. As 1997 captain, she led the Trojans to the Housatonic Division title while batting .483. Mandy was a first team All-Housatonic League selection in 1996 and 1997 while earning All-State honors in 1997. Additionally, she was named to the All-Area team of the New Haven Register. Matriculating to the University of Connecticut, she was a 4-year starter for the softball team earning UCONN top ten statistical rankings for career doubles and career assists. As captain and third baseman of the 2001 team, she led the Huskies to the 2001 Big East Tournament Championship as she hit for a .321 average with 15 RBI’s and was named a second team All-Big East selection.  A three-time Big East Academic All-Star, Simjian was an Academic All-American in 1999, 2000, and 2001, graduating with Magna Cum Laude honors with a degree in Psychology.  Mandy Simjian was inducted in 2018.

 

DAVID SOROKO  (Class of 1970)

David was the first Division I football player to emerge from the Phil Ottochian coached Trojans. A two-way starter throughout his junior and senior years, Soroko excelled at defensive end and was named a 1969 first team defensive end for the Housatonic League, Honorable mention All-State and selected to participate in the Connecticut Nutmeg Bowl.  As Co-Captain of the basketball team in 1969-70, Soroko led the Trojans in scoring with a 16.3 average, netting over 30 points in three games. Leading the team in rebounding, David pulled down 31 boards in a game against Torrington. Following graduation, David accepted a full scholarship to Boston College under head coach, Joe Yukica, where he lettered for two years, before an injury ended his football career. David embarked upon a storied career that included the U.S. Peace Corps, Director of National Resource Management for the United States Agency of International Development and Director of Focused Stabilization in Iraq, coordinating 1.3 billion dollars to counter insurgency while supporting United States military operations. David received the 2013 Wallingford Distinguished Alumni Award from the Wallingford Education Foundation.  David Soroko was inducted in 2008.

 

FRANCIS STUPAKEVICH   (Class of 1967)

When Fran Stupakevich arrived at the front door of Lyman Hall High School for the start of his high school career in the fall of 1964, it was a turning point for Trojan sports.  Before he was done, he would rewrite the basketball record books and leave with a championship trophy for every sport he played.  Clearly, he was the most spectacular athlete of the 1960's and quite possibly of all time.  Frannie started every game he ever played.   His speed was second to none and made him virtually unstoppable in the open court.  However, the most memorable aspect of his game was his patented two handed jump shot from 25 feet out.  This line drive jump shot, launched with deadly accuracy, propelled Lyman Hall to back to back Housatonic League Championships in 1964-65 and 1965-66.  The two hand jump pass to the low post and the full court bounce pass are just a sampling of his court wizardry. During the 1965-66 season, Stupakevich averaged over 25 points and over 11 assists per game.  Teaming with fellow Hall of Famer, Al Chrisman, they became known as the "400 Twins," referring to each scoring over 400 points that season.  Seeking a third straight league title in 1966-67, Frannie began the season leading the state in scoring, averaging over 34 points per game.  In the first half of the season, he hit for 50 points and 51 points in two games, establishing the school single game record.  A season ending knee injury at the half way point in the campaign ended any hopes of a third basketball title. In terms of basketball, he finished his career with every Lyman Hall scoring record in the book including most points in one half, most points in a game, most points in a season, most foul shots made in a game, most foul shots made in season, highest percentage of foul shots made and most points in a career. As the shortstop and lead-off hitter on the baseball team in 1966, Lyman Hall won the Housatonic League Championship.  After the injury, Fran played golf in his senior year and once again, the squad won the league title.  Finally, Stupakevich captained Lyman Hall's first varsity soccer team along with fellow Hall of Famer, Steve Page.  To no one's surprise, this soccer team went undefeated with Frannie leading the team in scoring. In all, Stupakevich was a part of five Housatonic League Championship Teams.  As the highly successful Head Coach of the LHHS golf team, Stupakevich was the 2005 Connecticut Coach of the Year. Francis Stupakevich was inducted in 1983.

 

PATRICK SULLIVAN   (Class of 1924)

Patrick Sullivan, a strapping young man of notable character and incredible athletic achievements, was Lyman Hall’s first great star athlete, passing away on April 29, 1924, just before he was to graduate with his class.  Sullivan was selected as the captain of the 1922-23 basketball team in his junior year, leading the Orangemen in scoring with 123 points and again in his senior campaign with 135 points.  When his career ended in 1924, Sullivan held the school record for points scored in a career with 342.  A four-year starter for the Orangemen football team, the brawny athletic Sullivan starred at fullback for Coach Langer. Although rushing statistics were not kept at the time, it is known that Sullivan scored 117 points in his career and six of those touchdowns were on runs of 43, 28, 25, 45, 19 and 64 yards.  As a member of the baseball team, Sullivan was an outstanding centerfielder, possessing a rifle arm. Most impressively, Sullivan hit a homerun in 4 consecutive games. A plaque was erected by the class of 1924 on the occasion of Patrick's death.  This plaque has been a permanent fixture at both the South Main Street and Pond Hill Road addresses of Lyman Hall High School for almost 80 years. Patrick Sullivan was inducted in 1990.

 

THOMAS THEIS   (Class of 1966)

The hard running, slashing style of Theis was only exceeded by his incredible speed.  Immediately making an impact for the ‘63 Trojans, Theis, only sophomore, ran back a 95-yard kickoff return and a 72-yard punt return for touchdowns.  A three-year starter for the football Trojans, Theis is Lyman Hall’s first career 1,000-yard rusher, leading the team in rushing in ’64 and ’65.  One of the few football highlights of the ’64 campaign was Tommy’s dazzling performance on Thanksgiving Day, leading the Trojans to the Beanpot Trophy over Cheshire. In 1965, co-captaining the team, starting at linebacker and halfback, Theis was the New Haven Register Player of the Week in the victory over Branford.  Tommy went on to earn runner-up honors for Player of the Week two more times in 1965.  Theis was voted second team All-State halfback AND second team All-State linebacker on defense, leading to his selection to play in the Nutmeg Bowl. In track Theis was the dominant sprinter in the Housatonic League for 3 years, leading the Trojans to the 1965 Housatonic League title, capturing top honors in the 100 and 220 sprints. Theis went on to play football and run track at Southern Connecticut State University.  Thomas Theis was inducted in 2008.

 

JUSTIN TOOMEY  (Class of 1984)

Justin Toomey is recognized as one of the dominant defensive football players in school history. A three-year starter at inside linebacker, he led the Trojans in tackles in 1981(162), 1982 (148), and 1983 (126).  His reputation as a fierce hitter and compelling figure on the field, garnered him first team All-State recognition by the New Haven Register and the Connecticut High School Coaches Association in both 1982 and 1983 in addition to being named All-Housatonic League both years. He was so dominant in the Carini Bowl games that Sheehan did not score an offensive touchdown in 1981, 1982 and 1983.  Justin completed his career as the all-time Lyman Hall career leader in tackles with 434, including 10 sacks and 27 tackles for lost yardage. Additionally, he led the Trojans in receiving as the tight end for the 1983 Housatonic League Champions.  Justin Toomey, a football player who will always be regarded as both famous and infamous. Justin Toomey was inducted in 2018.

 

MICHAEL TYRRELL   (Class of 1993)

Michael Tyrrell is recognized as one of the most dominating linebackers of all time.  A 4-year starter on defense, Tyrrell made teams adjust their entire offense, seeking ways to block this devastating middle linebacker.  Despite the attention of opponents, Tyrrell graduated as the second all-time tackler in school history with 386 tackles, 25 tackles for lost yardage and 12.5 sacks.  Mike and his 1991 defensive unit limited all 11 opponent offenses to 26 points, setting school and league records.   Prolific with the shotput, Mike won individual indoor state championships in 1992 and 1993, finishing 5th in the New England Indoor Championships, while winning 2nd place in the 1993 Class MM State Open, along with a 3rd place in the discus.  He played a vital role in the run of Housatonic League and state championships the track teams from 1991-1993. A passionate leader and teacher, Michael is a distinguished Wallingford teacher, having been honored numerous times, including the prestigious Distinguished Alumni Award of the Wallingford Education Foundation. Michael Tyrrell was inducted in 2011.

 

WALTER VOLLHARDT   (Class of 1927)

Walter Vollhardt was one of the finest athletes of his era, a generation of numerous Hall of Fame honorees.  Earning ten letters (that required that he must start in 75% of all games) during his high school career, Vollhardt was a standout for the baseball, basketball, football and track teams.  He was the starting fullback for our undefeated football team that won the Housatonic League Championship in 1926.  However, it was on the baseball diamond that Vollhardt stood out as one of the great players of the 1920's, knocking out 8 homeruns, in his career while stealing 22 bases.   Starting each of Lyman Hall's baseball games from 1925-27, Vollhardt failed to hit safely in only 3 of 29 games.  Captaining the 1927 Orangemen, Vollhardt collected 29 hits in 41 plate appearances, including 8 doubles.  Walter Vollhardt was inducted in 1992.
 

ROBERTA WACHTELHAUSEN   (Class of 1976)

Roberta Wachtelhausen, a high honors student, was a four-year letter winner for the volleyball team. Roberta led her team to the state's number four ranking in 1975 and captained the squad in 1976.  Performing four seasons for the softball team, she hit a remarkable .470 for her career as an outstanding third baseman.     A four-year letterman on the basketball team, Wachtelhausen literally wrote the Lyman Hall record book for rebounding.  She served as captain of the 1975-76 Trojans and when her hardwood career was complete, she held the school records for most rebounds in a single game, in a season and in a career.  Following graduation, Wachtelhausen began an historic basketball career at the University of Connecticut.  Roberta was inducted into the Connecticut Softball Hall of Fame in 2009. During the 1978-79 season, Roberta established numerous UCONN rebounding records, averaging 13.2 rebounds per game. Bert was honored as a recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from the WEF in 2012.   Roberta Wachtelhausen was inducted in 1992.
 

THOMAS WACHTELHAUSEN   (Class of 1966)

A graduate of the class of 1966, Thomas Wachtelhausen is recognized as the most versatile student-athlete in school history. An honor student, Tom was a three-year starter on the football team as a defensive back, end, and the starting quarterback for the 1965 Trojans, completing 52% of his passes. As a basketball team member during the third golden age of basketball, Wachtelhausen was the preeminent 6th man, backing up every position on the floor as LHHS won back-to-back Housatonic League Championships in 1964-65 and 1965-66. From 1964 to 66, Tom scored in every track meet, captaining the 1966 Trojans. A champion in the 880-yard event, Wachtelhausen broke the LHHS school record in the 880 in the 1966 Housatonic League meet, a record he previously set in 1965. Of his many achievements, Tom was brilliant in lead roles in “Oklahoma” (the first all-student musical in school history), “Annie Get Your Gun,” and “Where’s Charley?” (the first all-student junior high school musical in state history). Wachtelhausen went on to a brilliant career in education, recognized as the 1973 “Most Outstanding Young Educator” for the Wethersfield Public Schools and the 1997 “Teacher of the Year” for Roosevelt Middle School in New Britain. Thomas Wachtelhausen was inducted in 2022.

 

DONALD WARZOCHA   (Class of 1959)

Donald Warzocha was one of the most outstanding student athletes and outstanding school leaders of the 1950's.  Don was a student who truly cared about his school and fellow students.  In all that he did while a student at Lyman Hall there was the signature of a person who placed the school before personal goals and honors.  Don was a three-year letterman in basketball, playing on the 1958-59 team that went to the State Finals.  A three-year letterman on the football team, Warzocha captained the 1959 team.  On the baseball diamond, Warzocha was a splendid hitter who had an outstanding season for the 1958 Housatonic League Champions.  In his senior season of 1959, Warzocha captained the baseball team with fellow Hall of Famer, Ken Marhevka.  He was an Honor Roll student throughout his scholastic career.  Don was the President of the Class of 1959, the Treasurer of the Student Council in his junior year, and Vice President his senior year. After graduation from the University of Connecticut, Don went on to distinguish himself as decorated combat pilot during the Vietnam war.  He holds the all-time United States military record for most air combat missions. Don was honored by the Wallingford Education Foundation with the Distinguished Alumni Award. Donald Warzocha was inducted in 1988.

 

DANIEL WEED  (Class of 1970)

Dan Weed led the Trojans to the Housatonic League Track Title as a captain in 1970 under Head Coach, Charles Farley.  This was the first league track title for Lyman Hall since 1933.   For three consecutive seasons, 1968-70, Weed led the track team in scoring, establishing school records in the long jump (22'6"), 100-yard dash (10.0), triple jump and 220-yard dash. Danny was Phil Ottochian's first star running back, becoming the starting tailback for the Trojans in his only year of football in 1969.  Weed broke the single-season rushing mark of Tom Theis with 851 yards rushing on 153 carries. Danny was named New Haven Register Player of the Week for his four-touchdown performance against Branford.   Weed continued his athletic career at the University of Rhode Island where he played football and track once again.    As a receiver for the Rams, Weed established the URI record for the longest pass reception for a touchdown from scrimmage (95 yards).  He averaged 27.3 yards per pass reception in his career and caught four touchdown passes in a single game against Vermont.    As a freshman, Weed was the Yankee Conference champion in the ddddddd dash and held the Yankee Conference triple jump record (49'11").  Daniel Weed was inducted in 1997.

 

STEVEN WELLS  (Class of 1964)

Steven Wells, a halfback for the football team under Head Coach, Joe Corbett, turned in standout performances during his first year at LHHS.  Wells was a key contributor for John Riccitelli’s baseball squad in 1962 and greatness was predicted for the young man who possessed both power and speed.  Wells spent the 1962-63 school year in the United States Marine Corps, returning to Lyman Hall for his senior campaign.   In that final game of the 1963 season against Cheshire, he established the school single-game rushing record with 138 yards, leading the Trojans to an upset victory.   On the baseball diamond, Wells was a career .344 hitter and a prolific base stealer.   Wells went on to sign a professional baseball contract with the Clevland Indians and later played semi-professional football as a running back with a number of Connecticut teams, including the Meriden Shamrocks and Southington Gems.    Steven Wells was inducted in 1996.
 

ALBERTO ZAPPALA  (Class of 1978)

Al Zappala is considered one of the finest, most venerable student athletes in the history of Lyman Hall High School.  Zappala was a 3- year starter for the Trojan soccer team, playing a pivotal role on the 1977 Housatonic League Championship squad.  Captaining the Trojans during that championship season, Al led the Housatonic League in scoring.  This performance gained him First Team All-State recognition.  On the basketball court, Al was a 3-year starter, captaining the Blue & White during in 1977-78.  On the diamond, Zappala was a 2-year starter, earning All Housatonic League First Team status in 1977 and 1978.  As a senior, Al was honored as a First Team All State player.  At Fairfield University, Al was a 4-year starter for the Stags soccer team, leading them in scoring his freshman year.  A 3-year starter at second base and shortstop, he earned Division I Baseball All-Star recognition in 1980 and 1982.   Zappala played in the 1980 Collegiate All-Star game at Fenway Park.  His outstanding performance led to his being drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 1982 Amateur Draft.  Al Zappala was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Fairfield University in 1994.  Al Zappala was inducted in 1994.