Citizen's News All-Decade edition

8/21/2019 Citizen's News All-Decade edition

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2 Friday, January 29, 2010CITIZEN’S NEWS

Here’s Hoping You Love This Labor of LoveI remember being in middle school, awed by Woodland sports. The Hawks

were really special to me. I wasn’t much of an athlete, but I was already a staunch-

ly avid sports fan, and the way I saw it, the Hawks were just the latest team to add

to my short list of favorites. But I felt a level of connection to Woodland sports that

I didn’t have to the Red Sox or Jets or UConn—I felt like I was a Hawk, even by

watching football games as an eighth grader.

If I could travel back to 2005, to the awestruck freshman I was, an d compare

myself to the position I’m in today, there’s no way I would believe it.

I’m in that position, though, as the person trusted with creating a piece of

history—the All-Decade sports teams at Woodland Regional and Naugatuck high

schools. And I’ve relished every bit of this distinguished role.

I’m a Woodland alum (class of 2009), so I’m definitely more familiar with

the Hawks’ history than Naugatuck’s. But I certainly have my ties to Naugy. My

dad’s entire family was Garnet and Grey, first his parents in the 1950s then he and

his siblings in the ‘70s and ‘80s. I’ve had three cousins graduate from the borough

institution, and I was a Greyhounds fan until my school was built in the Woods.

As knowledgeable as I am about area sports, there’s no way I could have

completed this project with the degree of accuracy it deserves without the invalu-

able help of more than 30 individuals. As I’ve found out, record-keeping isn’t

exactly the best around these parts, and each of the folks I consulted helped fill thegaps in the project. On behalf of all of us at Citizen’s News, thanks so much.

There are a few things I need to clear up before you go leafing through this

section. Obviously, as with any project involving this level of subjectivity, there is

going to be a ton of room for debate about each and every decision I made. I don’t

claim to have done a 100 percent perfect job on this, but I spent every spare

moment I had over the last seven months making sure it was the best it could be,

and I’m sure there are still some athletes I’ve missed.

Unfortunately, we could only fit so much information on these pages, so we

tried to list some of the athletes’ highest accomplishments in their short bios.

Again, I’m sure there are some small bits and pieces I missed, but there were only

so many records available. Hopefully, in the future, the NVL will start keeping some

more organized records of all-league athletes and championships—that might

make this a little easier the next time around.

There are also some decisions I’ve made about the project for which I’ve

received some flak. More than a few people have told me the top 25 lists should

separate males and females. I figured I would kill two birds with one stone and

rank them anyway, so if you’d like to think of it as separate, go ahead and sepa-

rate them.

I’ve had some insist that I do an all-decade cheerleading team; I chose not

to, not out of disrespect to our schools’ spirit squads but because I felt there was

no easy and proper way to choose teams. There’s no denying many cheerleaders

throughout the years would be worthy, from Woodland’s Lindsay Temple to Paige

Christensen and Naugatuck’s Jessica Martins to Jamie Iannotti.

Of course, the other team supporters at both schools deserve recognition as

well. Woodland’s dance team has become one of the best in the state over the last

few years under coach Michele LoRusso, and Naugatuck’s marching band has

always been top-notch under director Robert Kogut.

I don’t want to leave out the wrestling team from the early days of

Woodland, led by Jon Howard and Adam Shortell, nor do I wish to omit Naugy’s

all-state gymnasts, Kassie Merancy and Katrina Orsini. All deserve credit, but I had

to limit our teams to the conventional sports.

So I hope this is something you all enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed put-

ting it together. To be able to write about the athletes who dropped my jaw time

and time again is such a thrill for me, and this takes the cake. Now those guys and

girls, many of whom are men and women today, get to look back at what theywere part of, and it’s been my pleasure to compile it. (By the way, this issue is also

available on our Web site, mycitizensnews.com, so spread the word so our alumni

can check it out online.)

I hope this is something we keep around, too. Maybe we’ll be lucky enough

to have this kept in our high schools’ and communities’ libraries because as cool as

this project is going to be to look at now, it might be even more awesome to look

back in 10, 20, 50 years. I know I’m laminating a copy and framing it in my game

room.

Lastly, I hope the younger boys and girls in Naugatuck, Prospect and Beacon

Falls learn a little from reading about the recent history of our two high schools’

athletics, because in just a few short years, you’ll be able to make your cases to be

listed among the best athletes of next decade.

Enjoy, folks.

B

y K

yl

e Br

ennanCitizen’s News

All-Decade Stat Chat1 Athlete from either school on three different All-Decade teams—Woodland’s

Shane Kingsley

2 Football players—Woodland’s Jeff Jones and Naugatuck’s Matt Gomes—who

have three different starting positions on their schools’ All-Decade football

teams

2 State championships for both schools this decade; Naugatuck boys’ soccer

claimed titles in 2001-02, while Woodland football won rings in 2004-05

3 Naugatuck football players with multiple starting positions on the Hounds’

All-Decade lineup

4 Of Woodland’s top five games of the decade were played on the gridiron

4 All-America selections on the Naugatuck boys’ soccer All-Decade team, the

most of any squad

6 All-New England picks on that unit, also the most among all teams

6 Woodland football players with multiple starting positions on the Hawks’

All-Decade roster

7 1,000-point scorers among the 20 starting basketball players

7 Combined All-State players on Woodland’s 2004 and 2005 football teams

8 Track athletes from either Woodland or Naugatuck who have been All-NewEngland performers this decade

8 Out of 10 Naugatuck Valley League boys’ soccer championships this decade

won by Naugatuck

8 Athletes who were All-NVL selections all four years in the same sport—7 from

Naugy, 1 from Woodland

9 Families at each school with at least two athletes on the All-Decade teams

9 NVL championships won by Woodland this decade; no sport has more than

two titles

1

3 Athletes among Woodland’s top 25 athletes of the decade from Beacon Falls

1

4 Naugatuck athletes on multiple All-Decade teams

1

4 Woodland athletes on multiple All-Decade teams

1

5 Naugatuck athletes yet to graduate who hold starting positions on the All-

Decade teams

1

8 NVL track records held by athletes from either Woodland or Naugatuck

2

0 Woodland athletes still in school who hold starting sports on the All-Decade

squads

3

1 Goals scored by Naugatuck’s Ryan Kinne in 2006, the highest single-season

total ever at either school

3

4 Total All-Decade teams between the two schools

5

1.1 Straight innings pitched by Woodland’s Mark McKay in 2008 without

allowing an earned run

6

0 NVL championships won by Naugatuck this decade, 27 of which came in

track

61 Career wins by Naugatuck’s Alana Wesche, the most by any pitcher at either

school

9

0 Career runs scored by Woodland’s Alice Levinsky, the most by any baseball

or softball player at Woodland

27

0 Total starting positions on the 34 All-Decade teams

.

5

8

3 Career batting average of Naugatuck’s Henry Lee, the highest ever at NHS

64

0 Career point total of Woodland’s Adam Cegelka, the boys’ all-time leading

scorer

1

,0

40 Receiving yards by Naugatuck’s Matt Gomes in 2003, the highest single-

season total of the decade at either school

1

,1

57 Career point total of Woodland’s Jen Valente, the girls’ all-time leading

scorer2

0

0

1 Year of five of Naugatuck’s teams of the decade, the most of any year at

either school

3

,6

0

2 Career rushing yards by Woodland’s Pat Krakowski, the most ever at

WRHS

Table of Contents

Football p

. 4 Soccer p. 5 Basketball p. 6

NHS Top 5 Teams,

Games, Plays p. 7

Naugatuck Top 25

Athletes p. 8

Woodland Top 25

Athletes p. 9

WRHS Top 5 Teams,

Games, Plays p. 10

Cross Country and

Volleyball p. 1

1 Track and Field p. 1

2 Tennis and Golf p. 1

3

Baseball and

Softball p. 1

4

Swimming and

Diving p. 1

5

All-Decade photos from CN and RA archives



CITIZEN’S NEWSFriday, January 29, 2010 3

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Mo-Ments That Made This Decade UnforgettableWhen I was asked for my i nput as my sports editor, Callum Borchers, and our

top notch sportswriter Kyle Brennan were putting the finishing touches on our All-

Decade issue, a flood of memories overwhelmed me. Where has the time gone? It

certainly hasn't felt like all that time has passed. But, yes, it's been more than 13

years since my very first article appeared in the Naugatuck Daily News, back on

Sept. 21, 1996. It was a job that was supposed to last six weeks—‘til the end of the

Naugatuck Junior Football League season.

I must have made a favorable impression because I was soon asked if I could

hang around and cover the Lil' Pal Basketball League. Here I am, in my 14th year,

and I'm still hanging around at a job I have come to love.

So many athletes have touched my life over the years. I still see a lot of those

athletes who have grown up to become prominent members of the community. I

feel so honored to have shared such a special time in their lives. That's why it's so

hard to compile a list of the best of the best. They most certainly were all the best

in my book. Anyone who put on the Garnet and Grey or Black and Gold was the best

of the best to me. So here’s to the best of the best, and I thank you from the bot-

tom of my heart for all the great memories. I have been truly blessed with the best

job on all of God’s earth.

The following is a list of my top five fantastic finishes of the last decade.

G

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s

y Gr

idir

o

n Pe

r

f

o

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m

a

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es

The Naugatuck football team has produced some wild finishes over the last

10 years, including a 2003 barn burner in Torrington that quarterback Darryl White

and company pulled out by a scary, 47-40 margin.

Speaking of scary, nothing can quite compare with the Halloween battle

between Naugatuck and Woodland that same year. The Greyhounds took a slim,

18-14 lead into the final quarter. When the final salvo was fired, Woodland escaped

with a ghoulish, 40-37 victory, as the two teams hung up 45 points in the last 12

minutes of the game.

That would no doubt be the most fantastic finish of the decade, if not for the

last Naugatuck Valley League championship won by the Greyhounds on the grid-

iron. That took place on Thanksgiving Day 2001, when the 8-1 Ansonia Chargers

came to the borough to take on the undefeated Greyhounds in a winner-take-all

scenario. Ansonia held a 7-0 advantage when Larry Bennett tip toed down the

sideline on the opening kickoff of the second half to give Naugatuck new life.

Following a blocked extra point on Ansonia’s last touchdown in the fourth, Matt

Paradisi scored, and first-year head coach Rob Plasky elected to go for the win.

Pablo Couvertier plowed in for the game-winning points in a 14-13 seat grabber.

Naugatuck won the NVL title, and the fans knocked down the fences trying to storm

the field to celebrate with their team.

T

he S

ho

c

k

e

r in T-Tow

nRanked second on the top five list is last year’s Class L state tournament bas-

ketball game between the Naugatuck girls and Torrington. The Red Raiders had

defeated Naugatuck twice in the regular season by a total of 75 points, and there

wasn’t a fan within 20 miles of the Torrington gym that gave Naugatuck a chance.

But the Greyhounds shocked the world and defeated Torrington, coming back from

a halftime deficit in a game that will go down in Naugatuck sports history as the

greatest upset of all time.

A

nd J

ust W

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m

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d Los

t .

.

.

Third is a boys’ basketball game played during the 2001 season. Naugatuck

trailed Seymour by 20 points with a little more than five minutes to play. The NHS

fans crammed into the tight quarters of the Seymour gym were yelling for coach

Kevin Wesche to put in the JV squad. But the Greyhounds of Dave Pires, A.J.

Bonessi and company were not to be denied, as Naugatuck outscored Seymour, 35-

10, for the remainder of the game, pulling off a stunning, 65-60 victory.

T

he Fa

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Next on the list is another Naugatuck-Torrington girls’ classic. The 2002 class

was one of my favorites, led by a group of girls I dubbed the Fabulous Five. They

came in together as freshmen to give coach Keith Raczkowski a final hurrah to a

stellar career. During the Fab Five’s senior season, they went into Torrington unde-

feated, at 11-0, led by Northeastern-bound Michelle Decerbo, Jamie Raczkowski,

Jen Butkus, Nicole Plourde and Lauren Fitzgerald. Torrington got a good home job

from the referees that night, as Naugatuck was called for an uncharacteristic six

traveling violations in the game’s first two minutes. With three minutes to go in

the first period, Naugatuck trailed, 19-1. It looked like the winning streak would be

over, but the Greyhounds somehow pounded out the nails and rallied for a heroic,

76-73 win to stay unbeaten.

N

a

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gy B

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eball G

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s I

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s R

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—3

3 Y

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Last is the Naugatuck baseball team. From 2003-06, it won three NVL cham-

pionships under head coach Tom Deller. Naugatuck baseball is famous for its 64-

game winning streak, from 1970-72. That streak ended in 1972 with an extra-

innings loss to Shelton in the state tournament. Thirty-three years later, in 2005,

Naugatuck got to face Shelton in a state tournament game for the first time since

1972. One thing didn’t change: The game was decided in extra innings. This time,

Naugatuck prevailed, 9-8, thanks to a last-at-bat rally in the eighth. Rob Servidas

turned in a gutsy pitching performance, going six innings, scattering eight hits and

striking out five. Pat Dean came on and got the win in relief, going the last twoinnings, and also delivered the game-winning hit. Naugatuck had been ahead, 6-

2, but trailed, 7-6, going to the bottom of the sixth. Nick DeBeauvernet drove in

Andrew Katrenya with the tying run to send the game to extras. Steve Dobi scored

the game-winning run, ahead of Pat Dean’s hit in the bottom of the eighth.

B

y Ken Mor

seCitizen’s News

Most Bizarre OccurrenceThere was an awful lot of pushing and shoving going on when the

Woodland boys’ basketball team hosted its first-ever state tournament

game in 2005. But the biggest shove of the night belonged to Waterford

head coach Richard Conover, who was led out of the Hawks’ gym in hand-

cuffs. There were a lot of fouls in that game, and Conover got into a heated

argument with a referee. A Beacon Falls state trooper came over to calm

down the irate coach, but Conover was so livid that he pushed the trooper

and was arrested. The Black and Gold won the game and advanced to the

quarterfinals, where the Hawks lost to Fairfield Ludlowe.

Aft

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Woodland Football

Offense

QB J

ared Katchmar ‘05

All-State (2004); All-NVL (2004); NVL Top Senior (2004)

RB Pat Krakow

ski ‘05

Player of the decade

WR/RB Jef

f Jon

e

s ‘06

All-State (2005); All-NVL (2004-05)

WR Shane King

sley ‘06


WR/RB Will Volag

e ‘08

All-State (2006-07); All-NVL (2006-07)

TE Mat

t Dorosh ‘05

All-State (2004); All-NVL (2004)

OL Tim Hut

vagner ‘05

3-year starter; co-captain NVL, Class SS champ (2004)

OL Mark LaFor

tun

e ‘05

All-NVL Honorable Mention (2003-04)

OL Mike Stankus ‘06


OL J

eff Temple ‘06

All-State (2005); All-NVL HM (2004-05)

OL Josh Woodin ‘08


Defense

DE Eric Al

fiere ‘08


DL Eric Brown ‘08

All-State (2006-07); All-NVL (2006-07)

DL Mark LaFor

tun

e ‘05

All-NVL Honorable Mention (2004)

DL Eric Moraniec ‘05

All-NVL (2004)

LB Mat

t Dorosh ‘05

New Haven Register All-Area (2004)

LB Jus

tin Famigl

etti ‘06


LB/DE Mike Stankus ‘06

WRHS record career tackles (200)

DB Anthony Ca

s

setti ‘06


DB J

ef

f Jone

s ‘06

WRHS-record 27 touchdowns (2005)

DB Sh

ane Kingsley ‘06

New Haven Register All-State (2005)

DB Pat Krakowski ‘05


Special Teams

K Brandon Fowler ‘10

All-State (2009); All-NVL (2009); 56 PAT (2007)

P Be

au Larrow ‘05

All-NVL Honorable Mention (2003-04)

KR J

ef

f Jones ‘06

T-7 state history career KR touchdowns (3)

Team of the decade: 2004Undefeated Class SS and NVL champion; No. 6 in final NH Register poll; WRHS

records points (437), shutouts (7); 3 All-State picks; 7 All-NVL picks

Player of the decade: Pat KrakowskiAll-State (2004); NH Register All-Area (2004); All-NVL (2003-04); WRHS records

career touchdowns (66), points (412); only 3-year captain in team history

H

o

no

rab

l

e m

e

nti

on

s: Nick Amaro, Angelo Arena, Eric Battis, Nelson Cruz, Kile Coty, Jack DeBiase,

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Naugatuck Football

Jeff Jones

Darryl White

Jesse Culbertson

Shane Kingsley

Matt Gomes

Mike Stankus

Te

am of the decade: 2001Best record of the decade (10-0 regular s eason, 10-1 overall); NVL champion; last

NHS team to beat Ansonia and qualify for Class LL Tournament; 7 All-NVL picks

Player of the decade: Matt GomesAll-State (2003); New Haven Register All-State (2003); All-NVL (2002-03); 59

receptions, 1,040 yards, 11 touchdowns (2003); New Haven County All-Star (2004)

Offense

QB Darr

yl White ‘04

MSG Player of the Week (2003); All-NVL (2003)

RB Pablo Couver

tier ‘02

All-NVL (2001); 24 rushing touchdowns (2001)

RB Jes

se Culb

er

t

son ‘02

All-NVL (2001)

RB Mat

t Paradisi ‘02

All-NVL (2001)

WR Matt Gomes ‘04


TE Br

yan Crosley ‘01

2-year starter

OL Tom Boisver

t ‘02

All-NVL (2001)

OL Bill Freih

eit ‘02

All-NVL (2001)

OL Jus

tin Kievits ‘02

All-NVL (2001)

OL Dan Mariano ‘10


OL Mike Reho ‘07


Defense

DE/LB Ryan Culbertson ‘07

All-NVL (2005-06); New Haven County All-Star (2006)

DE/LB Chris Davey ‘07

All-State (2006); All-NVL (2006); All-NVL HM (2005)

DL Roger Drown ‘01

All-NVL (1999-2000)

DL Jus

tin Kievits ‘02

New Haven County All-Star (2001)

LB Andrew Katrenya ‘06

All-NVL (2004-05)

LB Mike Parente ‘02

All-NVL (2001)

LB Dom Pucci ‘03

All-NVL (2002)

DB Andrew Corridore ‘07

All-State (2005-06); All-NVL (2006)

DB Gar

y Di

az ‘01

All-NVL (1999-2000); 3-year starter

DB Dave Pire

s ‘01

2-year starter

DB Adam Schul

t

z ‘02

All-NVL (2000)

Special Teams

K Pablo Cou

ver

ti

er ‘02

New Haven County All-Star (2001)

P Matt Gom

es ‘04


KR Mat

t Gome

s ‘04


Ho

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ble m

e

nti

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Woodland Boys’ Soccer Naugatuck Boys’ Soccer

Naugatuck Girls’ SoccerWoodland Girls’ Soccer

Kevin Campofiore ‘07

All-NVL Second Team (2006-07)

Tyler Carlo

s ‘11

All-NVL Second Team (2009)

Rock

y Cellupi ‘04


Egzan D

auti ‘05

One of school’s first outstanding players

Ken Gravelin

e ‘07


Je

s

se Menzi

es ‘09


John M

erriman ‘09

All-NVL (2008)

G Sean Montamb

ault ‘08

Helped team to second-best season (2007)

Jon

athan S

antos ‘08

Helped team to second-best season (2007)

Steve Vaz ‘10


Roman Wright ‘09

Helped team to best season (2008)

Team of the decade: 2008Best record in school history (10-7-1); first team to qualify for NVL tournament

Player of the decade: Jesse MenziesAll-New England (2008); All-State (2007-08); All-NVL (2007-08); school record

for career goals (39) and single-season goals (22 in 2008); NVL Top Senior (2008)

H

o

no

rab

l

e m

e

nti

on

s: James Capriotti, Jay Gentile, Chas Loud, Tom Little, Chris Madormo, James

Mathers, Rene Molina, Jeff Neddermann, Christian Pinho, Matt Sherman, Dan Teixeira

Jesse Menzies

B.J. Kochis

Cecelia Dias

Melissa McGinley

Lui

s Duque ‘07

All-NVL (2005-06); All-State HM (2006)

Ryan Kinne ‘07


B.J. Kochis ‘02

All-America (2001); 29 goals (2001)

Brian Mariano ‘02

All-New England (2001); All-State (2001)

Tiago Mar

tin

s ‘11

All-America (2009); All-New England (2009)

Jami

e Pereira ‘03

All-NVL (2001-02)

Rich Reddington ‘03

All-America (2002); All-New England (2002)

Fabian Rodriguez ‘03

All-NVL (2001-02)

Tony Sendra ‘09

All-New England (2007-08); All-State (2007-08)

Mike Serra ‘05

All-NVL (2003-04)

G Jamie Verab ‘01

All-NVL (1999-2000)

Te

am of the decade: 2001T-most wins of the decade (19-1-1); Class LL state champion; NVL champion

Player of the decade: Ryan KinneAll-America (2006); All-New England (2005-06); All-State (2005-06); All-NVL

(2005-06); NVL Top Senior (2006); NHS-record 31 goals (2006)

Ho

nora

ble m

e

nti

o

ns: Adam Bolton, James Canale, Jon Creem, Nick Duque, Julio Garcia, Manny

Nobre, Dan Reid, Shawn Teixeira, Mike Vanasse

Allison D

ell ‘04

All-State (2003); NVL Top Senior (2003)

Devon Mag

ee ‘01


Meghan Magee ‘05

Senior Bowl (2004); NHS-record 35 career assists

Stacey M

aida ‘08

All-State (2007); Senior Bowl (2007)

Katie M

a

s

sicotte ‘02


Meli

s

s

a McGinley ‘07


G Steph

anie McGinley ‘03

NHS-record 15 shutouts (2002); Senior Bowl (2002)

Holly McGrath ‘03


Kry

stal Pabey ‘01

All-State (2000); All-NVL (1997-2000)

Steph

anie Santo

s ‘11


S

ara Tar

si ‘10

All-NVL (2007-08)

Te

am of the decade: 2002Best record of the decade (17-1); first NVL championship in school history

Player of the decade: Melissa McGinleyAll-State (2005-06); NVL Top Senior (2006); Senior Bowl (2006); All-NVL (2004-

06); NHS-record 57 career goals; NHS-record 23 goals (2006)

Ho

nora

ble m

e

nti

o

ns: Lisa Basile, Christina Bottacari, Corbi Crowther, Chrissie Gillis, Sarah

Magnamo, Melinda Marshall, Stacey Nunes, Kim Reid, Heather Thurston

Alish

a Berr

y ‘08

CGSCA Kelme MVP (2007)

Gina Dell

aRose ‘05


Ceceli

a Dia

s ‘09

All-State (2008); 25 career goals; 27 career assists

Chris

tin

a Dia

s ‘08

All-NVL (2005-06); 29 career assists

Liz Galla ‘08

All-State (2007); 50 career goals; 22 career assists

Mich

elle Jon

e

s ‘05

Captain of 2004 NVL champion

Stephanie N

egaro ‘08

All-NVL (2006-07); 43 career goals

Chris

tin

a Palmerie ‘05

All-State (2002-04); All-NVL (2002-04)

Raven Palm

erie ‘11

All-NVL (2009); CGSCA Kelme MVP (2009)

Courtney Pokora ‘06


G Caitlin With

am ‘06


Team of the decade: 2004Best record in school history (14-3-3); first NVL championship in any sport at WRHS

Player of the decade: Gina DellaRoseAll-State (2002-04); New Haven Register All-Area (2004); All-NVL (2002-04);

WRHS-record 23 goals (2004)

H

o

no

rab

l

e m

e

nti

on

s: Alyssa Caruso, Keri DeBiase, Meghan Graveline, Melanie Jones, Alaina Miele,

Meghan O'Hanlon, Alicia Salvatore, Rachel Spiwak, Chrissy Witham




Woodland Boys’ Basketball Naugatuck Boys’ Basketball

Naugatuck Girls’ BasketballWoodland Girls’ Basketball

G Ad

am Ceg

elka ‘06

WRHS records 640 career points, 61 career 3-pointers

G Shan

e King

sley ‘06

2-year starting point guard; 268 career points; 7 apg

F Colin Bi

s

son ‘07

All-Suburban 2nd Team (2006-07); 543 career points

F Odiri Emadu ‘05

All-State HM (2005); All-NVL 2nd Team (2005)

C Tom Lit

tle ‘05


Team of the decade: 2005Best record in school history (14-9); reached Division III quarterfinal (WRHS best)

Player of the decade: Tom LittleAll-Suburban Second Team (2005); 2-year starting center; third in school history

with 491 career points (12.3 ppg); WRHS-record 320 career rebounds (8 rpg)

H

o

no

rab

l

e m

e

nti

on

s: Tim Damman, Alex Dorosh, Beau Larrow, Tyler Rich, Jason Skibek, Ryan

Slapikas, Mike Stankus, Steve West

Tom Little

Anthony Mariano

Samantha LaCroce

G Alice Levinsk

y ‘06

All-Suburban HM (2006)

G Rebecca Rydzik ‘06

All-Suburban (2006); All-Suburban 2nd Team (2005)

F Heath

er Fram

ski ‘11

All-NVL 2nd Team (2009); All-Suburban (2009)

F Samantha LaCroce ‘08

All-NVL (2008); 1,067 career points

C Jen Valente ‘06


Team of the decade: 2006Best record in school history (1 4-8); 4 players received league honors

Player of the decade: Jen ValenteAll-State (2006); All-NVL (2005-06); NVL Top Senior (2006); WRHS-record 1,157

career points and 716 career rebounds; led NVL with 21.7 ppg and 12.0 rpg (2006)

H

o

no

rab

l

e m

e

nti

on

s: Katie Alfiere, Jessica Badale, Stephanie Kooharian, Jessie Madormo,

Samantha Werner

G Anthony M

ariano ‘09


G John Mariano ‘07

Helped team to 2006 Division II tourney (12-10)

G D

aeshawn McMorrin ‘06

Helped team to 2006 Division II tourney (12-10)

F A

J Bon

e

s

si ‘03

Helped team to 2001 Class LL tourney (10-11)

F D

ave Pires ‘01

Helped team to 2001 Class LL tourney (10-11)

Te

am of the decade: 2006Best record of the decade (12-9); No. 19 seed in Division II tournament

Player of the decade: Anthony MarianoAll-NVL (2009); 1,000-point scorer; led team to 2009 Class L tournament (10-10

regular season, 11-11 overall)

Ho

nora

ble m

e

nti

o

ns: Pablo Couvertier, Stephen Cribb, Pat Dean, Pat Gibson, Spencer Palmer, Rich

Reddington, Andrice Savage

G Brynn Davey ‘00

1,000-point scorer

G Jamie Raczkow

ski ‘02

Helped team to NVL title (2001)

G Jessica Webb

er ‘10

All-NVL (2009); 1,000-point scorer

F Michelle D

ecerbo ‘02


F Gin

a Pirosc

afo ‘04

All-NVL (2003-04); 1,000-point scorer

Te

am of the decade: 2001Best record of the decade (21-2); NVL regular-season and tournament champion

Player of the decade: Michelle DecerboAll-State (2001-02); All-NVL (2001-02); 1,000-point scorer; led team to 2001 NVL

championship

Ho

nora

ble m

e

nti

o

ns: Lisa Basile, Estephania Escobar, Jess Farren, Caitlin Garnish, Holly McGrath,

Julie Piroscafo, Alison Rossi

Michelle Decerbo

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Top 5 Teams

NEW BRITAIN — There was joy on the faces and exultation and, yes, there

was even a hint of disbelief. But when Jon Kochis held aloft the championship

plaque, it signified one thing: that the Naugatuck High School boys’ soccer team

was king of the scholastic soccer world.

Using goals by Julio Garcia, Kochis, and an own goal that resulted off a Brian

Mariano throw-in, the No. 4-seeded Greyhounds claimed a 3-2 victory over sec-

ond-seeded Westhill-Stamford before a raucous crowd of more than 2,000 fans in

the CIAC Class LL tournament final Friday night Willow Brook Park.

Every coach on every team that Naugatuck left in its wake on this CIAC tour-

ney run all echoed the same sentiment: Naugatuck, they said, was the best team

they saw all year. Naugatuck, they added, might be the best team in the state. All

that was left for the Greyhounds was to go out and prove it themselves.

Coach Art Nunes, fresh off an ice-water bath delivered by his players at mid-

field following the game, wasn't quite sure how to answer one of the questions

posed by the media: At the start of the season, did you think you had a state cham-

pionship team?

Nunes hesitated with his answer, but said, "We thought we had the kind of

a team that could at least get here. You have to have talent to get here, and youhave to have some luck to get here."

A lot of talent and a little bit of luck was the championship formula for

Naugatuck. Luck, as Nunes pointed out, first showed itself when Fabian Rodriguez

scored with one second left on the clock in overtime to beat Guilford 2-1 in the

semifinals. Luck may have even reared its handsome head late in the second half

Friday night.

With the game tied, 2-2, Naugatuck scored the championship-winning goal

on what has almost becomes the team trademark: Mariano's 360-degree spinara-

ma throw-ins. With 20 minutes left in the game, Mariano unleashed a throw-in—

he leaves his feet, plants the ball on the ground and does a 360 front flip as he cat-

apults the ball toward the goal—that traveled about 40 yards in the air. Westhill

goalkeeper David Faugno tried to punch the ball out, but it went off his hands and

into the net for what would prove to be the title-clinching goal.

"At halftime, Coach Nunes said that we h ave to get someone to stand in front

of the goalie on one of those throw-ins," Mariano reports.

That's where Mat Jannitto positioned himself. When he leaped to play the

ball, he blocked the vision of the Westhill keeper for just an instant, and the ball

deflected into the net.

"The last time that play was that effective was against Xavier, my sophomore

year," Mariano added, speaking of the game-winning goal that sent Naugatuck to

what was then its deepest trip into tourney play, the semifinals.

So maybe it wasn't luck after all that Naugatuck won its first-ever soccer

state title in its first-ever trip to the finals.

"This is a hard-working, close-knit group," announced Kochis, who scored

his 29th goal of the year in the game, and who was also named the Class LL Most

Valuable Player. "We come out and lay it on the line for each other."

In a game that was frantically-paced for a full 80 minutes, Naugatuck scored

first, just 11 minutes in, when Garcia volleyed a crossing pass from Rodriguez past

Faugno (nine saves), who had a total of 11 shutouts on the season and had allowed

a mere 12 goals in 21 games. In the 18th minute, Westhill (19-1-2) tied it on a head-

er from Edwin Miranda, which came o ff a booming crossing pass from Luis Quiceno.

Naugatuck stopper Rich Reddington also saved a goal when he cleared a ball off

the goal line that had been chipped over the head of keeper Jason Crisp.

Naugatuck (19-1-1) took the lead with 41 seconds left in the half on a Kochis

goal. Denied a break-away when play was stopped on a Westhill penalty at mid-field, Kochis scored seconds later anyway when Kevin Golebieski sprinted down the

left touchline and crossed the ball to Kochis wide open in the middle. He had time

to cut back against the defense and whip a bullet past the keeper.

Westhill, which was outshot, 16-8, scored the game-tying goal, but few in

the stands might have seen it. While a fracas was about to break out involving rival

student cheering sections, the Vikings' Ian Sloss dribbled the ball for more than 60

yards, beating the defense and slinging a shot past Crisp (four saves).

But it was less than one minute later that the Greyhounds responded with

the winning goal on the Mariano throw-in.

As you read it: Nov. 19, 2001

1. 2001 Boys’ Soccer

The decade’s first state championship at NHS; t-most wins of the

decade (19-1-1); 1 All-American, 2 All-New Englanders, 5 All-NVLers

2. 2002 Boys’ Soccer

The decade’s only undefeated NVL and state champion at Naugy

(19-0-1); 1 All-American, 1 All-New Englander, 3 All-NVLers

3. 2001 Football

Naugy’s only NVL football title and best record of the decade (10-1);

last Greyhound squad to beat Ansonia; 7 All-NVL picks

4. 2002 Girls' Soccer

First NVL champion in school history; best record of the decade (17-

1); posted 15 shutouts and allowed 1 goal in 16 regular season games

5. 200

8 Sof

tball

Naugy’s first NVL softball crown since 1981; best record of the

decade (23-4); Class LL finalist; 3 All-NVL picks

Top 5 Games

1. 2001 Boys’ Soccer vs. Wes

thill, Cl

a

s

s LL Final

The Hounds won the first of two straight state titles by a 3-2 score

over Westhill, clinched by Brian Mariano’s flip throw-in goal

2. 2001 Football v

s. An

sonia, Thanksgiving

Naugatuck’s only win over Ansonia this decade, 14-13, clinched by

Pablo Couvertier’s 2-point conversion run in the fourth quarter

3. 2002 Boy

s’ Soccer v

s. N

ew

town, Cl

a

s

s LL Final

Fabian Rodriguez sent the game to overtime with a 30-yard goal

and Rich Reddington clinched a 3-2 win with a header in double OT

4. 200

8 Sof

tb

all v

s. S

eymour, NVL Ch

ampion

ship

The Greyhounds clinched their first NVL title in 27 years when Alana

Wesche stranded two runners with a strikeout to win, 4-3

5. 2

00

2 Girl

s’ S

occer v

s. HC, Sn

apping th

e Stre

ak

Naugy traveled to Oronoke Rd. and ended Holy Cross’ 33-game NVL

winning streak dating to Nov. 1998 with a dominant, 2-0 victory

Top 5 Plays

1. 2001 Mariano’s title-clinching throw-in

A 40-yard, 360-degree front flip throw-in found the net for thegame-winner over Westhill, earning Mariano an ESPY nomination

2. 2001 Couver

tier’s conversion beats Ansonia

After Matt Paradisi’s 66-yard TD pulled the Hounds within one,

Couvertier followed Jesse Culbertson to the end zone for the win

3. 2002 Mariano’s national title-winning dive

Already an All-American his junior year, Mariano’s diving perform-

ance impressed the national judges, earning him the national title

4. 2007 De

an’s perfect game vs. Hol

y Cro

s

s

Striking out 12 of 21 batters, Pat Dean needed just 66 pitches to

wrap up his second no-no in a week in the 2-0 win over the Saders

5. 200

8 Wesche’s s

trikeou

t win

s NVL ti

tle

Wesche stranded two Seymour runners in scoring position by strik-

ing out the final batter of the game to clinch the NVL crown

Naugatuck Wins CIAC Class LL Soccer Crown

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Naugatuck Top 25 Athletes

At the outset of this all-decade project, there was almost nothing

set in stone. There was an enormous amount of research that needed to

be done to properly choose the members of each team and best rank each

of the top lists. There was a least one thing that was a sure bet from the

beginning, though, and that was Naugatuck’s top athlete of the decade:

Brian Mariano.

Mariano’s exploits in Garnet and Grey are stuff of legend: He won 11

Naugatuck Valley League titles in 11 varsity seasons, was a combined six-

time all-NVL selection, a five-time all-state honoree, once an All-New

England pick, twice an All-America honorable mention, twice an All-

America choice, and a national champion, all of which came in soccer and

diving (of course, the latter was his bread and butter). Not bad for a guy

who never planned to set foot on a one-meter springboard.

“I had no intentions of diving in high school,” says Mariano, who

still owns the Class LL diving record and just last year had his State Open

mark bested. “I was a pretty good so ccer player when I was younger, and

I was more into gymnastics, but the two older guys I did gymnastics with

convinced me to try diving. I happened to beat the reigning state cham-pion in my first meet, and it kind of took off from there. I’m just fortunate

that things worked out my way.”

Mariano knew he would pursue soccer at Naugy, aiming to win as

many championships as possible. With him on the roster, the Hounds won

four-straight league titles (1998-2001) and the 2001 Class LL state cham-

pionship. That state title game, a 3-2 win over Westhill, was the stage of

Mariano’s most famous accomplishment—the 360-degree flip throw-in

from 50 yards away, which soared by the goalkeeper and tickled the net

for the game-winning tally … and earned him an ESPY nomination for

play of the year.

“I learned from [my older brother and sister],” Mariano explains.

“It’s a bonus that the throw-in could go 30-40 extra yards. I remember we

were using a newer, lighter ball in the game and my adrenaline was

pumping. Initially, I thought it was h eaded over the goal, so I put my head

down, but then I looked up and saw a lot of traffic near the goal, and

finally the referee signaled a goal. It was unbelievable.”

More than eight years after one of the greatest plays in high school

soccer history, Mariano says people still talk about the flip all the time,

especially at City Hill Middle School, where he is a gym teacher.

“All the time it’s brought up,” he says. “I thought after I got out of

high school, people wouldn’t talk about it so much, but that hasn’t beenthe case. I have my students come up to me all the time and say that they

heard about it and want to see it. They ask why it isn’t on YouTube, and I

1. Brian Mariano ‘02 soccer, diving, track and field

2. Ryan Kinne ‘07soccer

3. Pat Dean ‘07basketball, baseball

4. Alana Wesche ‘09volleyball, softball

5. Ros

a Moriello ‘10cross country, track and field

All-America, 2-time All-New England, 2-

time All-State, 2-time All-NVL; 2006 NVL

Boys’ Soccer Top Senior; scored 31 goals in

2006 (best single-season total in NHS his-

tory)

15. J

a

smin

e Cribb ‘09cross country, track and field

6. Andrew Corridore ‘07football, track and field

7. Kr

ys

tal Pab

ey ‘01soccer, track and field

8. Mat

t Gome

s ‘04football, baseball

9. B.

J. Kochis ‘03soccer, swimming

10. Mohamed Hrezi ‘09cross country, track and field

11. Joe Ardito ‘06football, track and field

12. Rich Reddington ‘03soccer, basketball

13. Michelle Decerbo ‘02cross country, basketball

14. Tori Pisco ‘10soccer, track and field

Combined 1-time All-New England, 2-time All-

State, 5-time All-NVL; 2008 state HJ champion


State, 5-time All-NVL; owns 2 track NVL records

Combined 1-time All-State, 4-time All-NVL;

2004 New Haven Register All-State football

Combined 1-time All-America, 1-time All-New

England, 2-time All-State, 2-time All-NVL


State, 6-time All-NVL; 2008 Class L XC champion


State, 3-time All-NVL; owns NVL indoor LJ record

All-America, All-New England, All-State, 2-time All-NVL; led soccer team to 2 state titles

2-time All-State, 2-time All-NVL; 1,000-point

scorer; led basketball team to 2001 NVL title


State, 6-time All-NVL; owns 2 track NVL records

25. Sarah Thomas ‘08swimming

16. Melissa McGinley ‘07soccer

17. Josh Perry ‘07cross country, track and field

18. Gary Diaz ‘01football, baseball

19. Tiago Mar

tins ‘11soccer

20. Tony Sendra ‘09soccer

21. Gin

a Piroscafo ‘04basketball

22. Jon Kunce

s ‘02swimming

23. Ryan Culber

tson ‘07football, track and field

24. Darr

yl White ‘04football, baseball

2-time All-State, 4-time All-NVL; 2nd place in

butterfly at 2006 Class L meet

2-time All-State, 3-time All-NVL; 2006 NVL Girls’

Soccer Top Senior; NHS-record 57 career goals

Combined 1-time All-New England, 1-time All-State, 3-time All-NVL; 2007 state 600m champ

2-time All-State, 2-time All-NVL; led baseball

team to 2000 NVL title; .483 career average

All-America, All-New England, All-State, 2-

time All-NVL; led team to 2009 NVL title

2-time All-New England, 2-time All-State, 2-

time All-NVL; led team to 2008 NVL title

2-time All-NVL; 1,000-point scorer; led team

to 2003 Class LL semifinals

3-time All-State, 3-time All-NVL; led team to3-straight NVL titles (2000-02)

combined 4-time All-NVL; helped track to

indoor and outdoor NVL titles (2006-07)

All-NVL; MSG Football Player of the Week

selection (2003)

2-time All-State, 2-time All-NVL; career 29-

8 record, 2.00 ERA, 268 strikeouts, 2 no-

hitters; threw a perfect game against Holy

Cross in 2007; led team to 2006 NVL cham-

pionship


2008-09 New Haven Register All-Area and

All-State softball; threw back-to-back no-

hitters in 2008; 61 career wins (most in NHS

history)

Combined 4-time All-State, 9-time All-

NVL; 2008 Class L cross country champion;

6 NVL championship meet awards; top 3 in

3 indoor nationals races; top 10 at New

England cross country meet (2008-09)

Combined 1-time All-New England, 2-time All-State, 5-time All-NVL; 2001 NE javelin champion

See M

ARI

ANO, page 16



Woodland Top 25 Athletes


Gina DellaRose isn’t a particularly imposing person: She’s barelyfive feet tall, has flowing brown hair and wide brown eyes, and is one of

the sweetest-spoken girls you could ever meet. But don’t let her diminu-

tive stature and charm fool you—she’s the best darn athlete to ever come

out of Woodland Regional High School.

Take a minute to peruse all of DellaRose’s accomplishments at

Woodland: She was the school’s first all-state athlete, was named to a

combined seven all-NVL teams and six all-state teams (which is the high-

est combined total in school history), still owns six track school records, is

still the only girls’ soccer player to achieve New Haven Register All-Area

honors, shares the school’s single-season goal-scoring record (23 in

2004), and is one of only three athletes to have her name on three differ-

ent banners in the Woodland gym.

Despite all these accolades, however, DellaRose maintains her indi-

vidual accomplishments are not at the top of her list of favorite memories

from her years as a Hawk.

“I think it’s cool that people think of me when they think of the top

athletes,” she says, “But it’s not a big deal to me that I’m up there. I’mreally honored for it, but seeing those banners reminds me not of individ-

ual stuff, but of how much I loved the teams I was on.”

The fifth-year senior at Southern Connecticut State University has

plenty of memories from the Woods, none better than her soccer seniornight against Torrington at Hotchkiss Park in Prospect.

“It was overall a great game,” DellaRose says. “I had to have at

least three goals. I actually committed to Southern after that game. But

that wasn’t why it was so great. Th ose girls were my best friends, and that

was the field I had trained on my whole life. I started and ended there.”

Ended there? In one sense, yes, but in another, DellaRose was just

beginning. She’s had the most successful college career of any Woodland

alum, named the Northeast-10 Conference Freshman of the Year in 2005,

twice selected to the all-NE-10 team, twice named to the NEWISA All-New

England team, and this year selected to the NCSAA All-America East

Region Third Team. She was also a two-year captain and ranks eighth in

Owls history in three different statistical categories.

DellaRose isn’t done, though. When her soccer career ended last

fall, she migrated to the Southern track team to relive the greatness she

once earned at Woodland.

“It’s bringing back a lot of high school memories,” DellaRose says.

“Track has been out of my life for so long, so I’ve been thinking aboutwhat we used to do at Woodland. I love running, and I figured I would be

running by myself. I think it’s kinda cool to look back and see that I did

1. Gina DellaRose ‘05 soccer, track and field

2. Shane Kingsley ‘06football, basketball, baseball

3. Eric Alfiere ‘08football, track and field

4. Liz Galla ‘08soccer, track and field

5. Pat Krakowski ‘05football, track and field


2005 New Haven Register All-State foot-

ball; top 4 in 6 baseball stats; hit over .420

both junior and senior years; top 2 in 6

football stats; won 2 state football titles

15. Will Volage ‘08football

6. Brandon Fowler ‘10football, track and field

7. Je

sse Menzi

es ‘09soccer, track and field

8. Jef

f Jones ‘06football, track and field

9. Jared Katchmar ‘05football

10. Ken Graveline ‘07soccer, baseball

11. Jen Valente ‘06volleyball, basketball

12. Alice Levin

sky ‘06basketball, softball

13. Nicole Jon

e

s ‘07volleyball, track and field

14. S

amantha LaCroce ‘08volleyball, basketball

2-time All-State, 2-time All-NVL; 2007 New

Haven Register All-State football


owns 9 track school records

All-State, 2-time All-NVL; owns 2 track school

records; led football to 2 state titles

All-State and All-NVL; 2004 NVL Football Top

Senior; led football to first state title

2-time All-State, 3-time All-NVL; owns almost

all baseball school records

All-State, 2-time All-NVL; 2006 NVL Girls’

Basketball Top Senior; WRHS all-time top scorer

3-time All-State, 3-time All-NVL; WRHSrecords for career average (.442), runs (90)

All-State; 2007 Class S 55-meter hurdles cham-

pion; owns 7 track school records

combined 3-time All-NVL; second leading

scorer in WRHS basketball history

25. Greg Cerrato ‘06swimming

16. H

eather Chucta ‘09diving, track and field

17. Christina Palmerie ‘05soccer, basketball, softball

18. Cour

tn

ey Pokora ‘06soccer, softball

19. Mike Stankus ‘06football, basketball

20. Kris

ta Albright ‘05cross country, track and field

2

1. D

an Park ‘10track and field

22. Mikelyn Mes

sin

a ‘08cross country, basketball, softball

23. Eric Brown ‘08football, track and field

24. D

eirdre Burke ‘08swimming, tennis

2-time All-State, 2-time All-NVL; All-America

qualifier; owns 8 swimming school records

All-State, 2-time All-NVL; 2-time NVL diving

champion; owns 2 track, 2 diving school records

3-time All-State, 3-time All-NVL; led girls’soccer to school’s first NVL title in any sport


2005 CSGCA Kelme MVP; .350 career average

All-State, 2-time All-NVL; led football to 2 state

titles; WRHS all-time leading tackler (200)





All-State, 4-time All-NVL; 2008 NVL SoftballTop Senior; WRHS records for HR (14), RBI (77)

2-time All-State, 2-time All-NVL; helped foot-

ball team to second state title


owns 3 swimming school records

Combined 1-time All-New England, 4-time

All-State, 5-time All-NVL; 2007 Class M, State

Open, New England outdoor javelin champi-

on; 2008 NVL Top Athlete ; owns 3 track

school records, NVL indoor shot put record


owns 6 track school records, NVL outdoor

long jump record; 50 career goals, 22

career assists, tied for school record in sin-

gle-season goals (23 in 2007)

All-State, 2-time All-NVL; 2004 New Haven

Register All-Area football; owns school

records for TD (66), points (412), rushing

yards (3,602); only 3-year football captain

at WRHS; led football to first state title

All-New England, 2-time All-State, 2-time All-NVL; 2008 NVL Boys’ Soccer Top Senior

See DELL

AROSE, page 16




Top 5 Teams

BEACON FALLS — For Woodland, in only its first year of Naugatuck Valley

League football, it was a win for the ages.

For Naugatuck, coming off an emotional victory the week before, it was a

heart-breaking climax to a hard-fought effort.

For the fans in attendance, it was purely a classic. One of the greatest and

most exciting high school football games in this area in many years, Thanksgiving

included.

Capping off a wild and emotional final two minutes, in which four touch-

downs were scored, Woodland provided the final blow on the game’s final play

with no time left.

Jared Katchmar connected with halfback Pat Krakowski on a 16-yard touch-

down pass on 4th-and-10 as time expired to lift the Hawks to a 40-37 victory Friday

at Woodland High.

It was the first-ever gridiron meeting for the new neighboring rivals.

“This is a humongous win, and I am very proud of the way the kids respond-

ed,” Woodland coach Chris Anderson said. “Naugatuck is a great team that is so

well-coached, and this win feels almost like a destiny. Naugatuck didn’t lose this

game; they played great. We just came out and won it.”In a game played at the new Woodland field that is still without a clock or

scoreboard, the poise and control of the two quarterbacks—Katchmar and

Naugatuck’s Darryl White—were phenomenal in the closing minutes of play.

After Naugatuck rallied to take the lead in the fourth, Woodland regained it,

at 34-31, with 1:29 to go, as Katchmar drove down and hit Jason Kymer on an 11-

yard scoring pass.

Katchmar didn’t play the week before with a bum ankle and barely practiced

all week. Limping in and out of his shotgun offense, he heroically led the Hawks on

Friday, going 23-for-44 for 437 yards, no interceptions and four touchdowns.

His counterpart, White, was coming off a clutch performance of his own in

rallying Naugatuck to a 47-40 win over Torrington the week before. White, who

was 15-for-28 with 260 yards on Friday, drove the Greyhounds right back, follow-

ing Kymer’s catch.

With just 32 seconds to play, Naugatuck (6-2) capped a clutch drive led by

White and receiver Matt Gomes (11 receptions, 190 yards) as halfback Sean

McConologue scored his second touchdown, from 5 yards out, to give Naugatuck a

37-34 advantage.

But as Krakowski continued to make big play after big play, the Hawks came

right back on the final drive, kept alive by a key 41-yard catch and run from

Krakowski on a screen pass that brought the ball to the Greyhounds’ 16-yard line.

“[On the screen] we caught them in a blitz, and all I can say is that Pat is Mr.

Clutch,” Anderson said. “I have all the respect in the world for him as a player. And

Katchmar was certainly awesome, considering he hadn’t had a lot of reps in prac-

tice this week. But he is a game-time player.”

The dynamic duo hooked up after three incompletions with just seven sec-

onds remaining on the game’s final play. Katchmar hit Krakowski in the left corner

of the end zone, setting off a wild celebration, as Woodland improved to 6-2.

“I was worried whether there was still one second left on the clock because

I knew they were going to run the kickoff back for a touchdown,” Anderson said.

Krakowski finished with 11 catches for 177 yards and also carried nine times

for 37 yards and two more touchdowns.

“We had a five-wide-receiver set [on the final play], and Pat ran a post cor-

ner route,” Anderson said. “I had to cover my eyes. Although I did have to peek. I

had a gut feeling the game was going to be like this. This is a great rivalry w ith twogreat teams.”

“Coach [Anderson] said from the beginning that it was going to be a dog

fight, and he told us to play every play like it was the last play in the game,”

Krakowski said. “This is a huge win. Naugatuck is a good team with a great tradi-

tion, and we proved ourselves tonight.”

It was a gutsy victory that matured the young Hawks one step closer to the

force that the program is becoming.

“We certainly try to sell to them to never quit,” Anderson said. “Sometimes,

it is a hard sell, but I give the kids a ton of credit.”

As you read it: Nov. 7, 2003

1. 200

4 Football

The only undefeated NVL and state champion in school history;

posted a school-record 437 points and 7 shutouts; 7 All-NVL picks

2. 2005 Footb

all

Second of two-straight NVL and Class SS state champions; t-school

record 12 wins; 4 All-State picks; t-5th in state history with 26 INT

3. 2007 B

aseball

Only NVL champion in school history; advanced to Class M semifinal

(school record); best record in school history (20-5)

4. 2004 Girls' Soccer

First NVL regular-season championship in Woodland history; best

record in school history (14-3-3); reached Class M quarterfinal

5. 2007 Volleyball

First NVL champion in school history; best winning percentage in

school history (19-2); school’s first Copper champion

Top 5 Games

Top 5 Plays

1. 2003 Katchmar to Krakowski v

s. Naugatuck

Katchmar’s 16-yard post pass to Krakowski as time expired gaveWoodland an epic, 40-37 comeback victory on Halloween

2. 200

4 Katchmar to Jones v

s. Seymour

Jones tiptoed 12 yards down the right sideline after catching

Katchmar’s pass with 47.4 seconds left to clinch the NVL crown

3. 2005 Kingsley force

s fumbl

e v

s. Holy Cros

s

Shane Kingsley knocked the ball away from Ryan Cashman, setting

up the Hawks’ tying score and eventual win in overtime

4. 2006 Valente’s 1,000th point v

s. Holy Cross

Jen Valente became the first Woodland player to score 1,000 career

points on a layup in the third quarter of a 48-45 loss to Cross

5. 2007 Graveline’s p

er

fe

ct gam

e v

s. Water

town

Ken Graveline needed only 68 pitches and some superb defense to

throw his first no-hitter in an 8-0 win over Watertown

Hawks Stun Naugatuck in Wild NVL Classic, 40-37

B

y Brian C

ampbell

Citizen’s News

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e

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ma

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hrew fo

r 437 yard

s an

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ur to

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ade.

Best time of the day...

Reading the paper!

1. 2003 Football v

s. Naugatuck, Halloween

Often cited as the first big—and sometimes biggest—game in

Woodland history, the Hawks won the Halloween battle, 40-37

2. 2004 Footb

all vs. Seymour, Th

ank

sgiving

The Hawks clinched their first NVL title, 27-22, in front of 5,000 fans

when Jared Katchmar hooked up with Jeff Jones for a 12-yard TD

3. 2005 Football vs. HC, NVL Champion

ship

Woodland capitalized on a fumble, tied the game with 35 seconds

left, and won its second-straight NVL crown, 21-14, in overtime

4. 2004 Footb

all vs. Ansonia, “Mud Bowl”

In a downpour at Jarvis Stadium, Woodland shut out the two-time

defending NVL champs, 21-0, for the first time in over 10 years

5. 2

00

4 B

a

seb

all v

s. Seymour, N

V

L Champion

ship

After suffering a 19-0 early-season loss to the Cats, Ryan Matthews

led the Hawks to a 7-2 win, the first title of any kind at Woodland

CongratulationsWoodland Athletes

Mayor Bob Chatfield

203-723-0287

Joe Valente,

GRI, PSCSBroker/Owner

Congratulations

Athletes

also in avon guilford groton westbrook

n e w l on do n w a te r bu ry w a te r to wn

NaugatuckOffice1183 New Haven Road

Naugatuck, CT 06770

PH: (203) 723-0722

FAX: (203) 723-0092

www.PTSMC.com



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Gold &

Silver


Woodland Volleyball Naugatuck Volleyball

Naugatuck Boys’ Cross CountryWoodland Boys’ Cross Country

Stephanie Badale ‘10

All-NVL (2009)

Chri

s

sy Bell ‘06

All-NVL (2005); All-NVL Second Team (2004)

L Cai

tlin Cla

s

sey ‘08


Je

s

sica Gruemken ‘08

NVL Tournament MVP (2007); NH Register All-Area (2007)

Samanth

a LaCroce ‘08

All-NVL (2006-07)

Je

s

sica Patrizi ‘11


Jen Valente ‘06


Team of the decade: 2007Best record in school history (19-2); NVL champion; Copper champion

Player of the decade: Jessica PatriziNew Haven Register All-Area (2009); NVL Tournament MVP (2009); All-NVL

(2009); All-NVL Second Team (2008)

H

o

no

rab

l

e m

e

nti

on

s: Erika Barnett, Jenna Broadbent, Marie Culik, Melissa Feige, Nicole Jones,

Alysse Lembo, Kelley Mollor, Kaitlin Renkewith, Rebecca Rydzik, Katya Smith, Marissa Stryjewski

Jessica Patrizi

Shannon Mesaros

Mike Dionne ‘04

All-NVL (2003); one of two 3-year captains in team history

Chris Mariotti ‘09

One of two 3-year captains in team history

Tom McGar

vey ‘04

Runner of the decade

Tyler Murphy ‘10

All-NVL (2009)

Team of the decade: 2003School-best 2nd-place finish at NVL meet and 5th-place finish at Class S meet

Runner of the decade: Tom McGarveyAll-State (2003); All-NVL (2003); led team to 2nd place at 2003 NVL meet

H

o

no

rab

l

e m

e

nti

on

s: Dallas Conway, Kyle Cranney, Justin Getts, Josh Greenawalt, Ryan Mariotti,

Kyle Menta, Steve Paniati, Chris Wright

Kristin Boisver

t ‘05


Jen Butku

s ‘02

All-NVL (2001)

Trisha D'Angelo ‘04

All-NVL (2003)

Steph

anie Dunn ‘02

Helped team to 2001 NVL championship

Shannon Mesaro

s ‘02


L Lauren N

e

s

ter ‘04

Helped team to Class L tournaments (2002-03)

Alana Wesche ‘09


Te

am of the decade: 2001Best record of the decade (18-5); NVL tournament champion

Player of the decade: Shannon MesarosAll-State (2001); New Haven Register All-Area (2001); NVL Top Senior (2001); All-

NVL (2000-01); attended prestigious Tourney Sports USA Hawaii Classic (2001)

Ho

nora

ble m

e

nti

o

ns: Ashley Barbieri, Jackie Brenia, Alicia Hussey, Fallon Mesaros, Taryn Mesaros,

Alison Rossi, Stacey Weiler, Jackie Witkoski

Woodland Girls’ Cross Country

Brittany Albright ‘10


Krista Albright ‘05


Mich

elle Palomb

a ‘04

All-NVL (2001-02); first All-NVL athlete at WRHS

Cr

ys

tal Steinfeld ‘11


Team of the decade: 2009Undefeated NVL champion; 5th-place finish at Class SS meet (school best)

Runner of the decade: Krista AlbrightAll-State (2003-04); All-NVL (2003-04); 4th-place finish at Class SS meet (2004)

H

o

no

rab

l

e m

e

nti

on

s: Shannon Freeman, Melissa Kiley, Sarah Melville, Mikelyn Messina, Kaitlyn

Murphy, Meaghan O'Hara, Janet Pacitto, Kelly Smith

Naugatuck Girls’ Cross Country

Moh

am

ed Hre

zi ‘09


Nick Moriello ‘12

All-NVL (2008-09); 2nd at 2009 NVL meet

Se

an Norris ‘02

All-NVL (2001); 26th at Class LL Championship (2001)

Josh Perr

y ‘07

All-NVL (2005-06); 2nd at NVL meet (2005-06)

Te

am of the decade: 2009Undefeated NVL champion; 8th-place finish at Class L meet; 4 All-NVL picks

Runner of the decade: Mohamed HreziClass L Champion (2008); All-State (2008); All-NVL (2007-08)

Ho

no

ra

b

le m

e

nt

i

o

n

s: Alex Areias, Nick Aviles, Matt Basile, Bob Butkus, Mike Carson, Erik Desousa, Jeff

Dorosh, Jim Halbert, Tom Mashia, Jeff Massa, Justin Perugini, Mike Russo, Mike Santos, Tim Steiskal

Diane Clarke ‘02

All-State (2000); 4th at Class LL meet (2000)

Ros

a Moriello ‘10


Jami

e Rac

zkow

ski ‘02

All-NVL (2001)

Cas

sie Rowe ‘05

All-NVL (2004)

Te

am of the decade: 20082nd-place finish at NVL meet; 12th-place finish at Class L meet

Runner of the decade: Rosa MorielloClass L champion (2008); All-State (2007-09); Top 10 at NE meet (2008-09)

Ho

nora

ble m

e

nti

o

ns: Malissa Bolton, Crystal Crane, Tara DaSilva, Michelle Decerbo, Shelby Hale,

Becky Renzoni, Jamie Robinson

Rosa Moriello

Brittany Albright

Mohamed Hrezi

Tyler Murphy

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Woodland Boys’ Track and Field Naugatuck Boys’ Track and Field

Naugatuck Girls’ Track and FieldWoodland Girls’ Track and Field

F Eric Al

fiere ‘08

Athlete of the decade

F D

an Park ‘10

Out/In: 2x All-State; 6 WRHS records

R Br

yan Duda ‘09

Out/In: 1x All-State; 2x All-NVL; 3 WRHS records

R Zak Favoccia ‘09


R Brandon Fowler ‘10


R Jo

sh Green

awalt ‘04

Out/In: 1x All-NVL; 4 WRHS records

R Jason Kymer ‘04

Out: WRHS records 4x100, 100

R Tyler Murphy ‘10


Team of the decade: 2009Out: T-best record in school history (11-1); Copper champion; Class M runner-up

Athlete of the decade: Eric AlfiereAll-New England outdoor (2007); Class M, State Open, NE outdoor javelin cham-pion (2007); Out/In: 4x All-NVL, 3x All-State; 3 WRHS records; In: NVL SP record

H

o

no

rab

l

e m

e

nti

on

s: BJ Baer, Mike Dionne, Josh Fitzpatrick, Justin Getts, Chris Gimbrone, JeffJones, Mark LaFortune, Eric Moraniec, Steve Paniati, Chris Savvidou, Matt Trzaski, Josh Woodin

Dan Park

Joe Ardito

Nicole Jones

Tori Pisco

F Ryan Culb

er

t

son ‘07

Out: All-NVL (2006-07)

F Mike Harris ‘04

Out: All-State (2003); All-NVL (2003)

R Joe Ardi

to ‘06


R Andrew Corridore ‘07

Out/In: 1x All-NE; 1x All-State; 4x All-NVL

R Andrew Harriott ‘07

Out: All-NVL (2007); NVL record 4x400

R Mohamed Hre

zi ‘09

Out/In: 1x All-NE; NVL record 1,000, sprint medley

R Josh Perr

y ‘07

Out/In: 1x All-NE; State Open 600 champion (2007)

R Jay Wilson ‘01

Out/In: 1x All-State; 1x All-NVL; NVL record 500

Te

am of the decade: 2007Out/In NVL champion; 4th-place finish at Class LL indoor meet; 6 All-NVL picks

Athlete of the decade: Joe ArditoAll-NE indoor LJ (2005); All-State outdoor 200 (2006); All-State indoor LJ (2005);7th-place finish LJ indoor nationals (2005-06); Out/In: 3x All-NVL; In: NVL LJ record

Ho

nora

ble m

e

nti

o

ns: Pat Barrett, Judson Brown, Ray Campbell, Mike Figueroa, Justin Ganavage,Bill Gordon, Thomas Mascia, Kyle McLaughlin, Nick Moriello, Ralph Roper III, Mike Spragg

F J

a

smin

e Cribb ‘09

Out/In: 1x All-NE; State Open HJ champion (2009)

F Kr

ystal Pab

ey ‘01

Out: NE and State Open javelin champion (2001)

R Natalia C

ar

valho ‘10

Out/In: 2x top 20 nationals DMR; 3x All-NVL

R Mar

tyann Chromik ‘10

Out/In: 4x All-NVL

R Ros

a Moriello ‘10


R Tori Pisco ‘10

Out/In: 1x All-NE; 6x All-NVL; NVL records 800, 600

R Jenn Ro

senblat

t ‘00

In: 2x All-State; NVL records sprint medley, 1,000

R Kat

y Sab

al ‘06

In: 2x NVL Top Performer, Hurdler, Sprinter

Team of the decade: 2008Out/In NVL champion; 3rd-place finish at Class L indoor meet; 4 All-NVL picks

Athlete of the decade: Rosa MorielloAll-State indoor (2008); NVL Top Outdoor Distance (2007-09), Indoor Distance

(2008-09); NVL Top Indoor Performer (2009); 15th-place finish national DMR (2009)

Ho

nora

ble m

e

nti

o

ns: Lisa Basile, Jamie Girolamo, Shelby Hale, Amariliz Jurado, Lydia Looby, Jenn

McDonnell, Sara Tarsi, Carrie Wilcox, Keyrah Williams

F Brit

tany Battis ‘10

Out/In: 6 WRHS records

F Liz G

all

a ‘08


R Krista Albright ‘05

In: All-NVL(2005); WRHS records 800, 4x800

R Maria Brunetti ‘06


R Gina DellaRose ‘05


R Nicol

e Jone

s ‘07


R Aly

s

se Lembo ‘05


R Caitlin With

am ‘06


Team of the decade: 20054th-place finish at NVL indoor meet; 8 All-NVL picks

Athlete of the decade: Gina DellaRoseOut/In: 3x All-State; 4x All-NVL; WRHS records indoor 1,600, indoor 3,200, indoor

4x800, indoor sprint medley, outdoor 1,600, outdoor 3,200

H

o

no

rab

l

e m

e

nti

on

s: Brittany Albright, Heather Chucta, Marie Culik, Christina Dias, Katie Emmons,

Michelle Jones, Alyssa Marti, Alaina Miele, Liz Ostuno, Chelsea Rich, Rachel Spiwak

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Woodland Boys’ Tennis Naugatuck Boys’ Tennis

Naugatuck Girls’ TennisWoodland Girls’ Tennis

S Jo

e Ros

a ‘09


S Ben Smith ‘06

All-NVL (2005); qualified Class S Doubles Tourney (2005)

S Marcus Trem

aglio ‘08

All-NVL (2008); NVL Tournament bronze (2008)

S Tim Vincen

s ‘05

All-NVL (2005); qualified Class S Doubles Tourney (2005)

D Ander

son/Mach ‘04

All-NVL (2004); Class S Tournament 2nd round (2003)

Team of the decade: 20089-9 overall record; 8 players qualified for Class M Tournament (WRHS record)

Player of the decade: Joe Rosa

All-NVL (2009); NVL Tournament silver medalist (2009); first WRHS player toreach Class M Tournament quarterfinal (2009)

H

o

no

rab

l

e m

e

nti

on

s: Mike Krakowski, Mark Larson, Alex Mach, Sean Montambault, Charlie

Ostrander, Jake Uva, Vinny Vadala

Joe Rosa

Matt Cappello

Stephanie BadaleTeam of the decade: 2008Best record in school history (19-2); NVL champion; Copper champion

Player of the decade: Katelyn HouriganNo. 12 seed State Open (2004); only player in WRHS history to reach State Open 2nd

round (2004); All-NVL (2003-05)

H

o

no

rab

l

e m

e

nti

on

s: Samantha Angeloszek, Erika Barnett, Deirdre Burke, Kaitlin Henderson,

Cheryl Holowienko, Jamie Houle, Michele Houle

Te

am of the decade: 20075 All-NVL picks (tied for most of the decade)

Player of the decade: Matt Cappello

All-NVL (2007); NVL singles champion (2007); seeded in Class LL Tournament twice;Class LL Tournament 3rd round (2007); Class LL Tournament 2nd round (2006)

Ho

nora

ble m

e

nti

o

ns: Jeff Bowers, Ken Cappello, Juan Correia, Resat Mursalaglu, Chris Orloske,

Will Sherian, Andrew Wanamacher, Bill Weckman, Kyle Wilson

Te

am of the decade: 2006Best regular-season record of the decade (15-5); No. 10 seed Class L Tournament

Player of the decade: Franzi KlugNVL singles champion (2006); All-NVL (2006); Qualified State Open (2006), led

team to best regular-season record of the decade

Ho

nora

ble m

e

nti

o

ns: Aravanh Ackharath, Allie Beardsworth, Samantha Beauchemin, Jessica

Boesel, Rachel Donovan, Mary Claire Henion, Jody Kaura, Kelly Lawlor, Sarah Reardon

Laura Bowers

Woodland Golf

Team of the decade: 2006Only team in WRHS history to qualify for State Open; 11th-place finish Division III

Player of the decade: Mark ColangeloAll-NVL (2005-06); led Woodland to first and only State Open appearance and

best record in school history (2006)

H

o

no

rab

l

e m

e

nti

on

s: Nick Commendatore, Ben Fidanza, Jay Gentile, Kyle Menta, Will Shedway

M

ark Colangelo ‘06


Joe Commendatore ‘06

Member of first team to qualify for State Open

Ryan Ke

aveney ‘09

All-NVL (2009)

Anthony Mascia ‘06

All-NVL (2006)

Naugatuck Golf

Te

am of the decade: 2001Only team this decade to qualify for Division I State Open (T-16th); 2 All-NVL picks

Player of the decade: Dave RoweAll-NVL (2001-02); qualified for State Open (2002); team captain (2001-02); 12-

time match medalist; team MV P (2000-02)

Ho

nora

ble m

e

nti

o

ns: Tim Carson, Mike Corbett, Pat Corbett, Jon Kunces, Steve Rimkus, Kellen

Woodfield

Bob Butkus ‘01

All-NVL (2001-02); team captain (2000-01); 7-time medalist

Jay Fre

eman ‘00

All-NVL (1998-00); qualified State Open (2000)

Chris M

arques ‘08

All-NVL (2007-08); qualified State Open (2008); 8-time medalist

Dave Rowe ‘02


S Steph

anie B

ad

ale ‘10

All-NVL (2007-09); NVL Tournament silver (2009)

S Katelyn Hourigan ‘05


S Kat

ya Smith ‘08

All-NVL (2007-08); NVL Top Senior (2008)

S Megan Wes

ter ‘11


D Pagoni/

Trapp ‘06

All-NVL (2006); qualified State Open (2006)

S Matt C

appello ‘07


S Eric Petro ‘02


S Rob Simon

s ‘09

All-NVL (2009); NVL singles champion (2009)

S Chris Weckm

an ‘05

Qualified Class L Tourney 3 times (2nd round 2005)

D Trimborn/Weckm

an ‘08

All-NVL (2007-08)

S Jackie Bo

esel ‘07

All-NVL (2007)

S Laura Bower

s ‘05

Qualified State Open (2004)

S Franzi Klug ‘06


S Megh

an Toth ‘10

All-NVL (2009); qualified State Open (2009)

D C

apatina/Kaura ‘03

All-NVL (2003); qualified State Open (2002-03)

Anthony Mascia

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Woodland Baseball Naugatuck Baseball

Naugatuck SoftballWoodland Softball

C Ryan Z

siga ‘05


1B Gary Boucher ‘07

Academic All-State (2007); tied WRHS-record 37 hits (2007)

2B Cody Kingsley ‘08

All-NVL (2008); t-4th WRHS career hits (64)

3B Nick Boucher ‘09

All-NVL HM (2009); 5th WRHS career runs (41), steals (20)

SS Macky Cianciolo ‘07

All-NVL (2007); 2nd WRHS career slugging (.553)

OF Ryan Genua ‘10

WRHS T-5th career RBI (33); .301 career average

OF Mat

t Kane ‘07

All-NVL (2007); 3rd WRHS career hits (65), runs (57)

OF Shane Kingsley ‘06

All-State (2005-06); WRHS-record 65 career steals

P Steve Corbett ‘08

All-NVL HM (2008); 9-0, 1.92 ERA (2007)

P Ken Graveline ‘07


P Mark McKay ‘08

All-State (2008), 51.1 straight innings without ER (2008)

Team of the decade: 2007Best record in school history (20-5); NVL champion; Class M semifinalist

Player of the decade: Ken GravelineAll-State (2006-07); WRHS records for career average (.410), hits (100), home

runs (12), runs (77), RBI (80), walks (39), slugging (.648); perfect game (2008)

H

o

no

rab

l

e m

e

nti

on

s: Mike Augelli, Eric B attis, Matt Dorosh, Kyle Georgia, Beau Larrow, Tom Little,

Ryan Matthews, John Merriman, Matt Sherman, Jason Skibek, Jay Spiwak, Eric Turmel

Ken Graveline

Pat Dean

Alice Levinsky

Alana Wesche

Team of the decade: 2009Most wins in school history (21-6); Class M semifinalist; NVL finalist; 3 All-NVL picks

Player of the decade: Alice LevinskyAll-State (2004-06); All-NVL (2004-06); led team to Class S semifinal (2003) and

Class S final (2004); WRHS records for career average (.442), runs (90)

H

o

no

rab

l

e m

e

nti

on

s: Katie Alfiere, Jessica Badale, Rachael Crowe, Lauren Gentile, Adrienne Miller,

Monique Peterson, Chelsea Rich, Kristine Swingle

C Mikelyn Me

s

sina ‘08


1B Kate Falbo ‘04

All-NVL (2003); .330 average (2003)

2B Courtn

ey Pokora ‘06

All-NVL (2004); .350 career average, 44 career RBI

3B Ashley Georgia ‘06

All-NVL (2006); .325 career average, 61 career runs

SS Aubrey Roul

anaiti

s ‘10

All-NVL (2009); .391 average, 28 RBI, 5 HR (2009)

OF D

anielle Dickm

an ‘08


OF Megh

an Gravelin

e ‘05

All-NVL (2003, 2005)

OF Alice Levin

sk

y ‘06


P Kelley Mollor ‘09

Academic All-State (2009); All-NVL (2008-09)

P Tara Shingola ‘04

All-NVL (2004); 31-19 record (2003-04)

C Brant Fox ‘07

All-NVL (2006-07); career: .392 average, 34 RBI, 30 steals

1B Jami

e Verab ‘01

All-NVL (2000-01); career: .376 average, 7 HR, 54 RBI

2B Rober

t Ser

vidas ‘06

All-NVL (2006); career: .367 average, 31 RBI, 30 steals

3B Ricky Cool ‘07

All-NVL (2007); career: .337 average, 6 HR, 52 RBI

SS Gary Di

az ‘01

All-State (2000-01); career: .483 average, 42 RBI, 22 steals

OF Chris Bi

s

son ‘04

All-NVL (2004); career: .315 average, 32 RBI

OF Wes Dutton ‘04

3-year starter; career: .372 average, 26 RBI

OF Mat

t Gomes ‘04

All-NVL (2003-04); career: .365 average, 36 RBI, 27 steals

P Pat D

e

an ‘07


P Steve Hi

scock ‘06

All-State (2006); All-NVL (2005-06); 6-1 , 1.25 ERA (2006)

P H

enr

y Le

e ‘00

ABCA All-Region (2000); NHS-record .583 career average

Te

am of the decade: 200618-2 regular-season record; NVL champion; No. 1 seed in Class LL tournament

Player of the decade: Pat DeanAll-State (2006-07); All-NVL (2006-07); career: 29-8, 2.00 ERA, 268 K, 2 no-hitters;

perfect game (2007)

Ho

nora

ble m

e

nti

o

ns: Nick DeBeauvernet, Ricky De La Rosa, Tim Dowling, Zack Dreher, Jeff Farrell,

Dan Kaminski, Andrew Katrenya, Patrick McGettigan, Arber Mehmedi, Chad Miller, Dom Pucci,

Greg Rice, Eric Shulick, Leo Velez, Steve Webb, Darryl White

Team of the decade: 2008Best record of the decade (23-4); Class LL finalist; NVL champion; 3 All-NVL picks

Player of the decade: Alana WescheAll-State (2008-09); New Haven Register All-State and All-Area (2008-09); All-

NVL (2007-09); threw back-to-back no-hitters (2008); 61 career wins

Ho

nora

ble m

e

nti

o

ns: Veronica Areias, Maribeth Ford, Kacy Lansing, Necole Morrissey, Alison Rossi,

Bridget Squires, Christine Wieler

C Jessica Russell ‘08

All-NVL (2008)

1B Sh

annon Mesaros ‘02

Led 19-4 team to Class LL quarterfinal (2002)

2B Julia Longo ‘10


3B Maria DeBe

auvernet ‘00

Led team to 15-5 regular seasons (1999-2000)

SS Alicia Hussey ‘04


OF Corinna Hus

sey ‘09

Helped team to NVL title (2008)

OF Sk

ye Stella ‘10

All-NVL (2009)

OF Mich

ele Stotz ‘04


P Kim Or

vit

z ‘02

Led 19-4 team to Class LL quarterfinal (2002)

P Alan

a We

sch

e ‘09


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Woodland Boys’ Swimming Naugatuck Boys’ Swimming

Naugatuck Girls’ SwimmingWoodland Girls’ Swimming

D Tom Blinstrubas ‘08

All-NVL 2nd Team (2007); both WRHS diving records

S Greg Cerrato ‘06


S Kevin Kent ‘05

All-NVL (2005); WRHS record 400 free relay

S Brian Pagoni ‘07

All-NVL (2006-07); 3 WRHS relay records

S Chris Wright ‘09

All-State (2008-09); 5 WRHS records (3 individual)

Team of the decade: 20054th-place finish at Class S meet (WRHS best); 6 athletes earned league honors

Athlete of the decade: Greg CerratoAll-State (2005-06); All-NVL (2005-06); All-America qualifier (2006); 8 WRHS

swim records

H

o

no

rab

l

e m

e

nti

on

s: Joe Commendatore, Will Gerard, Brendan Maggiore, Patrick O'Dell, Charlie

Ostrander, Ean Smith, Adam Trumbley

Chris Wright

Trevor Heller

Heather Chucta

Team of the decade: 2009Best record in school history (9-3); 3rd-place finish at NVL meet; 3 All-NVL picks

Athlete of the decade: Heather ChuctaAll-State (2008); All-NVL (2007-08); 2-time NVL diving c hampion; holds both

school diving records

H

o

no

rab

l

e m

e

nti

on

s: Samantha Angeloszek, Rachael Battis, Chelsea Germer, Alyssa Maggiore,

Monica Tavares

Te

am of the decade: 2002NVL champion; 3rd-place finish at Class LL meet (decade best); 6 All-State picks

Athlete of the decade: Brian MarianoNational champion (2002); All-America (2001-02); State Open champion (2001-

02); All-State (1999-2002); All-NVL (1999-2002); holds both NHS diving records

Ho

nora

ble m

e

nti

o

ns: Adam Bolton, Chris Dessureau, Kyle Doy, B.J. Kochis, Kyle Pustola, Eric

Shulick, Andrew Straznitskas

Te

am of the decade: 2004NVL champion; 9th-place finish at Class LL meet; 6 All-NVL picks

Athlete of the decade: Sarah ThomasAll-State (2006-07); All-NVL (2004-07); 2nd-place Class L 100 butterfly (2006);

4th-place Class L 100 butterfly (2007); 7th-place Class L 50 free (2007)

Ho

nora

ble m

e

nti

o

ns: Maribeth Ford, Kimberly Gambino, Ashley Gesseck, Jennifer Herbert, Kara

Macharelli, Lindsey Madden, Tania Whitley

Sarah Thomas

D He

ather Chuc

ta ‘09


S Deirdre Burke ‘08

All-State (2006); 3 WRHS free records

S Katie-Je

an Hinckley ‘12

All-NVL (2009); 4 WRHS records (2 individual)

S Steph

anie O'Donnell ‘06

All-NVL (2003-05); 3 WRHS individual records

S Jill Pagoni ‘10

All-NVL (2008-09); 3 WRHS relay records

D Brian Mariano ‘02


S Nick Belgrave ‘06

All-State (2005-06); All-NVL (2003-06)

S Trevor Heller ‘10


S Jon Kunces ‘02

All-State (2000-02); All-NVL (2000-02)

S Paul Trapp ‘03


D Katrin

a Orsini ‘09

All-NVL (2008)

S Laura Kunces ‘04

All-NVL (2000-03); NHS records 200 IM, 100 free

S Katie Smegi

elski ‘01

All-State (1997-2000); All-NVL (1997-2000)

S Sarah Thomas ‘08


S Abbey Tooker ‘07





two sports in college.”

Soccer still reigns supreme for DellaRose, both for the

fact that she loves the team aspect on the pitch and for the

fact that she never lost her lunch over a game. Track on the

other hand …

“With soccer I never used to get nervous because it’s a

team sport and other girls could always pick me up if I made

a mistake,” DellaRose explains. “I never got nervous with

relay races because we’re on a team. But with an individual

race, it’s all on me. I would actually get sick sometimes.”

DellaRose didn’t get sick last week, though, when she

set a personal best in the mile with a time of 5 minutes, 12

seconds—“a lot better than I ran in high school … some-

how,” DellaRose says. What makes that feat even more

impressive is the fact that it was just her second meet since

graduating from Woodland in 2005.While competing in the final athletic seasons of her

career, DellaRose is also finishing up a degree in marketing.

She says she will soon begin to look for summer internships

and also wants to start coaching and training soccer. Not only

does she want to coach the sport she loves, but also she has

advice for the young boy or girl who wants to be the next

Woodland athlete of the decade.

“Don’t think about awards and banners,” she says.

“Do what you love and train like you love it, and I think they

will come naturally.”

Despite everything she accomplished on the fields and

tracks at Woodland and Southern, DellaRose still isn’t sure

she’s worthy of being the Hawks’ athlete of the decade.

Instead, she would choose our best male for the honor.

“Definitely Shane [Kingsley],” she says. “He’s an over-

all great athlete. I know he loves his sports as much as I do. I

saw him play a lot, and he was incredible.”

DellaRose isn’t going to just hand over the honor,

though. But will the ever-amiable athlete hold this over

Kingsley’s head for the foreseeable future?“Yes,” she jokes. “He will always remember this.”

DELL

AROSEFrom page 10

tell them we didn’t h ave YouTube back then.”

We’re working on that, by the way.

Mariano’s soccer career only begins to scratch the sur-

face of his athletic accomplishments. He was an All-America

honorable mention as a sophomore, and followed that up

with a pair of State Open titles and All-America honors as a

junior and senior. The greatest thrill of his Naugy career,

though, remains his national championship in 2002.

“I was ecstatic when I found out,” Mariano recalls of

the moment when he learned his videotape was judged best

in the country. “I thought I was pretty good in Connecticut,

but then I would go to a national meet and get my butt

kicked. When I go over my parents’ house for dinner, I see the

plaque and remember how cool that was.”

Next for Mariano was the University of Indiana, where

he continued to build his impressive résumé. The 5-7, 160-pounder was named to the All-Big Ten second team in 2005,

followed by the honors of being the Big Ten Diver of the

Championships and Co-Diver of the Year in 2006. He still

ranks among the top six in school history in three different

events.

The highlight of his career, Mariano says, was partici-

pating in the 2004 U.S. Olympic trials, where he placed

among the top six in two synchronized diving events.

“When I was watching the 2000 Olympic trials, I

thought about how cool it would be to go,” Mariano says.

“When I learned I had enough points to go, I was so excited.

There were thousands and thousands of people there. It was

absolutely ridiculous.”

Now, in addition to teaching at City Hill, Mariano is an

assistant coach for Naugatuck boys’ soccer and is the diving

coach at Woodland—neither of which he planned to do. And

while it may be a long time before we see a local athlete the

caliber of Mariano, he says success is waiting for anyone who

wants to work for it.

“You have to be a hard worker,” Mariano says. “Youhave to find your niche. Don’t be the next Brian Mariano.”

MARIANOFrom page 7

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Citizen's News All-Decade edition

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Transcript of Citizen's News All-Decade edition