Sports Hall of Fame Inductees
Group Photo
Mike Bontempo
Kevin Crowley
Neil Curland
Tom FitzGerald
Chris Hansen
Jack Luty
Dawn M. Smith
Joseph Kapteina Service Award Recipient
Sportsperson(s) of the Year
Legends Team Recognition
The Norwich Free Academy Girls Track and Field Team – 1990-2001
Scholarship Recipients
Kyle Young, Norwich Free Academy
Morgan Deschamps, Norwich Tech
Hall of Fame Inductees
Mike Bontempo
Mike began his involvement with sports on the Greenville playground and in various Norwich baseball and football youth leagues. It was evident that defense would be his focus, as he led his teams to several championships and earned team and personal defensive MVP awards along the way.
Mike attended NFA where he played four years on the football, wrestling and baseball teams earning six varsity letters over his last two years. A two way starter in football, Mike played center and linebacker earning All-SAC two years and several defensive awards including the WICH Donald Lasser award in 1979. No slowing down in the winter seasons as Mike turned to wresting and was instrumental in transitioning the NFA wrestling team from club status to eventual state wrestling juggernaut under Coach Carl Snitkin. In 1979¸ he led the wrestling team to its first ever win against perennial powerhouse Ledyard along with the SAC League champion and a ranking of second in the state. He was tri-captain of the 1979-80 wrestling team and was personally undefeated during that season. From the wrestling mats to the baseball diamond, Mike was equally impressive as a starting catcher for two years on the Norwich American Legion and the NFA baseball teams earning the Ogulnick Jewelers Award in 1980.
Continuing his football and baseball prowess at Dean Jr. College, Mike was a starting linebacker for two years and named co-captain on the 1981 football team. During those years he earned the Amos Alonzo Stagg Award as Outstanding Player five times and the Butch Williams Award as MVP in ’81. On the baseball diamond, he played leftfield for two years earning the Leslie Grant Award in ’82, while batting .409 with no errors and a GPA of 3.15. Mike moved on to Ithaca College where he was starting outside linebacker on the ’83 and ’84 football teams. A defensive stalwart, Mike was recognized as Defensive Player of the Game four times while setting a school record with eighteen sacks helping the team to a second place finish in the ICAC. Mike was Defensive Coordinator for the Ithaca College JV football team in 1985.
After college Mike stayed very active in Norwich sports playing both softball and Touch Football winning five championships. Mike has participated in 10 Sprint Triathlons since 2010 and is scheduled to compete in one the morning of his induction into the Sports Hall of Fame. Mike is currently Vice President of Human Resources at Davis-Standard in Westerly where he resides with his wife Kim and three daughters Hannah, Abygail and Brynne.
Kevin Crowley
Kevin’s athletic career began scholastically at Brockton High School in Massachusetts. It was followed by a collegiate career at the University of Connecticut. Upon graduating from Uconn, Kevin was hired by the Montville school system as a guidance counselor, followed by a career move to the same position at NFA. It is Kevin’s achievement at these schools that brings us to the banquet tonight to honor Kevin during his induction into the Norwich Sports Hall of Fame.
Kevin coached both the boys and girls cross-country teams at Montville High School. During this time, the girls teams won the Class M State Championship 6 consecutive years, from 1978 to 1983. Even more impressive is the fact that his teams won the State Open Championship three of those years, from 1981 to 1983. It is infrequent that a school with such a small enrollment is able to win the Open Championship race. During the success of the girls team, Kevin coached the boys team to the Class M State Championship in 1982. A coach winning both girls and boys state championships in the same year had never been done up to that time and has been duplicated only once since. Kevin also coached the girls track team to the Class M Track Championship in 1982.
While at NFA, Kevin has been an assistant coach with both the girls cross-country and track and field teams. “Kevin brings energy, organization, instruction and strategy to practice every day,” Coach Kara Kochanski said. The cross-country team won the Class LL Championship in 2009 and the track team won 14 Class LL State Championships. They also won the State Open Meet Championship in 1990 and 1998 and indoor track State Class Championships in 2001 and 2013. That is 30 State Championship teams.
Kevin ran the Norwich Hershey Track Program for 25 years where he has coached several athletes to State Championships. At the national championship meet Julian Callender placed first in the 1600 meters, Cristal Nelson placed second in the long jump, Catie Shannon placed second in the 50 meters, and the 4 X 100 meter relay team of Terrell Wilson, Sam Teixeira, Ian Buckley, and Michael Lorinsky finished seventh. Kevin also organizes the yearly Joe Lonardelli age-group races and the “Harry O” Fun Run.
In 1981, Kevin was presented with the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Cross-Country Award. In 1982, Kevin was the recipient of the Connecticut Track Coaches Association Coach of the Year Award for cross-country. In 2002, the Norwich Sports Hall of Fame honored Kevin with the Kapteina Community Service Award.
Neal Curland
Neal went to school at Windham High from 1972-1976 where he played basketball for four years and Captained the team from 1975-1976. He then attended American International College and was a member of the 1976-1977 Men’s Basketball team. He later graduated from ECSU and Sacred Heart University with advanced degrees in Education.
Neal began his career at Suffield High School as the freshman basketball coach in 1979 and then went to Killingly High School and the University of New Haven as an assistant coach from 1980-1984. In 27 seasons as a varsity head coach, he has compiled a record of 430 wins and 187 losses and compiled seven 20-win seasons, including two undefeated regular seasons (1992 WHS, 2007 NFA). His teams have qualified for the state tournament in all 27 seasons; have won 2 league tournament championships, and ten division titles. His 2001 NFA team was the LL state finalist. It remains the only NFA team to reach the state finals in school history. Neal recently completed his 16th season as head coach of the NFA Wildcats and is the career wins leader with 284 at NFA. Coach Curland has a reputation of advancing his player’s basketball careers beyond high school. Thirty-eight of his former players have played college basketball since 1986. Four have played in Division 1, seven in Division 2, and twenty-seven have played in Division 3.
Neal has been honored as Coach of the Year by both the Norwich Bulletin (5 times) and the New London Day (4 times). In 2007, the Norwich Sports Hall of Fame awarded him the Sportsperson of the Year, and the Eastern CT Board of Officials #8 has given him the Howard B. Dickenman Sportsmanship Award five times.
In addition to his on-court accomplishments, Neal has served the Connecticut Interscholastic Association (CIAC) Boys Basketball Committee since 1993 (Chairman last 6 years) and serves on the CIAC tournament dedication committee. Neal has served on the Connecticut High School Coaches Association (CHSCA) all-state selection and banquet committee and senior all-star game committee for the last 22 years. He is currently a member of the CHSCA executive board. He was the basketball chairman of the 2010 CHSCA All Sports Clinic, and is the director of both the Wildcat Hoop School Basketball Camp and the Randy Deglin Youth Basketball Clinic and is co-director of the Windham Championship Basketball Camp.
Neal has taught for thirty-one years and currently teaches special education at NFA. He and his wife Kelly have two sons, Connor and Cameron.
Tom FitzGerald
Tom was born and raised in Norwich, CT. He started in athletics playing Little League baseball and basketball for St. Peter & Paul in local rec and church leagues. He went to The Williams School (New London, CT) for junior high school where he played soccer as well as basketball on both the junior varsity and varsity high school teams.
In high school at Norwich Free Academy he was a 4-time letter winner in basketball where he played both guard and forward positions. He started 8 games on the varsity team as a freshman and all games during his sophomore, junior and senior seasons.
After his junior season he was named to the All-Eastern Connecticut Team by the Norwich Bulletin. In his senior season he was named tri-captain with classmates Steve Lee and Steve Podezwa. It was also during his senior season that he became the seventh player in NFA boys’ basketball history to score 1,000 points. He finished his career with 1,042 points which was fifth all-time at the time of his graduation. Following his senior season Tom was named 1st Team All-State (Class LL) by the Hartford Courant and Connecticut Coaches Association, 2nd Team All-State (Class LL) by the New Haven Register and All-Eastern Connecticut by the Norwich Bulletin.
While at NFA Tom also participated on the freshman football team and played Senior League baseball with the team that advanced to the semi-finals in the CT state tournament. Tom graduated from NFA in 1984 with honors and as a member of the National Honor Society.
Following graduation from NFA, Tom attended Trinity College in Hartford, CT. While at Trinity, he played guard, was a 4-time letter winner and was starter for his sophomore, junior and senior seasons. Trinity was the ECAC Division III Champions in 1985 and 1986 seasons, with a top 10 national ranking in 1986. Tom was named captain in both his junior and senior seasons and was named team MVP in his senior season. He graduated from Trinity in 1988 with a B.A. in Economics.
Tom currently resides in Bethesda, MD with his wife Megan, children John and Katherine, and is the Vice President and Deputy General Counsel of Sourcefire, Inc., a network security company.
Chris Hansen
Upon entering St. Bernard High School, Chris’ parents encouraged him to “pick a sport”. That advice was the key for his entry into the track world and life-long running pursuits. His initial “soccer” selection quickly transformed to year-round track accomplishments on cross-country, indoor and outdoor track teams in high school and college. Chris led the outstanding 1981 St. Bernard Cross Country team to an undefeated dual and state meet season, while winning the SAC league, Conn. State Class M and State Open championships. Those accomplishments earned the team national ranking, as a Harrier All-American Cross Country Team. Named XC co-captain in 1982, the team again went undefeated in dual meets contributing to State M and State Open placements in both XC and Outdoor track. In 1987, he was recipient of the St. Bernard Exceptional Athletic Award.
At College of the Holy Cross, Chris’ participation and accomplishments paralleled his high school career as a member of the cross country, indoor and outdoor track teams for four years. He was named to the 1984 league All-Conference XC team, won the ’84 Worcester City Individual XC championship and the ’85 Worcester 3000m Indoor track championship. He co-captained the XC team his junior year and all three track teams his senior year, while receiving the prestigious Holy Cross Bart Sullivan Award for Track and Field.
Chris continued his association with the Mohegan Striders Running Club (Connecticut’s premier racing team) as a scoring member for the 1985-1995 State champions, as Racing Coordinator from 1990-96, Vice-President in ’98, Banquet organizer ’03 to ’10, newsletter author, web store manager and email coordinator. For the past 30 years, Chris has not only run in countless, southeastern CT races, but won most of them. Chris continued his running prowess competing in dualthlon and triathlon events in CT, the US and across the globe from 1995 to present. He was selected for the 1995, ’98 and 2001 USA Duathlon Age Group World Championship teams held in Mexico and Italy, was the CT Duathlon Series champ twice, attained All-American Triathlon status in ‘03 and ’07 and has qualified for Triathlon nationals the past two years. Chris also plays guitar and keyboards at sporting venues in the appropriately named band, “Run for Cover”. “Running is our social life” in Hope Valley, RI , where Chris, his wife Lynnee and daughter Elizabeth, both accomplished runners, all reside and use as their training base. Chris surely heeded his parent’s advice to “pick a sport and stick with it”.
Jack Luty
Jack is a 1963 graduate of Norwich Free Academy and then attended Bryant College until being drafted into the U.S. Army in October, 1966. After an honorable discharge in 1968, Jack joined the Connecticut State Police, retiring after a 22 year career, including some years in the Major Crime Squad. Jack continued his detective work for 12 more years investigating organized crime and government and police corruption.
During the late 1960’s, 1970’s and early 1980’s, Jack left his mark in every league he played in, whether it was basketball or softball. A member of over 30 regular season or playoff championship teams in a multitude of leagues, Jack was a fearsome presence in the low post or batter’s box. Jack won basketball championships in the Norwich City League, New London Ocean Beach League, Willimantic City League, and the Danielson League. Jack played for the championship team in the Pawcatuck Cancer Crusade Tournament, a tournament similar to the Norwich Bulletin Record Tournament. All of these leagues had no residency requirements and many teams paid players to compete for them.
Outside of Connecticut and before being drafted, Jack was a member of the Y-Ringers, winning the New England 21 & Under Championship in Pawtucket, R.I. While serving his country, Jack played in the championship game for the 5th Army tournament (against Cazzie Russell). In the early ‘80’s, Jack was a member of five New England Senior (over 30) championship teams in Peterborough, N.H. and was named the most unheralded player in the tournament in 1982. Regardless of the competition, Jack was an exceptional defender and productive scorer, but was especially known for his rebounding ability. Jack’s softball resume includes over 100 tournaments with Dot’s Dream Team. Dot’s team also won titles in the Hamilton Avenue Softball League.
During three years of playing basketball in the extremely competitive Ocean Beach League, Jack amassed over 1,000 rebounds, was in the top ten in scoring, and helped the Norwich Independents win both the regular season and playoff championships. Jack was named to the all-star team all three years. Jack played in the Norwich City League for five years and was on nine regular season or playoff champions. The end of Jack’s tenure was with Wonder Bar and was the beginning of their dominant run in the 1980’s. In Jack’s first softball tournament, playing for Dot’s, he batted 24 times. Jack made three outs, was intentionally walked 10 times and hit 11 home runs.
Dawn M. Smith
Dawn is a native of Norwich. When she was in elementary school and junior high, there were no organized sports programs in her area. She learned her basketball skills in the dirt driveway at her home.
Dawn entered NFA in the 1976-77 school year. She joined the girls’ basketball team (club) that fall. They played in the SAC league and posted a 1-11 record that first year. By February of 1978, having acquired “team” status, they qualified for the CIAC “L” Tournament and won their first game. Dawn earned 4 varsity letters, was one of the top two scorers for her first three years, and was top scorer and team captain in her senior year. She played in the Senior North-South Friendship Classic Tournament and was named to the Bulletin All – SAC team.
Basketball was followed by a very successful track season and Dawn became a real “star” in the discus and javelin throws. Her discus records included 31 first places, 14 second places and 8 thirds. In her senior year she placed first at SAC, second at CIAC Sectionals and first at the State Open meet. She broke the school record in her second year throwing 113’ 1” then broke her own record in 1980 with a throw of 128’ 11”. That record stood for 20 years. In that same year she was awarded Honorable Mention National High School Track All-American.
In the javelin area Dawn was equally as impressive. She recorded 31 firsts, 21 seconds and 6 thirds. In her second year she broke the NFA record with a throw of 129” 11”. This record stood for 6 years. She placed second at SAC, second at State Sectionals and second at the State Open meet in her senior year.
In addition to all of the medals she won in league and state competition, at larger invitational meets, she earned 11 gold, 12 silver and 3 bronze medals. Dawn earned 4 varsity letters in track, was chosen class athlete, and received the Charles Hamblen Cup.
Dawn’s track career ended a SCSC when she was injured. After graduation she joined the Norwich Fire Department where she was a firefighter for 13 years followed by being the first woman Fire Marshall for 9 years. She is now retired.
Kelley (Schmidt) LaCombe
Kelley attended Plainfield High School where she was a member of the track and cross country teams. While there, she was awarded the Physical Fitness Award. She attended and graduated from the Windham Hospital Radiology Program in 1982 and from Yale University’s Ultrasound Program in 1988. She worked at Backus Hospital for 20 years and the Department of Defense for 8 years as an ultrasonographer. She currently is a self contractor and is a registered pharmacy technician.
Kelley played the positions of shortstop and second base on multiple Division A softball teams from 1983 – 1989; Norwich Oilers, T.J.’s and Backus Hospital. She also earned her red belt in Tang Soo Do. She enjoys playing golf and has been a member of the Woman’s Golf League with the Riverridge Golf Course from 2011 to present.
She also enjoyed an extensive coaching career; Willimantic Little League from 1984 to 1991, Norwich Tee Ball from 1994 to 1995, Norwich Minor League from 1995 to 1997, Norwich Little League from 1998 to 2005, Norwich Junior & Senior League from 2002 to 2005, St. Patrick School Cross Country from 1998 to 2000, CT Nutmeg Games Baseball from 1999 to 2004. She also coached the 1998 Champions, Norwich B All Stars and currently coaches the Norwich Little League Junior and Senior teams. In addition to coaching, she was an umpire for the Norwich Little League, Junior & Senior Leagues and PAL League from 2002 to 2005. If coaching and umpiring wasn’t enough she enjoys announcing at baseball games. She currently announces for Griswold High School and Eastern CT State University and had announced for the Norwich Little League All Stars from 1999 to 2005.
Kelley sat on the Norwich Little League Board of Directors from 1994 to 2005. She helped implement the involvement of Eastern Connecticut Little League in the CT Nutmeg games in 2000. In addition, she scouted and selected 12 to 14 players from Eastern CT to form a team and participate in tournament play in the Nutmeg Games. She selected players based on athletic ability, but more importantly for qualities that exemplified good sportsmanship. After taking teams to tournament play for three years and winning silver medals, Norwich continued to send teams to the Nutmeg Games.
Kelley has volunteered at the American Red Cross and Landa Project and is a member of the Patriot Guard. Besides sports and motherhood, she enjoys ice skating, roller blading and relaxing near the ocean.
Sportsperson(s) of the Year
Legends Team Award
What the NFA girls track and field team achieved from 1990 to 2001 is ….well….legendary! During this period, the team won 10 Class LL State Championships, dominated the Eastern Connecticut Conference during both the regular season and championship meet, compiled an 82 straight dual meet winning streak, had representatives in the Golden West National Track and Field Meet, New England Track and Field Championships, and Class LL and State Open Championships. The 12 year length of this extraordinary run is a tribute to both the coaching staff and the athletes. The Norwich Sports Hall of Fame is pleased to honor you this evening.
Superior athletic talent is certainly an asset when competing in high school athletics. There are many instances, however, when athletes are developed to perform at levels thought to be unreachable. The coaching staff during these years demonstrated this to be the case. Head coach during this time was Gary Makowicki. Assisting him for all 12 of these teams were Sarah Jane Shearer, Kevin Clendennin, and Kevin Crowley. Others were coaching during some of this time. They are Kara Kochanski, Jemal Davis, Sue Hopkins-Terrell and Chad Johnson. This is an accomplished group of coaches and certainly deserves to be recognized this evening.
Athletes of note during this time include Noreen Nadeau who traveled to California to finish 4th nationally in the heptathlon. 15 individuals earned All- New England honors, including Kafi Davis, a two-time champion in the 100 meter dash and the long jump, Nicole Kadyszewski with a high jump championship, Andrea Chappelle with a 2nd place in the triple jump, a 3rd place finish by the 4 X 400 meter relay team of Jen Lamoureux, Heidi Hilinski, Cristel Nelson, and Noreen Nadeau, and a 3rd place finish by the 4 X 800 meter relay team of Kara Kochanski, Amanda Nelson, Jill Akus, and Stephanie Johnson. During this race they set a Connecticut state record. Others making All-New England are Mechell Artis, Brenda McClain, Heather Rubin, and Janelle Plowden. 30 individuals won a total of 66 State Class LL and Open Championships. They are Cristel Nelson (6), Kafi Davis (6), Janelle Plowden (5), Megan King (4), Christa Parent (4), Nicole Kadyszewski (4), Andrea Chappelle (3), Noreen Nadeau (3), Mechell Artis (3), Brenda McClain (2), Jen Lamoureux (2), Heather Rubin (2), Jennifer Paprocki (2), Tiffany Wolfe (2), Amanda Johnson (2), Angela Brehant, Jen Lathrop, Kara Kochanski, Julie Eisenhard, Erin-Kate Mandelburg, Amanda Nelson, Jill Akus, Stephanie Johnson, Michelle Ludwig, Alice Landry, Lisa Ruffo, Jessica Bentz, Alicia Welsh, Allison Blanchard, and Maria Vasquez.
This incredible streak was accomplished with headliners as well as depth. Besides the individual State Championship haul, NFA athletes finished second 40 times. Records show NFA also prominent in the team scoring places of 3rd through 8th. A great example of this team effort is evident by the 2001Class LL championship won by NFA by 19 points. In the shot put, 14 team points were won by Liz Lowe (3rd), Dorothy Devore (4th), and Maria Vasquez (6th). NFA also finished 9th and 10th in this event, just out of the scoring by inches. Mallory Keegan contributed 13 points with a 2nd place finish in the 1600 meters and a 4th place finish in the 3200 meters. Other points were contributed by Dana Merise, Catie Coit, Kristin Coit, Tanya Robbins, Casandra Ortiz, Christa Parent, and two relay teams. The headliners would not have been State Champions without the help of their talented teammates.
This incredible streak was accomplished with headliners as well as depth. Besides the individual State Championship haul, NFA athletes finished second 40 times. Records show NFA also prominent in the team scoring places of 3rd through 8th. A great example of this team effort is evident by the 2001Class LL championship won by NFA by 19 points. In the shot put, 14 team points were won by Liz Lowe (3rd), Dorothy Devore (4th), and Maria Vasquez (6th). NFA also finished 9th and 10th in this event, just out of the scoring by inches. Mallory Keegan contributed 13 points with a 2nd place finish in the 1600 meters and a 4th place finish in the 3200 meters. Other points were contributed by Dana Merise, Catie Coit, Kristin Coit, Tanya Robbins, Casandra Ortiz, Christa Parent, and two relay teams. The headliners would not have been State Champions without the help of their talented teammates.
The performances of these girls have passed the test of time. Nicole Kadyszewski currently holds the Class LL high jump record (2001 – 5′ 6”). Andrea Chappelle also holds the Class LL record in the triple jump (2001 – 37′ 4 1/2”). Recently broken state records were held by Kafi Davis in the long jump (1997 – 18′ 8 3/4”) and Janelle Plowden in the discus (1999 – 139′ 5”). ECC meet records are currently held by Kadyszewski (2000 – 5′ 8”), Chappelle (2001 – 37′ 8”), and Mechell Artis in the shot put (1992 – 41′ 9”). The NFA record board is presently covered with performances from this era. These include Janelle Plowden in the discus (1991 -139′ 5”), Kafi Davis in the 100 meter dash (1998 – 12.48 seconds), Mechell Artis in the shot put (1992 – 41′ 9”), Cristel Nelson in the 100 meter hurdles (1991 – 14.72 seconds), and Noreen Nadeau in the 300 meter intermediate hurdles (1991 – 45.54 seconds). The heptathlon record of 4500 points set by Noreen (1991) is arguably the record that will continue to stand well into the future. The heptathlon events are the 200 meter dash, 100 meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, javelin, long jump, and 800 meters. Many excel in some of these events but it is rare for an athlete to be competitive in all of them.
This extraordinary story could go on about personal bests coming at the most opportune time, rising to the occasion, answering the call. Many have competed in high school athletics, but few have achieved what was done by these girls. Congratulations on being named this year’s Legends Team. You’ve made everyone proud.
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