Sports Hall of Fame Inductees
Group Photo
Linda Tardiff Briggs
Michael DeLucia
Kate Giardi Ericson
James Euell
Gerry Gagnon
Beth Curran Garver
Darryl MarcAurele
Jody Hull McCabe
Joseph Kapteina Service Award Recipient
Sportsperson(s) of the Year
Legends Team Recognition
Peter Doroshevich – William Lubszewicz Scholarship Awards
Camille McKenzie
Douglas Babbitt
Hall of Fame Inductees
Linda Tardiff Briggs
Linda Tardiff Briggs had become a highly talented and experienced gymnast by the time she entered high school thanks to her mother Donna, who operated the Flip City Gymnastics School in Taftville, Ct. In 1977, her freshmen year at Norwich Free Academy, Linda joined the Gymnastics team and helped lead them through a 26-0 undefeated season. The team won the Southeastern Athletic Conference and the CIAC Girls State Gymnastics Championship with a record score of 97.2. Linda captured 1st place in all 5 match segments- bars, horse, beam, floor exercise, and all-around.
In her sophomore year, Linda transferred from NFA to Laurelton Hall High where she began intensified gymnastics training under the tutelage of world renowned coach Muriel Grossfield. Linda was a Ct. State All-Around High School Champion and a 2 Time USA Elite Gymnast from 1977-1979. She competed as an elite competitor at the World Game Trials and became a member of the United States National Gymnastics Team which trained for the boycotted 1980 Olympics. She competed against other countries, such as the People’s Republic of China, West Germany, England, and Japan. After her elite career and graduating from Laurelton in 1980, Linda earned a full gymnastics scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania, which was ranked number one in collegiate gymnastics. She competed for Penn State for four years and was the gymnastics captain in 1984. Linda graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Individual and Family Studies with a minor in Sports Psychology.
In January of 1989 until December of 2007 she took over the ownership, running, and head coach of Flip City Gymnastics. She has coached many gymnasts who have become State, Regional, and National Champions. Linda has been a clinician at a number of gymnastics schools not only Connecticut but throughout the region. She has also coached and mentored at a number of camps across the country including: Arials’ Gymnasts (PA), the University of Rhode Island Summer Camp, and Gold Star Gymnastics Camp (CT). She is also the gymnastics coach and supervisor for the ABC Gymnastics Stars team levels 3 through 9(AAU and USAG) and the New England Gymnastics Express coach for levels 4 through elite.
Since December of 1987, Linda has become a member of NAWGJ as a Gymnastics Judging Official. She is one of only two Connecticut residents who have qualified to serve as a Brevet Gymnastics Judging Official. She has been the meet referee for a member of high level competitions. In 2007 Linda received the AAU Lifetime Achievement Award and the AAU Governors Award for Outstanding Dedication to gymnastics. She has mentored a number of National Team members including 2004 Silver medalist Annia Hatch. Linda is married and has two children, a daughter Cindy and a son Danny.
Michael DeLucia
Mike was born and raised in Norwich, CT. He was introduced to competitive athletics playing Little League Baseball, Church Basketball and NFA Junior Olympics.
In high school at Norwich Free Academy, Mike played Football, Indoor Track and Track and Field. As a 3-time varsity letter winner in football (1980-82) he was voted SE CT Conference All Star in 1981 and 82, named 1st team CT coaches All-State Team 1982, was chosen 2nd Team All State by New Haven Register 1982, was selected as All Area Team and MVP Defensive Player by the New London Day in 1982 and National Football Hall of Fame Scholar Athlete 1983.
Mike also excelled in Indoor Track and Track and Field while attending NFA. In Indoor Track Mike was a 2 year varsity letter winner (82-83) and was named co-captain in 1983. Mike was state Pole Vault Champion and named All-State in Indoor Track in 1983. In Track and Field Mike was a 2 year varsity letter winner (82-83) and was named co-captain in 1983. Mike was state Pole Vault Champion and was also named honorable mention All-America Track Team in 1983. He was awarded the Fletcher-Willey Cup (top Male Class Athlete) his senior year at NFA.
Following graduation from NFA, Mike attended Trinity College in Hartford, CT. While at Trinity, he earned 4 varsity letters playing football and was named to the All Conference Team as a senior. He graduated from Trinity in 1987 with a B.A in Computer Science.
In addition to Mike’s athletic accomplishments he has volunteered in numerous charities, boosters and coaching in Southern California, including Little League, Ronald McDonald House, South Pasadena HS Football Boosters and the Pasadena Chapter of “The First Tee” where he has been nominated for Board Membership.
Mike currently resides in South Pasadena, CA with his wife Julie, children Ryan and Matthew, and is currently a project manager at Western Asset Management.
Kate Giardi Ericson
Growing up in Norwichtown, Kate’s early athletic experiences spanned all that Norwich youth and school programs had to offer. From the Norwich PAL soccer, basketball, and softball leagues (usually culminating in the District 11 championship games) to Huntington School (“proudly coached by then-Principal, John DeStefano”) to Kelly Jr. High (competing against surrounding towns and future NFA teammates), Kate credits those athletic experiences for instilling the “competitive spirit” she presently uses to meet her professional challenges.
At Norwich Free Academy, Kate earned ten varsity letters competing in the maximum 12 seasons of soccer, basketball, and softball. In her senior year, Kate captained the soccer, basketball and softball teams, repeating as captain in softball. She earned All-Conference honors in soccer twice. In basketball, Kate was named All-Conference in her upper and senior years, with the ‘91 and ‘92 teams winning both the ECC regular season and tournament championship. She was selected MVP of the ’92 ECC Hoop tournament. Her softball career was highlighted by being named All-Conference three times and All-State in both her sophomore and senior years. She led the team in hitting for three years finishing her senior year with a .429 BA.
Kate continued her athletic career at Boston College in softball as a walk-on and started every game except one over four years. Named Captain her senior year, she finished her college career ranked #3 all-time in RBI’s, #7 all-time in runs scored and earned Big East Academic All-Star honors for excellence in the classroom.
Upon graduation from BC she coached girl’s soccer and softball for three years at Griswold High School. From her early days coaching Summer Basketball camps at NFA, when first teaching a young girl a layup, she realized that she wanted to be an educator working with youth. Kate especially loved playing for her dad, Paul (longtime NFA girls hoop coach) and sharing her athletic career with her grandfather, Hank Giardi (legendary East Hartford football coach). Both dad and grandfather are in the CT Sports Hall of Fame.
Presently, Kate is the Chief Academic Officer for the New London Public Schools, residing in Franklin, CT with her husband Kevin and three children; Kayley, Sarah and Paul.
James Euell
James Euell, NFA Class of 1970, had a number of outstanding running performances while wearing the Red and White of the Wildcats. In any discussion of the great runners from NFA, James Euell will always be a big part of that discussion.
In his junior year during the 1968 cross-country season James set 4 course records in dual meets and went on to win the Capitol District Conference Meet in another course record. He continued to win the Eastern Sectional meet, Class L Meet and the State Open title followed by a fourth place finish in the New England Meet which was the best finish ever by an NFA runner in that meet. The 1969 cross-country season was more of the same as James again won the CDC, Class L and State Open titles but this year James won the New England Championship while breaking that course record by 14 seconds.
It was in track where James showed great versatility. In 1970 during the indoor season he set the state record for the 1000 yard run when he won the state title in 2:13.5 which was the 7th fastest high school time ever run. In outdoor track in his junior year James won the Class L and Open 880 yard titles and then raced to the New England Championship with a Meet Record of 1:52.3. In his senior season James focused on the mile. He won the CDC with a meet record time of 4:14.4, won the Class L title and at the Open Meet he set a state record in the mile with a time of 4:10.8. This is still the fastest time ever run at the State Open Meet. James then went to the Golden West Meet, which at the time was the national championship meet, and finished fourth with a time of 4:10.1.
After NFA, James enrolled at Mesa Junior College where he earned All-American honors in cross-country and track. In 1971 he set the Mesa record in the 800 meters with a time of 1:49.3. Forty-three years later that record still stands. In 1972 James ran on the school record distance medley relay and that mark has not been beaten. Following Mesa, James enrolled at Kansas University where he was a varsity letter winner in 1973 and 1974 in both cross-country and track. James has personal mile bests of 4:07.4 (indoors) and 4:05.8 (outdoors) and his personal best time in the 1000 yard run is 2:10.24 which is second by one tenth of a second on the Kanses all-time list. Jim Ryun is first on that list.
James Euell has put together a number of great running performances at high levels and it is these achievements that have brought him to be inducted into the Norwich Sports Hall of Fame. James is currently living in California.
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Gerry Gagnon
Gerry graduated from NFA in 1962. He earned multiple Varsity Letters in Baseball and Basketball. He was a varsity starter for three years and was a co-captain in his senior year and was named to the All-Conference team. Gerry was the starting left fielder for NFA’s varsity baseball team which won two consecutive Capital District Conference Titles and two consecutive State Championships in 1961 and 1962. Gerry batted .406 in his senior year and had a tryout with the Boston Red Sox. As significant as his baseball accomplishments were, they paled in comparison to what he went on to accomplish in basketball.
From 1963 through 1965, Gerry attended Kemper Junior College in Missouri where he made his mark in basketball. In his first year he averaged 31 pts. per game and in his second year averaged 32 pts. per game. His name is listed in the National Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA for leading the nation in scoring and he was named a Junior College All American. During his two seasons at Kemper he scored over 50pts. in a game on three occasions with a high of 62 points.
Gerry went on to play at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa Oklahoma from 1965 thru 1967 on a full scholarship. In his first year he averaged 22 pts. per game and 23pts. per game in his senior year. Gerry was named to the All-Conference Team both years.
Wherever Gerry played, the great majority of his shots were taken from beyond what is now the 3-point line.
In 1968 Gerry returned to his hometown of Taftville where he had already earned celebrity status. He continued playing in local basketball and softball city leagues for 18 years. He played actively and productively into his 40’s. He was one of the best shooters in New London County and even in the highly competitive semi-pro New London City League where there were many former Division I college players. Gerry was a perennial All-star wherever he played whether it be basketball or softball. Gerry played softball in several local city leagues and tournaments around the State. He established himself as an incredible and legendary home run hitter. There was excitement every time that he came to the plate because a home run was always anticipated. Many of his home runs were “tape-measure” shots. Gerry was always a fierce competitor and a fun team mate. No matter how far one of his home runs traveled, he would always comment that he “didn’t get it all” or he “hit it off the handle”. Gerry played on at least 35 championship teams throughout his sports career.
Beth Curran Garver
Beth’s parents Walt and BJ and her first coach Bud Eldridge were instrumental in her early development. Bud was the coach of the Shoot Straight basketball program. The program was designed to teach youngsters the skills and fundamentals of the game. There was question if girls and boys should play together, Bud quickly discovered that this was not a problem as Beth and a few other pioneering girls more than held their own.
Beth’s development continued at NFA under the tutelage of Paul Giardi and assistant Bill Scarlata. Despite Beth’s potential, she initially struggled putting everything together. As a freshman Beth scored 11 points for the season: nine for NFA and two for an opposing team. Beth’s determination to improve led her to camps and anywhere else that would help her improve. A growth spurt also changed her position from guard to the low post. Coach Giardi states, “Beth literally improved more than any other player that I ever coached. She came from nowhere to become our best player.” As a sophomore, Beth became a varsity starter and helped the team to their first winning season. Beth began setting scoring (36 points vs. East Lyme) and rebounding (15) records. Beth was a great defender and described as a quick and scrappy player. Beth finished her high school career with 844 points. After Beth’s junior season, she made 2nd Team All-State by the New Haven Register. In her senior season, Beth was selected to First Team All-State by the Register and the Hartford Courant. Coach Scarlata states, “Beth was the first really great player for NFA. She could dominate in today’s game.”
Beth was highly recruited by several Division I schools and decided to attend New Hampshire – becoming the first NFA grad to play D-I basketball. The change in schools necessitated a change in positions: from the low block to the perimeter. Beth enjoyed a successful four year career with a highlight being a 28 point effort against Iona. Beth’s junior season was her strongest as an ankle injury during her senior season forced her into a walking boot for the second half of the season.
After relocating to Los Angeles in 1997, Beth tried out for the Sparks of the WNBA. This was the inaugural season for the league. Beth’s spirit led her and 400 other players to try out. Beth survived for five days and was one of 75 remaining players before she received an elbow to the mouth dropping her to her knees. It was a great experience and a satisfying way to end her career.
Beth is a nursing home administrator in the L.A. area. She and her husband of 20 years, Dusty Garver, are the parents of three daughters: Julia (15), Reagan (13) and Sydney (12).
Darryl MarcAurele
At age 7, Darryl MarcAurele began playing competitive sports and earning awards with AllStar recognition throughout his early teens.
At Norwich Free Academy, bats and balls slowly moved to the back shelf as wrestling entered his life. With coaching from his Dad and Hall of Famer Wrestler Carl Snitkin, Darryl advanced quickly through JV level and Varsity challenges on the mats.
He became a two-time All-Conference Winner, a Class LL State Champion, twice a Connecticut Free-Style Open winner and the New England Free Style Champ. In his senior year, Darryl served as Team Captain, had an undefeated 18-0 record and led the Wildcats to a 16-2 mark, 2nd place in State standings. He was the first Academy wrestler to earn All-State recognition.
Wrestling off-season in high school, Daryl took 1st Place in US Greco and Freestyle Regional’s – the first Connecticut wrestler to do so. Going into the National Junior Championships in Iowa, Darryl stretched his won-loss record to 129 and 1 and, at the Nationals, he became the first Nutmeg wrestler to make All-American in both Greco and Freestyle venues. Darryl was named New England Wrestler of the Year for 1992, his graduation year from NFA. He was also recipient of the Sportsman of the Year Award from the Norwich Sports Hall of Fame.
Darryl continued wrestling after high school and added a variety of challenges for the mat – judo, kickboxing, Sambo, Muay Thai, Jujitso, mixed martial arts, submission grappling and others. He has enjoyed a wide range of success – Regional Olympic Qualifying Champion, 3rd in the World Team trials, 4-time New England Freestyle Champ, AAU Greco-Roman National Winner, twice an Ironman Wrestling World Champion, State Judo Champ and New England Welter Weight Muay Thai winner. He won a silver medal helping the US Team capture the1999 Sambo World Cup in Nice, France. and he was the US Mixed Martial Arts Champ at age 40.
Darryl’s teaching and coaching careers began right after high school when he started youth programs in Ledyard, Waterford and then Montville. He opened the Strike Zone Gym in New London in 2001 and is now considering relocation to Norwich where it all began.
Jody Hull McCabe
Jody began swimming at the age of 5 for the Norwich YMCA Swim Team. At ages 8 and 9 she broke 7 records while swimming for the Greater New London Swim Team and the Norwich YMCA. At the 1978 New England Area Championships, she placed 1st in the 25 yd backstroke and 4th in the 25 yd butterfly. She was the only Norwich swimmer to qualify for NE Championships in events. She was chosen 1978 Outstanding Swimmer for E Class AAU Grater NL Swim Club. In 1979 she set area records in the 50 yd backstroke and the 50 yd butterfly. Many records she set were still standing when the Norwich YMCA closed.
When she attended NFA, there was not a swim season for girls so they had to compete with and against the boys. Jody was part of the 86-87 and 87-88 teams that won Eastern CT Conference Championships. In the 87 Title Meet she won both the 200 yd and 500 yd events and she was the only girl member of the winning 4×100 relay. In the 88 Championship Meet she finished 2nd in both the 200 and 500 and repeated winning the 4×100 relay. She was the only female to qualify for the Boys States. She was a 4 year Varsity letter winner and set many school records which were not broken until 23 years later in 2011. She was team captain for the 87-88 season. In 86, she traveled to Maastricht, Netherlands to participate as a member of the US Team at the KLM International Friendship Event. In 87, she was featured on the cover of Swimming World as part of the “Americans in Maastricht” cover story. During her 4 years at NFA she received the outstanding senior award, swim team school record for total points in one season, swim team school record for career points, ECC Champions and the T.W. Dutton Memorial Scholarship. She also swam with the Sub Base Barracuda Swim team in the off seasons.
While attending UCONN, she was a 4 year Varsity Letter winner. She received the Best Freshman in 88-89 and Most Improved in 90-91 as well as serving as captain for the 90-91 and 91-92 seasons. She set school records in the 500, 1000 and 1650 yd Freestyles, as well as the 4×100 an 4×200 yd Freestyle relays. She qualified for Eastern Seaboard Championships in the 500 and 1650 Freestyle events. USA Today, in its annual survey of Division I athletic programs, ranked CT Women’s athletic programs as 11th best overall program in the country. She also played intramural basketball and water polo.
She has served as an assistant coach and coach for various team post college.
She has two daughters, Mada and Fionnuala, and a son, Benjamin.
Maynard Strickland
Maynard Strickland’s nomination for the Kapteina Service Award had its roots in the early 1950’s when he played shortstop for NFA baseball. He followed that team to the Norwich City League in 1956 and later played on two championship teams for the Lehigh Oilers recording solid fielding accomplishments and batting averages through the 1963 season. During that time, he was slated to be the starting shortstop at Willimantic State Teacher’s College but had to leave for personnel reasons.
Maynard’s playing career really set the foundation for the next aspect of his sports endeavors. From 1975-85, as the co-owner of the Village Green Café and Nightclub, he sponsored several men’s and women’s softball teams winning a number of championships and tournaments. The men’s softball teams which he sponsored played both in Norwich and Montville and played in different divisions. During that time the Village Green also sponsored a men’s touch football team. Several of these teams won championships in a league which was comprised of many of the top athletes in the area.
Maynard’s investments into the Norwich area took about a ten year hiatus when he moved to Florida in 1985 in the Tampa Bay area. He opened a business while continuing to raise a family. In 1995 he returned to the area and was elected to serve on several Mohegan Tribal Counsels until 2010. During that time he became involved in the Norwich Community Development Corporation and the YMCA’s Board of Directors. Since he had been a lifelong member of the YMCA, he fought very hard to convince the City of Norwich to continue and encourage support of a needed outlet for the Youth of Norwich. The focus of the Mohegan Tribe began to branch out during the 1990’s; Maynard’s focus to help the Norwich area led him to Dodd Stadium’s Norwich Navigators where he served on the Board of Directors and the Tater Charities Board which helped families of children with medical problems. He spearheaded the purchasing and outfitting of Skyboxes for Mohegan Sun. During 2002, Maynard was asked by John Ellis, founder of the Connecticut Sports Foundation Against Cancer to host its annual fundraiser at Mohegan Sun. Since then, the organization has raised millions of dollars to help families of Connecticut children who are struggling with the added expense of dealing with cancer and to help with medical research. That same year, Mohegan Sun CEO Mitchell Etess asked Maynard to help convince the Council to purchase the Orlando WNBA Women’s basketball team. This happened to coincide with the 10th Anniversary of the Mohegan Sun and brought a professional sports team to the region.
Maynard is still active with these organizations and currently resides in Uncasville with his family.
Sportsperson(s) of the Year
Legends Team Award
During the late 1970’s to mid 1990’s, slow pitch softball enjoyed a popularity nationwide that is unfathomable to younger people today. Just in Eastern Connecticut, there were over 150 teams competing in at least 12 leagues. The Norwich Athletic Association, better known as the Hamilton Avenue Softball League, was home to 30 teams. Hundreds of teams competed statewide; many thousands nationwide. Many players played in several leagues and participated in over 300 games in one season.
To some, slow pitch softball may seem like a “picnic” activity. This was far from the case. Strong, quick, athletic players competed on fields that were smaller than baseball fields. Balls were rifled off of bats requiring superior reaction time. The only thing slow about this game was the speed of the pitch.
Some teams were more successful than others with a handful of teams dominating the action. From 1979 to 1984, no team could match the accomplishments of Straub’s. Straub’s was crowned the “A” division champions in Norwich in 1979, 1980 (undefeated), 1981, 1982, and 1984. For good measure, Straub’s won again in 1988. Straub’s also played in the Baltic League winning “A” division championships in 1982 and 1983. Straub’s cultivated a family-type atmosphere within the players. Selfish players were weeded out. Team players were brought in. The line-up was sprinkled with prodigious home run hitters and proficient average hitters. There was no room for weak fielders.
As the team improved, they began to enter local tournaments. Straub’s entered about 16 weekend tournaments yearly. Success followed in these tournaments with titles in Montville, Norwich, Plainfield, Baltic, Jewett City, Groton, Ledyard, Enfield, Thompson, Stonington, and Lefty’s 500. Many titles were successfully defended. Further from home, Straub’s played in tournaments in Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, New York, and Rhode Island. Straub’s won the Massachusetts State USSSA tournament qualifying them for the National Tournament in Bowie, Maryland. They qualified twice more for the National Tournament by winning USSSA tournaments in Rochester, New York and New Bedford, Massachusetts. Straub’s also won the Cape Cod USSSA “Labor Day Weekend” softball tournament. Many second and third place finishes were also won during this time period.
To show the potency of the line-up, in 1985 Straub’s won the Ledyard “Jack Clark” tournament. The games were played with a black dot ball, that is a non-restrictive flight ball. The fence was 290 feet around. In four games, Straub’s recorded close to 100 home runs.
Through the years many players played for Straub’s. The list is extensive and reflects reasons for their success. They are Tom Alfieri, Billy Boots, Kevin Bresnan, Skip Burgess, Allen Church, Rod Depot, Jack Derosier, Maury Drake, Archie Drobiak, Dave Drobiak, Sam Eaton, Dale Fowler, Mike Giansanti, Scott Griffin, Kyle Jones, Jimmy Justice, Dennis Kalinowski, Stu Kalinowski, Scott Karns, Donnie Laperle, Sam Lenn, Bob Malouf, Ronnie Martin, John McKeag, Caesar Meredith, Craig Olsen, Ted Richards, Steve Running, Ted Running (long time manager), Bill Scarlata, Frank Smith, Bob Straub (sponsor), Vin Terni, Pete Ververis, Ted Ververis, Dale Williams, and Paul Wujtewicz.