Hall of Fame Inductee Recipients
| John Anthony | Russ VerSteeg |
| Kim Farrell | Lynn H. McLean (Heather Rubin) |
Joseph Kapteina Service Award Recipients
Yamil Dip | Charles Whitty |
Sportspersons of the Year
Noah Rak | Paige Martin |
High School Scholarship Recipients
Jonathan Synott | Norwich Free Academy |
Riley Rieverts | Norwich Tech |
Jack Lonardelli Memorial Award Recipients
Genevieve Buckridge | Norwich Free Academy |
Kellsey Gumbs | Norwich Tech |
Legend’s Recognition
Lefty’s Gang
Norwich Sports Hall of Fame Recipients
Norwich Youth Football and Cheerleading
Norwich Police Athletic League (PAL)
Norwich Youth League Soccer
Norwich Youth Lacrosse Association
John Anthony
John Anthony is one of the most prominent runners and tri-athletes to graduate from the Norwich Free Academy where he began his prestigious career. With little running experience, John finished third at the Eastern Connecticut Conference (ECC) in his debut at cross- country, and 51st at the CT State Open. In his senior year, John’s running talent was further cemented in an impressive fifth place finish at the Class LL meet and 11th place overall at the CT State Open. He went on to outpace most at the New England Cross Country Championships that year, placing in the Top 35 and was selected as an all-area New London Day athlete.
John solidified his running career during his collegiate experiences while competing under a full running scholarship at the University of Hartford. His dominance for the Hawks was unmistakable. John maintained the position of top runner on the team for cross country and all distance running during his entire four-year career. John impressively posted 16 top five individual finishes, and won top honors in 1994 against ECSU, three times in 1995 at the Hartford Invitational, against Sienna College and Fairfield University, as well as secured a repeat first place finish with rival Sienna College in 1996. His personal bests include a 15:20 5k performance, 25:20 at the 5-mile distance, and 32:00 in the 10k. His prowess not only included athletics, but also academics, as John attained a position on the American East Conference Academic Honor Roll each of his four years.
John’s post-collegiate career is equally striking as he not only continued to compete at an elite level in distance running, but decisively transitioned as an extremely competitive triathlete. In 1998, John ran a 1:11 half marathon at Fairfield, and won a national event at the CT Chase Corporate 3.5 Mile Race under the auspices of Team Pfizer. John went on to win a number of local races and triathlons including the Run for Reliance House, Canterbury 10k Road Race, and Lawrence and Memorial Road Race, as well as the Niantic Bay Triathlon and Litchfield Hills Triathlon.
In 2007 and 2008, John qualified for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships. His series of accolades culminated in 2008 with an induction into the University of Hartford Athletic Hall of Fame. Despite this top honor, John continued his stride to athletic greatness in the area of cycling. John is a five- time finisher of the Mount Washington Hill Climb race with qualification as “top notch” each time. John is a USA Cycling Category 3 Bike Racer and a USA Cycling Certified Level 1 coach.
Kim Farrell
From an early age, Kim Farrell was destined to be an exemplary and multi-faceted athlete. As a youth, Kim represented Connecticut in the Nutmeg State Games and participated in various Elks and Knights of Columbus sports events, winning foul shooting competitions (1987-1992 and placing third in New England in 1990). She also participated in the Connecticut Starters AAU basketball program for 6 years, which was the only AAU program in Connecticut at the time, where she played in the National Tournament each year. Kim also was a Little League All Star and was recognized as the Best Athlete as an eighth grader at Franklin Elementary School in 1992.
When Kim reached high school (NFA Class of 1996) she became a highly respected basketball player. She excelled as a four-year starter and was a four-time All ECC basketball team selection and a three-time All ECC Tournament selection (1993, 1994, 1995). As a senior team captain (1995-1996), she led her team to the first NFA Girls Basketball State Championship, a team which was also ranked as the #1 team in New England. Kim was the second player at NFA to score 1,000 career points and until 2014 held the 3-point career record with 124 3-point shots made. She was selected to play in the CT High School Coaches Association All Star game and the JCC Schoolboy Classic Girls Basketball game, where she received the scholar-athlete award.
Kim Farrell’s athleticism wasn’t limited to basketball. Throughout her high school years, she was selected on various All-Area and All-ECC teams for both volleyball and softball. She was the volleyball team captain and two-time All ECC team member (1993, 1995). She was selected as an All-State Softball player and received the Charles P. Hamblen award for a female athlete in 1996. Kim graduated from NFA in 1996 as a National Honor Society inductee with Highest Honors.
Kim earned a full scholarship to play basketball at Pace University, where she was a four-year player and two-year team captain. In her senior year (1999-2000), she led her team to the NCAA tournament. Additionally, she led the Northeast 10 Conference in assists and was ranked #15 in the nation for assists. She currently holds the #8 position for career assists at Pace University. Kim graduated in 2000 as a member of the National Honor Society and Kappa Mu Epsilon (the Math National Honor Society).
Kim’s contribution to Pace University did not end with graduation. She mentors current student athletes and serves on the Athletic Alumni Advisory Board. She also has been volunteering with the Team RHAM Special Olympics basketball program as a coach since 2010. Kim resides in Manchester, CT with her partner, Kathy, and continues to play recreational softball locally.
Lynn H. McLean (Heather Rubin)
Lynn attended Lisbon Central School where she participated on the track and field team. She set school records in the shot put and discus that lasted for many years. At graduation Lynn received the Robert Owejan Scholar Athlete award.
At the Norwich Free Academy Lynn did four years of basketball, volleyball and track and field. She was a part of the beginning of the volleyball program. She received the outstanding hitter award her senior year and was named an ECC all-star.
During Lynn’s basketball career, she helped NFA develop into a state power. Lynn was a four-year letter winner and was the first 1000 point scorer for the girls program. She finished her career as the all time career scoring leader. She helped NFA to four ECC titles, was named to the all- tournament team three times and led the wildcats to the first ever Class LL state championship. The team finished ranked #1 in New England. Lynn was named MVP of the 1996 state championship game, received the team MVP award and was an ECC all-star and received all-state recognition. During her career the overall team record was outstanding.
Track and Field was another sport that Lynn excelled. She was a four-year letter winner and a top scorer in the throwing events, competing in the Shot, Discus and Javelin. The team had an overall record of 36-0 during her career with ECC regular season, ECC tournament and Class LL State championships all four years. She finished her career never having lost a team competition. Individually, Lynn had much success. She was again an ECC All-Star and All-State. She finished 2nd in the javelin at the ECC meet her senior year. Lynn was 2nd in the Class LL meet in the javelin her lower year and won the Class LL and State Open her senior year. She earned All-New England honors that year when she finished in 2nd place. She finished as the 5th all time javelin thrower in the history of the NFA program.
At the athletic awards night, Lynn received the Wildcat Award, the Larochelle Memorial Award and the Varsity Versatility Award. After graduation, Lynn attended Boston University and played on the basketball team.
Lynn is currently playing for the Cheshire Ice Cats Women’s Ice Hockey team.
Russ VerSteeg
Russ VerSteeg is a nationally renowned pole vaulting coach and educator. Fortunately for Norwich, he resides in town and has been the pole vault coach at Norwich Free Academy since 2003. He has also coached at East Lyme High School and at Broughton High School (Raleigh, NC), his alma mater as Head Cross Country and Track Coach from 1981-84. Russ first took up pole vaulting in high school and early years in college. At NFA the past sixteen years, Russ has produced innumerable pole vaulting (PV) champions in the ECC, Class LL States, State Open and New England’s. Many of his athletes have been competitive at the Collegiate Division I and II levels in pole vaulting.
On a daily basis, he splits his time between his professional position as Professor at the New England School of Law (Boston, MA) since 1991 and his passion as pole vaulting coach in Norwich since 2003 to the present. Russ teaches Sports Law at the law school among other classes.
Russ credits Jan Johnson, the 1972 Summer Olympics PV bronze medalist, with inspiring him to meld law/safety/liability into pole vaulting practice. Russ reached out to Jan who was an outspoken innovator and advocate for pole vault safety and their alliance grew. Russ co-authored The Illustrated History of the Pole Vault with Jan Johnson. Russ created Skyjumpers Connecticut, fashioned after Johnsons Skyjumpers in California, where he is President (2007-present) and coaches pole vaulting to athletes from CT and adjoining states. The Skyjumpers is a USATF (USA Track & Field) sanctioned pole vault organization.
Russ has written many sports and pole vault related books, book chapters and articles in professional law journals. He also was a member of the Norwich PAL Board of Directors (1995-2003), has USATF Level One Certification, was National Safety Director for the USATF pole vault, was on the ASTM Pole Vault Subcommittee (pole vault safety), and also presented pole vault related lectures at the Reno PV Summitt and for the CT High School Coaches Association. He is the “go-to guy” as an expert in all PV facets, foremost being safety, and is sought out by coaching colleagues. Anecdote from Russ: “There are no trade secrets.” Lives in Norwich with wife Nina.
Joseph Kapteina Service Award Recipients
Yamil Dip
Yamil grew up in Bronx, New York next to Yankee Stadium, then moved to Norwich as a 20 year old for family and work. Fortunately for the Norwich Little League, he met his wife Mary Beth in town and decided to remain spending fifteen years as a volunteer for the league in many capacities . Yamil first began his volunteer service at the Norwich Little League in 2004 coaching T-ball and eventually coaching at all levels. He is currently the President of the league, a position he has held for the past five years. In addition to overseeing all President related duties, he still coaches the 11-12 age league and T-Ball .
He credits his time growing up in the Bronx with instilling his focus on giving to others. Playing baseball on 185th St. in the morning, basketball mid-day and football at night gave him a sense of neighborhood. He decided to play in the big 184th vs 185th Block St. Game instead of a trip to Puerto Rico as, at that time, it “was more important to win the neighborhood game.” Yamil worked at a souvenir shop outside Yankee Stadium and saw many a Yankee game from the grandstand. “I could throw a ball into the stadium from my home upstairs in the souvenir shop.”
Over his fifteen years of volunteer service to the Norwich Little League, Yamil has done it all and continues to do so: Budget, fundraising, concessions, equipment, etc., but there is one task he would like to give away: Empyting the trash. He also noted that there is one position he avoids: Umpire. He credits his upbringing to his drive to “give back.” He stays involved with volunteerism because of all the people, primarily the youngsters. It’s a new experience every year and he plans to stay involved with no end in sight.
Yamil spends half his time working at Jaypro Sports in Waterford with “the other half working for the Norwich Little League.” With Mary Beth along his side at the little league, also were their three boys Yamil Jr., Navarro, and Johan.
Charles Whitty
Charles Whitty grew up in Norwichtown, attended Samuel Huntington and graduated from the Norwich Free Academy in 1961. He received his B.A. from St. Bonaventure University and his J.D. from Villanova University School of Law. Charles began his law career in Norwich and in 1970 was hired by the City of Norwich as Assistant City Manager. He was promoted to the position of City Manager in 1973 and remained in that role until 1986, when he returned to private practice with the law firm of Berberick, Murphy, Devine, & Whitty PC. In 2000, Charles was hired as Executive Director of the Norwich Housing Authority, recently retiring from that position in 2018.
Charles has served the City of Norwich in an official position for “47 years” including many periods in which the city had seen some significant changes but had also begun to see difficult times. His career with the City has always related with the belief of improving the quality of life for the community and providing ways to improve oneself for the future. The foundation for these accomplishments began when he was growing up in Norwichtown.
Charles lived next to Jack Thompson, the director of summer programs in Norwich, and was encouraged to apply for the position of “playground instructor” at Huntington School, across the street. During those five summers, he got to know the kids which arrived at the playground every day and looked to have organized activities. There was a certain group who wanted to play “ball”. They wanted to improve their skills and ‘learn the game’. During that time, it was not uncommon for people in the same neighborhood of Norwich to know someone in the family who attended the school or church and shopped in the local grocery store and who lived three miles away. It was also a time when the main sports were baseball, basketball, and football.
Charley became manager of the Thamesville AC Braves in the Norwich Senior Little League for 16 years. He led 11 championships and was All-star manager for 4 years. He was a member of the Little League Board of Directors for 10 years and assistant to the Norwich District Director.
Charley also found a passion for coaching basketball during the fall and winter season. Many of the same athletes he coached for baseball wanted an experienced coach to lead them in another sport. He was the coach of the Sacred Heart (Norwichtown) basketball team in the Norwich City League and the Norwich Diocesan CYO League for 14 years, winning multiple titles. Charles was a student of the game. He often used local ex-professional players and scrimmaged against other coaches and teams in more advanced leagues to improve his players experience
Charles was also one of the co-founders and Director of the Norwich Big League (ages 16-18). His All-star teams won 5 state and New England titles and participated in 5 New England Regionals, finishing runner up once.
In 1977 Charles was the recipient of the Sportsperson of the Year from the Hall of Fame and served on the Board of Directors for 6 years. In 1978, he negotiated the acquisition of the Norwich Golf Course for the City while serving as City Manager. For the past 33 years he has been a member of the Norwich Golf Course Authority which has always been self-sufficient from taxpayer assistance.
Sportsperson of the Year
Paige Martin
Paige Martin is an eight- letter varsity winner as a junior at Norwich Free Academy. She is a three- sport standout at NFA, competing in cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track. As a freshman in her first season in the pole vault during indoor track, she cleared 8’0” on her very first attempt. Within that same season, she smashed that performance with a vault of 8’ 6”, earning her first varsity letter at NFA. Her talent became more convincing during the outdoor season of her freshman year when she cleared 10’0” and received her second varsity letter.
Paige began competing in cross country as a sophomore, and successfully earned her third varsity letter, although her stellar performances continued with the pole vault. During the indoor season, Paige continued to improve, clearing 11’0”, earning all-conference honors in the Eastern Connecticut Conference (EEC) and finishing her season with a second-place victory at the CT Sate Open. Her notable performances earned her a fourth varsity letter in indoor track. Her outdoor season was equally impressive, as Paige continued to reach new heights, clearing 11’4” and again, attaining all-conference honors in the ECC.
Currently a junior, Paige earned her sixth varsity letter in cross country and is now dominating the competition in the pole vault. Paige won every post-season competition including ECC’s, Class LL meet, and the CT State Open. Most impressive, Paige cleared 12’1/2 ”at the indoor track state open, setting a new indoor state record. She was voted 1st team by Game Time CT, a premier high school sports website. She continues to demonstrate her elite athleticism in the pole vault during her outdoor season taking place presently. She reached 11’8” at the Middletown Invitational. Paige is a versatile track athlete, and also completes in the long jump and triple jump, with personal bests of 16’2”and 33’7”, respectively. Paige is a member of the 4 x 100 relay team.
Noah Rak
Noah grew up in Norwich playing in the youth Lacrosse and Football programs. He attended Canterbury School where he was a three-sport athlete.
He earned All-New England honors as a running back in football and served as team captain his senior year. Noah was a three-time Prep All-New England wrestler two-time National Prep participant. The sport of lacrosse is where Noah excelled. In 2014 he was a US Lacrosse High School All-American. He led the team in ground balls and face-offs. He led the team to a Division II Western New England championship with 25 goals and 20 assists for 45 points. He dominated at the faceoff winning 81% of his attempts. He served as team captain his senior year. Noah was selected to the Blue Chip 225, Prep School Showcase and Connecticut Super Junior All-Star teams.
Noah attended the University of Massachusetts where he was a faceoff specialist. His senior year he was an NEILA, CAA and ECAC first-team all-star as a faceoff specialist. He also was named to the NEILA all-academic team. He graduated as UMass as the all-time school leader ion faceoffs and ground balls. After graduation, Noah was selected by the Charlotte Hounds in the 2018 Major League Lacrosse draft as the 2nd faceoff specialist selected with the 32nd overall pick.
Noah was recently traded to the New York Lizards of the Major League Lacrosse League.
Legends Team Recognition
Lefty’s Gang
Lefty’s Gang began in Phil Booker’s ‘Rec’ Department office in 1959 with an application, $25, and a “nickname”. The City Summer Basketball League (B division) was about to have a new winner “with 6 seconds left and a play used at Norwich Tech that year!” With that $25, sixteen-year-old Rich Rothstein began what was a scrapbook filled with scores of memories, players, and records in Norwich basketball and softball leagues. For 30 years he recruited and sponsored teams to play in the Norwich basketball and softball leagues and along with Bob Spayne created the ‘Over 30’ basketball league.
Rich was not just a sponsor; he also played and coached the teams. That first team in 1959 included Butch Turcotte, Andy Ozga, and GG Godaire. In later years, featured players included: Gerry Gagnon Mike Moore, Chris Portelance, Bob Dembenski, Yash Lapkowski, Chris Mckeon, Mike Arpin, Ellis Ruley, Paul Zinewicz, Tom Alfieri, and Bob and Rich Rothstein, to name but a few.
The league played at Kelly Junior High and Teachers’ Memorial and was undoubtedly, the best basketball around. It was a highly competitive in both the ‘Senior and Over 30’ Leagues. Teams sponsored by The Wonder Bar, Shop-Rite, Sportsman AC, Olympic Pizza, and Lefty’s were always at the top and vying for the championship title. Newspaper clippings from the 70’s and 80’s rarely noted a one-sided victory but usually described a ‘tough rebound finish’ for the winning team in the second half. Rich credits the players for their talents and motivation in creating one of the outstanding teams in City League basketball.
Rich decided to step into the softball league in Baltic B Division league sponsoring a team largely made up of family, cousins and a few key friends. After winning that division, his team was earmarked to automatically move to the A Division. He decided to have teams in both Baltic and Norwich but need to recruit enough players for each team. Athletes such as: Yash Lapkowski, Phil Yering, Bill Kane, Hank Kowalchik, Tom Tashea, Ron Vargas, Jack Thompson, Ron Vargas, Tom Alfieri, Dan Tamborra, Gary Zenowitz, and Ken Merchant led Lefty’s Gang to the finals in Norwich seven years, finally defeating Straub’s four years in a row. Rich said that playing in those games, if a team didn’t get five or six runs in an inning, usually meant defeat. One of his most memorable moments was when the team won both the Baltic and Norwich Championship during the same year.
Lefty’s did not only compete in league play, but also put on their ‘game shoes’ to help various Charities and local leagues. ‘Lefty’s Grand Finale’ which was held for about 30 years along with benefit softball games featuring players from the Hartford Whalers were held. These events raised thousands of dollars to benefit many projects at the Norwich Little League, the 325th Norwich birthday celebration, and the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, to name a few. To quote Tom Winters, storied sportswriter, “Lefty’s Gang, More than a Ball Team.”