Fitch Athletic Hall of Fame to add 16 members
The Fitch Athletic Hall of Fame announced 16 members who will be inducted in a ceremony on November 10.
The Class of 2024 includes Powell ‘’Oscar’’ Hall (Class of 1966), Kevin McMahon (1971), Ricky Thompson (1975), Joe Vincente (1976), Ed Kolnaski (1976), Sue Beaman Griggs (1980), Chris Piela (1985), Bobby Valentine (1988), Jessica Harvey (1998), John McCoy (2000), Brandon Cook (2001), Sean Berg (2003), Mark Hall (2007), Kevin Carlow (2009), Aly Clarke (2015) and coach Bernie Nasser.
• Oscar Hall played football, basketball, and track, earning seven varsity letters. He was dangerous kickoff with his longest return an 83 yards touchdown return against Weaver. His top sport was track. He was undefeated over his career in the 440, set the school record of 49.9 and won the State Open as a senior at 49.6 to break his own record.
• Kevin McMahon played fullback and was the captain of the football team as a senior. He was the team’s most valuable player and an all-state honorable mention pick. He also captained the baseball team and was the Fitch Athlete of the Year in 1971.
• Ricky Thompson was the first wrestler in the school history to score points in the State Open by finishing fourth at 167 pounds. He was the first recipient of Fitch’s Outstanding Wrestler of the Year and held the school record for fastest fall.
• Joe Vincente lettered for three years in basketball and baseball and captained both teams as a senior. He averaged nearly 20 points per game as a senior and his career batting average was .350.
• Ed Kolnaski played football, basketball and tennis and lettered in each sport three times. He was a standout receiver on the football teams and won the Capital District tennis tournament as a junior.
• Sue Beaman Griggs played tennis, basketball and softball. She was the captain of the softball and tennis teams as a senior. She held many team records in softball and was named to the first all-state softball team.
• Chris Piela was a standout in football and baseball. He was the football team’s MVP as a senior and the option quarterback and made the Norwich Bulletin All-Area Team. He was an all-state pitcher and also batted .417 over his final two seasons.
• Bobby Valentine was on the wrestling team for three years. He was 16-0-2 as a senior, won the Eastern Connecticut Conference title, Class L title and was third in the State Open. He also won the Class L title and was second at the State Open as a junior and was third in Class L as a sophomore.
• Jessica Harvey played volleyball, basketball and softball. She was all-state in softball as a senior and was the team’s MVP and the Fitch Booster Club’s Female Athlete of the Year. She was the MVP of the basketball team twice and was named to The Day’s All-Area team in volleyball.
• John McCoy played football, basketball, and baseball and was the second four-year letterman in football. He scored 44 touchdowns in his career, third most in school history and was The Day’s Player of the Year as a senior. He also made The Day’s All-Area team in baseball twice and set the school record for home runs.
• Brandon Cook played football, basketball and lacrosse and earned nine varsity letters. He made the all-ECC football team on both sides of the ball as a senior and made the Hartford Courant and New Haven Register all-state teams. He was also all-ECC in basketball and lacrosse as a senior.
• Sean Berg participated in soccer, basketball and indoor and outdoor, excelling in track. As a senior was the team’s MVP, all-ECC and all-state. He was the Class L champ in the 110 hurdles and 300 hurdles and was the CIAC. He earned All-New England and All-American status in indoor track in the 55 hurdles and long jump.
• Mark Hall was a four-year letter winner in football, starting as a freshman at defensive end at age 13. He led the team in tackles for three years, was named All-ECC three times and all-state his final two seasons.
• Kevin Carlow played soccer and baseball and lettered in both all four years. He was a three-time all-ECC and Day All-Area choice in baseball and added all-state his final two seasons. He won the Fitch Booster Club’s Male Athlete of the Year as a senior.
• Aly Clarke was a four-year letter winner in soccer and is the only player in school history to make the all-state team, which she did twice. Holds the career record for goals. Named to The Day’s All-Area team three times and was The Day’s Player of the Year as a senior.
• Bernie Nasser coached the wrestling team for seven seasons, resurrecting the program in 1972. He also coached soccer for 19 years and softball for 15 years. His wrestling teams won the Capital District title in 1975 and the Southeastern Athletic Conference title in 1978.
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