NMHS AHOF selects its Class of 2023 inductees

Flanked by co-coaches Michael Abraham, left, and Chris Bacich, members of the 2003 and 2004 Green Wave boys' cross country teams celebrate their induction into the NMHS Athletic Hall of Fame, Oct. 21, 2023 at Fairview Farm Golf Course in Harwinton.

Class of 2023 takes its bows as NMHS AHOF inductees

The New Milford High School Athletic Hall of Fame hosted its fourth induction banquet October 21, 2023 at Fairview Farm Golf Club in Harwinton. An appreciative turnout of nearly 200 was on hand to help honor six athletes, a coach and, for the first time, a team for its Class of 2023. To read about each of the inductees and see plenty of photos, check their respective pages.

The 2003 and 2004 Green Wave boys' cross country teams, back-to-back champions of the South-West Conference, the state and New England, are in tandem the inaugural NMHS teams to earn AHOF induction. Fifteen members of those two teams enjoyed the spotlight October 21.

Chris Bacich, who co-coached the '03 and '04 teams with Michael Abraham and has since led the Green Wave to the heights many more times, joined the legendary Joseph Wiser, Russell Devin and Fran Zaloski as the AHOF's inducted coaches.

Honored as well, as Green Wave athletes, were the late Dick Volinski, Class of 1953, Tom "Tucker" Burke '70, Thea Murray-Martin '77, Vera Pizzarelli '83, Anna Wyhs Benson '02 and Sarah DaRos Keppeler '07. Their induction brought to 39 the number of NMHS athletes feted in the AHOF.

In all, including the four coaches and the '03 and '04 boys' cross country teams, there are 44 inductees. Plaques for all past inductees hang proudly on the wall in the NMHS athletic wing, and those for this year's honorees will be added soon.

Starting in the fall of 2017, the AHOF hosted three banquets at Fairview, on each occasion welcoming a dozen inductees. Each of those 36 inductees, including legendary athletic director/coach Joseph Wiser and coaches Fran Zaloski and Russell Devin, has a page on this website featuring a biography and photos. Pages for this year's inductees are now also here.

For updates, email normc49@att.net or check this website.

Athletic Hall of Fame inducts its Class of 2019

A third class of a dozen inductees to the New Milford High School Athletic Hall of Fame was honored Nov. 2, 2019 at the annual banquet at Fairview Farm Golf Course in Harwinton.

Taking their turns accepting induction were John Bucinsley '67; Laurie Center '75; Donna Maruszak Roberts '81; Eric Muttilainen '83; Margo Maytham Muttilainen '83; Jack Lavalette '87; Tom Ferrell '06; Devon Dobson '07; Danielle Gasser '08; and Emma Crowcroft '09.

Elizabeth Carter '67 was unable to travel to the banquet. She was represented by NMHS teammate and classmate Nancy Bierbower Carlson.

Sam Blackman '56 passed away in May, 2019 at the age of 81 but his sons, Kenneth Blackman and Jimmy Blackman, were on hand to accept their father's induction.

A large crowd was in attendance to support the inductees and share in the NMHS AHOF banquet experience.

Bios and photos of the 2019 inductees are posted on their respective pages.

2019 inductee Devon Dobson proved a record-setting Green Wave lacrosse force leading up to his 2007 graduation.

2019 inductee Donna Maruszak Roberts was a volleyball standout and mercurial track & field athlete prior to her 1981 graduation.

Class of 2018 inductees honored at annual banquet

The New Milford High School Athletic Hall of Fame's second annual induction banquet was held Oct. 27, 2018 before a sellout crowd at Fairview Farm Golf Course in Harwinton.

Honored were the late Alfred "Sonny" Zaloski '47, Bryan Riley '75, Maggie Rinaldi-Chappuis '80, Trey Lavalette '82, John McCafferty '83, Louis Heaton '84, the late John Ndukwu '84, Alexis Thompson Kleinhans '90, Morgan Brady Degan '97, Jeanna Bradle Freeman '06, Meghan Johnson Lyon '08 and Conor Kirkegard '12.

Banquet photos are available to view, purchase

2019 banquet photos by Karen Berwick are featured in the gallery section of the website.

Photographs of the 2017 and 2018 New Milford High School Athletic Hall of Fame banquets are available for viewing and purchase from respective banquet photographers Trish Haldin and Liam Lacey. Please turn to our Gallery pages for the links.

Membership is open for the NMHS Athletic Hall of Fame Club

Signup is underway for the New Milford High School Athletic Hall of Fame Club. More than 40 members have joined the club.

To sign up and enjoy the club's benefits, see the AHOF Club page or email normc49@att.net.

The New Milford High School Athletic Hall of Fame is a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) organization. Donations and other contributions are tax exempt with the IRS.

New Milford High School Athletic Hall of Fame

The Athletic Hall of Fame is a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) organization “dedicated to honoring those who have contributed with distinction to NMHS inter-scholastic sports as athletes, teams, coaches and in support roles,” according to its mission statement.

The primary goals for the Hall of Fame are stated in its mission statement:

We seek to preserve the history of athletics as an integral aspect of the educational experience at NMHS.
In doing so, we strive to encourage and inspire contemporary and future NMHS student-athletes to achieve to the best of their ability in the sports realm while maintaining their standing in the classroom and other school activities.
In keeping with interscholastic sports' role in the physical and emotional growth of many teens, we endeavor to maintain the Hall of Fame as a standard by which young student-athletes can establish their goals and judge their progress.