John Bucinsley
Class of 1967
John Bucinsley, Class of 1967, was a dominant runner, four-time MVP and multi-time state champion for Green Wave boys’ cross country and track & field teams.
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The best runner by mid-sophomore season on a talented harrier squad, John was the Green Wave’s leading runner right through his senior campaign. Along the way, he set the pace for such outstanding runners as Doug Goodwin, Forrest Smith, Tom Roberts and Peter Squires over the course of three autumn seasons.
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As a sophomore, John broke Goodwin’s course record, the first of many such standards he would set around western Connecticut, and helped the Green Wave to an undefeated season. Only the participation of an ineligible runner in several meets deprived NMHS of a Western Connecticut Conference title. He capped his season with seventh place n the state class ‘B’ meet and qualification for the state open.
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John was the Green Wave’s top runner in every meet during his junior campaign, in the process lowering the home course record and earning team MVP laurels.
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Co-captain as a senior, John set five straight course records as undefeated NMHS won the Western Connecticut Conference championship. Again selected as team MVP, he climaxed his Green Wave cross country career with high finishes in the state sectional, class and open races and competition in the New England meet.
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During two indoor track seasons, John captured the state title in the 1,000-yard run as a junior and the mile run as the team’s senior captain.
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His versatile exploits in track & field were integral as coach Russell Devin’s Green Wave won two WCC titles and ranked for four years as one of the best teams around.
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John often ran second as a freshman to touted senior ace Billy Mitchell in the 440 and 880, including key efforts to help NMHS outlast arch-rival Wilton in the season’s pivotal dual meet. He capped his frosh season with a third place in the state class ‘B’ 880.
His sophomore campaign was highlighted by his anchor leg on the Green Wave’s WCC record-setting 4 x 880 relay and his gold-medal run in the WCC 880.
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By his junior year, John was a consistent winner in the 440, 880 and mile and was recognized with the team’s MVP accolade.
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As senior captain, John’s ability to win races from 220 yards to the mile and his clutch relay performances lifted coach Devin’s Green Wave to another WCC title. Along the way, he set a school record in the 880 at 1:57.
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John rose to the occasion in his final crack at state laurels by winning gold medals in the state class and state open mile runs. He closed the books on his NMHS career with second place in the New England mile in a school-record 4:20.5.
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His prolific successes as a Green Wave athlete earned John a lofty place among the very best of NMHS’ many excellent distance runners.
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Upon graduation from New Milford High School, John headed southward to Washington D.C. to build a solid career in cross country and track & field at Georgetown University.
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